Dive Summary:
- As the economy improves in Southwest Michigan (and nationwide), community colleges are seeing their enrollment decline.
- At the height of the recession in 2008 and 2009, Michigan's Kalamazoo Valley Community College saw a 7.6% increase in enrollment and other community colleges saw figures jump as much as 20%, but enrollment at KVCC and Lake Michigan College are down about 400 students this fall.
- Adriana Phelan, the Michigan Community College Association’s vice president for public policy, says contributing factors also include migration out of Michigan, students no longer being able to use Pell Grants year round and changes in the federal health care law no longer requiring students to enroll full-time to stay on their parents' insurance.
From the article:
KALAMAZOO, MI – Southwest Michigan community colleges are seeing a decline in fall enrollment numbers this fall. Despite declining numbers, the reason could be because the economy is looking up. Adriana Phelan, Michigan Community College Association’s vice president for public policy, said Michigan’s community college headcount declines are not isolated, as community colleges across the nation tend to see fewer students enroll when the economy picks up. ...