LUCKY THIRTEEN – LAKE AREA TECH ENROLLMENT HITS MARK AGAIN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
WATERTOWN, SD – For the thirteenth consecutive year Lake Area Technical College has documented record enrollment, surpassing last year’s record of 1846 by more than 10%. With 2061 students starting the fall semester, Lake Area Technical College saw significant growth in many of its programs including a 25% increase in Building Trades, Medical Lab Tech and Energy Technology. The “new student in program” count is also up at 1138 which is a 5% increase over last year’s number of 1087. The overall increase is driven by a strong return of upperclassmen, several programs achieving full enrollment, a 20% increase in online E-Degree seeking students and over a 50% increase in Dual Status enrollment.
Lake Area Technical College Director of Student Services, LuAnn Strait comments, “With this being our thirteenth year of growth, Lake Area Technical College has accomplished something few colleges nationally can say they have ever experienced. With the Aspen Prize recognition over the past six years as one of the top two-year colleges in the nation and President Obama delivering the commencement address in 2015, Lake Area Technical College is noticed on a much larger scale.” Strait continues, “Although all of this is important, we know to a greater extent that the outcomes of our students speak the loudest. Because of that, we continue to make every effort to be the college who provides a caring culture for students, hires the best staff, has strong regional and industry support, and gives students the skills they need to be successful.”
Lake Area Technical College attributes its continued successful growth to several factors including the full-ride Build Dakota Scholarships, 99% placement rate after graduation, offering high demand degrees, and the growing popularity of online E-Degrees. Also, for being named a Finalist with Distinction for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence which nationally recognizes the learning outcomes, retention, degree completion, employment and earnings, and success for minority and low-income students.
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