The LTUSD and LTCC boards at their annual meeting on March 28. Photo/LTN

By Kathryn Reed

Lake Tahoe Community College wants to see more local students enrolling in the two-year institution.

From Lake Tahoe Unified School District’s class of 2012 66.4 percent went to LTCC the following fall; class of 2013 – 66.5 percent; 2014 – 60.7 percent; and 2015 – 56.4 percent. It was noted that with the district having about 260 students graduating each year, it only takes a few students to skew the percentages.

This information was dispensed March 28 at the joint meeting of the two institutions’ boards. An agenda item was post-secondary enrollment trends.

The stats provided involve those who graduated from South Tahoe High School, Mt. Tallac High School and the Tahoe Learning Center.

What doesn’t show up in the numbers provided by LTCC is the students going to trade schools, using the knowledge they gained through the various career technical education paths STHS has.

LTCC picks up more local graduates after they have been out of high school for a year or two. Administrators would like to find ways to attract them from the get-go. One way is through promise grants.

The staff report says, “Typical of many promise programs, fees and tuition are covered for students who enroll in the partner college in the fall following graduation from high school.”

The college applied for a promise grant from the state, but was denied. LTCC President Jeff DeFranco said he’s looking at partnering with other entities – agencies and businesses – in the area to possibly create a promise program.

Another incentive for local kids to go to LTCC is having earned college credits while at South Tahoe High. LTUSD and LTCC have a duel credit program that continues to expand. Staff believe 25 percent of high school students taking college classes is a realistic goal. There is also the potential that one day they will earn a high school diploma, and the next they could receive their associate of arts degree; this is happening in other parts of the state.

The current sophomores could have about 30 LTCC credits when they leave STHS through the duel credit program that was launched last school year.

Part of the relationship between LTUSD and LTCC includes sharing facilities. This cuts down on having duplicate buildings and everything needed for programs.

DeFranco said LTCC is paying attention to what students are majoring in when they leave Tahoe. This data could be critical when the university center comes into being. This will be where four-year institutions come to campus to offer bachelor’s degrees without students having to leave South Lake Tahoe.

The primary reason LTUSD students (67.2 percent) from the classes of 2012-15 went to LTCC was to obtain a degree, certificate or transfer. The top declared majors were business, liberal arts, medical office assistant, criminal justice and natural science.

Jeremy Brown, director of institutional effectiveness for LTCC, went over the certificates LTUSD students earned at other institutions. They include corrections officer, general education, emergency medical technician, firefighter 1, leadership, massage therapy and medical assisting.

“The areas where we don’t have certificates may be potential areas for growth,” Brown told the boards.

The following are the number of LTUSD students who have gone on to higher education within one year of graduation and to what type of institution:

·      Class of 2012

Private or for profit – 7

Out of state public four year – 16

Out of state public two year – 3

California public four year – 37

Other California community college – 21

LTCC – 123

(Total – 207)

·      Class of 2013

Private or for profit – 6

Out of state public four year – 18

Out of state public two year – 1

California public four year – 44

Other California community college – 26

LTCC –95

(Total 190)

·      Class of 2014

Private or for profit – 14

Out of state public four year – 16

Out of state public two year – 2

California public four year – 54

Other California community college — 24

LTCC – 84

(Total 194)

·      Class of 2015

Private or for profit – 12

Out of state public four year – 14

Out of state public two year – 4

California public four year – 29

Other California community college – 25

LTCC – 87

(Total 171).