No rush for DeVry classes in tech slump.

DeVry University's 22-acre, West Hills campus has a few more empty desks than it did last year.

With the slowdown in the tech sector and corresponding reduction in jobs, fewer would-be students are willing to shell out the price of tuition for the schcol's programs.

"It happens and it's something you have to deal with," said DeVry Campus Dean Iraj Borbor.

DeVry operates 26 universities and 37 adult learning centers across the country, including three in the LA. area. Its West Hills campus opened three years ago when the tech boom was in full swing across the 101 Corridor.

The school, which offers a variety of courses, graduate and undergraduate programs in technology and business management for about $5,000 per term, saw a 12.3 percent decline in new admissions to 10,303 students across all its campuses in the current school year, compared to 11,753 students in the last school year.

The decline brought total enrollment at the schools down 5.9 percent to 45,200 as of the current school year, compared to 48,032 in the prior year.

"We've seen a drop in enrollment, but that's what's happening nationwide," Borbor said.

DeVry, a publicly held company, does not release enrollment figures for its individual campuses, but officials said the situation locally is no different.

"It's something that's occurring nationwide and it's a trend that's mirrored in our three Los Angeles campuses," said Jonelle Niffenegger, a spokeswoman at DeVry's Chicago-based headquarters.

DeVry also operates campuses in Pomona and Long Beach.

DeVry spent about $12 million three years ago to renovate the West Hills facility, hoping to capitalize on the shortage of tech workers.

But last year, the most recent period for which figures are available, there were 25,400 jobs in the fields of computers, office and communications equipment and electronic components in Los Angeles County, down from 27,300 in 1999, according to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.

To help boost interest, DeVry is stepping up its marketing. With increased spending on television and radio advertising this year, Borbor believes enrollment will improve.

"People will see that we offer a lot of different programs like electronic engineering technology, telecommunications management and business programs, with different majors and degrees."

Indeed, DeVry's Keller Graduate School of Management, which accounts for about 20 percent of DeVry's revenues, is seeing enrollment gains. Keller's enrollment grew by 22 percent last year.

At Keller's West Hills campus, the improved numbers give Borbor reason for optimism.