El Paso Community College enrollment up significantly

The proposal has garnered the support of both state and federal lawmakers who represent the area, according to Roberts, as well as from officials of New Mexico State University and UTEP, with both universities "wanting a presence on our campus.

"West Texas is unique. Because of our isolation out here, it forces post-secondary entities to collaborate with each other." He called the community college's relationship with the two neighboring four-year universities rare. "We meet regularly with our counterparts - faculty with faculty and administrators with administrators. Our presidents have a wonderful working relationship." Roberts said the collaborative attitude is a result of the realization that "we're all in this together."

The expansion of Fort Bliss is the primary economic driver that is causing a population explosion at EPCC, but it is not the only one. The growth at EPCC is "unique," said Roberts, and is tied to several factors. First, attending community college classes is cost effective. "Tuition and fees paid by a student here are roughly one-third what they would pay for the same number of credit hours to attend UTEP." Roberts said that as a border institution where the per capita income is very low and residents face financial obstacles to pursuing higher education classes, EPCC is a "very cost-effective way of addressing their educational needs."

The increase in student growth at the border university has been unfolding over several years, said the EPCC official, beginning when four-year universities were allowed to deregulate their tuition rates. Tuition rates at neighboring UTEP went up "substantially," he said.

In fall 2001, said Roberts, the unduplicated credit enrollment (students taking credits pursuant to earning a degree) was at 18,500. By fall 2006, the enrollment had increased to 25,300.

Because El Paso is a border location between the United States and Mexico and because free trade is beginning to flow between the two countries, the college also has seen a growth in enrollment that reflects the growth in the city's population.

Roberts said an additional campus at Fort Bliss would certainly help alleviate the growing pains EPCC is facing. He said the proposal to DOD is "working its way up through DOD channels."

However, he laughed, "We're ready to break ground tomorrow."