ENROLLMENT CLIMBS FOR COLLEGE INTERSESSION COURSES.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Enrollment for Antelope Valley College's intersession classes, held during what had traditionally been winter break, is up 44 percent from last year, college officials said last week.

At the close of walk-in registration on Wednesday, 608 students had enrolled for intersession courses compared to 422 last year. Intersession courses begin Jan. 4.

``It's exciting, and it tells me we've responded to a need appropriately,'' President Linda Spink said. ``We listen to our students as to the need for flexible class schedules, and so we created an intersession to meet that need.''

This is the second year Antelope Valley College is offering intersession courses.

``People are becoming more aware of it and finding it works for them,'' said Antelope Valley College spokesman Steve Standerfer.

Students were drawn to core transfer-level courses, such as social science, history and political science - classes that could meet core requirements for students transferring to four-year colleges. Also popular were computer information science courses.

Out of 54 course sections this year, nine have been closed after reaching enrollment limits.

After five years of stagnant or declining enrollments, Antelope Valley College has turned the tide and has shown increases in enrollments since the summer semester of 1997, officials said.