NICC spring enrollment is declining

Preliminary enrollment figures for the spring 2013 term at Northeast Iowa Community College show a drop both in the number of students enrolled and the number of classes being taken.

NICC Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Kathy Nacos-Burds says the school's head count decreased 1.9 percent, while the number of credit hours being taken dropped 2.02 percent.  The final and official enrollment count will be taken this Friday.

While the drop in students means a drop in tuition receipts for NICC, it is actually a sign that the area economy is improving.  That's because when a recession occurs, people who cannot find a job go back to a community college to improve their job qualifications by taking additional courses.