Oregon Public Broadcasting

Nationwide, community colleges are experiencing record enrollment. Lane Community College in Eugene is no exception. The school is expecting a 25 percent increase in its registration this fall over last year. KLCC's Rachael McDonald reports.

School starts September 29th. But classes are already full during peak daytime hours at the main campus in Eugene.

Mary Spilde is president of LCC.

Mary Spilde: “We are out of space on campus between the hours of 8 and 2. we just don't have any more space with the classes already scheduled. So that's why we've been looking at alternatives like the Downtown Center. Cottage Grove still has openings. Florence still has openings and we're looking at other times of the day when our facilities aren't packed.”

Spilde says the college is adding classes between 4 and 6 p.m. on the main campus.

She says the boost in enrollment is mainly due to the economy. Many unemployed people are back at school.

Also, some students who expected to go to a four year college have opted for LCC because of its affordability.