College enrollment boom reported in Massachusetts

College enrollment boom reported in Massachusetts

The poor economy is prompting more people to go back to school to boost their skills, and some institutions have been forced to take extraordinary measures to accommodate all students.

For example, the president of Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) in Charlestown, Massachusetts, called an emergency meeting of key staff after it became apparent enrollment growth would far exceed the predicted 7 percent.

"Today enrollment is up by 23 percent over last year and still climbing. We just topped 10,000 students, the highest ever for BHCC," said the school's president Mary Fifield.

She further added that the college made provisions to ask existing faculty to take on more courses, and it is hiring new faculty with appropriate qualifications and experience.

BHCC is the largest community college in Massachusetts, and 1,500 of its 10,000 students are enrolled in online courses, an option studies have shown is becoming increasingly popular.

Online education can be more cost-effective than attending an on-site school, while delivering the same quality instruction. It is a particularly appealing choice for working adults who have to balance various responsibilities and seek flexible study hours.