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Enrollment Boom A Shock To HCC Campus

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: October 13, 2008

RUSKIN - Enrollment at Hillsborough Community College's new SouthShore campus is way above projections. In fact, it is about 10 times the estimate.

How did the fall semester enrollment go?

Allen Witt, campus academic dean: "It went far beyond even our most optimistic predictions. By the end of August we had 1,500 students and 2,700 class enrollments. Based on previous enrollments at the SunPoint shopping center, the district expected 150 students, and we campus officials said 180."

What do you think accounted for the difference?

George Keith, campus president: "Some of the additional enrollment was due to the compression decrease by the state on university enrollments. Another factor was the increased fuel costs of getting around. And finally I'd say a pent-up demand in this area for higher education."

How did this affect the number of faculty and staff you hired?

Witt: Originally, we had three full-time employees; now we have 22, including four full-time instructors. We started with 10 part-time instructors, but we had to add 34.

How large do you think this campus could be?

Keith: When our six buildings are completed by about 2018, we could be the size of Brandon, which has more than 7,000 students.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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