Community Colleges Experience a Student Boom, Especially in Danville

The community college system in Illinois has recorded its biggest enrollment increase in years, and Danville Area Community College leads the statistics.

DACC's headcount jumped by almost 32 percent this fall compared to the same time last year, to nearly 36-hundred students. More than 21 hundred of them are taking the equivalent of a full-time class load, which is a nearly 28 percent increase.

President Alice Marie Jacobs says the school is handling the student boom, in terms of both space and teachers.

"We do utilize a number of part-time faculty, many who have years of experience teaching at Danville Area Community College, so that's one way we're able to add sections," Jacons said. "We also have faculty who have been very cooperative and were willing to add extra sections to their loads."

Most community college administrators cite the sluggish economy as a factor in their strong enrollments, with many people going back to school for more job training. But Jacobs says DACC is also getting more recent high school graduates, including honor students.