Dateline: November 25, 2004

CC Regents accept completed library

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

With the construction phase complete, the Clarendon College Board of Regents toured the interior and exterior of the new library building and accepted the structure during regular session last Thursday.

“It’s an exciting time for Clarendon College,” said CC President Myles Shelton. “We’re pleased this project has come to fruition, especially in time for the upcoming spring semester.”

The 10,500 square-foot library is named in memory of the late Vera Dial Dickey, life-long resident of Memphis. The building features improved amenities such as a computer research lab with access to 45 computers, three study/reading areas, improved office and workspaces and special display cases for items such as the Texas Collection.

“Mrs. Dickey was a classy lady, and this building is a class act,” said Jack Moreman, member of the CC board of regents.

“It is really impressive how neatly the architecture fits with the other buildings on campus,” said Mike Butts, CC chair of the board of regents. “Since no trees were harmed during construction, the building appears as if it has been there for years.”

The official dedication and grand opening for the Vera Dial Dickey Library is slated for Thursday, February 3, 2005, at 11 a.m.

“We are very excited about all that has been accomplished over the past year,” said Shelton. “Not only will the Vera Dial Dickey Library provide expanded services to our students and people in the surrounding communities, but it is a building of which the entire area can be proud.”

In other college news, the regents received the audit for fiscal year 2004 with the college district being in good condition and having a net increase in assets of $98,718.

Regents agreed to purchase Plato learning software to enhance developmental studies.

A contract for the collection of ad valorem taxes was approved with the Donley Appraisal District, and the board approved the sale of tax delinquent property in Howardwick.

An administrative report showed that 91 percent of students enrolling in classes last year completed those classes. 

The report also showed that 43.9 percent of developmental students passed examination and went on to take regular classes. That’s up from 26.4 percent in fiscal year 2003 and 7.37 percent in fiscal year 1998.

“Most colleges are in the 20 percent range,” Shelton said of the passing rate for developmental students. “I think this puts us in the top three colleges in the state if trends hold true. Last year we were in the top five (with 26.4 percent).”

One-third of CC students are in developmental classes, and Shelton credited CC’s developmental instructors for getting them where they need to be.

“This is taking a kid at a third or fourth grade level and moving them to a college level,” he said. “Somewhere along the way these kids didn’t get what they needed. Where the rubber hits the road is our faculty working with these kids.”