Retirements, tenure and a very positive enrollment report were the highlights of a meeting held by North Central Missouri College trustees on Tuesday night.
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Retirements, tenure and a very positive enrollment report were the highlights of a meeting held by North Central Missouri College trustees on Tuesday night.
Trustees accepted the resignation of Don Dalrymple, a science instructor at NCMC, effective at the end of the 2002-2003 academic year. Dalrymple has been employed at the college for approximately 36 years and has announced that he will retire.
Also submitting her resignation, effective Feb. 28, was Janice Miller, custodial supervisor at the college. Ms. Miller said she is retiring due to health concerns.
Three instructors were granted tenure by the board, including Lola Swint, math instructor; Richard Stephens, business management, manufacturing technology and applied technology instructor; and Beth Crawford, Level I nursing instructor.
Dean of Students Joanna Anderson presented an enrollment report, which shows student head count and credit hours both up 9 percent over last spring. Mrs. Anderson said the current enrollment levels, which are 1,475 students generating 13,887 credit hours, is a record number of students and the first time in recent history when both student head count and credit hours for the spring semester exceeded the figures for the fall semester. She also noted that the number of students who are first time freshmen this semester is up 31 percent and the number of transfer students is up 17 percent. Taking into account the entire year?s enrollment, from Summer I to Spring 2003, enrollment is up 7 percent.
In discussing what factors have led to the increase, Mrs. Anderson said a lot of attention has been focused on retaining students so they remain for the spring semester. She also noted that a week-long focus on retention is coming up, where faculty members will red-flag students who are at risk for dropping out.
The board discussed possible legislation that would allow seven-member boards of trustees for community college districts, rather than the current six-member boards. NCMC trustees said they had no opposition to the change.
The board approved a policy manual revision which will allow NCMC to transact business with vendors that have a direct or indirect personal, professional, business, financial, or family interest of relationship with college personnel, with prior approval of the college president. If the college president has a relationship with the vendor, the board president will review the purchase and approve it if appropriate.
In other business, the board voted to reject all bids for a motor coach and allow those involved in the search to go on the open market to locate a motor coach. If one is found that meets the needs of the college, steps may be taken, with consultation of the board president, to purchase the vehicle. It was noted by Mrs. Anderson and Development Director Steve Maxey, that a total of $20,500 has been raised by the NCMC Booster Club to help finance the purchase of a motor coach, which would be used for college athletics and other programs.
Reports were given by administrative staff, including Dr. Marlene Tignor, who provided figures from the Adult Education and Literacy Program showing the growth of that program over the past year. She also reported on a mandatory Diversity Workshop held recently on campus for faculty and staff, which she said was very well received by those in attendance.
It was also announced that a financial aid workshop, open to the public, will be held March 20.
Maxey told board members that nearly 1,000 people visited the recent Chinese art exhibit at the Dorris Rider Art Galley, located on the campus. He said a committee has been formed to look into other opportunities bring exhibits to the gallery. Maxey also said contributions are being received for the Gene Hartley Memorial Fund, established in memory of the late business manager, who had served as the college?s business manager prior to his retirement.
NCMC President Dr. Walter Nolte gave an update on legislative issues affecting higher education and NCMC in particular. He said possible appropriations withholding for FY03 could be $59,923 if a compromise bill is passed. The total amount of withholding for higher education could total around $21 million. He also discussed possible changes in the A-Plus Program involving reimbursement for books, which could be decreased to 50 percent. He gave a report on the number of paychecks issued by the college in the months of January and February, which were 252 and 308, respectively.
Dr. Nolte also announced that Gail Eckert-Reeves, an NCMC student from Chula, has been named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-Missouri Academic Second Team for Community Colleges in Missouri. She will be honored at the PTK Luncheon scheduled for March 18.
An executive session was held during and following the regular meeting to discuss personnel, real estate and legal matters, with no announcement made.
The board will meet in special session at 5:50 p.m., Thursday, March 6. At that time, the board will approve bids for purchases to be made through Enhancement Funds and will then hold a joint meeting with the NCMC Foundation. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 25.