ATHENS — Limestone County’s two colleges — Calhoun Community College and Athens State University — both hit an all-time high enrollment for fall.

Calhoun President Marilyn Beck said the college’s 2010 fall semester enrollment has already reached 12, 055 students and the figure is expected to climb higher in the coming weeks. The numbers reflect a 6 percent increase in enrollment over the final numbers from last fall, Beck said.

The current semester at Athens State University represents the largest enrollment in the university’s history with more than 3,671 students registered for classes, a 5 percent increase over fall 2009.

“This is the seventh consecutive year we are seeing a significant increase in our enrollment figures,” said Jim Hutto, Athens State vice president for Enrollment and Student Support Services.  “Increases in enrollment percentages are always a great sign, but to have both an increase in the percentage along with a record number of students taking classes is a true cause to celebrate.”

Overall, Athens State students taking online offerings numbered 50 percent of the total student body for the fall semester.  ASU, an upper level institution, offers at least one or more courses that can be taken online in each of the university’s 33 majors, as well as traditional day, evening and weekend classes.

As registration continues for dual-enrollment students at Calhoun — those taking both high school and college classes — enrollment is expected to grow by 250 to 300 students, Beck said.

Campus upgrades and an expanded curriculum prompted some of the increase in enrollment.

 “We have built several new state-of-the art classroom buildings at the Limestone County campus, including the Health Sciences building and the Math, Science and Administration building,” Calhoun spokeswoman Janet Kincherlow-Martin said Thursday. “We have retooled our technology programs, working directly with area business and industry, and enrollment in these programs has skyrocketed. In addition to the robotics program and new programs in the health division, we have new programs in renewable energy (green technology), in cyber security and in developing and enhancing programs to meet the needs and demands created by BRAC. We are also working in partnership with Athens State University to development the downtown Fine Arts Center in Decatur. We expect to break ground by the end of the year. We have also expanded and made positive changes at the Huntsville campus to deal with growth there, including new classrooms, a new student center and bookstore, new classrooms for adult education and expanded parking.”

Of those students taking classes at Calhoun this semester, 5,579 are enrolled in day and evening classes at the campus off U.S. 31 in southern Limestone County and 4,769 are taking day, evening and weekend classes at the college’s Cummings Research Park site in Huntsville. Some 1,082 students are enrolled in Distance Education courses, and enrollment in the college’s dual-enrollment program stands at 301, with final numbers for the semester expected to top 600, Beck said. Enrollment in the college’s program at Limestone Correctional Facility adds 324 more.    

“Calhoun is a significant resource for those wishing to start or continue their education, and we are pleased to be such an integral part of the North Alabama region,” Beck said. “We are extremely excited about reaching this all-time record for enrollment at Calhoun.”