Dr. Neil Nuttall was invested as the 12th president in the 80-year history of North Central Missouri College during ceremonies held Sunday afternoon at the Ketcham Community Center.
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Dr. Neil Nuttall was invested as the 12th president in the 80-year history of North Central Missouri College during ceremonies held Sunday afternoon at the Ketcham Community Center.
Following a welcome by NCMC Board of Trustees Vice President Stan Lowrey and a brief history of NCMC by Professor Emeritus and Board Member Don Dalrymple, Dr. Nuttall was formally invested as president by Board of Trustees President Diane Raynes before addressing the guests at the event.
Noting that he has “no utopian vision for a vastly different college,” Dr. Nuttall focused his address on “Building Tomorrow’s Traditions.” He explained that traditions are ways to transfer ownership, customs and beliefs and involve shared doctrines and teachings. Those gathered on Sunday, he said, were there because of their shared interest in NCMC and the state of Missouri. Dr. Nuttall said he had asked NCMC staff members to share with him the traditions of the college and was told about the annual Groundhog Day celebration, breakfast during finals and other activities that take place on campus. However, he said, he has already found there to be other traditions at NCMC, not the least of which is the tradition of treating all students as though they are important. Building the traditions of tomorrow will involve blending the visions of those involved in the college. As for his vision, Dr. Nuttall pointed out that his vision involves the continuation of great teaching, public service and seeing the transitions of students in every day life, but his vision also involves a dedication of those involved to creating a better college, with “no substitute for quality and no excuse for mediocrity.”
“We must challenge ourselves every day to do better,” he said, noting that the goal for NCMC must be to transform lives through knowledge.
Among his goals for the college are to implement an entirely on-line registration process, improve support for online students, expand support of on-campus students through improved academic support and relaxation opportunities and to increase diversity. He also expressed his commitment to the economic health of the community and region by support of small business and e-commerce, as well as the need to continue working with the city of Trenton to attract and lure the public to the downtown area. NCMC, he said, should not be “peripheral” to the state, but a “central, enabling force.”
In reaching a goal of becoming north Missouri’s “premiere provider” of associate degrees, Dr. Nuttall pledged the college’s commitment to the school districts in its service area and stated the need to continue working with four-year institutions to reach agreements that are in the best interest of students. All programs and instructors, he said, will be held to the highest standards through rigorous reviews. The college’s success, he said, will be gauged by following students to the workplace or to four-year institutions.
Strategic planning, coupled with adequate resources, will be needed to meet the needs of NCMC, Dr. Nuttall said, including the construction of an Allied Health Building, the renovation of Geyer Hall and the development of a student support center.
In responding to the challenge, given to him during his investiture Dr. Nuttall pledged to commit his full energy to meeting the challenge of leading NCMC with authority, decisiveness, no abuse of power and “with respect for the traditions of yesterday, but a vision of tomorrow’s traditions.”
Several groups and organizations involved with NCMC were represented at the ceremony, welcoming Dr. Nuttall to the college and pledging their support to him. Those offering comments were Cory Cooksey, NCMC Faculty Senate president; Sandra Williams, president of the Administrative Management Professionals; Kristi Herron, Classified Staff president; Brooke Carder, Student Senate president; Terri Henderson, Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce president; and Wendell Lenhart, NCMC Foundation Board president. Rev. Barry Boulware of the Wesley United Methodist Church gave the benediction.