PORT ANGELES — Two and a half years after Suzy Ames stepped into the role of President at Peninsula College, its declining enrollment rates have reversed and are now showing a steady upward climb.
“I like to say that I inherited a sleepy little college with a ten-year steady enrollment decline,” Ames told the Port Angeles Business Association at Joshua’s Restaurant Tuesday morning.
But after a few years of hard work and an emphasis on community partnership, Ames said enrollment increases have been 20 to 30 percent quarter over quarter. Now, Peninsula College (PC) is set to end the year sitting around 2016 enrollment rates while maintaining prior retention rates.
“I’ve been in higher education administration for 25 years, and enrollment is our lifeblood,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like this in any of my years, and neither have my peers.”
The transitional studies program, which helps adults achieve their high school diploma or GED, has also grown 85 percent since 2021, according to Ames. There are many things that have led to PC’s recent success, Ames said, with the front runner being the nine new instructional programs that it started.
“Nobody does nine [at once],” Ames said. “You might do one or two.”
PC, however, broke that mold. Its nine new programs include: an auto repair program with an electric vehicle emphasis; a natural resources program; a virtual office assistant program; a media technician program in partnership with Field Arts and Events Hall; four expanded areas of emphasis for its business bachelor’s degree; and a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health.
“Those nine programs were the catalyst to stir that energy to go see what we’re doing [at the college],” Ames said.
While PC’s enrollment has grown by leaps and bounds, Ames said she thinks those increases are just the beginning and that some upcoming programs could further increase enrollment.
Currently, PC is working on developing a Kindergarten through Eighth grade bachelor’s teaching degree and an associate degree in dental hygiene.
The hope is for the dental hygiene program to open in 2026. However, more funds will have to be secured to meet that goal.
“There is no more expensive program for us to start or continue running than a dental hygiene program,” Ames added.
While the program has secured $1.963 million in Congressionally-directed funds, Ames said it will have to raise another $1.5 million to build the dental hygiene lab.
PC is also working to expand its natural resources program through a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grant, with the goal of bringing more Indigenous individuals into the program.
Ames said that there is some worry the NOAA grant will get pulled by the current federal administration, as it is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and addresses climate change and indigenizing the workforce.
In addition to that program, PC will also be creating a mobile welding and marine manufacturing training program, purchasing and outfitting two semi-trucks through its $5 million portion of the $35 million Recompete grant.
The college is also working to increase the percentage of local high school graduates who transition to college. While the average graduation rate across the North Olympic Peninsula is 84 percent, only around 34 percent of those students go on to post-secondary school, according to Ames.
One way PC is targeting this is through a three-year Horizons Regional Grant that will allow PC to partner with the College Success Foundation, which works to get and keep individuals in college.
In its first one-month period, Ames said this program has already served 1,000 students.
“In collaboration with this wonderful community, it is a new day at community college,” Ames said.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
