Regents discuss nursing grant
by Courtney Bullard, staff writer

 

The new healthcare training grant, an update on the emergency notification system and faculty promotions were the main topics of discussions during the March meeting of the South Plains College Board of Regents.

South Plains College recently was awarded a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. SPC was one of two colleges in Texas to receive the grant, and the only college to receive a grant for healthcare.

The grant will go toward training 823 nursing students. Of those students, 605 are expected to graduate, and 573 will be licensed, according to the Department of Labor.

The grant money will be used to equip a simulation lab where nursing students will practice tasks on mannequins. Some of those tasks include starting IVs and caring for trauma patients.

In other action, the Board approved tenure for faculty, which will be going into effect in the fall. 

Faculty are eligible for recommendation after being employed at the college for four years. Faculty receiving tenure include: Jamie Biggers, assistant professor of business administration; Dr. Scott Buchanan, instructor of history; Sheyleah Harris-Plant , instructor in mathematics; Kathy Holster, instructor in Mathematics; Robyn Inmon, assistant professor of psychology; Kelia Ketchersid, instructor in nutrition; Larry Moffett, instructor in mathematics; Chris Neal, instructor in sound technology; Joshua Pickrell, instructor in economics; Norberto (Rob) Ramos, assistant professor of foreign language; Katheryn Townsend, instructor in chemistry; and Brent Wheeler, instructor in commercial music.

Faculty receiving rank promotions include: Dr. Scott Buchanan, to associate professor; Anette Davis-Smith to assistant professor; Dr. Audra Day to assistant professor; Stephanie Derring to assistant professor; Leslie Downs to assistant professor; Dr. Sara English to associate professor; Dr. James Harman to associate professor; Sheyleah Harris-Plant to assistant professor; Dale Hoggatt to assistant professor; Kathy Holster to assistant professor; Kelia Ketchersid to assistant professor; Johnathan Lair to associate professor; Dr. Patrich Louge to professor; Janie B. McNutt to associate professor; Larry Moffett to assistant professor; Joshua Pickrell to assistant professor; Katheryn Townsend to assistant professor; Brent Wheeler to assistant professor; Dr. Li Xiang to associate professor; Jamie Briggers to professor; Dave Cleavinger to associate professor; Paul Davidson to assistant professor; Pat Dennis to professor; Robert O. Haynes to professor; Al Sechrist  to professor; and Gary Ufford to associate professor.

David Jones, vice president for student affairs, discussed the Emergency Notification System (ENS), which was tested on March 28. The system will allow the college to contact students in case of an emergency through phone calls, text messaging, and e-mail.  Jones said that the recent bomb threat proves the need for this kind of system.  The system is located off-campus through a company called Connect-Ed, the same system used by Texas Tech University. The service costs $2 for each person in the system.

Stephn John, vice president of for institutional advancement, presented the Board with a scholarship program report. The report showed that total scholarship awards administered by the Scholarship Office have increased by $585,903, or 74 percent, since 2003.

The SPC Foundation awarded $308,268 in scholarships, while SPC program scholarships totaled $403,885, and third-party scholarships that students bring with them from outside resources was $666,900. According to John, the college’s goal is to give as many scholarships as possible, but it is still like “pulling teeth” to get students to apply.

Darrell Grimes, vice president of academic affairs, discussed with the Board the improvements the SPC Library is going through. There is more emphasis on electronic books, which have increased by 130 percent during the past two years.

There are more than 46,000 full–text electronic books from Netlibray. The main campus library has been working with the Plainview campus to ensure they have all needed reference materials.

Before the meeting began, the regents took a tour of the Fine Arts Building to approve renovations.