Traditionally, enrollments in the technical colleges have been counter-cyclical – up during lean economic times and down when a strong economy drives job growth. Enrollment patterns have deviated from past trends in recent years, remaining strong despite the relatively good economy in the middle of this decade. This was due in large part to skills gaps in health care, advanced manufacturing and other expanding industries.  It is against this backdrop of already-high enrollments that the WTCS System reported unprecedented enrollment growth.

Given their focus on retraining, most knew that the state’s 16 technical colleges would shoulder the brunt of the student demand associated with the economic downturn. But enrollment growth has been even stronger than anticipated. Preliminary projections from September 2009 show a 15% statewide increase in fall 2009 technical college enrollments.

This enrollment growth is driven, in part, by dislocated workers returning to the classroom. After all, the number of dislocated workers in Wisconsin has increased by 31% over 2008 levels and is now three times higher than 2007 (see Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article).

But there are other factors at play. For example, the Wisconsin GI Bill and the federal Post 9/11 GI Bill have led to more veterans enrolled in technical colleges. Plus, traditional-age college students seeking more affordable education options are turning to the technical colleges in growing numbers. For many students, the technical colleges’ proximity to home and relatively inexpensive tuition mean they’re more affordable than four-year colleges.

Enrollment growth has undoubtedly led to longer program waiting lists and more cramped classrooms. We also know that strong enrollment growth has led to unprecedented demand for student financial aid. Approximately 15,000 technical college students are on the waiting list for Wisconsin Higher Education Grants – the state’s primary need-based financial aid program.

We recognize that technical college instructors and support staff are dealing with a difficult situation – one exacerbated by a general lack of financial resources. We want to thank you for doing what you do. Your work is absolutely critical to the lives of your students and the state’s prosperity.

Please spend a moment to share your story, using the comments section at the end of this blog.

Let us know how enrollment growth is impacting you, your students, and your program. This information will be extremely useful as we visit with legislators about the needs of the technical colleges.