Georgia's technical colleges see record fall enrollment

By Laura Diamond

For the AJC

Georgia’s technical colleges experienced a record fall enrollment as thousands of adults returned to school in search of new careers because of the recession.

The system's 28 campuses enrolled 110,254 students  -- an increase of 24 percent from last year, according to figures released Monday. The total shattered the system's previous record of 91,838 students set in 2003.

Ron Jackson, commissioner of the state's Technical College System, has said enrollment increases during recessions as out-of-work adults and underemployed workers seek training in high-demand fields such as business, health care and computer information systems.

“Our enrollment is growing at a record pace because the word is out that a Georgia technical college education is the most direct route to a great job and a long-term career,” Jackson said Monday. “If there’s an upside in this down economy, it’s that the state’s technical colleges are helping tens of thousands of Georgians learn highly marketable skills and find their new place in today’s changing workforce."

Many students said they're seeking careers that are more recession-proof.

Kristin Farr, 21, drives about an hour from Griffin to Atlanta Technical College for the dental assisting program.

"I've always been interested in it, but when you look at what's going on, it makes sense," she said. "People who have jobs in medical fields seem to have more stable employment than those at businesses that tend to shut down when the economy is bad."

Atlanta Tech's enrollment grew by about 47 percent, one of the state's largest gains.

"We were expecting an increase but not of this  magnitude," college President Alvetta Thomas said. "Obviously the weak economy is a big motivator for people to return to school. We've also been doing a lot of marketing, and officials and elected leaders keep telling people to go back to school. And we're a good deal, too."

Tuition typically costs about $2,000 a year, with much paid through grants from the state and federal governments.

The state reported an 8 percent increase in traditional students, those under 21.

But Thomas said most of her college's growth came from adults seeking a new profession.

In some cases, the reason is more personal than economic.

Benjamin Lovell, 40, worked as a chef but didn't want to continue 80-hour workweeks after his son was born. He enrolled in the dental lab technology program at Atlanta Tech, and when he graduates, he will earn about as much as he did as a chef but will work about half as many hours.

"I still get to be creative, but instead of making food for people to put in their mouths, I'll be making the dentures people put in their mouths," he said.

Technical college enrollment

Georgia's technical colleges saw large increases in fall enrollment as laid-off workers and underemployed adults seek to learn new skills. Here are the increases found in metro Atlanta:

College ..................Fall ‘08.... Fall ‘09....% change

Atlanta Technical ........3,193 ........4,691 ........47

Chattahoochee Technical ..5,588 ........10,974..........96*

DeKalb Technical..........3,924 ........4,752 ........21

Gwinnett Technical........5,307 ........6,623 ........25

System total ............88,725 ........110,254 ........24

Source: Technical College System of Georgia

NOTE: Percentages were rounded. Chattahoochee Technical merged earlier this year with Appalachian Technical College and North Metro Technical College.