Jamestown Community College is back session, and Dr. Daniel DeMarte told staff members last week that the college is ahead of last year’s enrollment numbers.

DeMarte, JCC president, held a staff and faculty address to usher in the 2019-20 school year. DeMarte shared with the institution’s employees that JCC was exceeding its full-time equivalent student goal for the first time since 2010 and had a higher incoming student population than the beginning of the 2018 fall semester.

Kirk Young, vice president of student affairs, explained that JCC typically budgets for a reduction of students because of the declining population in the region.

But this year exceeded 2018’s incoming enrollment count and 2019-20 college budget’s expectation.

“It’s really good on two counts,” Young said.

Jamestown is entering the fall semester with a total of 2,500 enrolled students. The total count includes 1,861 full-time students, 773 continuing students, 798 first-time students, 163 readmitted students and 127 transfer students.

JCC is above last year’s total student as of the first day of classes by 17.3 full-time equivalent students, a 1.7% increase.

DeMarte said the increase was “a reflection on the outstanding work done by many to increase our enrollment.”

Additionally, the Jamestown campus filled 95% of its residence halls with 322 students, up from 236 at the start of the 2018 school year.

Contributing factors to the overall enrollment increase were increases in total international students, with 55 students from 25 countries; student athletes, with 155 in total; incoming freshmen students, a 12% increase from 2018; and 28 students enrolled in the Workforce Readiness Scholarship program.

Young said the positive numbers will likely have an impact on spring enrollment.

“It’s very promising for spring,” he said.

During DeMarte’s address, the Jamestown community showed “a lot of excitement and energy,” Young said.

He further explained that JCC will continue its marketing and recruitment efforts to continue potential increases in enrollment. Jamestown’s open house will be held Nov. 3.

“The goal is to keep the momentum going,” Young said.