PJC named to top ten Texas college list
Published or Revised January 17, 2017
Paris Junior College has been named to the Top 10 Texas community colleges in 2016 by Schools.com. According to the company’s website, “Texas is home to one of the biggest collections of community colleges in the United States. The state and its two-year schools constantly work to improve college accessibility and success rates and produce graduates prepared to meet growing demand for an ever more skilled workforce. Texans considering community college have no shortage of program options, yet some schools perform better than others in areas like graduation or transfer rates, financial aid support, affordability and accessibility. We evaluated the state’s 60 community colleges using such criteria. The result is a top-10 ranking of the all-around best community colleges in the Lone Star State.” Ranked seventh on the list, PJC was included in part because it tied for fifth-highest graduation rate of all Texas community colleges in 2015, and for its status as a Pathways Project institution. The Pathways Project is an American Association of Community Colleges initiative that aims to improve student success both in the classroom and in the field. PJC was one of only 30 colleges in the country selected to implement guided academic and career pathways — a model establishing coherent and easy-to-follow programs of study that align with requirements for success in employment and at the next stage of education. Pathways provides support services and re-aligns curricula and instruction to help students master the knowledge and skills they need to meet their ultimate career goals. Students can earn certificates and degrees in several unique disciplines on-site or online. Schools.com also lauded PJC for making online education more convenient through an app that lets students access books, databases and other library services from any iOS or Android device. “Paris Junior College focuses on student access and success and on personalized attention for each student, at an affordable price,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “Scholarships are available, in addition to state and federal financial aid.Data is monitored and evaluated each year as we monitor our progress towards our student access and success goals. We are honored for our focus on student access and success to be recognized by Schools.com.” The ranking of 60 community colleges in Texas was based on multiple factors related to educational opportunity, student performance and student services. Each school was scored on a 10-point scale, using the following six data points and the weights specified: 1. The percentage of students enrolled in distance education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2014: 15 percent 2. Cost of attendance, based on the average net price for students receiving scholarship and grant aid, and the total cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies, National Center for Education Statistics, 2014 and 2015: 30 percent 3. Student-to-faculty ratio, National Center for Education Statistics, 2014: 5 percent 4. The graduation rate in 150 percent time, National Center for Education Statistics, 2014: 5 percent 5. The number of transfers per 1,000 students to public four-year universities in Texas and the graduation rate over three years for past transfers, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, 2011-2014: 30 percent 6. Flexibility, based on the following data points from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2014: 10 percent a. Whether the school offers credit for life experiences b. Whether the school offers programs of study that can be completed entirely in the evenings and on weekends c. Whether the school offers on-campus day care for students’ children d. Whether the school offers any kind of alternative tuition plan. These may include, but aren’t limited to, payment plans or guaranteed rates. Schools.com is a source for education information, including career outlooks and planning, adult education, college financial planning, time management tips and more. The site provides a directory of schools with programs in approximately 200 subjects and in all 50 states.