Fall enrollment figures at Grayson County College are the highest they have been since the mid-1980s, and increases are evident across the board. Additionally, contact hours have topped one million for the first time in GCC's history.

Another first in GCC history is a record number of admissions applications. Nearly 7,000 applications were received, an increase over 2008 applications by 21 percent and an enormous 76.35 percent increase in the past six years.

More applications translates into more students. Fall 2009 enrollment jumped more than 15 percent over the previous Fall's numbers: 658 additional students enrolled this semester bringing the total enrollment to 4,938. That increase brought a record number of contact hours reported as well. Contact hours measure the total number of classroom hours that the students take during a semester. GCC's academic and technical course contact hours are 1,040,800, up 22.52 percent over 2008. Contact hours are the traditional measure used for state funding reimbursement.

"The historic increase in contact hours is the natural result of Grayson's initiative to offer more classes at times when students can take them," said Wendell Williams, vice president for student services. "For example, we scheduled 80 more sections during the peak period from 8 a.m. to noon, and we're delivering more Internet course options."

With increased enrollment come increased credit hours as well. Credit hours measure the number of hours students earn for successfully completing their work, which could be as high as 48,666 hours when the semester ends. That outpaces the Fall 2008 count of 41,483 credit hours.

GCC's student body has seen some changes in its composition as well, notably among its underrepresented ethnicities that make up about one-fourth of the students. Foreign students are down by 12 percent over last Fall due to graduation and transfer, but other groups show large increases. Of those, American Indian students account for the largest increase of more than 34 percent; African-American and Hispanic student populations swelled by 29.37 and 20.6 percent, respectively.

"These surges are indicative of GCC's success in attracting and retaining students from ethnicities that have had greater obstacles in enrolling and succeeding in college," Williams said. "Our initiatives have far exceeded our goals to meet the educational needs of underrepresented populations. We will continue to set higher goals."

Significant to GCC's enrollment growth is the number of students who are taking six to14 or more credit hours. Of that, students taking 12 to 14 credit hours grew from 1,555 in Fall 2008 to 1,839 in 2009.

"More students are choosing to be full-time students," said Kim Faris, director of admissions and records at GCC. "Students are taking advantage of the increased course offerings on our three campuses as well as the numerous Internet courses available."

The overwhelming majority (3,434) of students live in Grayson County, up from 2,950 in Fall 2008. During the same period, Fannin County residents rose from 536 to 584. Nearly 40 percent are male, up a percentage point over last Fall. There are 611 dual credit students (high school juniors and seniors) enrolled, an increase of 31 students over Fall 2008. Seniors comprise 85 percent of the dual credit enrollment.

GCC has 1,797 new students (up by 145 students over Fall 2008) ranging from dual credit and transfer students to high school graduates and GED holders. Of those, more than 600 students are May 2009 high school graduates, an increase of 187 students over last Fall's May 2008 high school graduates. Ninety-one Sherman High School graduates account for the largest number of students, followed by graduates from Denison (79), Pottsboro (44), Whitesboro (34), Gunter (30), Van Alstyne (28), Bells (26) and Bonham (24). While these students all represent significant increases over their 2008 counterparts, the 2009 Pottsboro graduates enrolled grew exponentially with a 120-percent increase over 2008 Pottsboro graduates. Whitesboro students were a distant second with an 89 percent growth.

Faris attributes the increase to campus building improvements, quality academic and technical programs, recent recruiting initiatives and the current economy. "People have found themselves in a place in their lives where additional education will enhance their employability. Education is always a good decision when someone is trying to start the next chapter in their life," she said. "Jobs may come and go, but no one can take your education away."

A little more than half (2,540) of all students this Fall are attending GCC's Main Campus. Nearly 1,800 of all students at GCC are enrolled in at least one Internet course. Student retention rates are holding steady as well. Just over 43 percent of those who were students during the Fall semester of 2008 returned in 2009; a little over 53 percent returned from the Spring 2009 semester.

While such growth can challenge an institution's infrastructure, GCC is poised to continue to accommodate its students. New Internet course offerings are in development. Traditional courses are taught in high-tech, up-to-date classrooms at the college's campuses in Denison and Van Alstyne, and at the Rayburn Collegiate Center in Bonham. Most campus buildings are newly renovated; construction and renovation on the remaining structures are nearing completion. Additional parking lots have been paved. The Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS) also launched a bus service at the college to transport students from area communities."At GCC, students are our first priority," Williams said."They trust us with their future, and that is a trust we take very, very seriously."