HCC part-timers at all-time high

Housatonic Community College enrolled about 6,100 students this fall, with a record number of them part-time as the full-time student population dropped for the second consecutive year.

The Bridgeport community college reported enrolling 2,056 full-time students and 4,041 part-timers, and said the economy was the driver for the latter figure’s increase.

“We continue to see the impact of the economic downturn on our increased enrollment,” said James Connolly, registrar of HCC, in a statement released by the school. “More and more people are looking at community colleges as employees are outsourced or downsized and as families tighten their financial belts. Many realize that they can cut their tuition bill in half by going to a community college for two years and then transferring to a four-year school.”

The college drew 47 percent of its student body from Bridgeport, with another 13 percent coming from Stratford.