by Marcus Washington
SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. - Nearly 500 hundred students are taking classes at new Robertson County college campus, but it isn't necessarily good news for one of the colleges offering the courses.
After much anticipation, classes at the new Highland Crest College Campus have started.
Students are enrolled and classrooms are filling up.
"We have students right out of high school to students who haven't been in school for 30 years coming back," said Highland Crest Director and Volunteer State Community College spokesperson Kelly Miller.
The campus was a joint partnership with the city of Springfield and Robertson County to offer higher education to people in the county.
Both Volunteer State Community College and Austin Peay State University joined in to offer courses.
Right now, Vol State has more than 450 students enrolled.
"We started offering 55 classes by the time courses rolled out, we were at 84," said Miller.
Enrollment on the other side of campus has not been so great for Austin Peay as its enrollment is at zero.
Bill Persinger with Austin Peay State University said while enrollment on its main campus looks to be up, students at the Robertson County campus is non-existent.
"This is no different than where we were a few years ago with the Dickson (county) campus," said Persinger.
Persinger said building up student enrollment is process and the number of students or lack of, does not come at a shock.
"At Highland Crest specifically, we are at a building phase. We have a very good relationship with Vol State and other community colleges, in that those students will eventually come to us if they want to come pursue a four year degree program," said Persinger.
The plan is to target students like Vol State sophomore elementary education major Latori Mulzac.
"I'm going to Austin Peay State to finish my next two years," said Mulzac.
Both Vol State and Austin Peay have agreed to hold classes at Highland Crest College Campus for the next three years.
Both schools have also agreed to pay the city and county $10,000 per year to lease the space.
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