KAILUA-KONA — Enrollment at Hawaii Community College — Palamanui has grown significantly after one full school year on the new campus.
KAILUA-KONA — Enrollment at Hawaii Community College — Palamanui has grown significantly after one full school year on the new campus.
Student numbers increased by 43 to 504 for the fall 2016 semester, up from 461 in the fall of 2015 — an increase of almost 10 percent. Resident enrollment in college programs through the University Center, West Hawaii is also up from 70 participants last year to 90 this year.
Marty Fletcher, director at Palamanui, said the increases are encouraging, particularly because West Hawaii has one of the lowest percentages of college-going people throughout the state.
Rising enrollment is also empowering Fletcher and his administration to take steps toward cementing their vision for the institution’s future, which begins with adding new educational opportunities.
“I think we can move that number up,” Fletcher said. “To really grow significantly, to get upwards toward 1,000 students, I think we need some expansion so we can bring in some new programs — more vocational trades programs and programs specific to the needs of the West Hawaii economy.”
In 2016, Palamanui began offering a Digital Media Arts program, which trains students in areas like graphic design, photography and videography.
Starting next semester, students will also have the opportunity to enroll in a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree via the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Offered through the University Center, students will have the option to enroll in more than 50 certificate, bachelor’s and graduate programs from other University of Hawaii campuses.
Also coming in the fall semester of 2017 is a Certificate of Achievement in Veterinary Assisting through the school’s partnership with Windward Community College on Oahu.
Dani Carico, program coordinator, said it’s geared specifically toward the needs of the veterinary industry throughout the state.
“The veterinary community overall has been really hungry for trained professionals in this field because there is currently no veterinary school that exists in the state of Hawaii,” Carico said. “The veterinary community sees a significant turnover rate within six months of being hired because a lot of people want to work with animals, but they don’t really know what’s involved. They want to play with puppies and kittens and help them, but when you’re dealing with sick animals, that’s a lot different.”
The one-year program offers training to become a veterinary assistant, which includes skills like computerized patient check-ins, administering injections and medications, and assisting veterinarians and veterinarian technicians with the running of a clinic.
Prerequisites for the program exist and must be completed to pass. Graduates will be eligible to pursue the veterinary technician program at Windward if they so choose.
The same program coming to Palamanui was run in Maui last year, where it began with 21 students, nine of whom are on track to graduate, Carico said.
There are a maximum of 25 spots available for the upcoming academic year’s cohort through Palamanui, and the sign-up period has already begun.
Those who wish to learn more may attend free information sessions at 5:30 this evening or Dec. 13. Both sessions will be held at the Palamanui campus in Room 102.
Anyone interested in the program may also reach out to Carico via email at vetadec@hawaii.edu.