COVID takes toll on CC’s fall numbers

Clarendon College’s enrollment continues to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as reflected by a decline in headcount this semester, according to CC President Tex Buckhaults.

CC’s total fall headcount settled at 1,399 following the census date on September 8. That’s a drop of about 2.6 percent from 1,436 one year ago, and a decline of 12 percent from the pre-pandemic figure of 1,589 in the fall of 2019.

Buckhaults points out that contact hours – a key factor in the college’s state funding – are up slightly this semester compared to the pre-pandemic at 304,864, an increase of about one percent.

“We have fewer students, but they are taking more classes,” Buckhaults said.

CC has more students on its Clarendon campus this year, 331 up from 258 last fall, and on its Pampa Campus, 150 up from 139. The cosmetology center in Amarillo is also up at 66 compared to 52 one year ago. Enrollment in Childress held steady at 36.

The president said dual credit classes has been the biggest loss for the college.

“We had 70 students at Panhandle High School, but they have gone back to Amarillo College,” Buckhaults said.

Overall dual credit head counts fell from 690 one year ago to 605 this year. Clarendon High School has more students taking dual credit, 30 students up from 25 a year ago, but Hedley is down with three students compared to eight last fall, which Buckhaults said is due to a smaller senior class this year.

Pampa High School’s dual credit number dropped from 215 last year to 164 this fall due in large part to less funding available for those classes through the CC Pampa Foundation.

CC has seen continued growth in its dual credit cosmetology offering in Canyon, Buckhaults said, noting that the previously half-time instructor for that course is now working full time with the class more than doubling from 18 students to 41 currently.

Resident halls on the Clarendon campus are also completely full, the president said, and some coaches have had to move out of the dorms to make room for students.

The number of students taking courses through area correctional facilities dropped from 97 to 81, but Buckhaults points out that the state put a cap on class sizes. That cap was lifted after the 12th class day, so CC may see higher numbers there in the spring semester.

Distance education students – those taking classes strictly online – dropped from 164 to 150, and Buckhaults believes many of those students moved to traditional classes.

As the college continues to deal with the effects of the pandemic, there may be some hope on the horizon for additional funding. Buckhaults said Texas community colleges are asking for $325 million during the current special session of the Legislature. If approved, Clarendon College could receive $1.5 million, and the funds would likely be allocated to building repairs.

In other college business, the CC Board of Regents met last Thursday, for its regular meeting.

Chris Matthews was appointed to the board to take the seat of Darlene Spier, whose resignation was accepted in August. Also in August, former board member Lon Adams was appointed to re-join the board following the resignation of Jerry Woodard, which was accepted in July.

Regents also last week approved a resolution regarding the college’s banking in Childress with First United Bank. The resolution was necessary because the name of the bank changed.

The board voted to re-nominate current members of the appraisal boards in Donley and Gray counties and approved a modernized version of the CC Ranch & Feedlot Operations Logo.

Regents discussed real estate in Childress and will be taking a walk-through of a facility there next week. The college is considering buying about 30,000 square feet of the shopping center that currently houses the Childress Center.

Regents also ratified personnel matters including hiring Amie Seal as a Childress cosmetology instructor, Tate Corliss as a part time assistant judging coach, and Bradley Swygard and Linda Haynes as adjunct instructors; the resignations of Jana Coats as Cosmetology Director, Jamie Mears as Director of Allied Health, and Joseph Davis as a clinical coordinator in allied health; and the reassignment of Mandy Poole-Guerrero as the Director of Allied Health.

During administrative reports, regents were updated on the college’s fifth-year review report to the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools – Commission on Colleges, which was filed September 10.