Blinn's winter minimester enrollment sets new high mark

Winter enrollment increased 16% over the previous year

February 22, 2023

The Blinn College District saw a 16% enrollment increase and set a new registration record for the term during the recent winter minimester, the Board of Trustees learned during its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Blinn enrolled 2,197 students for the recent winter minimester, up from 1,894 during the 2021-22 term. The total exceeded the previous high mark of 2,160 who enrolled in 2019-2020. Blinn also set a new high in contact hours – the amount of scheduled instruction given to students – with 106,368, a 16.02% increase from the previous year.

“As our enrollment rebounds from the pandemic, it is exciting to see students make speedy progress toward their degree during the winter minimester while benefitting from Blinn’s outstanding instruction and affordable pricing,” said Dr. Becky McBride, Vice Chancellor for Student Services.

Trustees also received a preliminary report indicating that spring 2023 enrollment had increased 1.59% as of Feb. 6. Blinn already has exceeded its spring 2022 certified enrollment by 245 students and registration remains open for the spring second 8-week and second, third, and fourth 4-week terms.

In other business, Blinn’s Board of Trustees adopted three priorities for the state legislative session:

• The Blinn College District supports legislation developed from the final recommendations of the Texas Commission on Community College Finance.
• The Blinn College District supports the policy priorities adopted by the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the Community College Association of Texas Trustees.
• The Blinn College District requests that the Texas Legislature amend its service area to include the portion of Waller ISD that is located in Harris County, Texas.

Trustees also approved a new Associate of Science in Health Sciences – Nursing Degree Program for students seeking to obtain an advanced degree in a health science-related field. The plan is modeled on the pathway for advanced health science degrees at major universities and was developed for transfer to such programs. With the board’s approval, the degree plan will now be considered for approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Blinn’s trustees also authorized the College to negotiate and execute a contract for roof and gutter replacement at Blinn College Park Apartments buildings 1, 2, and 3 on the Brenham Campus and for roof replacement at buildings A, C, and D on the Bryan Campus. Trustees also authorized interior finish upgrades in Bryan Campus buildings A and G.