July 2026 Board Meeting Highlights

The Cowley College Board of Trustees gathered for their July 20th meeting at 12:00 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room inside the McAtee Dining Center on the Ark City Main Campus. Trustee Bob McGregor provided the invocation, and Chair Dr. Alan Marcotte recited the College Mission Statement.

Under Awards and Reports, Cowley President Dr. Michelle Schoon shared that Cowley College held three events to promote Cowley Nights with the Kansas Collegiate League Baseball. The College sponsored several events at the Wellington Wheat Festival. Preparations are underway for the fall semester, with faculty scheduled to report on August 11th.

Under Administrative Reports, Cowley College has been awarded the contract to deliver adult education services at Winfield Correctional Facility for the next 5 years. The Adult Education Program held two successful graduations: one for all our sites in Ark City, with 22 graduates, and another at Winfield Correctional Facility, with 9 graduates, not including those completing certificate programs. The fall semester of Golden Tigers programming is finalized. Enrollment dates will be Friday, August 21st, in Ark City, and Saturday morning, August 22nd, in Wellington.

No Public Comment.

Under Standing Committee Reports, Gary Wilson provided a summary of the July 13th, 2026, Trustee Finance Subcommittee meeting, where members discussed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR), Education Center Purchase, and Project Updates. The Board accepted the subcommittee’s recommendation to not exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) (7-0). 

The Board approved the purchase of the Education Center building and the adjoining vacant lot from Central Christian Church, not to exceed $200,000, using Tech Ed Capital Outlay funds (6-0-1). 

Trustee Jacinda Shaw-Kinzie provided a recap of the July 15th, 2026, Trustee Academic Subcommittee meeting, where members discussed Welding Program Updates and Academic Affairs Updates. The Board approved the changes to the Welding Program Certificate A, Certificate C, and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) as presented (7-0).

Chair Dr. Alan Marcotte provided a summary of the July 15th, 2026, Trustee Policy Subcommittee review of policies 208.00 – Generative AI Use in Academic Settings (new), 222.00 – Instructional Equipment (revised), 244.00 – Field Trips and Special Presentation (revised), 269.00 - Academic Honors (revised), 271.00 – Financial Arrangements Between Employees and Students (revised), 275.00 – Final Examinations (review only), 278.00 – Program Discontinuation (revised), 279.00 – Adjunct Instructor Evaluation (revised), and 313.00 – Employment Benefits (revised), presented for a first review. Final approval will be requested at the August meeting.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda as presented, including the Minutes from the June 15th, 2026, regular meeting, Financial Reports, Bills and Claims, Personnel Transactions, 2026-2027 Master Agreement, and Board Policies 433.00 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) (revised) (7-0).

The Board then held three executive sessions to discuss the President’s contract, totaling 15 minutes, pursuant to the exception for non-elected personnel. 

Following the executive session, the Board approved a compensation package for the President, equal to that of the faculty and staff (3% wage increase, $1,200 one-time stipend, and years of service credit) (7-0).

With no other business to discuss, Chair Marcotte declared the meeting adjourned at 12:53 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