Three Rivers College's spring enrollment drops

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers College recorded an enrollment of 3,601 students on the first day of the spring semester -- 175 students fewer than a year ago.

"The number of students is down about 5 percent, but this is still 2 percent ahead of the national average decrease," said Dr. Wesley Payne during a Three Rivers College board meeting last week.

Payne, who is the college's president, said enrollments for community colleges usually fall as the economy improves.

TRC students are taking 38,654 credit hours of classes. A year ago, TRC had 3,776 students taking 40,847 credit hours of study.

Payne said the college staff "will focus on recruitment and on retaining the students we have."

"We have put a lot of factors in place to improve the situation," Payne said. "A student's success depends on attendance in the classes."