PJC regents approve changes in curriculum

Published or Revised March 02, 2006

The Paris Junior College Board of Regents approved curriculum changes and additions, as well as revisions to the Texas Success Initiative Plan, at its February meeting. Dwight Chaney, dean of academic studies, asked the board to approve adding additional courses as options in the core curriculum. The Texas Education Code requires all public colleges and universities to have a core curriculum that is honored throughout the State at other public institutions. Chaney recommended the additions of Math 1324, Biology 1408 and Biology 1409 as options to the core curriculum to meet the math and science requirements. The board unanimously approved the additions. David McAnally, dean of workforce education, presented the board a new Associate in Applied Science curriculum in emergency medical services, which it approved for startup in the fall. Chaney then asked the board to approve a revision in the Texas Success Initiative Plan specifying that a retest of an assessment instrument is no longer required if the institution determines that the student is ready to perform freshmen-level coursework. Students who choose to retest to raise their score may still do so, but it will no longer be a requirement, according to Chaney. A second revision would be to require a "C or better" in Intermediate Algebra for successful completion of the math component of the Texas Success Initiative. The revisions to Paris Junior College's Texas Success Initiative Plan were unanimously approved. In other business, regents were asked to approve charging a $20 fee for a Freshman Seminar, since Federal Pell Grant funds can no longer be used to pay for freshman orientation. The fee, approved by the board, will be used to cover the costs of materials and a meal for each student. Students attending the seminar will have an opportunity for early advising and early registration. President Dr. Pamela Anglin reported to the board that Paris Junior College and Texas A&M University-Commerce have entered into an Articulation Agreement between the Associate of Arts in Teaching and the Bachelor of Arts or Science Teacher Certification Degree Program. Following an executive session, the board returned to open session to approve the retirement of Dave Montgomery, as instructor in biology, effective Feb. 28, 2006. They also approved the employment of Terry Boylan as grant writer, effective Feb. 13, and Tonya Jackson as LVN clinical instructor, effective Feb. 1.