Regents honor two students, retiring instructor
Published or Revised April 28, 2009
Honoring two Paris Junior College journalism students and a retiring instructor was the first order of business for the PJC Board of Regents Monday evening. Dean of Academics Dwight Chaney introduced PJC students and staffers Randi Johnson and Stephanie Norman of PJC's student newspaper, [i]The Bat[/i], saying: "PJC has a long and glorious history of journalism, and these two young women are continuing it." The two recently attended the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention in Dallas and took top honors in a photo essay contest. A full-time PJC instructor of English since 1985, Bill Neely III will retire at the end of this semester and was honored with an appreciation plaque by PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. She praised his dedication to his students by always putting them first, and announced a reception to honor him on Wednesday, May 6, at 3:00 p.m. in the PJC Student Center Ballroom. "Thanks for the opportunity to be involved for nearly 30 years with Paris Junior College," said Neely. "Achieving the Dream has been going on since the beginning with wonderful, dedicated teachers, and I hope when you turn this old horse out to pasture you replace him with a young, innovative and enthusiastic teacher." PJC Board President Paul Gene Roden and Vice President Tom Hunt III attended the Achieving the Dream Trustees Strategy Institute recently, along with Dr. Anglin. The trip was funded by the Greater Texas Foundation with the goal of improving board understanding of Achieving the Dream data, and both men said they returned with greater appreciation for their policy-making responsibilities in furthering the student success agenda. "So much was thrown at us," said PJC Board President Paul Gene Roden. "We were surrounded by incredibly smart people, and we've had time to digest it and now wish all of the regents could have been there. We came out of it agreeing it would be advisable to get the regents better educated about Achieving the Dream and other projects." To follow up on this, an Executive Committee of Roden, Hunt and Secretary Rachel Braswell was approved to develop additional training for their fellow regents to pursue strategies for Achieving the Dream and improving the college's ability to help students succeed. "The time of making excuses for students not getting through the college is over," said Hunt in discussing regent accountability. "Before, we didn't have hard data to base decisions on but now colleges are adopting business models based on the data." In other business, the Regents:- Modified the room and board rates using consistent methodology for a slight decrease in the 12-meal plan to $1,651 and a slight increase in the 19-meal plan to $2,085 a semester. Room rates remain unchanged.
- Authorized Dr. Anglin to work with the college's bond attorney to finance the new residence halls with five local banks through a 20-year, tax exempt plan.
- Changed the June meeting date from the 22nd to the 29th, as both Dr. Anglin and Dean John Eastman must be out of town.
- Set the annual budget workshop for the regents on July 7 at 5:30 p.m.
- Heard a legislative update from Dr. Anglin, and a report containing five Achieving the Dream goals and what actions PJC is implementing to meet them.
- Received important graduation dates, including the GED graduation on May 5 at 7 p.m. in the theater; Medical Records Coding and Surgical Technology Pinning Ceremony on May 6 at 1 p.m. in the Workforce Training Center Room 1202; May 7, both the Jewelry Graduation at 10 a.m. in the Theater and LVN Pinning at 7 p.m. in the Hunt Center; PJC graduation at 8 p.m. on May 8 at Noyes Stadium; and ADN Pinning on May 9 at 2 p.m. at the East Paris Baptist Church.
- Accepted the retirement of Bill Neely and approved the hiring of Shaun Carter as Educational Talent Search advisor effective July 13.