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Mountain Gateway Community College is boasting an increase this fall semester of more than 45 percent in enrollment in the FastForward program, which offers short-term training for in-demand jobs, and an increased head count of 51 students overall enrolled at MGCC.
“We have more students on campus than ever before,” said Dr. Matthew McGraw, the newly named chief workforce officer, which oversees the college’s division of Workforce Solutions and Community Education.
As for traditional academic for-credit programs, MGCC can boast an increase of 5.3 percent in FTEs (Full Time Equivalent) students. FTEs do not measure the number of students attending classes, but rather translates student credit hours into an equivalent number of fulltime students. MGCC also has a 3.3% increase in total students enrolled (962) in credit programs.
The college has 479 dual enrollment students, up from 448 last fall. High school and homeschooled students may enroll in MGCC collegelevel courses to earn college credit.
FastForward is a program within the Virginia Community College System that provides tuition assistance for many nontraditional students to complete training in order to earn nationally recognized credentials, such as CDL-A and CDL-B, phlebotomy technician, massage therapist or nurse aide, usually offered as non-credit courses.
MGCC is currently enrolling students for its second eight-week session, which begins on Oct. 16. Spring enrollment will begin on Nov. 6. Call MGCC Student Services at (540) 853-2820 to schedule an appointment with an adviser.
