SPRING ENROLLMENT REACHES HIGHEST LEVELS EVER AT BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Just five months after the September 11 attack on America closed their college for three weeks, Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) students enrolled in record numbers for the spring 2002 semester.
In fact, this semester’s enrollment is the highest-ever spring enrollment in the college’s history. Total BMCC enrollment increased by 5.8 percent to 16,383. Transfers increased by 43.1 percent, and freshmen enrollment increased by 5.3 percent.
“We’re back stronger than ever,” said BMCC President Antonio Pérez. “We knew all along that our students were resilient, and this proves just how resilient they are.” BMCC had expected to spring enrollment to drop as a result of the college’s location near Ground Zero.
Classes at the college on Chambers Street, just blocks from what used to be the World Trade Center, were suspended for three weeks after September 11 while the campus served as an emergency command center for the city’s rescue and recovery operation. One of the college’s buildings, Fiterman Hall at 30 West Broadway, sustained heavy damage and has remained closed since September 11. That building will remain closed for several years.
BMCC scrambled to create temporary classrooms for students displaced from Fiterman Hall by installing portable classrooms on West Street and Harrison Street and by transforming meeting rooms and other common areas on campus into classrooms.
To help alleviate the overcrowding at the main campus downtown, BMCC began to offer courses on the City College campus in January. “Students who live and work uptown appreciate the convenience of taking courses there,” said Perez. “Our strong showing uptown proves that Manhattan needs a community college presence uptown.”
