Technical colleges throughout the state are bracing for a fall enrollment boom, spurred by unemployed workers who need retraining and students looking for affordable alternatives to four-year universities.
The schools got a glimpse of the heightened demand last year when Blackhawk and Mid-State technical colleges were flooded with new enrollment, giving them double-digit percentage increases for the year. Overall enrollment for the Wisconsin Technical College System increased about 3.2% in 2008-’09, according to system spokeswoman Morna Foy.
But that was then.
“I think it’s not going to be too far off to say we’re expecting enrollment increases this year about 10% statewide, and that’s pretty significant,” Foy said.
Final numbers won’t be apparent at the state’s 16 schools until mid-September, when classes have started and students have settled in for the semester.
But most technical colleges are girding themselves based on what they’ve seen so far.