Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Enrollment Continues to Grow at PCC

Photos and story by James Hill

PORTLAND – Portland Community College, Oregon’s largest post-secondary institution, experienced enrollment growth for the 16th consecutive term. After the 11th week of the quarter, the college grew by 3.4 percent in total headcount and 2.9 percent in total full-time equivalent (FTE) versus last year at this time. For fall 2000, the headcount number stands at 43,693 students while the total FTE is at 6,761.By campus, the enrollment growth breakdown is:The Cascade Campus increased in enrollment by 16.1 percent in total headcount and 13.2 percent in FTE, the greatest of any of the three main campuses. Cascade surged to 7,786 total headcount and 1,255 FTE versus 6,703 total headcount and 1,109 FTE after the 11th week in fall 1999. The Rock Creek Campus gained 7.4 percent in total headcount (6,355) and 8.9 percent in FTE (1,195). In 1999, the campus had a fall term enrollment of 5,919 in total headcount and 1,097 in FTE. The Sylvania Campus, the largest campus, grew by 4.3 percent in total headcount (12,887) and 2.2 percent (2,741). Last year, Sylvania’s 11th week count during fall term stood at 12,352 and FTE was at 2,683.PCC’s Open Campus saw a slight drop in its enrollment with a dip of 1.3 percent from last year. The total student count for fall term stands at 22,226, down from the 22,509 count last year. The FTE count fell by 6 percent, from 1,668 in 1999 to 1,568 this year.Despite the growth, PCC will get help to alleviate the surge with the passage of its bond measure in last month’s general election. In its third attempt on the election ballot, district voters overwhelmingly approved PCC’s $144 million bond by an official "yes" vote count of 64 percent. PCC, the largest post-secondary school in the state, serves 97,000 part- and full-time students annually in a wide variety of programs. The college boasts three comprehensive campuses, four workforce training centers and approximately 200 community locations throughout its five-county district.