When OCCC Regents met for their monthly meeting on Aug. 17, OCCC’s past successes and future plans were laid out.

John Boyd, chief financial officer, provided the budget report for FY2014-’15.

He said the number of students OCCC serves is increasing, while state appropriations have gone down.

“At OCCC, our overall state appropriations revenue is actually $93,000 less than it was in fiscal year 2007, yet enrollment over that same period of time has increased 10 percent,” Boyd said.

He said that while OCCC is one of the most efficiently operated community colleges in the nation, it must be careful with its expenses as it moves into the next fiscal year.

Boyd said although OCCC spent less last year than what was budgeted, the college spent more than its revenue. He said the college has taken proactive measures to ensure that overspending does not occur this fiscal year.

“As you’re aware, the decision was made to close the Aquatic Center,” he said. “I believe that’s going to help with our auxiliary operations significantly,” Boyd said.

Lemuel Bardeguez, Community Development vice president, said, because of preparations for the Aquatic Center closure, summer revenue dropped 63 percent — $36,925 compared to $100,110 received in 2014. Recreation and Fitness maintained a net margin of $10,796.71 for 2015, he said.

However, he said, the Community Outreach and Education summer programs showed an increase.

He said the program’s net income this year was approximately $45,092, a 39 percent increase over last year.

A prepared report shows College for Kids and Musical Theatre Camps also showed improvement with a combined enrollment of 4,494 this summer compared to 4,221 last summer.

Bardeguez said this was the second year to offer College for Kids at the Capitol Hill Center and 100 percent of the 435 enrollments qualified for free or reduced-price lunches.

Bardeguez also gave an update on the recent expansion of the Recreation and Fitness Center, which cost the college $119,838.

During the meeting, Regents also approved two new certificates the college will now offer.

The board approved a request for the college to offer an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certificate, which requires 26 hours of major coursework and eight hours of support classes.

The board also approved a Vehicle Service Advisor certificate.

According to the curriculum pattern, the program will consist of nine hours of major classes, a three-hour support class and six hours of general education.

Those include Basic Automotive Fundamentals, English Composition I and II and business courses.

“The beauty of both of these programs is these are classes that we already have, so it’s not costing us anything to develop these programs,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne DeClouette.

“This is what we’ll look to do in the future.”

DeClouette said the certificates give students the opportunity to earn a higher pay rate working in their prospective field while they are working toward an associate degree.

DeClouette said, to the best of her knowledge, there are no institutions in Oklahoma offering this certificate, which qualifies students to seek employment at car dealerships and independent repair shops.

The college plans to offer both certificates in spring 2016.

For more information about the programs, email DeClouette at anne.h.declouette@occc.edu or visit www.occc.edu/catalog/2015-2016/degree-programs/index.html.

The next Regent’s meeting is at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 21, in the Al Snipes Board Room on the first floor of the Main Building.