MISSION VIEJO : Early Sign-Ups for Fall Classes Urged

With a heavy demand expected, officials at Saddleback and Irvine Valley colleges are urging new and former students to apply as soon as possible for fall semester classes.

The fall semester at both campuses starts Aug. 24. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

If summer school enrollments are any indication, classes should be packed this fall, officials say. As with other community colleges in the state, funding for the two campuses has not kept up with the increase in student population, especially in booming south Orange County.

At Saddleback College this summer, about 7,000 students enrolled for classes, with another 3,000 on waiting lists, officials said. A traditional second summer semester at the campus fell victim to state budget cuts.

“We were in a situation where as of the first day of class, 86% of our classes were closed (to additional enrollment), which is a high figure,” said Vern Hodge, vice president of student services at Saddleback College.

The situation is similar at the smaller but also growing Irvine Valley College, where about 3,000 students were enrolled for the summer session. By the end of the first week of the semester, about 90% of the classes were filled, with an average of 37 students per section for the 114 courses offered, said campus spokesman George McCrory.

“We’re seeing more of what we call a ‘freeway student’-- a student who goes to a lot of different county (campuses) to get the classes they need,” McCrory said. “Also, last year we saw a lot of students come from the UC and CSU systems because they can’t get classes there.”

Another factor for local campuses has been an influx of unemployed people seeking new job skills to try to compete in the tough recessionary economy, officials said.

At Saddleback College, fall registration for continuing students began Tuesday. New and former students will be given an appointment time to register upon filing their applications. Applications are available in the Admissions and Records Office. For information call (714) 582-4555.

At Irvine Valley College, registration by appointment for continuing students starts Monday. New students can get applications in the college’s Admissions Office. For information, call (714) 559-3220.

Fall semester classes at both campuses will run through Dec. 19.