NICC summer enrollment is down

When economic times are tough, enrollment at community colleges increases, as people head back to school to get new training to make themselves more attractive to employers.

So perhaps it's a good sign overall that summer enrollment at Northeast Iowa Community College is off 8 to 10 percent so far, with the semester beginning on Wednesday.

NICC officials say 190 fewer students have registered for summer classes this year, compared to last summer.  That's an 8.35 percent decrease.  The actual number of credit hours enrolled is down 10.8 percent so far.

NICC officials say at least part of the cause is an earlier decision not to offer summer term nursing classes.  That accounts for 80 of the 190 fewer students.