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STC enrollment up 23.2 percent for fall for record number of students
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SAVANNAH — Savannah Technical College enrollment has reached an all-time high for fall quarter 2009 with 5,559 students enrolled, representing a 23.2 percent increase above fall quarter 2008 when 4,514 students were enrolled.

This is the first time STC enrollment exceeded 5,000 students and includes figures for all of the college’s locations in Savannah, Liberty and Effingham counties.

College President Kathy S. Love attributes the growth in part to the economy and in part to the college’s flexibility in offering its programs.

“Certainly the economy has something to do with it,” she said. “People reassess their career paths and often turn to technical education when times are tough. This, in addition to new and more flexible program scheduling, has lead to this phenomenal growth.”  

This quarter, the college began offering evening cosmetology and commercial truck driving at its Liberty Campus; this summer. two programs began in Effingham — welding on site at Temcor and electrical/mechanical manufacturing technician.

Coming in January will be an evening peace officer academy, offering students the opportunity to become POST certified in one year, offered at the Savannah Campus. Other new programs include construction management and barbering.

STC’s growth is consistent with other technical colleges statewide. The Technical College System of Georgia has also set a new record high with 110,254 students filling the classrooms and labs on its 28 college campuses, representing a 24 percent increase over the same time last year when 88,725 students attended classes.  

The total also shatters the system’s all-time record enrollment for one quarter, 91,838, which was set in 2003.