by Rachel Coleman
With the launch of its online learning platform, Saints Anywhere, Seward County Community College has recorded increased enrollment, a significant factor in the college’s continuing upward numbers for student success.
As spring enrollment for 2024 wraps up, SCCC’s online credit hour total came in nearly 1,000 credit hours higher than the previous year — 3,246 hours as compared to 2,276 credit hours in 2023-23. In everyday terms, that means students enrolled in roughly 300 separate online classes, each of which typically earns three college credit hours.
“The numbers so far are very positive, and it’s pretty exciting,” SCCC President Brad Bennett said.
The totals are especially encouraging in light of the college’s exit from the online learning consortium EduKan in January 2024. In the process, advisors and recruiters encouraged students to enroll in the newly-expanded, in-house online learning platform, Saints Anywhere.
The shift entailed “a tremendous amount of work to provide an online experience of the same caliber as our campus options,” said Bennett. “We wanted online classes at Seward to be an upgrade for the students who rely on remote learning and need that flexibility with scheduling.”
Making the new platform a reality involved the entire SCCC team from human resources to IT to academic affairs, admissions, and marketing, Bennett told the board of trustees at the January meeting.
“Our folks have worked hard to develop this from an idea to something functional. We’ve hired around 45 adjunct instructors to teach. We’ve publicized the shift from EduKan to Saints Anywhere, and reached out to students to make sure they understand we are here to provide what they need,” he said.
Bennett noted the improvements extended to the financial return on investment, too. Increased enrollment and a reduction in overhead costs resulted in new income generated by Saints Anywhere.
Even so, the biggest takeaway from the fully in-house online platform is the benefit to students, Bennett said.
“Having a single log-in for all students, whether they are studying in the classroom or via the Internet, is an advantage. It makes everything easier. The same goes for billing and student records, all handled through the college and not a third party. The Registrar’s and Business offices are happy, the students are happy,” he said. “For us, that is the measurement of success.”
Learn more about Saints Anywhere at sccc.edu, or by calling Admissions at 620-417-1110.
