Spring enrollment up by 18% over last year

Published or Revised February 24, 2010

Spring semester enrollment at Paris Junior College totaled 5,504 students, nearly as many as in the fall semester, according to PJC Institutional Research Director Jerry Hammack. The spring enrollment figure reflects a 33.37 percent increase from the 2008 spring semester and 18.04 percent over last spring's enrollment. "I think we've done a fantastic job this year," said Dr. Hammack. "There's a lot of work being put in by staff to let students know they need to pay to avoid being dropped from their classes." The Board of Regents also set elections for May 8 for Place 3 (currently held by Carlton Grant), Place 4 (currently held by Gerald Powell), and the At-Large seat (currently held by Thomas Hunt III). The last day to file for one of these positions is March 8. The Board also approved contracting with the Lamar County election administrator to run the election. PJC President Dr. Pamela Anglin presented a draft mission statement for the regents' approval. She reported on the involvement of faculty and staff in revising it, and after discussion the regents adopted the new version: "Paris Junior College is a dynamic, comprehensive community college advancing the education of students while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community." In her report, Dr. Anglin stated that the Regional Advanced Manufacturing Academy skills development grant was ending in February, and the three colleges involved – PJC, Texarkana College, and Northeast Texas Community College — had agreed to apply for a second grant to continue RAMA. PJC is also receiving skills development grants to do training for Cytec for training workers at their Greenville facility for composite materials for the aviation industry, and Nationwide Providers for training in medical records coding. In other action, Regents:

• Heard that 65 percent of current students are receiving some form of financial aid this semester, according to Business Services Vice President John Eastman during his financial report.
• Received a report of the Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute and heard quotes from staff and faculty who attended on how inspirational it was and how it will improve their teaching and outreach to students.
• Were updated on the 5 percent report that was due recently explaining how PJC would make that cut to its budget. Dr. Anglin distributed a follow-up letter she is sending that explains how those cuts would affect PJC.