Regents get positive news about PJC growth

Published or Revised September 29, 2010

The Paris Junior College Board of Regents had a meeting filled with positive news about the institution's growth and strategic goals. Faculty Association President Nancy DeBin addressed the regents, formally thanking them on behalf of the faculty for their guidance and direction to the college. She thanked PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin for the time she devotes to the association's officers in discussing their issues and for establishing the open line of communication with the faculty. "With all of us working together the way we have been," DeBin said, "I don't know how far PJC is going to go. With two new dorms, the Greenville center and all the improvements on the Paris campus, all I can say is, 'go for the gold,' and we're here to support you." The regents approved the institutional goals for the 2010-2015 strategic plan. Then Dr. Anglin's goals were considered and adopted by the regents, including instituting a kid's college in the summer to serve a range from high school students to those in elementary school. Another lively topic was drama and music at PJC. Regents mentioned being contacted by community members wondering about the future of these programs. Dr. Anglin reported strong internal support for strengthening and promoting them. "We will be recruiting locally for drama and music and offering scholarships in the near future to students starting at PJC next fall," said Dr. Anglin. "We have new instructors, and they have a lot of talent and experience to offer students. We need to support them." She added that several area high schools had requested PJC offer "Poe's Midnight Dreary" on weekdays so they could bring students to attend. Another goal of interest is increasing career and technical education training available to area high school students by developing regional workforce training centers at each center and campus. This would provide dual credit for high school and college for workforce training in programs not available at the high school. In other business the regents:

• Received an enrollment report of an increase of 11.36 percent over last year and 31.29 percent from two years ago at this time. The demographic data on fall's student body finds 61.09 percent female and 38.54 percent male, closely tracking national statistics. There are 48 percent full-time students and 52 percent part-time students (including dual credit high school students).
• Selected Vice Chair Rachel Braswell and President Paul Gene Roden to attend the Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute held in March in Santa Fe, N.M. The Greater Texas Foundation will pay for their travel.
• Received the President's Report, including the possibility that if there are additional state cuts in funding, NETnet funding would be lost in the next round of cuts. This is how 15 colleges and universities, including PJC, offer online classes. "The situation with state funding is frightening," said Dr. Anglin. She also distributed community colleges' handout from a recent legislative budget hearing, and said they are requesting the legislature restore the funding levels and also fund the phenomenal growth in students. A report submitted last week shows PJC as second in the state in growth of student numbers. A report on financial aid found $11.4 million in Pell grants passing through PJC. There were 3,255 eligible students, and the average grant is $3,775 per student. If a person is out of work and never finished college, they could receive $8,350 to attend if they go to the two long semesters and attend summer semester as well.
• Accepted the promotion/reassignment of Richard Adams as campus security officer in Greenville (formerly at Paris) and Suzanne Todd as advisor/student recruiter for admissions, effective Sept. 1; the employment of Men's Basketball Coach Chuck Taylor, effective Sept. 1; and the resignation of Men's Basketball Coach Tom Schuberth, effective Aug. 31.