SALT LAKE CITY — Nelson Baldomar, 37, has six months of G.I. Bill benefits left. The Army veteran is taking math and English classes at Salt Lake Community College’s South City campus so he can transfer to the University of Utah and pursue a computer science degree.

Ruby Barnes, 28, lost her job as a retail store manager and went back to school for the first time in 10 years. She picked SLCC as a low-stress, less intimidating atmosphere in which to figure out her next move.

“I’m getting my feet wet in different areas, and then hopefully I can decide what I want to do,” she said.

They’re not alone. Not even close.

Utah’s surge in college attendance is becoming a flood — and it hasn’t peaked yet. At least three schools may abandon their open-door policies and consider enrollment caps as they face more students than they know what to do with.

SLCC saw enrollment jump 18 percent, or 4,500 students, last fall. This year, registration is already on pace for another 20 percent leap. President Cynthia Bioteau says the school is doing everything it can to keep up, including encouraging students to take more summer classes.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700043018/Enrollment-surge-could-make-Utah-colleges-close-the-door.html