PORT ANGELES — Peninsula College will add another four-year degree, but what type is yet to be determined.
To be paid for with federal funds, it will be a degree through another university but with classes offered at Peninsula College, similar to the setup with Western Washington University for bachelor’s degrees in environmental policy or environmental science, Peninsula President Tom Keegan said.
“We are surveying employers, high school juniors and seniors, and other community members to determine what discipline it should be,” Keegan said.
“After that, we’ll go to the regional universities and see who will be able to offer it.
“The good thing is that it will be fully funded so we will be able to offer them [potential partners] the money to do it, whereas in this economic time it might be difficult to otherwise attract them for a small group of students.”
The program will support 20 students total and will be tied to Peninsula College, so if the needs of the college change, so will the type of degree.
Keegan spoke to the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce on Monday to give an update on the college.
“Enrollment is absolutely off the charts,” he said.
“We are 14 percent above last year this time, and last year we were 8 percent above where we were the year before.
“So that means, if my math is correct, we are 22 percent up from two years ago.
“We are absolutely bursting at the seams — and it is across the board.
“The Forks and Port Townsend campuses are growing just as much as the Port Angeles campus.”
Keegan said the growth is typical of the economic times.
“It isn’t unusual — and in fact is very usual — for community colleges to grow during an economic downturn,” Keegan said.
Also a symptom of the times is the financial aid, Keegan said.
“We have allocated more financial aid as of today than we did all of last year,” he said.
“The funding is primarily federal funds that are without limits, so we expect to shatter every record.”
Keegan said that even with the boost in enrollment he was concerned because of state budget cuts.
In Washington, colleges are given an enrollment target. If the college doesn’t reach the target, the budget is rolled back based on that, he said.
However, if the college exceeds the target it is not given more funds.
“I am concerned about the sustainability of maintaining the level of service with the 10 percent budget cuts and more sure to come in the future.
“However, I’m very proud of what we have been doing and how we are responding to community needs.”
__________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
