Butler of Marion sees increase in enrollment
Massage therapy program, increased ITV participation boosts enrollment numbers
Staff writer
With the addition of a new massage therapy program and increased participation from high school students taking interactive television classes, Butler of Marion has seen a boom in enrollment.
"As of Sept. 10, we have students taking 1,081 credit hours," explained Butler of Marion director Pauline Holub. "Last fall, we were at 650 credit hours. I figure it's a 66 percent increase."
Holub said she feels the majority of the increased numbers comes from the addition of the massage therapy program, being offered for the first time at the Marion site this fall.
"Some students are taking the classes for certificate purposes. Quite a few others are looking to get an associate of applied science degree," Holub said.
Currently, 12 students are taking the therapeutic massage I program and 18 are in anatomy and physiology for massage therapy class.
Holub said students can take therapeutic massage I and A&P (anatomy and physiology) but cannot advance further without taking A&P.
"A&P is a prerequisite for the massage therapy program and was developed strictly for this program," Holub explained. "It doesn't have a lab like the A&P class required for nurses."
Besides increased student numbers due to the massage therapy program, enrollment also has boomed thanks to increased participation at area high schools in the interactive television program or ITV, Holub said.
"The counselors have really been directing kids that way," she said. "In past years we maybe had five or six kids participating in ITV at Centre (High School). This year we have 16.
"Hillsboro has always been a big supporter in terms of large numbers. Diana Costello's classes at Marion High School always have been large," she added.
For the most part, other Marion County schools show similar increases.
There are 166 Marion County high school students taking ITV classes through Butler of Marion. That plus, the 196 students attending classes on campus give the Marion site a head count of 362.
Many of those attending class on campus are from out-of-town.
"We have some students from Harvey County, Dickinson County, Butler County, Chase County, two or three from McPherson, one from Lyon County, one from Hutchinson," Holub noted. "We even have a lady coming from Wichita to an art class."
Butler of Marion also is seeing an increase in the number of people taking non-credit courses just for their own betterment.
For instance, this fall the college is offering classes in basic computers and several specific computer classes including Windows XP, Microsoft Excel, and Internet and e-mail.
"These classes are for people who aren't interested in getting a degree or spending a semester taking coursework," Holub said. "These classes meet a couple nights and they're done."
