Posted or edited: 06.30.09 ... PJC Information Services
Print this article | E-mail this article »

Once again, enrollment numbers are up in comparison with one year ago for Paris Junior College, according to a report received by the Board of Regents.

According to Dr. Jerry Hammack, Director of Institutional Research, the Summer I enrollment headcount of students increased 21 percent, and the contact hours increased by 14 percent. Enrollment is at 1,806, up from 1,493 a year ago.

“These numbers reflect the hard work our personnel and faculty do to get students enrolled in classes, both academic and technical,” Hammack stated.

“Welding is up,” PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin stated. “We doubled capacity by running day and night classes to handle twice the number of students. College algebra and biology classes are full, and cosmetology and nursing are also up.”

Dr. Hammack presented the Student Survey of Instruction. A faculty committee revamped the survey to better serve PJC’s needs and provide more in-depth analysis. Students rated the faculty very highly – every item was ranked in the 90th percentile.

“I really think the survey shows how students perceive instruction at PJC,” Dr. Hammack concluded.

The Regents approved revisions to the Developmental Education Plan, which also serves as the Texas Success Initiative plan for PJC as presented by Dean of Academic Studies Dwight Chaney. The modifications follow up recommendations made by national developmental education expert Dr. Hunter Boylan after he visited the campus last year.

Changes include a revised mission statement; instituting student placement data and incorporating non-course based remediation (so students can take only what they need to advance, rather than a semester-long course); and dropping students from all coursework if they quit attending a required developmental class. Instructors will notify students before the beginning of classes that they must attend their developmental courses or be dropped.

“Studies show students respond better if they believe there are consequences to their actions,” said Dean Chaney.

“The notification of students by instructors will involve a lot more work at first, but we are willing to contact every student at the beginning of the semester to let them know of the mandatory attendance,” Director of Learning Skills Pam Hunt informed the Regents. “Getting the students to do what they are supposed to do only helps them,” Hunt stated.

In other business, the Regents:

• Received a financial update from Dean John Eastman, as well as updates on summer maintenance, funding and federal stimulus funds from the Summer Youth Work grant of the Northeast Workforce Solutions that has allowed PJC to hire five young people to assist with grounds maintenance.
• Approved the 2009 Audit Engagement letter to employ McClanahan and Holmes as external auditors for the next fiscal year.
• Received an update on PJC’s marketing initiatives from Margaret Ruff, Director of Public Information and Marketing.
• Received an update on the revised Emergency Response Plan, meeting the state policy requirement to have such a plan.
• Received the report of enrollment and retention by course. Fall retention was 94.11 percent, compared with 89 percent from Fall 2008. Spring retention was 93.47 percent. The retention rate reflects the number of students who finish a course with a letter grade other than “W”.
• Gave final approval to a special warranty deed conveying title on the Grand Theatre to the City of Paris.
• Heard the President’s Report, including good news that the budget hole left by a previous veto of insurance funds had been filled and that the funding for insurance was provided for the coming two years. Additionally, Dr. Anglin shared a letter from Senator Bob Duell discussing that issue and complimenting community colleges on the good they do for the State and local communities. The PJC budget has received an increase of $1,127,251 for each of the coming two years, though Dr. Anglin cautioned that small school supplement funding wasn’t likely to come again in the next budget cycle. July 10th is the subcontractor’s information meeting for the new residence halls, and July 30 will be the bid opening. The Greater Texas Foundation has again funded participation fees for PJC in the Achieving The Dream program, as well as sending two regents to a national workshop next year.
• Accepted the resignations of Basketball Coach Ross Hodge, Women’s Basketball Coach Kris Wood, and Instructor of English Toni McMillen. Accepted recommendations of employment for: Instructors of English Jennifer Collar and Diann Mason; Instructor and Women’s Basketball Coach Sean LeBeauf, Instructor of Criminal Justice Doug Shuler; Instructor of Kinesiology and Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Schuberth; Instructor of Drama William Walker; and Coordinator/Instructor of Medical Records Coding Ron Vrba.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Regents will be Aug. 24.