Officials at Three Rivers College say a new strategy to offer a more personalized experience for high school seniors during preview days is finding success.
More than 350 students have attended previews so far, including from Campbell, Doniphan, Van Buren, Poplar Bluff, Puxico and seven other districts. Additional preview days are planned for this fall.
Feedback from the students served so far shows the school’s focus on showing as many programs as possible is paying off, according to TRC.
The preview days have become a popular attraction, coordinator for admissions and recruitment Davina Bixby said during a presentation at a recent Board of Trustees meeting.
“They’re enjoying it. The students really like going out and seeing the different departments, or interacting with the faculty,” she said.
Three Rivers College President Dr. Wes Payne noted TRC has a different strategy for previews these days.
“We’re doing it a little differently. We used to do much larger single days, where many more schools will be participating as one, and our focus now is concentrating on a fewer number of schools and ... giving them a more individualized (experience),” Payne said.
Upcoming preview days are also planned for Bloomfield, Clearwater, Dexter, Naylor, Neelyville and other districts.
Trustees also received updates on other ongoing projects during the same meeting.
New lightposts have been installed on campus, work on the ball fields is coming to a close, and the faculty lounge social distancing project is nearly done.
“Our projects are coming along and we’re gearing up to start a few more as time permits,” Payne said.
TRC’s Constitution Day festivities, including guest speakers and a raffle, were a hit with students, according to instructor Judy Davis.
Eighty-two people attended the guest lectures in person, additional students watched via Zoom, and all enjoyed diving deeper into the Bill of Rights.
The financial report from Charlotte Eubank held nothing unexpected. Revenues from tuition are below what they were this time last year, but that is part of a downward trend in enrollment the school has already accounted for.
“So that’s a planned-for decrease, then in other categories you can see we’re actually up just a little bit, particularly in federal grants, largely due to the CARES Act,” Eubank said.
She also reported the school budget was recently realigned to match changes in current projects.
Bids are open for TRC’s planned library RFID system and a roof replacement at the Sikeston campus.
“We’re hoping (it) will actually be funded through a stake in our funds,” Eubank explained.
Head coach Brian Bess gave good reports on women’s and men’s basketball.
“Our women are ranked No. 8 in the preseason poll,” he said. “Coach Wiggs wanted (to be) a little bit higher ... we got in the top four last year. I’m happy with that, I still think the preseason poll doesn’t really mean as much. It’s kind of a target on its back actually.”
The Lady Raiders play one last scrimmage before facing Williams Baptist University Oct. 30.
The men’s team is already done with scrimmage and will open the classic Nov. 5-6 playing the sixth-ranked team, John A. Logan College of Carterville, Illinois.
Payne also gave a rundown of upcoming events including Media Literacy Week Oct. 25-29, the Brazilian All Stars concert at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center Oct. 26, the ribbon cutting for the expanded Crisp Technology Center Nov. 3 and a Red Cross Blood Drive Nov. 11.