While the American Samoa Community College has experienced a gradual decline in enrollment in the past few years, President Dr Rosevonne Makaiwi-Pato points to the steady graduation rates as evidence of the consistency of the college’s programs and offerings.
ASCC is producing an average of 240 graduates each acadenuc year.
For 2016-2017 the number of graduates was 227, the year before that it was 259 anf in the 2014 to 2015 year the number of ASCC graduates was 254.
During the same academic years, enrollment at ASCC dropped, which is the same trend at off island colleges and universities.
One of the reasons for the decline is believed to be the availability of online courses.
The ASCC President said the number of graduates “speaks highly of the consistency of our programs and offerings.”
Asked how ASCC plasn to address the decline in enrollement, Dr. Makaiwi-Pato says the college has a Marketing Committee “that is doing an excellent job in college and career awareness and outreach to the high schools.”
She reported,”Recently ASCC had a Career Awareness workshop that involved all the counselors and principals of the high schools, public and private.
“In addition ASCC has ongoing training for specific skill sets that the private businesses and some government agencies have taken part in.”
There’s also grant funded community partnerships that allow for certification in skilled areas.
The college president said an example of the community partnerships is the Apprenticeship Program which she says has been very successful and allows businesses and ASG authorities to upgrade and update their employees with the skill sets needed on the job.
ASCC has 2 to 3 sessions each year which allows between 25 to 100 employees to receive certification in specific trades and technical areas.
