Enrollment numbers at Copiah-Lincoln Community College show a downward trend, but the full-time student body remains strong.

     Administrators presented Co-Lin’s board of trustees Thursday evening with a report indicating spring semester enrollment across the college’s three campuses.

     The report shows a 3 percent drop in enrollment compared to the student body of the spring 2012 semester, and school leaders warn the numbers could slide further.

     That’s because the current statistics reflect only a snap shot taken at the beginning of the semester. Enrollment typically erodes as classes continue.

     “The reality is these numbers are probably going to go down further,” said Vice President of Instructional Services Jane Hulon.

     Co-Lin’s Simpson County campus saw the largest enrollment dip, falling by 8 percent over the year before. The Wesson campus fell 4 percent.

     The Natchez campus, however, showed growth, increasing its student body by 4 percent.

     “In these critical economic times, we are glad to see Natchez up,” said board member Thelma Newsome

     However, fellow board member Roy Winkworth highlighted some positives within the enrollment report.

     While total enrollment may be decreasing, the number of full-time students at Co-Lin actually went up, fueled by the Natchez campus.

     The Natchez campus saw a 12 percent jump in full-time students. The Wesson and Simpson County centers had small declines of full-time students, but much smaller than their decline in total students, less than 1 percent.

     “Things are not as bleak as they appear,” Hulon said.

     The spring 2013 enrollment report continues a trend. The fall 2012 and spring 2012 semesters both experienced a decline in total student enrollment over the year before.

     However, as with the spring 2013 numbers, those two semesters also had small increases in full-time students.

     In other business, Co-Lin President Ronnie Nettles told board members the state Bureau of Building and Grounds should take bids soon for phase one of renovations to the aging Ellzey Hall.

     Renovations will gut the interior, replace the roof, and return the exterior to its 1928 original appearance.

     All work to the hall will be paid for by the Bureau of Building and Grounds.

     Nettles called the former dormitory, one of the original buildings of the Wesson campus, “truly historic.”

     Once a winning bidder is selected, Netles hopes work can begin with five weeks.

     Phase two of construction will include restoring the inside of the building, but Nettles said the money for that has not been allocated.

     The dorm was closed in 2011 and has remained unused since then.