Enrollment is up at Olympic College this fall

News Release for Immediate Release

BREMERTON – Enrollment is up across programs at Olympic College as students return to campus this fall.

With 5,864 students enrolled in classes, fall quarter headcount (the raw number of students taking classes) is up 11.2% from last year – an increase of 589 students. The Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) student count has risen by 10.1% from a year ago to 4,541. One FTE represents one student enrolled in 15 college credits per quarter. For example, if three students each take a five-credit class, they collectively total one FTE.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome students back to campus,” said OC President Marty Cavalluzzi, Ph.D. “I haven’t felt this level of energy and excitement on our campuses since before the start of the pandemic.”

OC has seen enrollment gains across multiple programs. The Running Start program, for example, has seen a 12.2% increase with 1,159 students. Military & Veteran Programs has also grown, now boasting 1,289 students – a 12% increase from last fall. Branch campus enrollment figures are particularly notable. At the Poulsbo Campus, enrollment has risen by 84.21%, with a headcount of 525 students. In Shelton, enrollment has surged by 150%, now totaling 240 students in credit-bearing classes.

During the pandemic, OC transitioned many of its academic programs and services to online or hybrid online/in-person formats. The college is now even better positioned to provide a mix of in-person and online programs and services.

As more students return, the college is also enhancing its in-person services. At the Bremerton Campus, dining options are available in the Bremer Student Center (Bldg. 10) from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, Monday through Thursday, and there are plans to extend this to Fridays. The Haselwood Library has extended its hours and now offers services until 7 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

As OC continues to recover from the pandemic, it is working to introduce new programs that bolster in-person enrollment and address the increasing demand for skilled workers in fields like health care and manufacturing. This winter, the college will unveil a fully renovated Shop Building, with state-of-the-art facilities for manufacturing, precision machining, technical design, and welding. Additionally, OC is introducing a new four-year degree program: the Bachelor of Applied Science in Behavioral Health, which launches fall 2024.

“The pandemic was undoubtedly challenging for everyone, but the future appears brighter than ever. We are harnessing all the lessons from that period to create a flexible and effective learning environment for our students, whether they choose in-person or online classes,” Cavalluzzi commented.

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