Dalton State shuttling students from Trade Center

August 18, 2008 08:07 pm

— By Mark Millican
markmillican@daltoncitizen.com

Dalton State College swung its doors open to students on Monday, and that included shuttle bus and van doors.
Between 170 and 180 vehicles owned by DSC students were parked on Monday at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center. College vans will transport students the 1.5 miles to the school, along with a private shuttle bus firm.
“We’re close to 4,900 students,” said Jodi Johnson, vice president of enrollment and student services. “That’s an 8 percent increase in head count, and 10 to 11 percent in FTE (full time equivalency).”
FTE is the number of students taking 15 or more hours of course work. The portion of funding the college receives from the state is based on full time equivalency.
The exact count was 4,881, said Johnson, who said the number “could go up some” since students are given three days after the semester starts to get enrolled in classes. There were 4,537 students enrolled on the first day last year.
“It went remarkably smooth,” said John Hutcheson, vice president of academic affairs, of the first day. “Nothing we’re run into yet has proven to be a snag.”