December 12, 2023

Final Board meeting for three Cowley Trustees

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Cowley College president Dr. Michelle Schoon provided the Board of Trustees with a recap of recent happenings at the College during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Trustees Monday in the McAtee Dining Center. Dr. Schoon also gave a gift to outgoing Trustees David Stanley, Dr. Steve Abrams, and Glennis Zimmerman, as this was the final Board meeting for the trio.

Also, during Monday’s meeting, Dr. Schoon provided the Board with a KACCT Quarterly meeting recap before giving an update on the Economic Impact Study Review (EMSI) recently conducted by Lightcast. All 19 Kansas community colleges and technical colleges were provided with a report from Lightcast.

Dr. Schoon informed the Board that she will go over the Economic Impact Study Review in more detail at January’s meeting. She also provided a Strategic Planning update. Lastly, she informed the Trustees that this is Finals Week at the College. 

Before the formal meeting, a quorum of the Board was present for a Legislative Agenda Discussion with Jessica Lucas, followed by a Legislative Coffee with Area Legislators and then a Christmas Dinner. 

In other matters:

  1. Tevin Manuel from Tandem Cyber Operations provided the Board with a cybersecurity update. He discussed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which aims to protect the privacy and security of consumer financial information and safeguard student privacy. He also reviewed risk mitigation strategies.
  2. Dr. Steve Abrams provided the Board with a Trustee Finance Subcommittee update.
  3. Dr. Alan Marcotte provided the Board with a Trustee Policy Subcommittee update.
  4. Approved the Consent Agenda minus Cowley College’s Strategic Plan:
    1. Board minutes of the November 20 meeting.
    2. Approved the Financial Reports as presented.
    3. Bills and Claims. Approved fiscal officers of the College to execute payment of all bills and claims as presented.
    4. Administrative Reports
    5. Held first readings on the following policy: (207.00) Selection, Adoption, and Ordering of Textbooks.
    6. Personnel Transactions. The Board was informed of the resignation of Shawn Cameron as maintenance technician, effective December 13, and Christian Headrick as groundskeeper, effective January 5.
    7. The Board was informed of the employment of Ed Henderson as a welding instructor at the Winfield Correctional Facility, effective December 4.
  5. Holly Harper, vice president of finance and administration, provided the Board with a facilities maintenance update. Exterior framing and the enclosure of the new Career and Technical Education building started in November. Equipment items needed for the building will begin being bid out over the next month.
  6. Dr. Rachel Bates, vice president of academic affairs, informed the Board of ongoing academic affairs and administrative daily operations.
  7. Paul Erdmann, vice president of information technology, provided an update on projects the information technology staff has worked on over the past month.
  8. Debbie Phelps, executive director of institutional effectiveness (IE), informed the Board that a comprehensive report about the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan is now available to the public.
  9. Stefani Jones, director of student enrollment and success, provided an enrollment update. In October, a total of 371 applications were processed.
  10. Kristi Shaw, executive director of student services, provided a housing update and a list of events held at the college during November.
  11. Jeff Fluty, athletic director, informed the Board that after capping off the 2023 volleyball season in perfect fashion with a national championship, players and coaches were selected for individual accolades from the KJCCC, NJCAA, and the AVCA. Also, the No. 11-ranked Tiger men’s basketball team heads into Winter break with a record of 12-1 overall and 7-0 in the Jayhawk Conference.
  12. Approved the purchase of HVAC controls from Dynamic Controls Systems for the Walker Tech Building at a cost of $49,938 using Capital Outlay Mill Funds.
  13. Approved the purchase of one HPE Alletra 6030 Storage Area Network at a cost of $129,776.69 using Capital Outlay Mill Funds.
  14. The meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

Rama Peroo | Director of Institutional Communication
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
rama.peroo@cowley.edu

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