Published: December 14, 2007 12:43 am      

Navarro named fastest growing

Report cites 14.8 percent enrollment growth in ‘06

Mark up another number one finish for Navarro College.

The institution announced this week it has been recognized by a national college publication as the nation’s fasted growing community college for public two-year colleges in its enrollment range. The report in Community College Weekly’s Dec. 3 edition said Navarro’s enrollment increase of 14.8 percent from fall 2005 to fall 2006 was the reason for the honor.

“It’s nice to know that we are being recognized for our growth throughout the country,” Dr. Richard Sanchez, college district president said Thursday. “But most importantly, it attests to the programs the college offers, the ambiance we are able to create here, and the ‘customer service attitude’ the college is able to extend.”

Navarro College has placed among the top 50 in several recent years in the Community College Weekly’s rankings, coming in 12th in 2006, 28th in 2005, and 20th in 2004 and 10th in the 2003 rankings for growth in it’s enrollment range of 5,000 to 9,999 students.

“I’m very pleased that the students are able to find what they’re looking for here,” Sanchez said. “I’ve said for a long time that Navarro College is the college of choice for many students.”

Sanchez attributed Navarro’s growth to what he termed “a very deliberate, aggressive enrollment management plan.” That plan includes outreach efforts by recruiters throughout the state, hosting tours of the Navarro campuses for high school students, presentations to high schools, and, now, use of the college’s Web site.

“We use a program called ‘Hobson’ ... it is a system where students can access the page ... takes them through a series of steps ... it generates information for the students about the enrollment process,” Sanchez explained. He said the college was always looking for ways to enhance its growth.

The only other Texas community colleges to make this year’s “Top 50” list were Lee College in Baytown, and Mountain View College, a part of the Dallas County Community College District.

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Bob Belcher may be reached via e-mail at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com.