At the close of this semester’s add/drop period on Sept. 15, enrollment across the KPC system was up more than seven percent compared to the same period last year. Enrollment at both the Kenai River and the Kachemak Bay campuses ticked up while both the Resurrection Bay and Anchorage extension sites saw moderate decreases.

KPC is also seeing steady enrollment of veterans who are choosing KPC for their higher education needs. There were 180 veterans enrolled this past spring compared to just 28 veterans enrolled during the 2007 spring semester.

The KRC Residence Hall had 22 residents finish their degree or certificate programs last spring, more than double the number from the previous spring. Hence there were only 17 residents returning this semester compared to 29 returnees to the hall in fall 2015; there are currently 50 students living in the hall. More than 30 percent of the residents are from the Kenai Peninsula, 14 percent are from Anchorage, 39 percent are from other regions of the state and 16 percent are from the lower 48 (Arizona, Washington, Colorado, North Dakota, New York and Pennsylvania). Sixty percent of residents are male, 40 percent are female and the average age is 20 (age ranges from 17-32 this year) versus 23 in 2015.

There will be a free informational session about the ins and outs of estate planning from 5-6:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 at KPC’s Kenai River Campus in room 121 of the Steffy Building. Space will be limited so early registration is required no later than Sept. 28. Register via email to hwneed@alaska.edu or call 907-786-4840.

Attendees will learn the basics of will preparation, charitable estate planning, avoidance of estate and capital gains taxes, setting up life income payments and accessing the UA Foundation’s online wills guide. There will be time allotted for questions after the presentation.

The presenter will be Bhree Roumagoux, a specialist in estate planning from Shaftel Law Offices in Anchorage. In addition, Harry Need, UA Foundation director of gift planning, will be on hand to provide information about the resources available through the foundation.

In honor of Alaska Book Week, the KPC Showcase and River City Books is hosting a presentation by well-known Alaskan author Rich Chiappone at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 5 in the KRC McLane commons.

Chiappone teaches writing in the UAA Master of Fine Arts Program and is a two-time recipient of the Robert Traver Award and author of “Opening Days,” a collection of essays, stories and poems, and the short story collection, “Water of an Undetermined Depth.” His latest book, “Liar’s Code, Growing Up Fishing,” was recently published by Skyhorse Publishing.

His writing has appeared in Alaska Magazine, Playboy, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and The Sun; as well as in various literary journals.

The KRC Learning Center invites the public to take advantage of the opportunities they offer for group and individualized education for adults. Adult basic education offerings, taught by instructor Sara Hadfield, include basic skills refresher courses that are free and participants can register at any time. They also offer varying scheduled courses offered in group settings including instruction in basic through advanced English, vocabulary/conversation skills, citizenship and U.S. history

Another area of concentration of the Learning Center’s focus is English as a Second Language, taught by instructor Bridget Clark. They also provide GED preparation, testing and literacy training.

The Learning Center is located in room 191 in KRC’s Brockel Building. For more information, call 262-0327.

This column is submitted by Suzie Kendrick, Advancement Programs Manager at Kenai Peninsula College.