WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

As depicted below (based on degree-seeking students), there are typically more females than
males enrolled at WNCC, which is consistent with national trends.
Table 6-26 Students by Gender 2005-2008
Status Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008
Male FT 357 402 406 442
Male PT 560 348 581 969
Total Males 917 750 987 1411
Female FT 515 501 543 542
Female PT 790 677 777 1017
Total Females 1305 1178 1320 1559
Enrollment by Campus Location
The Scottsbluff campus has the greatest number of students enrolled in classes at WNCC. Based
on the fall end-of-semester reports, charts are provided for enrollment breakdown by site location.
Table 6-27 Enrollments by Campus Location
Enrollment Fall 2004 Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Fall 2007 Fall 2008
Alliance 310 220 245 205 244
Scottsbluff 1355 1323 1279 1340 1271
Sidney 265 228 210 243 242
Projections released by the Department of Education predict that the number of high school
students will continue to decline in this area, meaning that, as discussed in the earlier Responses
section, two factors are critical to maintaining enrollments:
1. A higher saturation rate of the available pool in an increasingly competitive environment
2. Increased enrollment garnered from other populations such as second-career (or
furloughed) workforce training, international, and out-of-area student enrollment, as well
as senior citizens taking avocational coursework, life-long learners participating in a
culture of inquiry who pursue education as a function of their personal lives, or business
and industry training keyed specifically to incumbent employee skills enhancement.
Although WNCC has grown consistently, except after a slight decline following an enrollment spike
in 2002, the targeted numbers for growth are extraordinarily hard to define. Factors such as the
national and regional economy show strong correlations to enrollment, and local economic
development efforts have a significant impact upon job potentials.
Regionally, the Nebraska Population Projections show declines in most counties within WNCC’s
district, some as high as a 10.9% loss in Sioux County (directly north of Scotts Bluff County),
varying to a 5 or 6% projected total population decline. Only Scotts Bluff (+10.3%), Morrill (+ 3%),
Dawes (+ 1%), and Cheyenne (+ 4.8%) counties are expected to show population growth.
Unfortunately, the counties bordering Scotts Bluff County are expected to shrink in population,
although Cheyenne County, where the Sidney campus is located, will likely grow (RR 52).
Western Nebraska Community College Page 85