Regents OK lower cost for dual-credit students
Published or Revised July 07, 2008
In order to help increase access to higher education, the Paris Junior College Board of Regents unanimously approved a waiver of a portion of the tuition for dual credit students. Effective this fall, students enrolled in college-level classes being taught in local high schools during the regular school day will pay a reduced amount for that college course. High school students living outside the taxing district but within the college's service area will pay tuition of $37 per semester credit hour, a 45 percent reduction in tuition, or $162 in tuition and fees for three hours of college credit. An in-district student will pay tuition of $25 per semester credit hour. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Closing the Gaps initiative estimates an additional 600,000 plus students need to be educated by 2015 in order to have the workforce needed for Texas to remain economically competitive. "The reduction in dual credit tuition will hopefully encourage more high school students to enroll in college level classes while attending high school and begin that college career," PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin said. In addition to the tuition reduction for classes taught at the high school, PJC will provide dual credit scholarships for those students participating in the federal free lunch program. "High school students with financial need do not have access to federal financial aid programs available after they've graduated high school and entered college so our goal is to make college courses accessible for more high school students," Anglin added. Good news for PJC also came with a report that the student retention rate (number of students completing a class) has improved to 90 percent. The state average is 88 percent. In other business, the PJC Board of Regents:- Merged the PE facility fee into the General Fee so only one student fee appears on billing notices. The amount students are billed is unchanged.
- Rescinded the bid awarded to Visual Innovations last month for the technology at the new Greenville campus after a finding that it did not meet all of the technology needs for the new campus. To get appropriate technology, Charter Builders in Dallas has re-bid the technology requirements. The Board approved a change order for Charter Builders for $150,219, to include projection equipment, smart boards, digital message board and cabling and phone systems.
- Approved the hiring of new employees Corey Lynn as Instructor of Academic Studies and Softball Coach effective July 1; Blaine Jones as Coordinator/Instructor for Emergency Medical Services, effective June 23; and Dr. Crystal Torti, as Instructor of Reading, effective Aug. 18. Also approved were the re-assignment of Kevin Rose as Dean of Workforce Education effective July 1 and the resignations of Dean of Workforce Education David McAnally effective July 14 and Controller Linda Kapp effective Aug. 8.