Students increasing at CR in Del Norte

Enrollment is up for the local College of the Redwoods campus.

That means not only is the community college in good shape financially, but more educational programs and expansion could be on the horizon.

During a recent visit to Del Norte County, CR President Jeff Marsee explained how the community college district as a whole has survived California’s financial crisis and discussed the future of the local campus.

Enrollment is up 16 percent for the first month of school, after the local campus grew by 13 percent during the 2008-2009 school year.

Part of that is the recession, Marsee explained. Unemployment has driven some adults to college.

Another reason is that more young adults can’t get into California’s state universities because of enrollment caps and many are choosing to start out at a community college.

But enrollment caps have also struck fear into community college students’ hearts.

Some students are taking fewer credits because they’re afraid that once they’re done with their associate’s degree they won’t be able to transfer to a four-year college, said Anita Janis, dean of the local campus.

“They’re waiting to hear the epilogue,” she said.

Because enrollment was up last school year, state funding increased by 9 percent for the entire district and CR was able to add more course sections this year, Marsee said.

“The benefit was an infusion of funds and appropriations,” he said, which more than offset cuts from the state.

CR’s state funding was cut by about 3.5 percent, Marsee said.

While CR is still accepting students and not capping enrollment, Marsee wants to keep enrollment where it is because he doesn’t anticipate receiving more funding from the state next year.

Marsee added that the projected 2010-2011 budget is balanced.

As for the future, CR is looking into new career technology programs district-wide, Marsee said, such as wind or wastewater technology at the Del Norte campus.

Janis said CR wants community leaders’ input on what kind of educational programs would best serve the community.

“Tell us what would make sense,” she said.

That also means looking at economic data and figuring out what industries have the best growth potential in Del Norte, Janis said. Then, the college can offer those programs and train people locally.

Another goal this year is to figure out how to entice more high school graduates to CR.

Only 22 percent of high school graduates in Del Norte go to CR. While many graduates go straight to a four-year university, college is not the logical next step for all recent graduates, Marsee said.

“It’s not culturally embedded,” he said.

Only 33 percent of CR-Del Norte students are male.

“How can we target that population and deliver that message?” Janis said.

Many young people get a job out of high school, she said, but then as they get older can’t afford to pay their bills or end up out of work with no higher education.

“When you’re older it’s pure economics,” Janis said. “There’s no forethought.”

Expanding into trees

Marsee foresees the Del Norte campus eventually expanding into the trees behind the school. He envisions a U-shape of buildings to make it “more of a college setting.”

But he said the campus will have to grow more “before going into the forest.” Plus, it will probably take a general obligation bond to pay for it, he added.

CR surveyed local voters and 65 percent said they would support a bond measure as long as the money stayed here, Marsee said, adding that the money would all go toward expanding the local campus.

He said CR will probably do another, larger survey to see if a bond is worth putting on the 2010 general election ballot.

There is some money left over from Measure Q, CR’s $40 million bond that was passed in 2004, Marsee said.

Some of that could go towards a new lab for the Del Norte campus, but a decision on how to use the money likely won’t be made until after December, he said.