NCMC Hears Reports On Enrollment, Student Applications

Reports focusing on students highlighted the meeting of the North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees on Tuesday night.
Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Kristen Alley reported that preliminary enrollment numbers for the spring semester show head count up 1.7 percent (797 students) while credit hours are down 1.3 percent (9,218 hours). Dr. Alley anticipates numbers to improve before the start of spring classes in January.
President Dr. Lenny Klaver reported that the “No Fee November” project, allowing students to submit applications during the month of November at no cost, netted 86 more applications than during the same time a year ago. He called the push “a win” for NCMC as it got students to turn in their applications earlier and gives college staff a better idea of future student numbers.
Dr. Klaver also reported on the recent presidents and chancellors meeting, which focused on the community college request for equity funding from the legislature. The administrators also developed a policy addressing service region boundaries and how disputes would be handled should two colleges want to service the same areas. It was noted that the policy requires that any school district can vote to annex themselves into a community college taxing district by a vote of the district’s school board, but that no community college board of trustees will propose to annex a school district outside their service region by voting to put the question before voters.
Among items acted on by the board, trustees accepted the retirement of Sharon Weiser, who currently serves as dean of extended campus, effective June 30, 2020. Dr. Weiser joined NCMC in 2014 as the dean of instruction, coming to NCMC from Missouri Valley College in Marshall. She also served as NCMC’s interim director of academic affairs prior to being named to her current position in 2017. As dean of extended campus, she has been in charge of NCMC’s North Belt Center in Andrew County.
In other personnel matters, the board approved the employment of Joshua Wilmes of Maryville as an exempt, adjunct instructor for military science courses beginning with the spring 2020 semester. It was noted that Wilmes will not be paid by NCMC as this is a partnership with Northwest Missouri State University and the National Guard GOLD program.
The resignations of two Head Start employees were also accepted – Tiffany Rhoden as cook and Faythe Salmon as a teacher aide, both at the Brookfield “A” Center. Kelsie Duff was formally approved as a teacher aide at that facility and has already begun her duties.
Board members set the filing dates for the April 7, 2020 board election as Tuesday, Dec. 17 through Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. The six-year terms of Dr. John Holcomb and Dr. NiCole Neal will be expiring. Those who wish to file may do so in the Frey Administrative Center during regular business hours.
In other business, the board:
• approved revisions to the Green Hills Head Start personnel policy manual, including policies regarding sick, personal and volunteer leave; vacation time; tuition reimbursement; and flexible work schedules.
• approved the GHHS’s purchase of a 2019 Ford Fusion through Barnes-Baker Automotive in Trenton at a cost of $18,560 after a trade-in value of $3,445 for three Ford club wagons.
• was told that the Higher Learning Commission will make its annual accreditation to NCMC on Sept. 20-21, 2021.
• heard about the success of the college holiday lighting ceremony held on Monday night and attended by students, staff and community members.
• heard from organization officers about activities in which Phi Kappa Theta honor society members are involved. The students included Katie Adkison, Chasidy Finney, Annaliese Riley and Lily Simons.
• was told that candidates have been selected for the NCMC homecoming activities to be held on Jan. 22. The king candidates are Andrew George of Canton, Cash Miller of Warsaw, Gregor Moesher of Deerfield Beach, FL and Tyler Kidd of Trenton. The queen candidates are Katie Adkison of Hamilton, Brooke Leeper of Princeton, Chasidy Finney of Cainsville and Annaliese Riley of Trenton.
• heard an update regarding Head Start enrollment numbers, which include 200 three- and four-year-olds and 27 in “early Head Start.” It was noted that the program has a lack of student numbers on the waiting list who meet the income requirements.
The next meeting of the board is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, which is an earlier date than usual due to the Christmas holiday.