By Joshua Watson
For the past 39 years, Martha Caughey has dutifully served Pensacola Junior College with an exemplary work ethic and perseverance through the myriad everyday complications that arise in work as a college registrar.
A graduate PJC and the University of West Florida. Caughey understands the complications that may arise while trying to make one’s way on the path to higher education. Whether it be through e-mail communication or simply by meeting in her office, Caughey engages each student, helping to lead them to the best possible situation.
“Helping students get going with their education is what I find to be most important to my job,” said Caughey, a mother and self-made business woman. “I have no qualms about helping students, because if I were in the position of need, I would be very grateful for any assistance, large or small.”
The everyday complications that Caughey must deal with pale in comparison to the personal gratification her job as PJC’s registrar brings, she said.
Whether it be by filing paperwork for a student’s graduation or filling out transcript request forms, Caughey sees the benefits of her diligence. Her job is complicated by a number of factors, including the changing rules of the Florida Board of Education, PJC’s budget and simple time constraints. Yet Caughey finds a way to get the job done, without sacrificing the needs of students, many faculty members and students say.
“I’m proud to go to a school where I know that my records, especially my private information, is strictly kept under lock and key,” said PJC student James Holtry.
Caughey, as the registrar, is responsible for all student records, including transcripts, degree plans and enrollment information. Old, paper records are currently being transferred to electronic disk, an undertaking headed by Caughey, in order to save the college time and money.
In addition, she has used the accessibility of an online degree audit to help students efficiently map out a multi-semester plan for classloads.
“When I access Spyglass, I know exactly what classes I need to take, from semester to semester,” said PJC theatre student Ricky Terry. “It makes the process of trying to figure out which classes to take really easy.”