The welldocumented news accounts about the vastly increased enrollments at community colleges across the nation and across the state of course are seen at Umpqua Community College also. Indeed, I learned recently that the average increase in enrollment among Oregon’s 17 community colleges this fall compared to last is approximately 20%. At UCC, it’s 35%! That means the College must swiftly hire additional instructors — and still keep the quality high — in order for class sizes to remain acceptable. That means the financial aid office needed to close its windows for two weeks without significantly impacting students who depend so much on a timely distribution of that money.

That means that faculty and administration must find additional and, occasionally, inventive places to instruct. That meant that the bookstore was so full of textbook-buyers that it had to close its door momentarily from time to time and not admit a new person until someone walked out the other door! That means that advising and registration needed to apply advanced queuing theory to deal timely with the registrants coming to the school in September.

What made this all so exciting was that the heightened energy all of those students brought to the campus supplied an extra "oomph” that enabled our staff to complete their additional work this fall quickly and efficiently with the welfare of students in mind.

The unprecedented growth in enrollment at UCC of 77% this past summer and the 35% this fall far exceeds anything in my experience during a 36-year career. Twelve to 14% is the most I had seen during other recessions.

Our growth over the past five years or so has been steady, given our new programs and initiatives to better serve the district, but this enrollment surge is clearly an indication of the condition of our economy. People in Douglas County know now is a great time to go to college and prepare for the future. The College is providing opportunities for individuals impacted by this recession to have a better future once the economy recovers.

The faculty and staff have worked tirelessly to adjust to this huge impact from new learners. New sections of classes have been added with qualified adjunct faculty and existing class sizes have been expanded. All intake services have worked incredibly hard. In just five years, our financial aid from federal and state sources has grown from $4.5 million to more than $17 million last year and, with this year’s applications 62% higher than last, we anticipate awarding more than $24 million so that students can access an education and ultimately realize a better future.

Although we have certainly experienced a large surge in enrollment this year, it is noteworthy to share that, in the preceding five years, through expansion of programs to better serve Douglas County; UCC grew by nearly 3,500 students. Our growth is all about hope. Hope for a single mother who needs to complete a high school diploma and advance her education so that she has the skills to become employed. Hope for the displaced worker, who through no fault of his own becomes a victim of the recession, to acquire the skills to flourish when the economy rebounds. Hope for the first-generation college student who, through a caring educational experience at UCC, is able to walk proudly across the stage with that prized diploma in hand.

Indeed, we are an institution of hope and opportunity and will be long into the future.