Capital Gazette
By Bridget Byrne
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2026 at 3:37 PM EDT | UPDATED: April 3, 2026 at 4:21 PM EDT
Anne Arundel Community College’s Board of Trustees raised the minimum enrollment for classes from 12 to 15 students, a move students fear will delay graduation plans, but administrators insist will have little impact.
The board voted to increase the minimum number of students in a course from 12 to 15 amid student protest in August, less than two years after the minimum was raised from 10 to 12.
Classes that don’t meet the minimum enrollment requirement will be canceled, so more niche or specific courses could take place less often, leading to issues with scheduling, students say.
With the school year nearing completion, Student Government Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Fredrick Neric spoke about student concerns at the Board of Trustees’ March 10 meeting.
“As you’re aware, students are planning their futures here, and having those plans disrupted can really set them back. Students are seeking assurance and security that it seems AACC is unable to offer,” said Neric. “The 15-student minimum for canceling classes may or may not stop students from graduating, but it can delay their progress significantly.”
Neric said in a survey of 41 students, 31 said they were concerned about completing their studies on time because of the class minimum increase. In response, board members said they had ensured the higher minimum would not impact current students and staff before making the change.
“When this board asked [college president Dawn Lindsay] to implement [the change], we asked for two assurances,” board chair Joyce Price-Jones said. “One was that no student would be impacted by the change. Number two, that no staff would be let go, if at all possible — and neither one of those has happened.”
College spokesperson Alicia Renehan said students are encouraged to check in with their academic advisors regularly and reach out if they have any challenges with scheduling or meeting graduation requirements.
“For the students who are affected by a cancellation, an overwhelming majority are able to register for another section of the same course, but they may also have the option to do independent study or ask for a course substitution to meet graduation requirements. Working with their advisor is the best way to find a solution,” she said in a statement.
But for students such as plant science major Alex Bradford, this response is anxiety-inducing. Bradford wants a formal process to appeal canceled classes or alert the college that a cancellation is harming a graduation plan.
“The problem is that the rules are not clearly defined, and so there’s no telling what can happen in the future,” Bradford said.
The college is also in a period of transition, with Lindsay preparing to retire this summer; the search for a replacement is underway. Meanwhile, the college’s faculty recently voted they had “no confidence” in Provost Tanya Millner. The Board of Trustees also unanimously approved the college’s budget recommendation, which increases tuition by $5 per credit hour. It is the second year in a row tuition has increased.
Bradford said that despite the growing pains, the majority of students, faculty and administrators want to work together toward a solution.
“The atmosphere is reflective and caring because the people at AACC — this is the type of school where people care a lot about the school and the environment,” Bradford said. “Broadly speaking, we want to work together.”
Have a news tip? Contact Bridget Byrne at bbyrne@baltsun.com or 443-690-7205.