By Missy Irvin/reporter

More than 200 students ate a free lunch March 24 during Student Development Services Day on South Campus while learning how to stay ahead of the game.

Dr. Cyrus Johnson, student development services director, helped serve lunch.

“This is our way of helping the students and making sure they have a good semester,” he said.

Monica Miranda, career and transfer center coordinator, helped coordinate the event.

“It took about a month to plan the event,” she said. “The event is designed to help students further their future at TCC. The theme is March Madness because we want students to stay ahead of the game.”

Students learned about academic success seminars, testing, counseling, financial aid, health and registration.

“One of the main focuses of today’s event is the changes to registration,” Miranda said.

John Spencer, South registrar, explained the new concepts of registration.

“Payment of tuition and fees is due when you register,” he said. “All unpaid classes will be dropped nightly.

“It’s going to be different. It’s a change that always causes a period of adjustment, but we have taken some steps to make sure everyone is taken care of. For some folks, it may cause a bit of a problem, but after running the studies, we did not have very many people that were dropped for nonpayment.”

Students can also register for payment plan options so they do not have to pay their tuition all at once. They also should talk to business services and financial aid before they register for their classes, Spencer said.

“For new students, these practices are normal,” he said. “The adjustment will be for current students.”

For more information regarding changes in registration, visit www.tccd.edu/PlanFor Success or call 817-515-TCCD(8223).

The next South Campus student development services event is Spring Fling April 6.