Allen Community College plans to welcome back students this fall with a little help from the community.
“Welcome Week” activities begin with move-in day on Saturday, Aug. 19, with a block party from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Activities Building. Businesses and organizations have been invited to set up booths to talk with students about job opportunities and give a general overview of their operations.
“It’s great to see the community supporting us even more,” Josiah D’Albini, director of student life, said at a meeting of the board of trustees on Tuesday evening.
About 40% of students have already moved in, Cynthia Jacobson, vice president of student affairs, reported. Most are student athletes — both men and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country — who arrived starting July 29.
Enrollment is down by 100 students compared to the same point last year, Jacobson reported. In August 2022, 1,454 students were enrolled in 13,982 credits. Currently, 1,354 students have enrolled in 12,873 credits.
She is optimistic that number will increase, as efforts continue to reach out to high schools for enrollment in dual-credit programs.
Dorms on campus still have about 28 beds available, D’Albini reported, with 264 students signed up for housing.
“It concerns me that we don’t have full dorms,” board member Vicki Curry said, noting that in previous years ACC had to house some students in area hotels because the dorms were full.
Student athletes are required to live on campus, unless they are local residents, Jacobson assured her. Only one exception was made this year, she said, for an international student who was already living with a host family.
The college also closed the Burlingame campus at the end of last school year, but that was not expected to significantly affect enrollment as most students could take dual-credit classes through area high schools.
D’Albini also noted he would like to change move-in day to Friday, starting next year. That will give students an opportunity to conduct last-minute business such as going to a bank or contacting other schools for transcripts.
After students move in Saturday, they’ll attend a dorm orientation that evening followed by a more general orientation on Monday. On Monday evening, students can attend Casino Night where they can win prizes.
Local businesses also will offer students special deals throughout the week.
The Red Devil Home Openers for soccer and volleyball will take place on Aug. 23.
Maintenance issues
With the start of a new school year, ACC’s maintenance director Ryan Sigg and his crew have been working furiously to prepare the campus.
