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Community College Enrollment Continues To Climb

DETROIT (WWJ) - Community colleges in Metro Detroit are anticipating another year of record enrollment in 2012.

George Cartsonis from Oakland Community College says last year the school had its largest enrollment numbers and the reason is simple.

"In hard times community college enrollment always goes up," Cartsonis told WWJ Newsradio 950. "Last year, during the winter semester, we enrolled 29,151 students.  That was an all time high for us in our 47-year history."

He said the health care field continues to attract the most interest.

"There's an increasing demand for health care professionals. We have something like 15 different health care-related programs, but the biggest program is the Associate Degree nursing program," said Cartsonis, adding that, with the "graying" of Oakland County, health care is a logical choice.

Cartsonis said the school's biggest challenge in 2012 will be funding.  He said 50 percent of the college's budget comes from ever dwindling property taxes.

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