November 21, 2024 3;30 a.m. 

Umpqua Community College’s fall 2024 full-time enrollment is above last year’s values by over 25 percent.

A UCC release said this percentage surpasses pre-pandemic enrollment levels from fall 2019 and has the highest percentage increase in the State of Oregon out of all community colleges.

UCC Director of Communications and Marketing, Suzie Pritchard, said this year the college surpassed its credit-based student headcount. Pritchard said enrollment increased to 3,990 students from 3,186 in the fall of 2023, according to week four of the fall term. This also surpasses pre-pandemic levels from week four of the fall of 2019, when enrollment of 3,923.

This growth is attributed to several key factors, including an increase in student headcount in a variety of subject areas such as business, medical careers, sciences and automotive. Additionally, there has been an increase in community members taking enrichment classes and workforce training.

UCC President Dr. Rachel Pokrandt said, “We are excited that our region trusts the college to give them the education they need to fill high-skill, high-wage jobs right here in Douglas County”. Pokrandt said, “We are working hard to innovate and provide the very best services to all members of our community”.

The release said in the past year, UCC launched new degrees and certificates in the fields of advanced manufacturing, water quality, business, social work and allied health. For more information about UCC’s program offerings, go to: www.umpqua.edu