By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The downturn in the economy may be an opportunity for area community colleges to provide instruction to local workers and new students.
“Coming to a community college is going to be very inviting,” HutchCC President Dr. Carter File said. “It will give people an opportunity to increase their skills, develop new skills that might help them gain re-employment quicker.”
File says that many college freshmen are also choosing to stay closer to home and get the start of their education online as an alternative to campus life, but has concerns that students might choose to put off their education.
“We’re hearing a lot about a gap year, which we hope doesn’t happen. Students need to stay engaged in the educational process,” File said. “A gap year can turn into a gap two, three or four years. So we really want students to start their educational journey as soon as they can.”
File says that, like other colleges and universities, HutchCC is having to work extra hard to engage potential students both for on- and off-campus education.
“We’re missing prime opportunities to interact with those students. So we’re having to do it in different ways,” File noted. “We’re very hopeful that our enrollment will stay steady compared to year-over-year, but at this point, it’s just too early to tell.”
File says that, once the economy rebounds, the college will see an increase in non-traditional students who want or need a career change.
“I do think there will be people who have lost their jobs that will want to try and change careers, non-traditional learners especially,” File said.
File noted that HutchCC has a number of vocational courses that can be completed in just one year and also gives non-traditional students a chance to earn their applied science degree if they choose to do so.
As far as returning to on-campus classes, File says that online learning is great, but it still doesn’t replace the interaction of campus life.