There was some good news in what otherwise may be thought of as bad news in the report Ray Di Pasquale gave the CCRI Foundation Friday morning.

Di Pasquale, president of the college, said enrollment for the fall semester – which is 16,195 – is down 7 percent from where it was at this time last year. The decline means a loss in tuition revenues of about $1 million.

But traditionally, a drop in community college enrollment means more jobs are available and fewer people are turning to the college to gain skills to become employable. The college’s highest enrollments were recorded during the Great Recession when unemployment in the state was in the double digits. While not as low as most other New England states, Rhode Island unemployment is at 5.4 percent, the lowest it has been since August 2007.

“It’s a sign that the economy is getting better,” Di Pasquale said of the drop in enrollment. He said many part-time jobs have become full time.

Does the loss in tuition revenue now put CCRI in a bind?

Di Pasquale thinks not. Comparatively, CCRI’s decline in enrollment isn’t as dramatic as community colleges in other states, so while $1 million is significant, it’s not the level of lost tuition revenues being felt by other institutions. Further, he explained that in budgeting CCRI was conservative with enrollment projections.

Tuition has not increased.

Traditionally, Di Pasquale explained, enrollment drops for the spring semester. He is looking to reverse that trend if not hold enrollment static in the spring of 2016.

Di Pasquale gave trustees a profile of the student body, noting that 36.9 percent are minorities, 70 percent are part-time students and not likely to graduate in two years, and 60 percent are female. He said that 66 percent of students entering CCRI require remedial courses in order to do college work.

It’s not a figure that speaks well for K-12 education, but Di Pasquale noted it is an improvement. Last year, 74 percent of the incoming students required remedial studies, he said.

Di Pasquale also spoke of CCRI’s use of iPads in its nursing programs – a first in the state – and a cybersecurity program at the Newport Campus that he expects will be used for training state employees. He spoke also of working with Electric Boat in the training of workers there.

Anticipating the question, Di Pasquale also addressed his own position at the college. Soon after graduation this year and the close of the college’s 50th anniversary celebration, Di Pasquale announced he would not seek a renewal of his contract.

He said the committee charged with finding the next president was meeting that same morning and that he believes the committee “is close” in announcing finalists for the position. He thought a new president could start as soon as Jan. 1.

As for what he will be doing, Di Pasquale said he has had private sector offers and looked at some four-year institutions, but that he hasn’t reached a decision yet.