ANOTHER RECORD ENROLLMENT REPORTED AT IOWA LAKES

Iowa Lakes Community College has experienced another increase in student enrollment this spring.

This continues the long-term trend of growth at the college and is the 11th spring term that numbers are up.  The spring 2007 credit hours increased 4 percent with more than 31,000 credit hours.  Enrollment head count is 3,894 - a 3 percent increase over the spring 2006 term.

Tuesday's news followed on the heels of good news from the statewide organization in which Iowa Lakes participates. Just after 11 a.m. Monday, the Iowa Community College Online Consortium (ICCOC) reported that enrollments had topped 10,000 for the first time.

"The enrollment growth we have seen in the online courses since its start in the fall of 2000 has continued to surpass our expectations," said Theresa Zeigler, Director of Distance Education and Global Learning for Iowa Lakes as well as the Assistant Director of the ICCOC.  "Iowa Lakes, along with the Iowa Community College Online Consortium, continues to focus on quality online education provided by our own dedicated faculty.  The flexibility of this course delivery format joined with the extra student support services that the ICCOC and Iowa Lakes provide allows students to successfully achieve their educational goals which may not be possible in the traditional classroom."

Students have many ways to get their education through Iowa Lakes.

"We continue to assist students in meeting their educational and career goals at a price they can afford," said Julie Carlson, Dean of Enrollment Management.  "The college delivers courses in a variety of ways.  Students may attend classes face-to-face; take online courses; or enroll in hybrid courses, which are a combination of face-to-face and online instruction.  We also offer independent study and Fast Track classes."

Iowa Lakes offers more than 100 areas of study at its locations in Algona, Emmetsburg, Estherville, Spencer and Spirit Lake.  In addition, the college provides training and retraining to employees of area business and industry as well as continuing education courses.