August 13, 2010

County Executive Ken Ulman and County Council Member Courtney Watson to Participate

(COLUMBIA, MD) - Amidst unprecedented enrollments and increased student need, HCC will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a second parking garage on Monday, August 23, 8:45 – 9:15 a.m. on Lot G, located near the Hickory Ridge Building on campus. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and Howard County Council Member Courtney Watson will be among those speaking at the ceremony. The County will contribute $7,000,000 toward the construction of the 750-space parking garage, and the college will contribute $7,213,000 from the college fund balance, which is comprised of student fees. The critical project, which totals $14,213,000, will improve the college’s current parking deficit of 1,663 spaces; the space deficit exists despite the 518 spaces comprising HCC’s first parking garage. The groundbreaking will take place prior to Fall Convocation, a college tradition celebrating the beginning of the fall semester.

“The desire of our community to access higher education is growing tremendously,” said Dr. Kate Hetherington, president of HCC. “With great need comes great demand. At a time when we are experiencing increased enrollment, this parking garage will make room for current and future students. Without the support of Howard County for this critical project, a number of students would not be able to access the college. We are very grateful.”

The college shuttles students and employees from the Wilde Lake Village Center to campus each semester. While helpful, an overwhelming number of students indicate on annual surveys that a shuttle-service is not a viable long-term solution for their needs, which are based on the practical realities of having to report to work on time and/or pick-up their children from daycare.

The college anticipates that, once again, it will exceed projected growth of 4% for 2010-2011; enrollment figures for fall 2010 will continue to be fluid until the third week of September. Nearly 29,000 credit and noncredit students enrolled at the college in 2009-2010. Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment increased 12.8% for fiscal year 2009-2010, which was a 9.2% increase in headcount enrollment over fiscal year 2008-2009.

About HCC

Howard Community College (HCC) is a publicly funded two-year community college serving the educational needs of the citizens and employers in Howard County, Maryland since 1970. With its slogan, “You Can Get There from Here,” the college has forged a variety of partnerships to offer career and transfer programs to over 28,000 students annually at its main campus in Columbia, the Ecker Business Training Center, Laurel College Center, and the historic Belmont Conference Center. Located midway between two major metropolitan areas, Washington DC and Baltimore, MD, Howard Community College is an affordable, community-based institution that has long been recognized for its ability to inspire learning, and the lifelong pursuit of personal and professional goals. Among its many awards is the prestigious U.S. Senate Productivity Award for organizational performance excellence.