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Fayette college enrollment doubles

The number of students taking academic courses this fall at Clayton State’s makeshift Peachtree City campus has nearly doubled since spring, university officials report.

The Fayette County Higher Education Center saw 112 students enrolled when classes resumed Tuesday, Aug. 24,Êan increase of 93 percent from the spring 2004 enrollment of 58.

The enrollment jump mirrors growth on Clayton State’s main Morrow campus as well, where a record 6,000-plus students enrolled for the first day of classes Aug. 23.

Also this fall, the university is celebrating the opening of the $19 million, 131,000 square foot University Center on the main campus. The four-story complex, which took three years to build, houses classrooms, a student center and administrative offices.

The Fayette County branch campus opened a year ago in leased ground-floor space at the Peachtree City Tennis Center. When Clayton State first started offering classes in the fall of 2003, just 36 students were enrolled.

“Thus, in the course of one year, enrollment has grown 211 percent,” boasted John Shiffert, director of university relations for Clayton State.

In Fayette, course offerings for fall 2004 — all of which meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays —Êinclude two sections each of English and math, music appreciation, American history, critical thinking, and speech communications. Six of the eight courses have all of their seats filled, Shiffert said.

The university is leasing the space from the Peachtree City Tourism Association for $1 a year. School officials are still looking for another location somewhere in Fayette County to locate a larger, more permanent campus, Shiffert said.

The student growth and expansion plans fit into the long-range goals Clayton State has for Fayette County, said University President Thomas K. Harden.

“Clayton State is committed to more completely serving the people of Fayette County,” Harden said in a press release. “Our enrollment has increasedÊas we hoped andÊprojected.ÊWe are workingÊwith the county leadership to expand the higher education opportunities in Fayette County.”

The Fayette County Higher Education Center came about as a cooperative effort between the university, and officials with both the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and the county Development Authority.

University Director of Admissions Jeff Hammer said the leap in enrollment was a direct result of expanded marketing efforts that included current Clayton State students. Originally, the Fayette Center was designed to appeal to non-traditional students.

“Another major factor is that we are offering more courses than we did in previous semesters,” Hammer said.

Hammer also applauded Anika Chambers in the Office of Admissions for doing an excellent job working with the Fayette Center.Ê

“Without her attention to detail and follow-up with students, the enrollments would not be nearly as high,” he said.

Exactly half of the fall 2004 enrollment is made up of brand new students, while 65 of the 112 are full-time (12 credit hours or more) students, said Shiffert.

Clayton State, through the Fayette County Center, started offering non-credit, Continuing Education and small business development classes in October 2002. Four college-credit evening classes were offered at the Fayette Center starting in August of last year.