January Board Meeting Highlights

The Board of Trustees gathered for their January 20th meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room inside the McAtee Dining Center on the Ark City Main Campus. Prior to the formal meeting at 5:15 p.m., a quorum of the Board was present for photos and a tour of the recent renovations in the lower level of Galle-Johnson Hall, 125 S. Second, Arkansas City, KS. No action followed the tour.

Trustee Brett Bazil provided the invocation, and Chair Bob McGregor recited the College Mission Statement.

Under Election of Officers, Chair McGregor requested nominations from the floor for Chair and Vice Chair, and volunteers to fill the remaining positions for the 2026 calendar year. Including:

Chairperson - Dr. Alan Marcotte

Vice-Chairperson - Phil White

Past-Chairperson - Bob McGregor

Voting delegate to the Kansas Association of Community Colleges Trustees (KACC) - Joe Shriver

Alternate delegate to the Kansas Association of Community College Trustees (KACC) - Stanley Cochran 

Trustee representative for professional negotiations - Bob McGregor

Trustee representative designated to open bids received for College purchases - Gary Wilson

Trustee representative to the Cowley College Foundation Association - Jacinda Shaw-Kinzie

Trustee representative to the Tiger Booster Club - Stanley Cochran

Three trustees to serve on the Finance Sub-Committee - Gary Wilson, Bob McGregor, Joe Shriver

Three trustees to serve on the Academic Sub-Committee - Phil White, Dr. Alan Marcotte, Stanley Cochran

Three trustees to serve on the Board Policy Sub-Committee - Gary Wilson, Dr. Alan Marcotte, Brett Bazil

Under Awards and Reports, Cowley President Dr. Michelle Schoon shared that there was a graduation for the Paramedic program at our Wellington Campus, Cowley College hosted a Donuts with Legislators meeting, and a faculty and staff in-service was held, marking the beginning of the spring semester.

In addition, Schoon introduced the December and January Students of the Month, Mallory Jackson and Mason Burr.

Government Affairs Liaison Jessica Lucas provided a written legislative update.

Under Administrative Reports, Dual Enrollment has held a series of successful on-site enrollment days with our partner high schools. We are seeing strong engagement and steady registration. Adult Education has about 20 new students starting classes in both

GED and ESL. A total of 269 applications were submitted, with 138 students enrolling for the spring semester during the month of December.

No Public Comment.

Under Standing Committee Reports, Trustee Joe Shriver provided a recap of the January 12th, 2026 Trustee Finance Subcommittee meeting, where members discussed procurement of a Criminal Justice Patrol Vehicle using Tech Ed Capital Outlay Funds. Administration and the Finance Subcommittee requested approval to purchase the 2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit AWD from Kansas Highway Patrol for $38,825.00. Approved by a vote of 8-0.

Trustee Gary Wilson provided a recap of the January 15th, 2026 Trustee Policy Subcommittee meeting, where members reviewed 139.00 – Sexual Harassment (revised), which was presented for a first review. Final approval will be requested at the February meeting.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda, including the Minutes from the December 15th, 2025 regular meeting, Financial Reports, Bills and Claims, Personnel Transactions, and Board Policy Approval of 214.00 – Scheduling, Assignment, and Cancellation of Classes (Revised), by a vote of 8-0. Trustee Phil White highlighted the recent payoff of the Sumner Campus debt, marking the final reimbursement to the College for the $2.6M advance that was originally made in 2017 to complete the facility, with repayment funded through annual sales tax revenues. 

Under the Discussion Agenda, the Board completed its third reading of the revised Board of Trustees Handbook, discussing revisions, feedback, and additional requested edits. A revised handbook will be presented for a fourth review and approval at the February meeting.

Under Board Appointments, the Board approved Tiffany D. Vollmer to continue as Clerk of the Board, to take effect January 20, 2026, through the regularly scheduled Board meeting in January 2027, and Gary Wilson to continue as Treasurer of the Board, to take effect January 20, 2026, through the regularly scheduled Board meeting in January 2027 by a vote of 8-0.

With no other business to discuss, Chair McGregor declared the meeting adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

For more details, see the agenda.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu