CCC board reviews support progam

CLOVIS — The Clovis Community College Board of Trustees heard a review of the college’s TRIO Student Support Services program at Wednesday’s meeting.

TRIO SSS Program Director Katrina Walley said the program serves 180 students, providing academic advising, campus tours and grant aid, with $48,949 awarded to CCC students this school year.

Walley said the program is designed to benefit students who come from first-generation college or low-income families, and/or students who are physically or learning disabled.

“We provide proactive, intense services by keeping students informed, intervening when necessary and encouraging academic progress,” Walley said.

For next year Walley said the programming is working on increasing the number of students who transfer to a four-year school.

“As we all know it’s becoming more and more important to receive that four-year degree over time, especially for our nurses and students that are going to be required to have that bachelor’s degree to do their job, so we really want to impress upon them the importance of transferring,” Walley said.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting:

• The board recognized the college’s 2018 National Institute of Staff and Organization Development Excellence Award winners.

This year’s winners are communication instructor Simon Chaves, English instructor Gregory Rapp, business administration instructor Melissa Reed and adjunct English instructor Erin Thomas.

• The board approved the spring 2018 graduation list which includes 429 graduates.

CCC President Becky Rowley said CCC had 341 graduates in spring 2017 and 303 graduates in fall 2017.

“So this is a nice little increase for us,” Rowley said.

• The board approved the college’s five-year capital project plan, which included electrical, fire alarm and sprinkler updates as well as a drainage project and door replacements.

• The college’s electrical upgrades were approved as a separate action item at a cost of $800,000.

Rowley said the project will be a part of the college’s severance tax bond funding request in 2018.

• The board approved the financial actions report to be submitted to the state Higher Education Department after reviewing the financial report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2018

CCC Chief Financial Officer Tom Drake said, “... (W)e’re on track to where we need to be. We’re not over budget on any line items so we’re in good shape going into the last quarter of the fiscal year.”

• Rowley provided an update to the board regarding House Bill 98. Rowley said the Local Election Act will now align all elections in the state on the same day each year in November, meaning CCC will need to move its board of trustees election typically held in February.

Rowley said the change is unlikely to generate additional cost to the college and may actually make CCC’s elections cheaper.