Southeast Arkansas College administrators reported Wednesday that the college is enrolling fewer students this semester in comparison with one year ago even though they are advertising extensively.
SEARK College President Stephen Hilterbran said that they are advertising through television, radio, billboards, Facebook and Twitter. He told board of trustees at a meeting that the decline in enrollment will result in a decline of $250,000 in revenue received from tuition in spring 2015.
“We do not sit back and wait for students to enroll,” Hilterbran said. “We are actively recruiting. Even though our numbers are down, it is not because of a lack of effort.”
Hilterbran said SEARK College is also looking to offer an HTML class at Pine Bluff High School.
SEARK College Vice President for Institutional Research/Student Affairs Mike Gunter said state funding is based on credit hours, yet people prefer to hear about the number of students. SEARK College currently has 1,392 students enrolled in the spring 2015 semester, as compared to 1,579 students in spring 2014, a decline of 11.8 percent. He said he expects more students to sign up for the current semester.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“I predict we will decline by 8 percent from last year,” Gunter said. “We think we will build up our enrollment.”
To turn the tide, Gunter said that SEARK College contacted area public school districts and inquired about offering a course at their high school campuses. White Hall High School was the only one that showed an interest.
They are offering a course at White Hall High School to seniors who are equipped to be in college, Gunter said.
SEARK College Vice President of Nursing and Allied Health Diann Williams said the college wants to offer a medical coding course and an online course for licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses. Williams said that most medical facilities hire registered nurses.
“There appears to be great interest in this course, as we get phone calls every day,” Williams said.
SEARK College social media specialist Terry Clausen said he asks faculty members to promote the college through its Facebook page. He said he takes photos and videos of students and posts them to the site.
“Our students look for information to share,” Clausen said. “Students are receptive to photos of themselves.”
In other business, SEARK College Director of Information Technology JoAnn Dupra discussed a plan in case of an emergency involving an intruder carrying a gun. The SEARK College Police Department can be reached at 870-557-4211 or at extension -4911 from a campus phone.
Faculty members and students can receive a notification in case of such an emergency by signing up for e2 Alert System through the college website. They can be informed by text message, phone call, Facebook or Twitter.
Hilterbran said that Pine Bluff police officers will not necessarily know the campus and will need to be directed to a particular location. He said this system is effective and that there will be flyers posted throughout hallways.
In other business, the college purchased a property at 2506 17th Avenue for $20,000 and will close the transaction on Thursday. This location currently has a dilapidated house that will be demolished, Hilterbran said.
In personnel matters, the board approved the hiring of Gene White as a network support analyst; JoNece Carter from communications; Kelly McGhee as an administrative specialist; and JoAnn Addison as an administrative specialist.
The board accepted the resignations of Velma Wilson from institutional services; Angela Ward as an administrative assistant; Gail Stith as a counselor; Lewis Hall as an EMT coordinator; and Quentin Douglas from institutional services.