Clovis Community College institutes tuition break

Part-time students can afford to take more classes at Clovis Community College in the spring semester.

The tuition reduction, which affects students taking less than seven credit-hours, is part of the school’s 2007-2008 strategic plan approved Wednesday by CCC Board of Trustees during their monthly meeting.

CCC president John Neibling said he hopes the tuition break will encourage students who normally take one class, which is about three credit hours, to add a class and finish school quicker.

“Many students, because of their work schedules and family responsibilities, only take a single class,” he said. “We’re hoping this will encourage people to take on additional classes.”

In-state students pay $107 for three-credit hours, which is typical of most classes offered. Under the new tuition structure, the fee will remain the same up to seven credit hours, Neibling said.

“It’s an experiment to see if it has the effect that we hope,” he said.

Other highlights of the strategic plan include renovating the proposed Norman and Vi Petty Performing Arts Center on Main Street.

Plans include expanding the former Mesa Theater, which will serve as the main venue for the college’s cultural arts series, he said.

He said the college is looking for an architect to determine how much the project will cost.

The instructional space for cosmetology classes will be given access to additional electrical power.

According to cosmetology business affairs director Jayne Craig, there is not enough power to run more than three blow-dryers at the same time without tripping the electrical circuit.

Board member Terry Martin said the building was not designed for cosmetology classes.

“It wasn’t designed to do what it is (doing),” he said. “It was done as a classroom.”

In other business, Neibling updated board members on campus safety. He told members that all classrooms have internal locks but are not connected through an intercom.

He told board members that a lockdown system in gathering spaces and outside speakers are possible additions to the campus safety system.