Calhoun’s interim president, Dr. Jimmy Hodges, talked with the Warhawk News reporters about the future of Calhoun. Calhoun Community College is a valuable resource for students who want to take college classes at lower prices. Dr. Jimmy Hodges has been interim president of Calhoun since June of 2021.
Dr. Hodges says that college enrollment ebbs and flows with the economy:
“Our enrollment has been slowly trending down for the past several years. …Now we are back on an upswing. When the economy is really good and unemployment is really low, traditionally, community college enrollment across the nation is a little bit lower in those times. When the economy is on the downturn and unemployment is a little bit higher, our enrollment in community colleges is traditionally higher…,” Hodges said.
According to Hodges, Calhoun’s enrollment is around 8750 students, while just last fall it was only 8250.
“We are up a good 500 students, so that’s a very positive thing.”
Dr Hodges says that Calhoun is taking steps to boost enrollment, both by sending out recruiting teams as well as promoting the dual enrolment program.
“Our dual enrollment this year is higher than it’s ever been…” says Hodges. “Right now, this fall semester, we have we have over 1600 students enrolled in the dual enrollment program.”
As the community grows, Dr. Hodges is confident that the future looks bright for Calhoun. As people and industry move in, Calhoun will likely shift its primary focus from Associates Degrees that are common today, and that enrollment numbers will increase.
“It’s my opinion that in the next five years, community colleges are going to see tremendous growth, but it’s going to be kind of a different growth. What industry is looking for, they are wanting to get workers trained in a shorter period of time,” says Hodges. “In the future I think you’re going to see that we’re going to probably be graduating a lot more short certificates, and offering a lot more certifications.”
Dr. Hodges is the second interim president since Dr. James Klauber left in 2018, and he’d like to make it permanent.
“…what I want to do is to become the permanent president. I anticipate something will happen within the next six months; I would hope. This is my dream job.”