Beaufort County Community College is hopeful that an increase in summer enrollment bodes well for the fall semester.

This summer’s enrollment numbers showed a 14-percent increase from summer 2016, according to a press release. It was a 19-percent increase from the summer of 2015. Summer semester ended July 12.

“All of our numbers are heading in the right direction. The great effort that our faculty and staff have put forward is paying off,” BCCC President Dr. David Loope said in a statement.

Enrollment for fall semester is underway, so final numbers will not be available until later in the year, according to Attila Nemecz, public relations manager at BCCC.

In a May report, however, full-time equivalent enrollment was projected to be 294.68, a number that details the number of students enrolled in a certain number of credit hours. One FTE does not necessarily equate to exactly one student. The numbers in the report were preliminary.

Over the past couple of years, BCCC has amped up its efforts to increase and maintain enrollment.

The college has seen decreasing numbers since 2015, when it halted its participation in the Federal Direct Student Loan program as of July 1 that year. Officials have said they discontinued the loan program because of a rising default rate on loan payments, which could have jeopardized funding sources for the college.

Another reason for declining enrollment is a decreasing population in BCCC’s service area. Community colleges across the nation are facing lower enrollment numbers, according to Jay Sullivan, vice president of research and institutional effectiveness.

In a June BCCC Board of Trustees meeting, Loope suggested a greater emphasis on advising services for students to promote retention. Other efforts include expanding the service area to Hyde and Washington counties, as well as working with high schools for dual enrollment opportunities.

“Having an individualized approach to advising can help with retention. That has to come from the faculty. We have to have the faculty with us in this process,” Loope told the trustees.

Loope said he thinks students are recognizing what kind of impact BCCC can have on their educational and workforce opportunities.

“We are the onramp to the bachelor’s degree and a direct pathway to employment in our regional workforce,” he said.

Fall semester begins Aug. 16.

For questions about admissions, contact Michele Mayo at 252-940-6233, or visit her office in Building 9.