2009 Performance Accountability Report Vol. 2 - Maryland Higher ...

HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Section 1: Mission
HCC’s mission statement: Providing pathways to success.
Section 2: Institutional Assessment
Academic, Demographic and Financial Trends
Howard Community College (HCC) continued to experience significant growth in headcount
and FTEs in FY09. Fall credit headcount and FTEs were up 5.1 percent and 6.3 percent,
respectively. Spring credit headcount and FTE enrollment outpaced the fall with increases of 8.2
and 10.6 percent. The highest portion of credit students was in the 18-23 year old age group, with
transfer programs showing the largest growth in enrollment. Credit enrollment is projected to
continue to grow at the rate of three percent a year. In the spring of 2009, 35 percent of the
student population was receiving financial aid. Significant to note is also the increase in loan
volume which grew 23 percent from FY07 to FY08.
Fall 2008 enrollment growth outpaced faculty growth, causing a decline in the full-time/parttime
faculty ratio from 44:56 in the fall of 2007 to 43:57 in the fall of 2008. One faculty position
was added in the college’s FY10 budget, and the college’s nursing program has secured grant
funding from MedStar, Who Will Care, and the Health Services Cost Review Commission’s
Nurse Support Program administered by MHEC to support three new full-time and three parttime
nursing faculty positions.
The college developed new allied health programs in public health, nutrition and aging studies in
FY09. The college also developed a new program option in environmental science, ecological
technology design that is articulated with University of Maryland College Park, and established a
new STEM learning community with National Science Foundation (NSF) grant funding.
HCC continues to identify and address the needs of county agencies. The police science
program, HCC’s successful collaboration with the Howard County Police Academy, had its first
graduates in FY09, and the college renewed discussions with Howard County Fire and Rescue
about a possible degree in fire science. The college’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center
has established partnerships with the Howard County District Court, the Howard County
Department of Juvenile Services, and the Howard County Department of Corrections to provide
training and receive referrals.
International programs in Turkey, Egypt, China, Mexico, Ireland, and Italy continued in FY09.
HCC was the only American college or university to participate in a new archeological
excavation program in France. Through a federal STARTALK grant, 71 high school students
were provided the opportunity to learn Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, and now Hindi language and
culture and to earn college credits at HCC tuition free.
The next classroom building is at least three to four years away, so space will continue to be a
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