Regents OK bonds for new Greenville campus

Published or Revised June 26, 2007

The Paris Junior College Board of Regents Monday evening unanimously approved the issuance and sale of $6 million in revenue bonds to complete the funding of the college's new campus in Greenville. The sale of the college's Consolidated Fund Revenue Bond Series 2007 to Bank of America brings the Greenville construction project's total to $13.5 million. "This will complete the financing for the Greenville project," PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin told Regents. Ground was broken in May for the new Greenville campus, and Dr. Anglin told Regents Monday evening that construction will begin as soon as weather permits. Regents also approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Greenville allowing the college to place a sewage line to be used by the campus across city property. Under terms of the agreement, PJC will maintain the line and an associated access drive until a new sewage line along the planned Monty Stratton Boulevard is completed, after which the older line will be terminated and the area returned to its prior state. Enrollment for the first summer semester at the three PJC campuses increased by 49 students, or 3.45 percent, Dr. Jerry Hammack told Regents. Hammack, the college's director of institutional research, also reported that contact hours had increased by 2.27 percent over the first summer semester of 2006. Overall, 1,469 students enrolled for the Summer I semester. Regents also authorized the Paris accounting firm of McClanahan and Holmes to conduct the college's 2007 audit. This year's audit marks the second of a three-year agreement with the firm. In other action Monday, Regents heard a report on fall and spring class enrollment and retention; heard a report on the Closing the Gaps conference attended by Dr. Anglin and Paul Gene Roden, president of the Board of Regents; discussed Gov. Rick Perry's veto of 2009 community college insurance appropriations; scheduled a budget workshop for July 27 at 5:30 p.m.; and scheduled the Board's next regular meeting for Aug. 27. Following an executive session, Regents voted to form a committee to develop a policy on the donation of college land, and approved the following personnel changes:

• The Aug. 31 retirement of Paul Bailey, coordinator of information services, after 15 years in the position.
• The employment of Kenneth Hanushek as an instructor of history, and Amanda "Mimi" Randolph as dorm resident supervisor and assistant softball coach.
• The reassignment of John Shasteen as academic and financial aid advisor. He had been employed at PJC as an advisor in the Educational Opportunity Center.
• The resignation of Adam Walsh as dorm resident supervisor and assistant men's basketball coach. Walsh accepted a position at Centenary College.