ARC experiences significant decrease in student enrollment
Student enrollment at ARC has dropped 8.78% from the spring 2021 semester
Students gather on club day prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in the fall semster of 2019 at American River College. ARC and other Los Rios Community College District schools have seen a significant decrease in student enrollment from the spring 2021 semester to the spring semester of 2022, due to complications from the pandemic. (File Photo)
Since the beginning of COVID-19, colleges throughout California, including American River College, have seen student enrollment numbers drop.
According to Frank Kobayashi, vice president of instruction at ARC, ARC has seen a significant decrease in enrollment from the fall 2021 semester to the spring 2022 semester. This decrease is 2.45% more than the reported decrease from the previous semester.
“Comparing spring 2021 with spring 2022, we have seen an 8.78% decrease in weekly student contact hours,” Kobayashi said in an email to the Current.
Kobayashi says that the enrollment drop could be due to multiple different explanations. Job opportunities, on-campus availability, and online class offerings are all factors that could contribute to the decreased number of students at ARC.
“There are a number of factors including expanded student choice of online offerings across the State, student concerns about returning to on-ground classes and the economy providing job opportunities for students,” Kobayashi said.
ARC and the Los Rios Community College District are anticipating drops in future funding if enrollment continues to drop according to Kobayashi.
Kobayashi says that ARC is striving to help provide education to all students by offering the choice of both online and in-person classes.
“We will continue to offer a mix of both online and face-to-face classes that meet student needs,” Kobayashi said.
The LRCCD has been working to offer more classes and services to combat the drop in enrollment.
Kobayashi says that ARC is actively promoting new classes and programs that are better suited for all students who are still dealing with the effects of COVID-19.
“We are actively marketing our classes and programs to new and prospective students, letting them know the great benefits they can gain from an ARC and Los Rios education,“ Kobayashi said.
For more information on the LRCCD COVID-19 updates as well as information on how to enroll in online or in-person classes, visit the Los Rios COVID-19 update website and the ARC Enrollment and E-Services website.
