EduKan Reports Largest Enrollment in 11-year History

Wichita, KS – EduKan, a consortium of the six western community colleges in Kansas, reports the largest enrollment in the institution’s 11- year history.  Enrollment is up by 9.14% over the previously highest enrollment and overall enrollment is up 10.3% ahead of last year.
 
“We offer our students ten different sessions each year to match the needs of our students,” says Dr. Mark Sarver, EduKan’s CEO.  “The session that begins in January is usually one of our largest, but this year it was the largest in our institution’s history.”
 
EduKan provides online associates degrees and general education classes to students in Kansas and across the U. S. 
 
“We are seeing a lot more students coming from out of state, especially California where the state’s budget deficit is reducing the number of classes being taught by their community colleges; our out of state enrollment is up by 7% through word of mouth advertising by our students.” 
 
EduKan has become one of the best online education programs available by offering a wide selection of coursework online.  The Higher Learning Commission accredits all the consortium schools, and all are Kansas learning institutions with excellent reputations and long histories of providing degrees in traditional settings, as well as through online courses.
 
The EduKan online consortium is made up of Barton County, Colby, Dodge City, Garden City, Pratt, and Seward County Community Colleges and the program provides the opportunity to obtain a complete associate degree online. An EduKan degree is transferable for students who want to continue their college or university education. 
 
EduKan coursework is also available to high school students who want to get an early start on their college career, pending approval by the student’s academic advisor.
 
Taking coursework through online colleges is fast becoming one of the most popular, accessible ways to earn degrees.  In 2007, 3.9 million students took online courses, a growth of 12% more than traditional “brick and mortar.
 
According to Sarver, “This growth is not expected to slow in the immediate future.  The value and convenience of the online education is being recognized by students, employers and academic advisors as more non-traditional students return to school, academically advanced high school students look to earn basic credit hours while still in high school, and employers see that employees can advance their expertise without leaving the workplace.