CCC board approves 27 additional students eligible for graduation

CLOVIS — The fall semester concluded nearly two months ago at Clovis Community College. But its graduating class has kept growing.

The college’s board of trustees on Wednesday approved a list of 27 additional students eligible for graduation, bringing the fall total to 277. The additional 27 students received 14 associate degrees and 13 certificates of achievement.

The list of students was submitted separately from the primary list, due to either a late application on the student’s part or because Institutional Research later identified the student as having met requirements. Wednesday was the first meeting for the board in 2021 to approve the updated graduate list.

Also during the board meeting on Wednesday, the board heard about the “All-In Textbook” option the college will implement in the fall 2021 semester.

The textbook service will offer new options, including a $25 per credit hour fee to rent materials. The college estimates 38% savings on average for students.

Two options available to students are the Traditional All-In Textbook Program and the Programmatic All-In Textbook Program. The Traditional program includes all non-programmatic courses which require a textbook. A $25 fee per credit hour will cover all rented text and lab materials, which CCC estimates will come out to a 38% savings for students.

Trustee Carolyn Spence raised the question of how often textbooks are updated in the rental program and how they are chosen for classes.

“The instructors still have the freedom to choose the textbooks,” Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs said. “Every year they’re adopting the textbooks that they want to adopt. We do encourage the departments to stay with a textbook for a minimum for three years unless they’re just not available, and that is built partly in our MOU’s with the public school system.”

In other business at the meeting:

• The board reviewed the 2019 campus security report. Only one criminal incident was reported during that year, a vehicle was stolen while parked on campus property. That’s a drop from the 2018 report, which included a sex offense, an aggravated assault, and a burglary on campus property.

Campus Security Director Freddie Salazar credited the security crew for their visibility throughout the campus.

• President Charles Nwankwo noted his one-year anniversary was on the horizon.

“Exactly Feb. 17, I started my service as President of this excellent college. During this time we’ve continued to meet the challenges of this past year head-on,” Nwankwo said. “This is evident in the college’s fall graduation numbers.”

The college is still accepting enrollments for its upcoming second eight-week term through March 19. The term runs March 15 to May 14, with most classes offered online.

Also during his report, Nwanko said the college is discussing various funding requests with state legislators including scholarships, technology upgrades and the Mesa Theatre renovation.

• The school is recognizing Black History Month with a series of free virtual and media programming. Also all month, the college’s Hispanic student organization Viva! is hosting a clothing donation drive through in partnership with Hope’s Children Home. A clothing donation box is located at CCC’s main entrance.