CCC approves fees for phlebotomy course

CLOVIS — The morning after vampires walked the streets on Halloween night, Clovis Community College decided to do some blood drawing of its own.

At the CCC Board of Trustees regular monthly meeting on Wednesday morning the board unanimously approved fees associated with a new phlebotomy course to be offered by the Allied Health Department starting in the spring.

Executive Vice President Robin Jones said the program will consist of four classes totaling 10 credits, which must all be taken during the same semester. There are $300 of fees associated with the new program.

Jones said the program can likely service about 12 to 15 students in the first semester but could expand in the future.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting:

• Director of Financial Aid April Chavez presented the board with the annual financial aid report for 2016-17.

According to the report, CCC students received nearly $5 million in aid during the 2016-17 school year. Federal funds accounted for 83 percent of the total aid.

CCC awarded $3.4 million in grant aid to approximately 1,000 students, over $360,000 in scholarships to approximately 250 students, over $200,000 in student employment to approximately 100 students and $881,091 in loans to approximately 200 students during the 2016-17 school year, the report showed.

The board unanimously approved the financial actions report for the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.

College President Becky Rowley said each quarter the board must approve the report and then submit it to the New Mexico Higher Education Department to show the school is in good financial standing.

The board unanimously — Chairman Arnold Martinez was absent — approved the transfer of nearly $40,000 from the college to the CCC Foundation.

Rowley said the money was originally given to the school to provide scholarships, which will still be the case after the transfer, and that by moving the funds to the CCC Foundation the donations will accrue more interest.

The board unanimously approved the renewal of CCC’s health insurance policy with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The renewal rate included an 8 percent premium increase.

CCC offers the voluntary health insurance to employees and retirees and Director of Human Resources Gay Goettsch said about 70 to 80 percent of those eligible participate in the plan.