The Fall 2025 outlook at Barton Community College is “promising and full of potential,” administrators reported at a Board of Trustees study session on Tuesday. Summer enrollment finished 18% higher than last year and the fall semester is up by 5% so far.
“We have a lot of tradition at this institution,” Vice President of Instruction Elaine Simmons said.
There are 17 student ambassadors this year and those living in the dorms moved in on Sunday. About 100 volleyball and soccer players have been back since Aug. 1. The remaining students living in campus housing will move in Friday and Saturday. Classes start on Monday, Aug. 18.
Vice President of Student Services Angie Maddy said housing may be affected because some international students may not be able to get a visa.
International students seeking to study in the United States on an F-1 visa must first get an I-20 certificate as proof of eligibility. Athletics Director Trevor Rolfs said last year there were 90 students with I-20s and this year there are 115 new students. However, “I’d say 20-25% of the 115 have already been denied.” He said 66 students are returning from last year.
Many of the 115 students with I-20 applications are on the soccer team and 85-90% of those players are here, Rolfs said, adding he doesn’t know if the college will see fewer international students. “It’s too early to say until the end of next week.”
Trustee Gary Burke asked why students were being denied visas and where they are from.
“There are certain countries, they’re not even open for business for visa interviews. Usually for education it’s a shoo-in but not so much anymore,” Rolfs said, adding the process is “much more rigorous right now.”
For example, Barton never had problems recruiting students from Brazil, but it has become more difficult to recruit top-quality athletes.
“There’s a lot of politics,” he said.
Some Brazilian athletes on the soccer team did make it through and some from last year stayed here and took summer classes, knowing if they left they might not make it back.
Meanwhile, he said there’s a lot of excitement about the improvements being made to the athletic facilities, Rolfs noted. The gym remodeling is supposed to be done by Nov. 1.
More on the new semester
• Maddy said 385 students have been assigned to rooms in the dorms. There are 53 vacancies and she expects to fill all of the spots.
• Financial Aid Director Myrna Perkins said about 24% more students filled out the FAFSA financial aid forms this year and her office is seeing an $800,000 increase in Pell Grant Awards.
• New student orientation will be Aug. 18-19. Welcome Week activities will include a “Popcorn Passport,” lawn games and inflatables, and a movie night at Golden Belt Cinema 6. There will be a campus open house as well as a Library open house, introducing Kacie Garstecki – wife of Barton President Dr. Marcus Garstecki – in her new role as the first Library Ambassador.
• The Cougar Corner Campus Store, located in the Union, has Barton apparel and other items. It will celebrate a grand opening on Aug. 29.
