PJC Summer Enrollment Breaks Records Again

Published or Revised June 30, 2010

Once again, enrollment at Paris Junior College has broken all previous records for number of students enrolled and the contact hours they are taking. As presented to the Paris Junior College Board of Regents Monday evening, the final count for Summer I semester is 2,227 students, a 24.97 percent increase since one year ago, and 49.16 percent increase from two years ago at this time. Contact hours total 330,050, a 43.55 percent increase over one year, and a 60.77 percent increase since two years ago at this time. "Our growth percentage-wise is larger," said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin, "but community colleges across the nation are experiencing this growth. National attention is focused on community colleges like never before. And Pell grant funding has increased so college is more affordable." In other business, the PJC Board of Regents:

• Received a positive financial report from Vice President of Business Services John Eastman. The college has received word from the Legislative Budget Board that $456,000 will be deducted from this year's remaining appropriations. He praised PJC faculty and staff for keeping expenditures under control.
• Approved the 2010 Audit Engagement letter from McClanahan and Holmes.
• Accepted the low bid of $71,293 from We Build of Paris for the roof replacement for Hatcher and Thompson halls.
• Received the overall results from the Student Survey of Instruction. This is the second year for results from the redesigned survey produced by a faculty committee, and every student in every course is surveyed. Data is also showing higher GPAs for students taking the new success course, as well as higher retention from fall to spring.
• Heard results of the annual Report of Enrollment and Retention by Course and by faculty member for the spring and fall semesters.
• Received the president's report on the timeline for completion of the new women's residence hall. It is 99 percent complete, with furniture set to arrive the first week of August, and students are to move in the third week of August. An asbestos abatement contract has been signed for the south campus residence hall and the heating and air conditioning building, so demolition will be done in July and August, respectively. The formula funding recommendation has been sent to the Governor and Legislative Budget Board; community colleges are very concerned about potential effects to their funding in the next biennium. Five percent is being taken from this year's operating funds, and community colleges have been told to prepare for possible additional cuts in the next two years up to 15 percent. Projections say that by 2018 the US will be short three million graduates needed for the workforce to stay competitive globally. Many new jobs will require more than a high school diploma, but less than a four-year degree. The Department of Education and the Obama Administration want a completion agenda – something six national community college groups recently worked together to produce a paper on. There is a goal of doubling completers by 2020, which will allow the US to stay competitive.
• Accepted the resignation of Kim Kozel as Director of Educational Talent Search effective June 30 and the retirement of Division Chair of Fine Arts and Instructor of Art Cathie Tyler effective Aug. 31; approved the employment of Dr. Charles George as Associate Dean of Workforce Training and Continuing Education effective July 19, and the re-assignment of Misty Gage as Director of Educational Talent Search effective July 1.