PJC’s Board of Regents lowers the property tax rate

Published or Revised September 25, 2012

Monday evening the Paris Junior College Board of Regents approved the 2012-2013 property tax rate of 18.7 cents per $100 valuation, a decrease from the previous year's rate of 19 cents. The Regents also approved a tax abatement for seven years for the $45.4 million expansion for a new line added to the Campbell's Soup plant. "The new line means new jobs for Paris," said PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin. In other business, the Regents:

• Modified the College's nepotism policy, in existence since 1989.
• Received the official report of fall student enrollment showing a head count of 5,522. The numbers include record dual enrollment among high school students and an increase in the number of students in Paris.
• Were apprised of new student achievement targets based on performance data provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. PJC set goals to increase the percentage of students who become college-ready within two years and complete college level courses over three years. Other goals include improving retention rates in online courses, increasing degree completion and number of core completers, improving the transfer rate to four-year schools, and increasing workforce program specific graduate numbers, target placement and licensure rates.
• Received an update on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on-site visit.
• Received a report from PJC Registrar Rita Tapp on the new Quality Enhancement Plan to help PJC students. A QEP is a requirement for accreditation. Tapp co-chaired the committee that developed the plan, along with Spanish Instructor Mayra Cummings. The QEP will lead PJC's efforts to improve student learning.
• Approved the employment of Christi Timberlake as Upward Bound director, effective Oct. 1, and accepted the resignations of Student Records Assistant Coordinator Scott Branum, Educational Talent Search High School Advisor Shaun Carter, and welding instructor Kevin Ward.