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NACC Receives National Recognition
Northeast Alabama Community College has
been recognized nationally as one of the fastest growing
community colleges in the United States. Community College Week,
a national publication, identified NACC as the thirty-fourth
fastest growing community colleges among the approximately 270
public two-year colleges within the college’s enrollment
classification (2,500 – 5,000 students).
The report features enrollment data analyses for the academic
year 2007-2008. Rankings are based on percentage change in the
number of students. Northeast experienced an 11.3 percent
increase from the Fall Semester of 2007 to the Fall Semester of
2008. NACC ranked twelfth in percentage increase during this
period in the eleven Deep South states within the college’s
classification that are accredited by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools, NACC’s accrediting agency.
“We are very pleased by this recognition,” stated Dr. David
Campbell, NACC President. “This type of recognition reflects
hard work and dedication on the part of our faculty and staff
and great support by our community.” Campbell added that the
college was pleasantly surprised by the designation and was
notified of it through a news release provided by the Alabama
Department of Postsecondary Education. Two other institutions
within the 26-college Alabama system, Marion Institute and
Bishop State Community College, also were recognized.
“Actually our enrollment increase for the Fall of 2008 to the
Fall of 2009 is a good bit larger than this percentage –
approximately 20 percent at this point,” Campbell added. “But we
don’t know how this ranks nationally until all the numbers are
compiled.”
College officials point out that the enrollment increases aren’t
a recent phenomena resulting from the downturn in the economy
which recently sent many Americans back to school for training
or retraining. Rather, the college has made steady enrollment
increases since the early 2000s, doubling its enrollment from
1,659 students in the Fall Semester of 2000-2001 to 3,371 for
Fall Semester of 2009-2010. “We are pleased to be serving
students who are coming to Northeast for job training and
retraining,” Campbell stated. “As far as our numbers go, these
are students who are adding to a trend in enrollment increases
that already was there for us.”
College officials attribute the college’s growth to many
factors, including the expansion and addition of courses and
programs, an adult education program, greater student access to
financial aid, a student loan program, greater marketing and
promotions, more community involvement through events held on
campus, improvements in campus facilities and grounds, an
expansion of the college’s dual enrollment program, various
partnerships with local school systems, an increase in workforce
development training, expanded educational technology and
distance learning opportunities, and assistance from counselors
at local high schools.
Community College Week is an independent national voice serving
community, technical and junior colleges since 1988. It is
published bi-weekly and is widely read. News and features not
usually provided by other news sources, including analyses of
critical academic trends and issues, vital statistics,
technology updates and employment opportunities are included in
the publication.
Five of the 3,371 students enrolled for the
record-breaking fall 2009 semester gather on the NACC quad:
(standing L-R) Hannah Bryant, Devin Kennamer, and Beth Garrett;
(sitting L-R) Cody Brown and Stephanie Mercer.
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