Regents Extend Contract of SPC President

 Jacob Tucker, feature editor

Contract renewals and new employees were among the main topics of discussion at the November meeting of the South Plains College Board of Regents.

By Dec. 31, Dr. Kelvin Sharp’s contract as president of SPC will expire.  The board moved to extend his contract for another three years. 

“Dr. Sharp has had nothing but great praises statewide,” said Bobby Neal, vice chairman of the Board.  “Every campus that I have been to sings his praises.”

In October, Mike Box, chairman of the Board, sent the regents a list of 20 general questions that where going to be used to evaluate Sharp’s performance during his first year.

Sharp scored a 4.78 out of a maximum 5 points.  Many of the members of the Board said that the questions did not do justice to his hard work.

“We are so pleased to see the great work that he has done throughout the year, and we are looking forward to what he has planned for the next three,” said Box.

Sharp was equally pleased with the decision that the Board made.

“It is a privledge to work here at SPC,” said Sharp.  “I have a tremendous amount of respect for this great institution.”

Sharp began working at the college seven years ago in 1999.  His first position on the campus was dean of arts and sciences.  In January 2000, he was promoted to vice president for academic affairs.  A year ago, he stepped into the shoes of former president, Gary McDaniel.

Sharp’s progress throughout the year has been “one of the best,” according to the Board.  He has high expectations for himself going into the next three years of his contract.

“I would like to have a more positive impact on the students of SPC,” said Sharp.  “I am what they call a ‘servant leader.’  I am here to serve any of the students, faculty, and professional staff here.”

Sharp also has very high expectations of the next three years for the college.  He has high hopes for gaining back the enrollment that the college lost during the past two years, and increasing the enrollment of first-generation students.

“In these next few years, I hope more people will realize the reputation of SPC,” said Sharp.  “Hopefully, they will see that SPC is the best place to take that first step into higher education.”

The Board was also presented a report from Dr. Dick Walsh, Provost in Lubbock.  He updated the Board on the final outcome of the New Employee Orientation.

This was a three-day event which took new staff members and acquainted them with the goals and values of SPC.  The first day, new employees were shown the origins of SPC, and how it was started.  The second day was faculty day.  This was when new professors were shown the different procedures that were asked of them within the classroom. 

“The third day is not exactly immediately after the second,” said Sharp.  “It takes place one month after the teachers experience the classroom for the first time.”

During the meeting teachers are asked a simple question:  What have you discovered about SPC that reinforces your decision to be associated with the college?

Their comments were then written on sticky notes and posted on the walls in the Sundown Room. 

The new employees were then divided into their groups, which were color coded, and were asked to give feedback about the values/commitment statements set by the college.  To assist in their discussion, three questions were asked: What does it mean, why is it important, and how can I contribute?

“The reason behind the feedback was to see what they like about the college, and also to see what they learned from the first day of their orientation,” said Sharp.

Another topic of discussion for the Board was the donation of $100,000 to the Fine Arts Building renovation fund. 

The donation was made by Elroy and Vicky Wisian.  Vicky Wisian came to SPC during the 1960’s to study choir. The Wisians have become very good friends with the college during the past two years.

“She told the college that her year here was the best year of her life,” said Sharp.  “She felt that she should pay back the college and her old professor, Anne Bulls, for the impact.”

In honor of the large donation, the room that Wisian once practiced in will now be called by her full name, the Vicky Wilks Wisian Room.

In other action, the Board reviewed the audit from the past year and the calendar for the 2006-2007 semesters.