Lake Area Technical College Enrollment Sets New Fall Record

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Lake Area Technical College (LATC) has set a new fall enrollment record, with 2,321 students registered for the current term, slightly exceeding the previous record. The announcement was made by Cam Cory, Vice President of LATC, during a presentation at the Watertown School Board meeting last night.

Cory stated the college is "cautiously optimistic" about reaching a record of over 2,800 students once spring enrollment figures are added.

Key Areas of Growth

The college has observed its most significant growth in its healthcare fields. This rise is consistent with trends seen across the state and has been supported by new facilities at LATC.

·        The recently opened surgical technology lab space has contributed to increased interest and enrollment in the Surgical Technology program.

·        Enrollment in Dental Assisting continues to grow, with the upcoming Dental Hygiene program also generating substantial interest.

Dual credit enrollment is another area of expansion for LATC. Students from 78 different high schools are currently taking dual credit courses through the college.

Dual Credit and Enrollment Statistics

Cory noted that 23% of all current LATC students previously took dual credit courses through the college, highlighting it as a "distinct entry path" to the institution.

Cory noted a trend that 20 current LATC students are pursuing a technical degree after having already earned a baccalaureate degree. These students are enrolled in programs such as Dental Assisting, Physical Therapy Assistant, Nursing, Professional Pilot, and Business.

Additionally, 11 high school students are currently taking full-time credits at LATC through the Nursing, Computer Information Systems, and Agricultural programs.

Future Goals and Discussion

LATC's long-term objective is to graduate 1,015 students annually by the year 2030. Cory indicated the college is on track to meet this goal.

During the discussion, school board member Jean Moulton asked for clarification regarding how dual credit enrollment factors into the overall count. Cory explained that the announced enrollment number includes every unduplicated student attending LATC, including dual credit students.

The board also inquired about the cost of dual credit and the financial implications of increasing dual enrollment on full-time student status, state funding, and financial aid.

 Cory confirmed that heavy dual credit loads can impact a student's first-year status and financial aid, an issue the college is currently discussing internally. The college has established a fund through its foundation to assist students with the cost of dual credit when needed, following changes made by the state legislature.