WTC enrollment down for 2020 school year

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As the first day of class at Western Texas College draws nearer, the school is preparing for a lower number of students than in previous years.

Dean of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Britt Canada said that as of Tuesday, WTC has only 70 percent of its usual enrollment. There are currently 732 students enrolled for the fall semester, down from the 1,021 students from last year. About half of the students are dual credit high school students. 

“There is no way around it,” Canada said. “The virus has affected our enrollment.”

Canada said that one factor is that because high schools such as Snyder ISD have delayed fall start dates, students are unsure of whether they should continue to enroll in dual credit courses. 

Additionally, Canada said that about 10 to 15 percent of WTC’s enrollment typically comes from offenders at three Texas Department of Criminal Justice units, but they have not enrolled any inmates for the fall semester. 

“There is a lot of uncertainty and unknowns,” he said. “It is a challenging situation but the administrative team at WTC is working to make the best of the situation. Given the current situation, we are working to ensure the safety of our students. If enrollment is lower but student safety is higher, then we will be okay.”

Thursday is the deadline for new admissions. WTC classes, including dual credit courses, are set to begin on Aug. 12.