Then What The Hen's Ass Are You Doing With The Money, You Fools?

If our internal PR shop is to be believed, we're doing great. You know what? The Illuminator hopes so--from Jack's keyboard to God's ear, you know? But the hired fireworks belie other messages we receive internally. This, from a home-cooked article Jack placed with the DDN's regional "Hooray for Us" section.

Edison Community College enrollment growth, boosted by a significant gain among high school seniors and graduates, has ranked second in Ohio over the last year.

A large increase in participation in Edison’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program has helped trigger this enrollment surge. Troy High School is the region’s leader in sending PSEOP students to Edison. In fact, 80 students from Troy are in the program this spring. Five of these 80 are Ashley Bornhorst (left), Natalie Dalton, and three male PSEOP students, Alex Huels, Brent Monnin, and Blake Stradling.

Edison Community College looks forward to continued enrollment growth during 2009, after student head count swelled by nearly nine percent last August and 12 percent earlier this year.

The total number of students on campus has exceeded 4,500 for the academic year at the main campus in Piqua, the Darke County campus in Greenville, and at locations in Tipp City and West Milton. Since last summer, Edison has become the second fastest growing college or university in Ohio.

Enrollment was enhanced in fall of 2008 by more students of mixed ages in online courses and by more high school students in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEOP). The College experienced similar enrollment trends during the January to March period this year.

Since last fall, online courses have attracted nearly 25 percent more students and close to 30 percent more credit hours than during the same time a year ago.

According to Dr. Mindy S. McNutt, Edison’s vice president for education, online courses have “the same academic rigor” as conventional college courses and require “self-discipline and self-motivation” from each student to complete assignments.

Last year’s hike in gas prices also helped trigger the climb in online enrollment. More students chose to “compute rather than commute,” college officials said.

In addition, students who are working less time as a result of the economic downturn are taking advantage of the opportunity to take an extra class.

Fall’s average credit hour load per student was up one full credit hour over a year ago. Most students who signed up for classes in August registered for three courses or more.

The number of high school students in the PSEOP program at Edison soared over the 600 mark this winter.

PSEOP credit hours showed growth of 10 percent. Plus, more same-year high school graduates selected Edison.

In fact, Edison’s market share of traditional college-age students is at a record high, according to college officials.

Nearly one of every three high school seniors and graduates in Edison’s three-county service district who plan to attend college now make Edison the starting point either during the 12th grade or right after high school.

“The college has become a very popular pick among high school students,” said Edison President Dr. Kenneth A. Yowell. “Today, we are attracting many more young students than we did 15 or 20 years ago. Edison is the upper Miami Valley’s college of first choice.”

Affordable cost and transfer of credit are primary reasons why Edison is the top selection by area high school students. In 2009, Edison students are attending at 2006 tuition rates. Edison is also one of the six lowest cost schools in Ohio.

Students in transfer programs can complete the first two years of the bachelor’s degree at Edison and save $40,000 to $50,000 in tuition.

Each year, about 1,200 associate of arts and associate of science degree students and graduates carry credits to four-year colleges.

Edison has experienced an enrollment boost among non-traditional students in the Adult College Experience (ACE) program. ACE enables students with busy lifestyles to conveniently complete two courses each week on a Monday evening. Some of these students have been displaced from jobs recently and are taking advantage of Edison courses to retrain or update skills.

This upward enrollment trend should extend into the summer. The registration pace for the summer session starting June 14 is more than 25 percent ahead of last summer. Edison officials expect June students to represent 60 to 70 different colleges and universities.