Pressure is growing on Connecticut's community colleges as heavy enrollment continues in an ailing economy.
As of mid-July, enrollment at the 12 community campuses had increased about 10 percent over the same time last year. The numbers range from a 0.7 percent increase at Capital Community College to about 41 percent at recently renovated Three Rivers Community College in Norwich.
The five-year trend of enrollment increases at a time when the state can promise little or no new funding presents a huge challenge to a system that has long stood as an inexpensive portal to higher education.
"At some point in time, there's no room in the inn, and the colleges are really, really struggling with that," said Paul Susen, chief academic and student affairs officer for the Connecticut Community College system.
It's too soon to tell what final fall enrollment will be, but in-demand classes at some colleges are full and students are being turned away. At the same time, funding for campus operations has been cut and bonding for expansions will be tough or impossible to get as huge state deficits loom.