At last week's spring semester convocation, Director Gary Turner reported to staff and faculty that the upcoming semester had already broken last spring's record breaking enrollment. With another week of general registration remaining, KPC enrollment was up 22 percent in headcount with 2,464 students registered and 17 percent in credit hours for a total of 14,878.

More than 53 percent of the total credit hours across the KPC system are from E-Learning courses.

Although community college growth nationally is slowing, Kenai Peninsula College's growth continues to build.

"While we have not yet experienced that, I believe we will. Like the economy, Alaska usually lags a bit behind trend-wise. One thing we do know is that capacity is an issue for us and not being able to meet current demand, particularly in E-Learning courses, has affected our potential growth beyond what we have been experiencing," said KPC Director Gary Turner.

After the retirement of long-time faculty member Drew "Obie" O'Brien last spring, the mechanical technology lab at the Kenai River Campus has sat vacant awaiting a new instructor to take the helm.

Director Gary Turner recently announced that a highly qualified replacement has been hired. Shawn Taplin has accepted a term position as KRC assistant professor of mechanical technology.

This is the second semester since KPC/UAA implemented a two week priority registration system that allows currently enrolled, degree-seeking students to register before the general public. The system is set up so students with higher class standings (e.g. seniors versus juniors) can register first in order to get into classes needed to complete degrees followed by pending degree-seeking students.