Maine's community colleges are seeing a record number of applications for the coming academic year, likely the result of a slowing economy with reduced job prospects, the community college system announced today.

As of early August, according to the community college system, 12,200 students -- up 8 percent, or 900 applications, over last year -- had applied to attend the system's seven campuses. The number is likely to increase in the coming weeks.

Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, where applications rose 18 percent, saw the biggest application spike over last year's numbers. Northern Maine Community College saw a 12.8 percent jump, the York County campus in Wells received 10.9 percent more applications and Central Maine Community College in Auburn saw applications rise 10.5 percent.

Applications increased 6.6 percent in South Portland at Southern Maine Community College. In Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College saw 1.8 percent more applications over last year.

The one campus reporting a drop in the number of application was Washington County Community College in Calais, where applications dropped 9.4 percent.

"Maine doesn't have an aspirations problem, it has an access problem," community college system president John Fitzsimmons said in a statement.

The system is pressed to fund additional faculty and staff hires to serve a larger student population, Fitzsimmons said.

Along with applications, enrollment in online courses is growing, the system reported. In Fairfield, Kennebec Valley Community College -- with the largest online student population of any of the seven campuses -- is seeing online enrollment grow 14.5 percent over 2007-08 numbers.

Since 2003, enrollment at the state's seven community colleges has risen 55 percent.