LBWCC’s enrollment for summer term is down about 11 percent over last year, with total enrollment at 796.

“We don’t ever have an exact reason why enrollment is down a little or up a little,” said LBWCC President Dr. Herb Riedel. “Enrollment is down system-wide about 4 percent this year, continuing a declining trend of about five years. We’ve been going against that trend with enrollment up in most terms, and only this year saw a significant decrease.”

There are a lot of possible factors, Riedel said.

“Generally, there is an inverse relationship between employment and enrollment rates,” he said. “We anticipate that next summer, enrollment will be up significantly because of the reinstatement of the summer Pell Grant program by the U.S. Department of Education.”

June unemployment for Covington County was 6.2 percent, down from 7.3 percent in June 2016.

“We have stepped up our enrollment efforts,” Riedel said. “Beginning fall semester, students will benefit from the new position of director of student success who will work with all students in being more successful. We have added and are adding several new options and a new degree program in the technical areas.”

Riedel said that LBWCC is still the best value in higher education.

“We wish more students would take advantage of the programs and opportunities we have here, especially if transferring to a university,” he said. “This is a great place to get their first two years of college taught by the same level of credentialed faculty and pay half or less than half the cost compared to four-year institutions.”