Dateline: November 22, 2007

CC drops 'interim' from Auvenshine's title   

The search for the next president of Clarendon College ended before it started last week when the CC Board of Regents decided the best person for the job was already on the job.

Dr. William R. Auvenshine, who had been serving in an interim capacity since July, became the 17th sitting president of the Panhandle’s oldest college following Thursday’s regular board meeting.

“I’m extremely pleased to be in Clarendon,” Auvenshine told the Enterprise. “We have an outstanding board of regents and an outstanding faculty and staff. I’ve also been very impressed with the high caliber of the student body.”

No contract was signed Thursday, but both sides agreed Auvenshine will serve as long as he is enjoying the job and as long as the board thinks he is serving the college well.

Board Chairman Charles Deyhle, Sr., said Auvenshine has the unanimous support of the regents.

“I am very pleased because we have a man with a lot of experience at a college larger than ours,” Deyhle said. “He is extremely well informed, and he has made a lot of friends here in a short time.”

Auvenshine is no stranger to the Texas Panhandle. He received his Master of Education Degree from West Texas State University in 1967 and was the manager and part owner of Megent Music Company in Amarillo from 1964 to 1970. 

In addition to his degree from WT, Auvenshine holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University. 

Auvenshine began his career in higher education as Dean of Student Services at Ranger Junior College from 1971 to 1984. He then served 20 years as president of Hill College in Hillsboro before retiring in 2004. Most recently Auvenshine served as Interim President at Galveston College in Galveston, Texas. 

He has served on numerous committees for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. He has also served as President of the Texas Community College Association, in addition to numerous other civic and education organizations. 

Auvenshine succeeds Dr. W. Myles Shelton, who stepped down effective June 28 to take the job as president of Galveston College. 

In other college business last week, Regents continued talks with representatives for a wind energy farm slated for construction on the Trew Ranch along the northern Donley County border. The board made it clear that they will support the development, but counsel for both parties are still negotiating terms of a tax incentive.

The board approved a contract with the Donley Appraisal District for tax appraisals and collections in the coming year, and the board also adopted a resolution to tax tangible personal property in transit.

Regents approved a one percent raise for all college employees who did not receive the faculty raise earlier this year. The raise is retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year.

The board accepted with regret the resignation of Wayne Cole, who is retiring and who Auvenshine called “a very respected employee.”

The board also received a report on a farm that was donated to CC years ago in Carson County. A wind power development company has renewed its lease on the property.