Parkland College sees enrollment increase from last year

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) announced that community college enrollment has increased majorly in recent years.

"It's really just more evidence that the continued bounce back from the pandemic and as you dig into the numbers, you can see that a lot of that is around technical education, adult education, really some areas that are face to face," said Executive Director of the ICCB, Brian Durham.

Parkland College Dean of Enrollment Management Kristin Smigielski said they've seen increasing numbers for quite some time now.

"This is a trend that's nice to see, and have it turn around for us. So we are up this fall compared to last fall but we've been up the past couple of summer terms as well as spring so this is about our 5th term in a row being up compared to that previous term," said Smigielski.

Completion rates are also on the rise.

"Completion rates are up historically as well. An individual can do a one year certificate, get a completion, and go and get a job, they can decide to come back and get that two year. There's a lot of different opportunities depending on your career path but overall graduation rates are up historically here also," said Durham.