Online applications to 2-year colleges spike

Students applying to California Community Colleges online are submitting electroniclly in record numbers, the colleges reported today.

For the first time ever, in 2007, more than 1 million students used a Web-based admissions portal (known as CCCApply) to submit applications.

"This represents a significant milestone for this very successful system technology initiative," said Chancellor Diane Woodruff.

The colleges developed the portal in 2001, when 7,000 students used it. It's in place at Los Angeles Harbor College in Wilmington and El Camino College in Torrance.

The California Community College system is the largest higher educational system in the nation comprised of 72 districts and 109 colleges with more than 2.6 million students per year.