Enrollment up 6.8 percent for fall at CC

Enrollment is up at Clarendon College this fall as the school celebrates its 125th anniversary.
Total headcount following the 12th class day last week was reported at 1,373, an increase of 6.8 percent over last year’s fall enrollment of 1,285.

CC President Tex Buckhaults said growth was primarily in dual credit classes and enrollment in prison classes. Headcount was up slightly on the Clarendon campus from 288 last year to 291 this year, while enrollments at the Pampa, Childress, and Amarillo centers remained flat with enrollments of 100, 34, and 66 respectively.

Dual credit students through area high schools totaled 659 up from 616 a year ago.
The number of students taking courses through area correctional facilities grew to 124 compared to 81 last fall.

Distance education students – those taking classes strictly online – dropped one from 100 to 99.

Students attending CC this year will benefit from three new positions designed to improve student success rates. Buckhaults said the college has hired Dr. Mitch Parker as the new dean of students along with Tamara Bains and Charlata King as student support specialists. CC will be trying to improve early alerts that might indicate students in need of help whether the problem is attendance or trouble logging into classes, Buckhalts said.

State funding is going to be measured on student success going forward. CC received an additional $2.6 million in state funds this year, pushing its overall budget to $12.59 million. In addition to the new positions, Buckhaults said the college was able to boost all employee salaries by $1,800 per year and other compensation for stipends and adjunct pay were also increased.

Buckhaults said the student supports specialists’ work over the summer shows promise for the future as it resulted in higher passing grades for students.