Ogden » For the Utah College of Applied Technology, a downturned economy has brought an upswing in student enrollment.
UCAT's recently released annual report shows enrollment increased nearly 12 percent during the 2007-2008 school year.
UCAT has eight regional campuses statewide. Student membership -- the amount of time students are enrolled -- also increased 4.3 percent, the highest amount in UCAT's seven-year history.
St. George's Dixie Applied Technology College saw the biggest increase at almost 35 percent and enrollment grew nearly 20 percent at the Davis County campus in Kaysville.
Projections for the 2008-2009 school year indicate even higher numbers, said Jim Taggart, vice president of the Ogden-Weber campus.
Since July, membership hours at the Ogden school have increased 25 percent, Taggart said.
Jared Haines, vice president of instruction and student services, said students are coming back to the classroom to upgrade their skills.
"[In the last] couple of years, at least with labor shortages, companies were hiring students as quick as they could get them," Haines said.
Haines said he expects the economic slump will bring more students to long-term programs rather than quick upgrade training.
The challenge for UCAT will be to accommodate a growing student population in the face of a 4 percent cut in higher education funding, he said.
"We have to find the best way to use resources," Haines said.
