Gwinnett Tech Continues to Draw a Crowd
Enrollment for Summer Quarter up 12 Percent; Annual Enrollment Surges by 22 Percent
Enrollment at Gwinnett Technical College continues to grow at a blistering pace, with significant increases posted for both Summer Quarter 2010 and for the 2010 academic year overall.
Summer quarter enrollment is up 12 percent over summer 2009, an increase of more than 532 students. For the year, total enrollment has increased 22 percent at the college. Total enrollment for 2010 was 10,684, an increase of 1,935 students over the prior mark of 8,749. Gwinnett Tech has now recorded double-digit enrollment growth for 14 consecutive quarters – more than three years.
"We continue to be energized by the opportunity to serve increasing numbers of students and train a highly-skilled workforce for our community and state. While our growth has been strong and steady for some time, the recent challenges in the economy have emphasized the need for up-to-date training in high-demand fields," says Sharon Bartels, president, Gwinnett Tech. "The demand for our healthcare, business, IT and education programs really reflects that trend."
Signs of growth are everywhere on the GTC campus – from new campus roads and parking facilities to the now under-construction Life Sciences Center, scheduled to open in August 2011. When complete, the three-story classroom and lab complex will serve 3,000 students annually, enabling Gwinnett Tech to accept more healthcare students and to expand and add new life science programs.
Healthcare science continues to be the largest program at Gwinnett Tech, with more than 1,275 students. For the summer, program enrollment grew 25 percent. Also in the life sciences sector, biotechnology and clinical research posted growth rates of 153 and 133 percent, respectively, for summer quarter.
In addition to health sciences, Gwinnett Tech's largest programs currently include computer networking (338 students), accounting (279), business management (246) and early childhood education (234).
Other programs posting strong increases for summer quarter are:
- Business Administrative Technology: 75 percent
- Cosmetology: 67 percent
- Air Conditioning: 42 percent
- Networking Specialist: 39 percent
- Computer Simulation/Game Developer: 33 percent
- Computer Programming: 24 percent
- Criminal Justice: 21 percent
- Internet Specialist/Web Design: 20 percent
- Welding & Joining Tech: 20 percent
- Early Childhood Education: 18 percent
For the 2010 academic year, Gwinnett Tech saw a boost not only in student enrollment, but also in the number of credit hours those students were taking – with a 25 percent increase year-to-year.
Gwinnett Tech led the state's technical colleges in three areas for 2010:
- Largest number of students enrolled in associate degree programs: 3,922
- Highest number of graduate awards conferred: 3,044
- Percent of students with some post-secondary experience (1-3 years): 48.7 percent
In August 2011, Gwinnett Tech and the state's technical colleges will change from quarter to semester scheduling, aligning the academic calendar with more than 80 percent of the country's colleges and universities, including the University System of Georgia.
GTC offers more than 45 degree, diploma and certificate program options that you can finish in two years or less. For more information on all programs, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.
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