Enrollment, property purchase highlight Regents meeting
by Jason Hartline, staff writer
Fall enrollment and the purchasing of new property for the
South Plains College Plainview Center were among the main
issues discussed during the September meeting of the South
Plains College Board of Regents.
As of the 12th day of
classes, enrollment across all SPC campuses is 9,265. This
number is only 32 students less than the Fall 2007 count.
“Over 9,000 students is a good, strong
enrollment for us,” said Dr. Kelvin Sharp, SPC president.
“Of course, you always wish you were up. But knowing that we
are still competitive with the job opportunities in the
region versus going to college, I feel better knowing that
we were down by just 32.”
South Plains College’s total enrollment
for fall 2007 was 9,297.
“We are pleased to see enrollment
remaining relatively unchanged from last fall,” said David
Jones, vice president for student affairs at SPC. “Our goal
this year was not to increase tuition and fees, and we have
been able to do that. We are very aware of the increased
cost of living and its impacts on our students as they
attempt to balance their educational needs with their income
needs.”
Another concern of the Board of Regents
was the assumption that gas prices would affect the
enrollment numbers. Because a large number of SPC students
commute, it would be difficult to make a trip to any SPC
campus at least twice a week, if not more often. However,
commuting students have come together to find ways around
the burden of high gas prices, though they have recently
decreased.
“We are seeing students become
increasingly creative in adapting an efficient class
schedule that accounts for delivery method and location,”
Jones said. “We are also witnessing students come together
in informal ‘learning communities’ as they partner with
classmates to car pool, and we applaud them for that.”
Another factor contributing to strong
enrollment is the workforce training courses SPC provides.
“Although the numbers reflect our fall
college credit student enrollment, we also have a strong
enrollment in our Workforce Development courses in Lubbock,”
Sharp added. “This shows a shift in the credit to training
courses driven by employment opportunities in the job
market.”
Included in Dr. Sharp’s report to the
Board was a request to expand the SPC Plainview Center with
the purchase of an adjacent lot.
The Board voted unanimously to approve
the purchase, which will allow the SPC Plainview Center to
expand to the east. The price of the lot was placed at
$50,000. This will expand the SPC Plainview Center by 2.3
acres (1,304 square feet). This lot could possibly be used
as a parking lot or an expansion to the center.
One of the concerns the Board
considered is a vacant house that rests on the lot. Although
the house has severe fire and smoke damage, sewage and water
lines set under the foundation could possibly pose a problem
to any kind of construction to the property. Dr. Sharp was
very reassuring when addressing this question. He spoke of
how he already had spoken with Atmos energy, and the concern
was nothing they couldn’t handle.
Dr. Sharp said that he is confident
that the new purchase will be very beneficial in the short
and long run.
In other action, the Board recognized
the accomplishment of Olympian Renny Quow, who competed in
the Summer Olympic games for Trinidad and Tobago. Quow, 20,
was the youngest Olympian to compete in his 400-meter race.
In the finals, Quow placed seventh.
This makes him the seventh fastest
400-meter sprinter in the world. All of his achievements on
the college level, national level and international Olympic
level were highlighted in a resolution, presented to Quow on
behalf of the Board of Regents by Dr. Sharp.
Quow is the only finalists who returned
to college. Most others who run on the professional circuit
train immensely or pick up endorsements left and right.
Quow stood up and addressed the Board
by saying, “I am so happy to be able to represent my country
and my school. Thank you all for this opportunity.”
Board members then stood and applauded
the young Olympian for his achievements and amazing
representation of SPC, his country and family.
Other agenda
items included an SPC Foundation progress report, the
scholarship contribution report, a scholarship foundation
update and a report on the total number of scholarships
awarded was given by Stephen John, vice president of
institutional advancement. Dr. Sharp also addressed the
progress of the construction on the Texan Dome and on the
Communications Building.
