March 22, 2010 Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes

The regular session of the Pratt Community College Board of Trustees was called to order at 6:34 p.m.

Chair Ed Barrett, Vice Chair Ken Van Blaricum, Michele Hamm, Wendell Howell, Mike Koler and Jeff Shumway attended. Also in attendance were President Dr. William Wojciechowski, Vice President of Instruction Jim Stratford, Vice President of Finance and Operations Kent Adams, Vice President of Students and Enrollment Management Lisa Perez Miller and Athletic Director Kurt McAfee. The faculty was represented by Carol Ricke, and the staff was represented by Patrick Harrison. The clerk is Jody Jorns. Board member Jenny Larrison was unable to attend.

Mr. Van Blaricum led the group in the pledge of allegiance.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS

Guests included Pam Dietz, Dean of Academic Instruction; Misty Beck, coordinator of Student Life; Hannah Bell, Student Success Specialist; Gale Rose of the Pratt Tribune; and students Breann Luckner, president of Rotaract, and Craig Baldwin.

The students provided a slide presentation of Rotaract’s spring break trip to Washington, D.C., where the group worked at a homeless shelter and toured the nation’s capitol. They provided 12 bags filled with donated items, including eyeglasses. During their stay at the Jordan House, they cleaned the shelter, cleared the yard of debris and rats, built a retaining wall and updated the house’s contact directories. The group also visited museums, the National Archives, monuments, memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. They thanked the administration for the opportunity.

Dr. Wojciechowski introduced this topic and notes some of the differences between community colleges and technical colleges including their missions. Community colleges provide general education, workforce development programs and continuing education while technical schools focus on workforce development. Also, the governance differs in that community colleges have elected boards of trustees while technical college boards often are comprised of representatives of the public school districts in their service areas.

Mr. Stratford noted that a uniform curriculum exists in technical programs at technical colleges, and these schools at one time were paid for contact hours rather than credit hours. Mr. Adams noted that technical colleges are not limited to service areas like community colleges and have no taxing authority but consistently lobby to gain taxing authority similar to community colleges. Also, technical college tuition typically is lower than community colleges, but often fees and special fees are considerably higher.

Ms Dietz reviewed the handout in Exhibit B and noted that each advisor manages about 50 students and their academic careers at PCC. The center provides numerous services such as testing, case management and referrals, career and educational counseling, and individual educational plans. Other efforts include Alcohol EDU, a new program for students with alcohol issues, and Project Lodge, a new program aimed at assisting at-risk students in many categories. Just last semester, the center administered more than 600 placement tests. Ms. Bell and Mr. Harrison shared some success stories and said the staff works constantly to improve the system and bring new ideas to help PCC students.

Two notes of appreciation were read, including one from Sacred Heart School and the Rose family. The calendar (Exhibit C) was reviewed.

Minutes of the February 15, 2010 Regular Meeting were presented in Exhibit D.

Personnel Actions were presented in Exhibit E. One additional hire was noted – Josh Carroll as head wrestling coach.

Financial Reports were presented in Exhibit F.

Enrollment Management Report was presented in Exhibit G.

Development/Foundation Report was presented in Exhibit H.

Management Information Systems (MIS) Reports were presented in Exhibits I and J.

Other Written Reports were presented in Exhibits K and L.

Mr. Shumway motioned to approve the consent agenda, and Mr. Howell seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Proposed 2010-2011 Budget Calendar: Mr. Shumway motioned to approve the budget calendar as presented. Mr. Howell seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Waiver of Board Policy 3-07: Mr. Howell motioned to approve requested waivers for a computer storage system, cafeteria tables and chairs, and an HVAC unit for the greenhouse. Mr. Van Blaricum seconded the motion. Motion carried.

KBOR: Mr. Van Blaricum reported that he, Dr. Wojciechowski and Ms. Hamm attended the KBOR meeting March 17 to brief the regents on the technical education funding inequity issue and pending lawsuit. State legislators also attended in support of PCC, Dodge City and Cowley, plaintiffs IN the litigation. Mr. Van Blaricum also noted that he and Dr. Wojciechowski testified Feb. 25 before the Technical Education Authority on the same issue. Mr. Barrett thanked Mr. Van Blaricum and Dr. Wojciechowski for leading the effort to resolve the matter.

KACCT/ACCT: Mr. Shumway and Mr. Koler recently attended a leadership conference of the ACCT and will report to the Board during it planning session on May 1.

Faculty: Ms. Ricke noted that early enrollment began today for fall. Students in Kappa Beta Delta will tour Cessna and Koch this week in Wichita. Accounting students will tour the regional IRS office. Two students are entering a business plan in the WSU competition.

Staff: Mr. Harrison noted that the Staff Senate recently recommended and received approval for a customer service mission statement for PCC. The group now is working on possible revision of the dress code.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Koler motioned at 8:05 p.m. that the board go into a 30-minute executive session, beginning in 5 minutes, to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations in order to protect the college’s right to the confidentiality of its negotiating position and the public interest. Mr. Shumway seconded the motion. Motion carried.

At 8:40 p.m., Mr. Van Blaricum motioned to end the executive session, and Mr. Howell seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Closing comments from the President: Dr. Wojciechowski noted that PCC continues to operate efficiently and watches spending closely. Approximately three months in operating expenses are in cash reserves, considered to be minimally satisfactory.

Closing comments from the Board Chair: Mr. Barrett noted that April is a busy month for PCC events, and reminded the Board of its planning session on May 1.

·        April 12, 2010: Regular Board Meeting in the Riney Student Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. Dinner at 6:00 p.m.

·        May 1, 2010: Board/Administration Planning Session in the Riney Student Conference Center at 8:30 a.m.

·        May 17, 2010: Regular Board Meeting in the Riney Student Conference Center at 6:30 p.m. NO DINNER.

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.