Regents told of increased enrollment for Spring 2011

Published or Revised March 01, 2011

Spring enrollment at Paris Junior College was another record-breaker, but due to winter weather closing PJC for three days, it was not as high as it could have been. Official enrollment is 5,787, up 5.26 percent from this time last year and 24.83 percent from two years ago. "The snow and ice didn't help us," said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. "We couldn't collect money by the deadline and had to drop more than we would have normally. Despite that, with all the numbers in, PJC still had the sixth-highest rate of growth out of 50 Texas community colleges over the biennium." In her President's Report, Dr. Anglin distributed a revised constitution for the Student Government Association and gave an update on an Appropriation Hearing she testified at recently. "We were told by Sen. Whitworth and Rep. Hochberg that in regards to community college budget cuts, 'the silence is deafening; we don't hear from anyone supporting community colleges – no chambers of commerce, no business leaders are contacting us.' We need to let them know of PJC's successes and our ability to build a better and stronger economy for the future." In other business the Regents:

• Received the racial profiling report showing that of 26 stops by campus police officers, the percentages mirrored those of the student body.
• Extended the Nebraska Book Company contract to run the bookstore by one year as allowed by the existing contract. Next year the contract will be up for bid.
• Heard a preliminary report on data and questions posed to regents to be discussed at the Achieving the Dream Trustees Institute.
• Voted to send only those regents to the Achieving the Dream Trustees Institute that the Greater Texas Foundation pays for.
• Discussed leadership lessons regents took away from a recent Texas Association of Community College Trustees conference. American Association of Community Colleges President, Dr. Walter Bumphus, told them that though 48 percent of students in higher education are in community colleges nationwide, they receive only five percent of the funding for higher education.
• Received the resignation of Deanna Guess as student activities coordinator, effective Fe. 4, and the retirements of Construction Project Manager Ricky Thomas effective Aug. 31 and health occupations instructor Sheila Jones effective May 31.
• Moved the next regular meeting to March 22 to coincide with interviews to select a Construction Manager at Risk for the science and technology building.