With the second summer session underway, the colleges of North Harris Montgomery Community College District are experiencing what Chancellor John E. Pickelman, Ph.D. called “phenomenal, explosive growth.”
Topping the 28 percent mark in growth, student enrollments have risen from 13,688 in summer of 2001 to 17,788 at the beginning of the second summer session 2002.
The watchwords for this academic year have been “growth, growth and more growth,” according to Dr. Pickelman.

“Amazing growth is how I can best describe this current academic year. Our growth in the fall, spring and summer semesters has been 4,000-5,000 additional students per semester. That is equivalent to adding the entire enrollment of an average-sized community college in Texas for each of the last three semesters,” he said. A median-sized community college in Texas has 4,600 students enrolled.

David Sam, Ph.D., president of North Harris College (one of the district’s four comprehensive community colleges) echoed Dr. Pickelman’s comments. “We are sizzling this summer at North Harris College with nearly 1,000 new students served. This is one of the best summers in the history of our college and we are very pleased.”
North Harris College has a 19.1 percent growth in students served.
Kingwood College has experienced a 21.4 percent growth this summer, and registrations for second summer session are still coming in.

“We have worked very hard to get more students to see the importance of using the short summer sessions to move them ahead in their education and it’s paying off. Enrollment for fall is currently 63 percent ahead of what it was this time last year. We don’t expect the level to stay that high – but we are anticipating a crowd,” said Linda Stegall, Ph.D., president at Kingwood College.

Many things are working for the district this summer. University students are taking advantage of the summer months to complete classes to transfer back to their “home” institution in the fall, the 50% tuition reduction program for weekend classes is in effect through the summer, and with the economy changing, many people are taking the opportunity to re-tool themselves for another career.

At Montgomery College, enrollment continues to climb while the college district searches for a new president for that facility. “The presidential search continues,” said Dr. Pickelman, “We brought in seven semi-finalists for day-long interviews, and will return three or four candidates for a three-day period in July for meetings with faculty, staff and the community. Our goal is to have the position filled by the end of summer.”

Montgomery College has experienced 15.1 percent growth, and the neighbor to the southwest, Tomball College, experienced nearly 20.2 percent growth.
“Enrollment growth is also the story at Tomball College,” said Ray Hawkins, Ph.D., president. “Even with the Fairbanks Center opening to serve students in the Cy-Fair community, we have over 20 percent growth. According to our analysis, the growth should continue.”
The Fairbanks Center – the satellite center for Cy-Fair College that is still under construction – is serving nearly 1,300 students as it opened its doors for the first time this summer.
“We could not be more delighted,” said Cy-Fair College president Diane K. Troyer, Ph.D. “With nearly 1,900 class enrollments, we’re still registering! Enrollment at this time is very reflective of the population we serve and that is just what we’d hoped to see.”
“Our biggest challenge ahead will be getting start-up funding from the state for Cy-Fair College. Because funding is based on past enrollment, and Cy-Fair will be a new college with no enrollment history, we must ask the state for start-up funds for Cy-Fair College for the biennium,” Pickelman said.

“The legislature has set a consistent precedent for providing start-up funding – Dallas, Austin, Alamo, and Tarrant community colleges. Even our own Montgomery College received special new-campus funding seven years ago. We believe our legislators know the importance of this request and understand the impact it will have for the Cy-Fair community and the entire college district. We expect 7,000 enrollments when the doors to Cy-Fair College open.”
North Harris Montgomery Community College District, the fourth largest community college district in the state, comprises North Harris College, Kingwood College, Tomball College, Montgomery College, seven satellite centers, and The University Center. Cy-Fair College, the district’s fifth comprehensive college, will open in 2003.

For more information on programs and services, please visit the Web at www.nhmccd.edu or call 281/260-3500.