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Winter quarter enrollment at Big Bend Community College is near the record set last year and ranks second all-time for the quarter.

The enrollment numbers are good news for the college after fall enrollment in 2011 dropped 9.6 percent from the previous year.

BBCC reported 1,656 full-time equivalent (FTE) students winter quarter 2012, just five FTEs short of last year’s record of 1,661.

Sixty-eight percent of Big Bend students are attending full time (12 credits or more). Total student headcount dropped by 46 students compared to last winter, mostly attributed to the drop in part-time students.

The college reported 170 Running Start students enrolled this winter, the most in 10 years.

“More efficient scheduling and a willingness of faculty to accommodate additional students beyond capacity helped us with enrollment this winter,” said BBCC President Bill Bonaudi.

Since 2009, BBCC has lost $3.7 million of its state-funded budget, and is planning for another $800,000 cut in 2012. The college has lost 26 positions including nine full-time faculty. Class offerings have been reduced and equipment budgets slashed.