The economy is causing a record influx of students to enroll at DMACC's six campuses. Head count is up 19. 4 percent from this time last year. The student population has increased from about 18,000 in 2008 to more than 22,000.
Social networking websites have become the new reference check tool for employers, said a national speaker who was on campus Wednesday. "60 percent of employers will search your name on Facebook before they hire you," said Tom Krieglstein, who spoke on "the secrets behind Facebook and MySpace.
Smoking has been banned on campus for more than a year, but DMACC Security doesn't have a lot of power to enforce the law. "DMACC Security doesn't hand out citations," said Lt. Patrick Marti. "We just monitor." In spring 2008, lawmakers passed the Smoke Free Air Act, which prohibits smoking in almost all public places including public college campuses.