WESSON — As Copiah-Lincoln Community College students beganclasses Wednesday, school officials trumpeted ongoing success inincreasing enrollment at campuses in Wesson and Natchez.

“We continue to be excited about the enrollment increases,” saidDr. Howell Garner, school president.

With the exception of a slight decrease from 2000 to 2001,Garner said Co-Lin enrollment has increased every year since 1997.Overall, there has been a 32.5 percent increase, from 2,387 in 1997to 3,163 in 2003.

Co-Lin’s Wesson campus was recently recognized by CommunityCollege Week as one of the nation’s Top 50 fastest-growing two-yearschools between fall 2001 and fall 2002. The report, based on U.S.Department of Education data, showed the school with an 18 percentincrease and ranked it 40th.

Including Co-Lin’s Natchez campus, college enrollment rosefrom 2,558 in 2001 to 2,872 in 2002, for a 12 percent increase,according to audited State Board of Community and Junior Collegetotals. Garner added that enrollment had risen by another 10percent, to 3,164, in the fall of 2003.

“We like that. It has a lot to do with addressing the needsof the community,” Garner said in discussing reasons for thestudent growth.

The enrollment statistics cited included students in “forcredit” courses.

When discussing enrollment, Garner indicated that totals canvary based on which students are being considered. The presidentpointed to “not for credit” enrollment of people who utilize thecollege through work force training and other programs.

In that area, school statistics show 4,479 people receivingtraining through Co-Lin’s Workforce Development Center in 2002-03.That total is up from 4,472 last year, 4,241 in 2000-01 and 3,924in 1999-00.

The number of registrants, which can include someduplication due to one person taking more than one course, was10,591 in 2002-03. That was down from 11,311 last year and a highof 12,920 in 2000-01, according to school totals.

Garner credited quality faculty and staff members andadministrators for the enrollment success. He said everybodyhandling their duties in a professional way makes Co-Lin a goodplace to be.

“I think we do a good job of what we’re here to do,” saidGarner, while also citing the community college’s ability toprovide instruction at a reasonable price.

Garner alluded to student satisfaction surveys as moreevidence of Co-Lin success.

In those surveys, over 90 percent of students said they weresatisfied with instruction provided at Co-Lin and with theinstruction provided in their major field of study. Garner saidthere were some instances, such as student not getting a particularclass he wanted, that could affect individual feelings.

“Everybody is not going to be happy every moment, but by inlarge, everyone is satisfied,” said Garner, adding that studentshave a good foundation for employment and success when they leaveCo-Lin.

For the future, Garner mentioned enrollment possibilities asa result of the new 30,000-square-foot instructional technologybuilding due to open in August.

“We think it will have an impact down the road, a nicepositive impact,” Garner said.

Garner said the building will have 180 Internet readycomputers for student use. Combined with other computers availableto students at learning centers, in the library and other places oncampus, Garner said Co-Lin is at the front edge oftechnology.

“We provide computers for students that others (communitycolleges) don’t necessarily,” Garner said.

Garner also mentioned more students taking courses online,498 currently.

Statewide this past fall, there are 16,772 students signedup for online classes through the state’s community college. Thatrepresented a major increase from the 1,350 students who tookonline courses in Spring 2000, the first year online courses wereoffered.

“It’s grown every semester so far,” Garner said.