AIC laboring to meet self-imposed enrollment goal

"It will be a stretch to reach that number," said Mike Celaya, AIC director of enrollment and student services.

The Legislature had proposed to terminate operations at AIC if the campus failed to enroll 250 full-time students by the fall semester.

"Even though the footnote is no longer there, it's still important to us to have 250 students by the fall," he said.

Celaya said applications came in at a sluggish flow when articles were published about the committee's threat to close the campus, but lately more students have been applying.

"We expect to see some pick-up in applications since closing the school is no longer an issue," he said. "We're getting calls (from high school counselors) to go back out (to recruit students). That hasn't happened for a while."

Celestino Fern ndez, executive vice president for AIC, said interested students have been visiting the campus.

"Everyday, perspective students visit," Fern ndez said. "It's the most effective recruiting strategy because once they're here, they speak with the faculty and students. (The possible students) are very interested and frequently apply."

Celaya said applications have been arriving late because AIC is not usually a student's first choice.

"Counselors have said students are dragging their feet," Celaya said. "In some cases, students are looking at AIC as a back-up choice."

Bruce Johnson, a counselor at Sabino High School, said most of the students applying to AIC from his school like the atmosphere of the campus.

"They like the small classes, individual attention and liberal arts approach of the campus," Johnson said. "It's an opportunity for them to be on the cutting edge of something new."

He said two Sabino High students attended AIC last year. About 10 students are applying this year, most of whom have AIC as their first choice of colleges or universities.

Celaya said another reason AIC is unlikely to enroll 250 students by the fall semester is a lack of junior-level classes for transfer students.

In the fall of 1998, the school will offer junior-level courses for the first time, he said.

"That should open the door for transfer students," he said, adding "This fall will be a challenge for us to recruit enough freshman, but we feel pretty good about the fall of '98."

Fern ndez said AIC has been working with Pima Community College to recruit transfer students for the fall of 1998.

AIC has an application deadline of July 31, but Celaya said the date may be extended.