Bioteau, along with other SLCC administrators, faculty, staff and students, is making cold calls to students who are not yet registered for classes this fall, encouraging them to continue their education.

"As the economy gets better, people don't realize that education is as important as it always has been," Bioteau said. "Our point is if you don't have a higher education behind you, you might get a job today, but when layoffs come, those without higher education will be the first to feel the effects."

The college launched its phone-a-thon last week. The first week's round of calls have reached nearly 8,000 students who have either applied but not enrolled; have taken classes in the past, but have not registered again; or have been taking college courses while in high school. About 32,000 more students will be called from now until Aug. 22, the start of the semester, said Joy Tlou, public relations director.

"Students start and stop college [all the time]," Tlou said. "We want to make sure students know this is the best time to approach the institution, get the classes down and achieve their educational goals."

It's also a reminder to people who are caught up in summer vacation who may have forgotten how soon classes start, he added.

Tlou said the current number of students enrolled in classes is down about 10 percent from this time last year, but the phone calls are expected to even out enrollment.

The phone calls have a proven record of success for the college, Bioteau said; when the college did a similar project last year, though on a smaller scale, enrollment jumped 41 percent within the first week of phone calls.

This year, there already has been an increase in the number of people registering in person, online and over the phone, although no exact percentage is available.

Bioteau credits the personal nature of calling someone.

"It's just reaching out to people personally and saying, 'You're not a number. We want you here and we really notice when you're not here.' "

lgoecker@sltrib.com