Gulf Coast Colleges, Universities See Decline in Enrollment Since Katrina
Posted on: Sunday, 30 October 2005, 21:00 CST
By Melissa M. Scallan, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Oct. 29--GULFPORT -- Colleges and universities on the Coast have seen a 25 percent to 35 percent decrease in enrollment since Hurricane Katrina, but officials believe those numbers will rise by next semester.
Most schools are holding classes in alternate locations and have adjusted class times and semesters to accommodate students.
The University of Southern Mississippi has about 900 fewer students, or 35 percent, than before the hurricane, and the school has moved its classes from Long Beach to Gulfport. Students will have a 10-week semester, similar to the summer schedule.
"I'm pleased that we have this many students coming back, considering everything they've been through," said Pat Joachim, associate provost at Southern Miss Gulf Coast. "But our students aren't numbers to us -- they are people, members of the Southern Miss family, the reason we come to work every day. Many of them have more pressing obligations than school right now.
"For those who were not able to rejoin us this semester, we want them to know that we are here to support them as they recover from this terrible disaster and stand ready to serve their educational needs when they are ready."
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College has about 3,000 fewer students, or 25 percent, than before the hurricane, but officials hope to grow by 500 students each semester.
"We are dealing with some stark realities," said Willis Lott, president of MGCCC. "We fully expect to regain the enrollment we lost since the hurricane. About 500 students returned for the fast-track accelerated semester. Offering flexible scheduling and new avenues of financial assistance is helping, but until the housing, transportation, child care and other quality-of-life issues are solved, it will be difficult for many students to return to college."
Larry Kennedy, president of William Carey College, said the Gulfport campus lost just over 200 students. The college is under the trimester system, and officials have canceled some of the breaks between trimesters and have moved spring graduation back one week.
Kennedy said the Coast campus sustained too much damage to repair, and the school currently is holding classes in several locations.
"It's really a health issue for us now," he said. "We are looking for a temporary site where we can house all of our students."
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Source: The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)
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