SCC students - who attend classes at the Ullin campus - will have the opportunity to exercise in a new, state-of-the-art fitness facility, which was just completed over the holiday break.

NEW YEAR OFF TO GOOD START AT SHAWNEE COLLEGE

1/5/10
Shannon Woodworth - Shawnee News Service

ULLIN - The new year got off to an exciting start at Shawnee Community College with preliminary numbers showing another significant jump in enrollment as the spring semester nears.

Spring classes begin January 13th and with nine days left to enroll, the college was already experiencing a nearly 21 percent enrollment jump over last year.

These numbers follow a record fall semester enrollment at SCC that boasted the fourth largest enrollment growth among Illinois community colleges.

"We are seeing significant and consistent growth," said Dr. Larry Peterson, president of Shawnee Community College. "I cannot say enough for our faculty and staff in terms of the college's success."

Peterson noted that college staff would focus on getting additional students registered over the next nine days, including high school students who participate in dual credit courses. Dual credit is an opportunity for eligible high school juniors and seniors, who are capable of meeting an increased challenge, to earn college credit through selected high school courses.

"We expect to see greater dual credit numbers than in the past," Peterson said. "We have been promoting this opportunity and showing high school students how greatly it can benefit them."

SCC students - who attend classes at the Ullin campus - will have the opportunity to exercise in a new, state-of-the-art fitness facility, which was just completed over the holiday break.

The college is also pleased with an announcement from US Senator Dick Durbin that its Small Business Development Center has been awarded a $200,000 federal grant. The Small Business Center provides business counseling, small business workshops, business planning and other services to a 5-county area in Southern Illinois.

"This announcement couldn't come at a better time as local businesses look for a leg up in this troubled economy," Peterson said. "Preparing people for the workforce and helping businesses to create new jobs for those people to step into is so much of what our college is about."