The South Plains Board of Regents met Thursday during a regular meeting discussing several reports and updates with the beginning of the 2022 school year. Vice President of Student Affairs Stanley DeMerritt gave a preliminary Fall 2022 report of enrollment and housing occupancy to the board.
Vice President DeMerritt explained that enrollment is currently down 6.9 percent compared to 2021. Post-COVID, DeMerritt said that dual credit numbers had fell by 4.4 percent while it was expected that the number of internet students decreased by 10.8 percent. “Trying to figure out where our numbers are, we anticipated the numbers of internet kids lowering because folks are wanting to get back into classrooms and do face-to-face learning,” said Vice President DeMerritt.
Board Member Ty Gregory asked if a range of enrollment was available from other colleges within Texas or the region.
South Plains College President Robin Satterwhite informed the board that numbers of college’s enrollments aren’t available as schools tend to wait until the 12th day of the school year. Additionally, President Satterwhite discussed the decline of enrollment for colleges across Texas.
“Across the state we are seeing declines in enrollment,” explained President Satterwhite. “Another discouraging point is of the top 10 percent of students across the state, 17 percent of those students are not going to college at all. Neither private nor public, those students are not enrolling, and it has climbed to 17 percent.”
President Satterwhite also added that there isn’t necessarily a good or conclusive answer behind the decrease of enrollment. He also added that the population of Texas has continued to increase while enrollment decreases.
“It’s a frustrating trend that we are dealing with, and it is also why the state is looking at making adjustments to the financing model,” explained President Satterwhite. “Colleges can’t be in this position when this is a trend across the state and expect the college’s to be successful.”
Vice President moved forward with his report and discussed the current housing occupancy report. He explained that the 2022 Fall semester is trending in the right direction and has matched the 2016 Fall semester numbers which has been the highest to date.
Overall, the campus housing is sitting at 95.23 percent compared to 95 percent in 2016. Vice President DeMerritt added that the numbers could adjust within the first few days and week of classes beginning but suggested that the numbers should settle by the 12th day of class.
Chairman Mike Box asked for any updates on the new Lubbock Center that opened for the fall semester.
Vice President Ryan Gibbs said that the center has been running smoothly for the most part. Parking and an excess of people in the building and parking lot was an issue on the first day, but that was slightly expected with students who didn’t have class but wanted to find where their classes were.
Vice President Gibbs transitioned into giving his update on the continuing education and workforce development programs. He explained that the enrollment within those programs had increased by 19 percent compared to last year.
A noteworthy increase is in the truck driving program that saw 94 enrollments last year compared to 229 this year. Vice President Gibbs says they are looking for way to expand capacity and the continuation of working with local trucking companies to grow the program.
A viable option is the placement of the program in Levelland and the possibility of utilizing the Levelland Rail Park. Vice President Gibbs explained that discussions are being held and the potential of presenting an agenda item focused on the topic in a later meeting is possible.
Vice President of Business Affairs Teresa Green gave a brief update on the Tax Office report along with a financial report and HEERF expenditure report.
Vice President Green said the college has collected over $10 million through August 31, with one more month remaining in the current fiscal year. The year will end with September and the 2023 fiscal year will begin with the month of October.
The net position of the unrestricted funds sits at $44.5 million. Vice President Green explained that August is one of the more difficult months to present numbers as they are continuously receiving invoices throughout the month as the year gets closer to the end.
Vice President Green predicts the month to be on par with August from last years report. Green wrapped up her report with the HEERF II and III August expenditures for August. The total amount currently sits at $216,219.52 with transcription services for faculty to use for online learning at $6,869.93. Upgraded WIFI totaled $60,354.97 and the camera and door access project totaled $148,994.62.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement Julie Gerstenberger presented a scholarship update along with a distinguished alumni update for the board.
As of September 1, the SPC Foundation awarded 1,038 scholarships worth $544,227 which is 78 percent of the budgeted amount of $700,597.
Third-party scholarships that have been awarded for this year as of September 1, totaled $568,939.27 in 476 scholarships.
The Distinguished Alumni celebration is set for November 3, which will recognize and honor the noteworthy achievements of its former students.
The recommendation committee is comprised of current college employees.
President Satterwhite wrapped up the regular meeting with the president’s report and included the completion of renovations for the existing welding building.
He applauded the work the construction crews did for the renovation and making the building ADA compatible along with making it a safer building in preparation for the expansion part of the project.
President Satterwhite also included the opening of the Lubbock Center for the 2022 Fall semester and said the opening and welcoming of students and staff had gone smooth and he hopes the remainder of the semester will follow suit.
Satterwhite ended his report by thanking board members for their assistance through the process of making the renovations of the Willburn and Helen Wheeler Science Center happen.
President Satterwhite expressed his excitement for the completion of the science center on the main campus.