NIC enrollment numbers down

North Idaho College's spring enrollment is down, consistent with the decrease seen in last fall's semester enrollment.

The total headcount for students in spring 2013 is 6,072 students, which is down 5.45 percent from last spring's 6,422.

"Our decrease in enrollment overall is not unexpected and, in fact, mirrors much of what is happening in higher education regionally and nationally," said NIC Vice President for Student Services Graydon Stanley. "As the economy improves, prospective or current students have more opportunity for employment and don't stay or enter into the higher education system. And there is natural attrition that happens from fall to spring semester each year."

Other spring semester measurements show dual credit enrollment is up, with an overall dual credit headcount increase of 8.6 percent in the program that allows high school juniors and seniors to enroll for both high school and college credit.

The total headcount in professional-technical programs decreased 3.48 percent from 804 students in spring 2012 to 776 students in spring 2013, however; the grant funding for two electronic medical records programs concluded, which accounted for a reduction of about 150 students.

"This spring's numbers depicting a lack of growth in professional-technical education (PTE) programs is not indicative of the big picture. We continue to experience growth and demand in nearly all PTE programs," Stanley said.

A complete spring 2013 enrollment report will be presented to the NIC Board of Trustees at its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 in the Edminster Student Union Building Lake Coeur d'Alene Room.