Lake Region State College has released its fall enrollment report. The LRSC Registrar’s office reports 1,771 students enrolled for Fall 2020, down from 1,982 a year ago.
The college was expecting a drop in on-campus enrollments due to the COVID-19 situation, said Dr. Doug Darling, LRSC President and the decline was felt in numerous areas.
“Gauging what that drop would be was difficult to predict,” Darling said. “We knew some students wanted to wait to apply and register due to the COVID-19 environment and some decided to not attend this academic year because COVID-19 was creating a completely different environment for everyone.”
Enrollments dropped in both full-time and part-time areas; degree and nondegree. Full-time numbers are 468 compared with 515 last year and part-time totals 1,303, compared to 1,467.
However, with the enrollment drop, the college remains optimistic and adaptable.
“If there was ever a fall semester to have fewer students in the classroom, this is it. Our efforts to eliminate close contacts in the classroom and achieve social distancing objectives are more attainable,” Darling added.
In 2018, Lake Region State College broke its headcount (2,072) and credit production record.
Residence halls continue to be full for another consecutive year and Darling added that LRSC continues to work with business and industry on partnerships, internships, and apprenticeships to enhance programming and student learning opportunities.
“COVID-19 has changed the higher education landscape. Like other colleges, LRSC is adapting and evolving with those changes.”
The fall fourth week count is a snapshot of the students served at Lake Region State College. A report will be issued summer 2021 that reports total students served during the academic year.