KAILUA-KONA — Enrollment at Hawaii Community College-Palamanui has grown significantly after one full school year on the new campus.
The number of students increased to 504 for the fall 2016 semester, up from 461 in fall 2015 — a rise of almost 10 percent. Resident enrollment in college programs through the University Center, West Hawaii also is up, from 70 participants last year to 90 this year.
Marty Fletcher, director at Palamanui, said the increases are encouraging, particularly because West Hawaii has one of the lowest percentages of people going to college in the state.
Rising enrollment also is empowering Fletcher and his administration to take steps toward fulfilling their vision for the institution’s future, which begins with adding new educational opportunities.
“I think we can move that number up,” Fletcher said. “To really grow significantly, to get upwards toward 1,000 students, I think we need some expansion so we can bring in some new programs — more vocational trades programs and programs specific to the needs of the West Hawaii economy.”
In 2016, Palamanui began offering a digital media arts program that trains students in areas such as graphic design, photography and videography.
Starting next semester, students also will have the opportunity to enroll in a Bachelor of Arts degree program in liberal studies via the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Offered through the University Center, students will have the option to enroll in more than 50 certificate, bachelor’s and graduate programs from other UH campuses.
Also coming in fall 2017 is a certificate of achievement in veterinary assisting through the school’s partnership with Windward Community College on Oahu.
Dani Carico, program coordinator, said it’s geared specifically toward the needs of the veterinary industry throughout the state.
“The veterinary community overall has been really hungry for trained professionals in this field because there is currently no veterinary school that exists in the state of Hawaii,” Carico said. “The veterinary community sees a significant turnover rate within six months of being hired because a lot of people want to work with animals, but they don’t really know what’s involved. They want to play with puppies and kittens and help them, but when you’re dealing with sick animals, that’s a lot different.”
The one-year program will offer training to become a veterinary assistant, which includes skills such as computerized patient check-ins, administering injections and medications and assisting veterinarians and veterinarian technicians with operating a clinic.
There are prerequisites for the program that must be finished to complete the program. Graduates will be eligible to pursue the veterinary technician program at Windward if they so choose.
The same program coming to Palamanui was offered on Maui last year, where it began with 21 students, nine of whom are on track to graduate, Carico said.
There are a maximum of 25 spots available for the upcoming academic year’s cohort at Palamanui, and the sign-up period is underway.
Those who want to learn more can attend free information sessions at 5:30 p.m. today or Dec. 13. Both sessions will take place in Room 102 on the Palamanui campus.
Anyone interested in the program also can contact Carico via email at vetadec@hawaii.edu.
Email Max Dible at mdible@westhawaiitoday.com.
