The South Plains College Board of Regents held their monthly meeting May 9, where the group canvassed election results and administered oaths of office.
Position Five and Seven Members Chris Edens and Richard Ellis both ran unopposed during the 2024 General Election, while Position Six Member Joe Tubb was re-elected after running against Rob Martin.
During the election process, Mix Box was named Chairman, Ronnie Alexander was named Vice Chairman and Ellis was named Treasurer.
Service awards were also announced for 2024 with 95 employees being recognized for a combined 1,140 years of service. There were 45 employees with five years of service, 19 employees with 10 years of service, 10 employees with 15 years of service, nine employees with 20 years of service, three employees with 25 years of service, three employees with 30 years of service, four employees with 35 years of service and two employees with 45 years of service.
There were seven employees retiring for Spring of 2024 with the group totaling 151 years of service. Robert Bilodeau had 32 years, Denise Glab had five years, Ron Presley had 35 years, Sharon Race had 31 years, Margarita Trevino had 22 years, Tanya Ward had 17 years and Jimmie Wisian had nine years of service.
There were six employees that retired in the Fall of 2023 that totaled 100 years of service. Teresa Chavez had 14 years, Stephanie Deering had 18 years, Jesse Moreno had 22 years, Scott Parker had 21 years, Rosa Rincones had nine years and Myrna Whitehead had 16 years.
The board was provided an update regarding the SPC Health Sciences Associate Degree Nursing Program. The May 2023 SPC AND graduating class has a 93.87% first time pass rate and the ultimate retention rate was above 90%. The ultimate pass rate was 97.9%.
The December 2023 graduating class had a 100% first time pass rate and the ultimate retention rate was above 80%. The last time there was a 100% pass rate was in 2012, but the retention rate was around 55%.
It was explained that the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) looks at calender year (NCLEX 2023 examination year the program was at 79.05% overall pass rate), and the threshold is 80%. However, to put into context the improvement the program has made; the May 2023 cohort graduated 49 students with 46 passing on their first attempt. The percentage calculated at 93.87%. The December 2023 cohort graduated 45 students and all 45 passed on the first attempt for a 100% pass rate.
In 2022, the program was required by the BON to write a self-study due to the 2021 overall pass rate of 64.29%. By 2023, the program was placed on Full Approval with Warning by the BON due to the 2022 overall pass rate of 50.65%.
In response, Dr. Tara Strawn was hired in May 2022 as Director of Nursing and has put in place processes to improve first time test pass rates, as well as overall retention rates. It was added that through the efforts of Strawn, Dean Jerry Findley and the nursing faculty, improvement was immediate.
The program moved from a 50.65% overall pass rate in 2022 to the last two cohorts scoring well above the 80% threshold. However, regardless of the improvements, the BON was poised to place the program on a conditional status due to the 2022-2023 pass rates. In turn, that would mean SPC would not be allowed to admit a new AND student cohort for a year.
In response to the impending placement, Strawn and Findley testified before the BON on April 18, in Austin, to petition the board to leave the SPC ADN Nursing Program on Full Approval with Warning due to their improvement in pass rates in a short period of time.
While testifying, Findley and Strawn brought the boards attention to an issue faced by SPC students of not being able to take the NCLEX exam in a timely manner, thereby, not allowing the program the opportunity to raise the first-time passage rate .5 of 1% to the required 80% threshold.
Following testimony and 6-3 vote by the BON, the SPC ADN Program was granted approval to stay in status of Full Approval with Warning which allows the program to continue to accept two classes in the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
The board and administration congratulated Strawn and Findley for the work bringing the program back to a successful standard following the presentation of information.
During the SPC Presidents Report which was provided by Dr. Robin Satterwhite, the board approved the item of considering a construction manager at risk for the Natatorium.
The item was unanimously approved.
An indepth projects meeting is slated for the end of the month between the board.
Once the meeting is held, the board will have a better grasp of the general direction the group goes regarding all projects dealing with the college.