As has been the recent trend, a record number of students have again turned to Lone Star College-North Harris for its classes in more than 110 different academic and workforce programs. The college currently has more than 16,600 students enrolled at its main campus and two satellite centers. The growth represents a 16 percent increase over the previous spring semester and an increase of nearly 50 percent in the last two years.
LSC-North Harris continues to be the fastest growing college in the Lone Star College System, which grew by 11 percent this semester and is now approaching 70,000 students.
The college’s two centers also continue to keep pace with the overall growth. LSC-Greenspoint Center, in the Greenspoint area, has experienced a 12 percent increase in students, while LSC-Carver Center, located in Acres Homes, has grown by 20 percent.
Beginning in the fall of 2011, LSC-Carver Center will be replaced by the LSC-Victory Center, a new 85,000 square foot facility which will allow for expanded offerings and substantially more capacity for the surrounding neighborhoods.
A number of factors can be contributed to the incredible growth, including the economy and rising tuition at four-year colleges and universities. The more flexible scheduling found at a community colleges is also attractive to students trying to balance school with work and family responsibilities.
“Not only are we attracting new students, we are doing a great job of keeping our current students enrolled and on track for their goals,” said Dr. Steve Head, LSC-North Harris president. “I think it says a lot about the quality of education that we provide, and the atmosphere that we have created, when three-fourths of our current students have attended here in a previous semester.”
To help manage the remarkable growth, LSC-North Harris is currently in the final phase of approximately 320,000 square feet of construction and renovation projects.
“It seems inevitable that this coming fall will be another record-breaking semester,” added Dr. Head. “Thankfully we’ll also be opening a new student services building and the additions to our fine arts and applied technology buildings. The LSC-Victory Center is scheduled for completion and our Health Professions Building in the Houston Northwest Medical Center will be the new home for many of our medical programs.”
In the meantime, to maximize its capacity, the college offers weekend and evening class offerings, as well as online and hybrid classes for students who need a more flexible class schedule. SecondStart classes, which begin as late as Mar. 21, are also offered this spring.
For information on SecondStart or other class options still available students should visit LoneStar.edu/registration or stop by the college or a center to speak with a representative.
Lone Star College-North Harris is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 East, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. For more information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit LoneStar.edu/NorthHarris.
With more than 69,000 students in credit classes for fall 2010, and a total enrollment of more than 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.