College ready for new students, new president
It’s a new year for Pirates
For the first time in 11 years students beginning classes at Porterville College today will be greeted by a president other than Rosa Carlson.
Carlson announced her retirement last June and it will take effect the first of September, but she has already turned over the reins to Bill Henry, who has been named interim president. Henry is excited and up to the challenge. “It’s an exciting time,” he said, adding enrollment is up at the two-year college which serves for many of its students as a springboard to four-year colleges and universities. He reported as of Wednesday enrollment was 4,116
students, and that was growing.
Henry is expected to serve as interim president for at least 18 months until the Kern Community College Board hires a permanent replacement for Carlson.
Henry said Carlson has left the college in the best shape it has been in years and he just wants to continue that growth.
As for this new year, he said they have the most new faculty members they have seen in a while.
“We have a pretty good contingent of new staff coming in,” he said of the seven or eight new teachers. On average, he said, they only have one or two new faculty members a year.
“Having that many is fantastic. It’s nice, a new perspective and they bring new ideas to the campus,” he added.
One of the new staff members is Sarah Rector who is replacing longtime music director David Hensley who retired. Henry said Rector is a local product who is returning home.
As of Wednesday, Henry said the enrollment was already at 97 percent of the college’s target, the highest it has been prior to classes beginning. Late enrollees will add to that number.
“Kids are still signing up this week,” he said.
Class actually began Saturday, but the full slate of classes begins today.
As for the campus, Henry said work is continuing on the Veterans Memorial in the quad area, but the campus is not as disturbed by construction as it was at the start of last year when the gym was closed for renovation.
“There is a lot of new equipment in classrooms,” he said.
Also, he has moved Sam Aunoi from a dean’s post to vice president of instruction.
Overall, he is looking forward to the new year and the changes that are in place.
“This is first time at campus we are without Rosa in 11 years. She’s given us a great foundation,” said Henry.