Construction continues on the Wesson campus of Copiah-LincolnCommunity College and the school saw a record number of studentsrecently graduate, according to board members at their Thursdaymonthly meeting.

College officials updated the board on the construction of the newmen’s dormitory, which is being built next to Franklin and Simpsondormitories on the Wesson campus and is visible to all who crossover the bridge entering Co-Lin.

“It’s a striking view there,” said Melton King, board member. “It’sgoing to be quite attractive.”

The $3.2 million facility, funded through state bond money, willhouse 56 students and is progressing as scheduled. However,students hoping to call the dorm home will have to wait longer thanthe beginning of the upcoming semester to move in.

“We’re not going to obligate these rooms for the fall semester andnot have it ready,” said college President Dr. RonnieNettles.

In addition to an update on the construction of the new dorm, whichis still nameless at this point, the board approved an $800boarding fee, per semester, for the new dorm.

“With the addition of the items in this dorm, we feel like $800 isa fair rate,” said Nettles.

The fee for the new dorm, which will contain private bathrooms, is$125 more than the rooming fees for the school’s otherdormitories.

The school recently saw a record number of students graduate.

Officials reported that 600 students graduated between thecollege’s Wesson, Natchez and Simpson County campuses.

Nettles said the 20 percent increase in school attendance combinedwith the efforts the college has recently put forth attributed tothe largest graduating class of Co-Lin between all threecampuses.

“We put a great emphasis in getting people to try to graduate,”said Nettles.

In other business, the school is looking at installing bleachers inMullen Gymnasium.

“I had a concern about the safety of them,” said Nettles about whythe seating will be torn out of the gym. “They’re really rugged anddurable, but they’ve been there for 50 years.”

Board members mentioned the idea of a possible fundraiser todispose of the old wooden seats, and Nettles will dribble aroundwith the idea before bringing it before the board.

“If we feel like we can dispose some of them for sentimental value,we will,” said Nettles.

While schools issue passing and failing grades, it was Nettles whowas recently under evaluation. Though an A, B or C was not given -comments indicated the college president passed.

“Overall, an excellent, excellent evaluation,” said Board ViceChairman Roy Winkworth.

With 19 board members filling out an evaluation on their collegepresident’s performance, the only request for Nettles was for himto look into making the financial reports a little easier tounderstand.

“I don’t know how we can make that stuff any simpler,” saidWinkworth.