PJC Board of Regents approves curriculum changes

Published or Revised April 29, 2015

A requirement by the State of Texas to offer 60-hour degrees led to curriculum changes approved by the Paris Junior College Board of Regents on Monday evening. Adopted were changes to certificates in Business, Cosmetology, Jewelry, Computer Science, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Radiology, HVAC, Drafting/CAD, Mechatronics, Plumbing, and Welding after a presentation by PJC Dean of Workforce Education John Spradling. “We took the opportunity to realign our certificates and create ‘stackable credentials,’” Spradling said. “That gives the student a way through their curriculum to stop out and enter the workforce if need be. They can come back later to finish the associate’s degree if they want to increase their earning power or employability.” Newly created certificates include Entrepreneurship, Business Management, Repair Technician, CAD Technician, 3D Prototyping and CAD Specialist. Two certificates, Advanced Office Applications and Emergency Medical Technician - Intermediate, were eliminated. The first was terminated due to low participation and the availability of courses in other programs. The second was removed after the State of Texas did away with it. In other business, the Regents:

• Approved proposed 2015-2016 room and board per semester rates with no increase to room costs and a six percent increase in board (meal plan) rates. The increase reflects the Aramark contract approved last month; a 15-meal plan will cost $1,612 and a 19-meal plan will cost $1,871.


• Accepted a one-year extension to the contract with Nebraska Book Company for operation of the college bookstore with two changes: a minimum guarantee of revenue to PJC has been removed and PJC will now receive six percent of all sales. Next January PJC will go out for new contracts for bookstore operations.


• Approved a revision of the core curriculum removing Learning Frameworks and instead making it an institutional requirement for graduation, while also changing it from one hour to three hours. Exemptions were also created for veterans, transfer students with more than 12 hours, older adults, and former PJC students attending in 2006 or before. Also switched from the core to the institutional requirement curriculum was a basic computer science class, COSC 1301.
  
  “This way we can deliver these courses to everyone needing them while still giving us flexibility to allow individual students to substitute a course from their field of study,” said PJC Dean of Math and Sciences Ed McCraw.


• Heard an update from regents Charles Lynch and Dr. Cliff Wilkerson on their attendance at last month's Board of Trustees Institute for Achieving the Dream. The two praised the presentations and quality of data presented, as well as allowing them to gain a better understanding of how to better assess which populations of students are most at risk and help them succeed.


• Received a list of end of semester events as follows: May 12 - GED Graduation, 7 p.m. in the Ray Karrer Theater; May 14 - Jewelry Awards Ceremony, 10 a.m. in the Ray Karrer Theater; Medical Records Coding and Surgical Technology Pinning, 1 p.m. in the Workforce Training Center, Room 1202; Associate Degree Nursing Pinning, 5 p.m. in the Paris Junior High School Weger Auditorium; and Licensed Vocational Nursing Pinning, 7 p.m. in the PJC Hunt Center; and May 15 - PJC Graduation at 7 p.m. in Noyes Stadium (or the Hunt Center if it rains).


• Approved the resignations/retirements of Electromechanical Instructor Donald Harootunian and Psychology Instructor Doris Helm effective May 15, Retired Senior Volunteer Program Director Susan Kahn effective July 1, and Off-Campus Librarian Jay Strickland effective April 24.