The Plainsman Press - South Plains College

David Jones, vice presidents of student services, reported to the Regents that the Levelland campus has grown in 311 students this semester compared to last fall. SPC has a record enrollment of 9,647 this semester, including the Reese campus, Gateway, and Texas Tech classes offered. This showed an overall increase of 2 percent, meaning that there are more students taking more hours. This shows a positive correlation in teachers and students spending more face-to-face class time together, according to Jones.

“Everyone of our 9,647 students are paying for the buildings and additions to campus,” says South Plains College President Dr. Gary D. McDaniel, “and we are very thankful and proud of that number.”

Though the population of the women’s residence halls is staying at about average, while the male population seems to be growing more rapidly.

“With these numbers,” says Jones, “ we could have filled another men’s dorm easily.”

While the construction of new men’s residence hall is not up for consideration yet the Board of Regents were given an update on new additions to the Levelland Campus. Anew parking lot has been added on the Levelland campus just west of the welding building. This Auto-Diesel and Welding buildings are getting heaters as well.

The Science Building is expected to be a great addition to this campus as well. Furniture is scheduled to be bid on in early December.

“This building will not be fully functional,” says McDaniel, “ until end of spring.”

(to continue story...click on heading)

SPC enrollment at all-time high

by Mandy Langford, news editor

At South Plains College, a commitment to students is drawing quite a crowd.
While enrollment for the fall semester has declined at Texas Tech University, SPC has set yet another annual record.

For fall 2004, SPC has enrolled 9,647 students, including all sites such as the Reese Center campus, classes offered at Texas Tech, the Advance Technology Center, and the Levelland Campus. The number represents an increase of 2 percent overall since fall 2003. The Levelland campus has 6,007 students, 3689 at Reese Center, and 807 at the Advanced Technology Center. Enrollment at the Reese campus has declined by 136 students, while the Levelland campus added 311 students. According to enrollment figures, all off-campus sites are not showing the rapid growth rate that Levelland is. Yet, all show to fluctuate each year.

Poffenbarger receives award

by Roxanne Higginson, staff writer

During the International Phi Theta Kappa Convention in Minnesota in April Gary Poffenbarger, was pleasantly surprised when he received the Continued Excellence Award for Advisors.

Poffenbarger, associate professor of English at South Plains College has been PTK advisor for seven years and was not expecting to be chosen this year for the award.

“ I thought it would be four or five years before I received this award,” says Poffenbarger, who won the Giles Distinguished Advisor Award last year, though he was unable to attend the convention due to a tightened budget. In order to win the Giles award, an advisor has to be advising for five or more years. Therefore, Poffenbarger expected the same to be true of the Excellence Award.

“I about fell out of my seat when they announced I was the winner this year.”