Regents Target Tuition for Course-Droppers

Jacob Tucker, feature editor

Tuition increases and the Post art collection were among the main topics of discussion at the October meeting of the South Plains College Board of Regents.

The Regents voted on and approved the proposal for a $75 increase per credit hour for classes taken three times or more.

David Jones, vice president for student affairs, presented the report.

“Some students, for whatever reason, have begun to drop and re-take many of their classes,” said Jones.

The majority of the classes that are being dropped are core classes, such as math, biology, chemistry, and psychology, among others.  This trend could have continued if proper action was not taken.

This increase will not affect students who are continuing educational courses in order to retain professional certification.  This also exempts students in thesis and dissertation courses, independent study courses, special topics and seminar courses. 

Students who are taking courses that involve different or more advanced content each time they are taken also are exempt from the increase.  These include, but are not limited to, individual music lessons, theatre practicum, and physical education classes.

“The last thing that we wanted to do is charge the students more for the classes that they need,” said Jones.  “This is just what we had to do in order to balance out what funding we get from the state.”

During the past 12 months, SPC students have dropped 900 credit hours.  This has cost the college more than $63,000 worth of state funding.  This funding is critical in order for the college to operate. 

Charging an additional $75 for these students’ classes will help the college recoup its losses.  This increase is estimated to generate about $67, 500.  Although it will not be in the college handbook, the new plan will be enacted during the spring semester of 2006.

In other action, the Board also received an update on the Post art collection.  Since the last meeting, the paintings have been evaluated for restoration.  Helen Mar Parkin came to the campus on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 to look at the paintings.

Stephen John, vice president of institutional advancement, gave a thorough report from the information given to him by the painting conservationist.

“The estimates on the paintings ranged from fair to poor,” said John.

The seven of the eight paintings were taken from their respected places and examined in adjacent rooms.  The only one that gave the conservator trouble was the Baskerville, Sultan on Horseback.  It was hung over the vending machines, so the correct measures had to be taken to get it down. 

The condition of the paintings are classified into three priorities, ranging from one being in the most need to three being the least.  Three of the paintings have been deemed a priority one classification. 

“That does not mean that they need to be restored within the next day or two,” said John.  “However, it does tell us that we need to do something about these works within the next three to five years.”

Parkin also gave the Board a rough estimation of the general cost of restoration.  It would cost the college roughly $74,900 to bring these paintings to their original form.

“We also had to add about a 20% contingency to the cost due to the varying forms of restoration that are now available to us,” said John.

The price of the restoration with the contingency added on would be astounding $89,000. 

“This will be a great investment for the college,” said John.  “In order for these paintings to get appraised correctly, we will need to restore them.”

The task now is getting the money to restore the paintings. 

“We are asking some private donors for help,” said John.  “It would be great to get some of the students and organizations to support this cause.”

In other action, the Board discussed current construction on the campus, a quick update on the Plainview campus, and information on the joint Title V grant.