According to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, the head count from the first day of classes was up by 9.8 percent, bringing the total number of enrolled students at Bakersfield College to 16,636.
However, with the large increase of students enrolled, some classes and infrastructure have suffered with the lack of instructors and space.
BC student Ashley Hoskison said that she definitely noticed the increase of students on campus. “I used to be able to park in the Humanities parking lot. Now I can’t find parking.”
Hoskinson explained that her classes also seem very crowded. “In my geology class, people have to sit on the steps.”
Hoskinson said that school officials should try to limit enrollment or build a bigger parking lot to accommodate the increased enrollment. Hoskinson also explained the frustration she feels with the newer students. “You know they’re just going to drop out anyway,” said Hoskinson.
Student Corey Chasten has a different opinion, saying that enrollment has not affected him. “It doesn’t feel like there’s that many people. It looks like a high school campus.”
But there are far more students enrolled in Bakersfield College this semester than any high school in or near Kern County with the inclusion of enrollment in online sections at Stockdale High School, the Delano Center and weekend classes.
Professor John Menzies explained that the physical science classes have always been full, but this semester there are longer waitlists.
“One waitlist had eight or nine people on it,” he said.
Menzies explained that with the increase in enrollment, the staff is also suffering. “We need a new person to teach different sections.”
Menzies continued to say that his department is in the process of trying to get more instructors for the number of students taking classes.
“We usually have about 105 students and there are 96 chairs and several extra desks in the back,” said Menzies. According to Menzies, some students sit on the steps, but most do it by choice because they don’t want to climb over people in the smaller aisles.
The Counseling Department has also been very busy as a result of the large enrollment numbers this semester.
Oliva Castaneda, a student worker in the Counseling Department, recalled the weeks prior to school beginning. “Students came from everywhere. The room was the busiest it had ever been.”
Castaneda, also a student at BC, has felt the increase in her classes. “In my biology class, there was nowhere to sit on the first day. The instructor had to let all the waitlist people go.”
Castaneda said the Counseling Department was busy because people wait to the last minute to register for classes.
Student Edgar Campos felt that the number of students on campus has not personally affected him. “My first class is at 7:50 a.m., so parking is not an issue, and none of my classes are crowded.”
Campos explained that it did feel like there were more people on campus because he sees more people walking around and that people seem more motivated to go to class.
Professor Menzies explained that the reason why enrollment is up is because people are realizing that it is so much cheaper to attend a community college than many other universities. “It’s smart to come here and get your money’s worth. It makes sense.”