Here is an informal account of the Northwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees meeting, Monday, July 28, 2014.

Details on the actions items and reports are contained in the Board Packet available online at https://www.nmc.edu/about/board-of-trustees/agendas/2014/072814-board-regular.pdf.

A full video of the meeting is available here:


On Monday, July 28, the Board of Trustees at Northwestern Michigan College:

 

DECIDED

  • To recommend authorization to expend up to $125,000 to expand Northwestern Michigan College housing by leasing the current Grand Cherry Suites LLC owned Shadowlands Hotel on Front Street adjacent to campus, to be funded by revenue from rental and/or Housing Auxiliary fund.
  • To recommend authorization for administration to pursue discussions with the City of Traverse city regarding NMC’s interest in purchasing Eastern Avenue property adjacent to the water treatment plant from the City of Traverse City. Any final decisions on property acquisition will need to be brought back to the Board for final approval.
  • To recommend adoption of General Appropriation Resolution with proposed revision to be effective for the fiscal year 2015 budget.
  • To recommend authorizing administration to enter into a three-year contract with Fish Window Cleaning for interior and exterior window cleaning services to include FY15, FY16 and FY17, for an amount not to exceed $57,651 for the three-year period, to be funded by the General Fund.
  • To recommend authorization to allocate $160,165 from the Fund for Transformation to support GIS program development in FY15 and GIS faculty position funding in FY15 and FY16.
  • To recommend authorization to allocate $203,430 from the Fund for Transformation to fund the two-year investment in the Alumni Relations Program in FY15 and FY16.

 

PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS

  • Steve Ursell, International Aviation Instructional Coordinator provided some background on the 2014 South Africa Study Abroad Trip that both aviation and nursing students participated in to gain more diverse clinical work experience and international aviation and flight experience. He then introduced Abigail Smeltzer, Aviation Student, and Molly Morrison, Nursing Student who presented on the trip from a student’s perspective.
  • Chris Weber, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student services presented an enrollment update for both summer and fall 2014. Summer new student numbers increased by 10%. Where we fall short is in the continuing students, which decreased by 9% from spring semester. Enrollment Management will be working on a comprehensive retention plan.
  • Vicki Cook, Vice President of Finance and Administration reported that Financial Services is wrapping up year-end financials. Final year-end figures are not available at this time, but that information will be provided at the August board meeting.
  • Vicki Cook, Vice President of Finance and Administration provided a report on the unrealized investment gain for FY14 and noted that this report will now be provided quarterly.
  • Trustee Kennard Weaver, MCCA Representative, reported on the MCCA Summer Conference held the previous week in Traverse City with theme of “Ensuring Relevancy in Times of Rapid Change.” Weaver provided a brief summary of the presentations of the conference and referred people to the MCCA website for more detail.
  • Doug Bishop, Board Representative, provided the July 2014 Foundation update highlighting the Fellows dinner that took place honoring Richard and Diana Milock, the NMC Scholarship Open coming up on August 7 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, the Lobdell’s Scholarship Dinner on September 12, along with campaign planning. The next meeting of the Foundation Board is August 27.
  • President Timothy Nelson provided a legislative update and shared that the In District Tuition for Veterans Bill has not been acted on and the Senate has noted the many questions regarding this bill. MCCA continues to work with the Senate Appropriations Committee. Nelson urged trustees to review the MCCA report to better understand the complicated Personal Property Tax Reform Bill.

UPDATES

  • Doug Bishop, Board Chair thanked Kennard Weaver for the MCCA summer conference review. Doug, Ross, Tim and Kennard all attended the MCCA welcome dinner and showcased NMC well. He also encourages 100% attendance by the Board at the ACCT conference in Chicago.
  • President Timothy Nelson reported that the 2016 MCCA Summer Conference will be held on Mackinac Island and held next year in Traverse City

 

DISCUSSION

  • President Timothy Nelson provided a set of Board Level Strategic Goals for the Board’s review and discussion. He asked the Board to please review and also asked for input, additional goals, etc. The Board should plan to bring these back for approval at the August meeting.
  • Rebecca Teahen, Executive Director for Resource Development and Foundation, provided a presentation summarizing the material provided in the meeting materials for an update on Resource Development. She reviewed the timeline of the goal to increase the net return from the Foundation, the progress to date, fundraising metrics, a summary of fiscal year 2014 and thanked the Board for their role. She concluded with a list of goals for FY15.
  • Kennard Weaver, Treasurer, reviewed changes made in the budget resolutions and suggested that the previous language that has been in place over the last 12 years be reinstated. Kennard had asked administration to research other colleges to confirm. Additional language included “in keeping with sound business and fiscal practices.”
  • Marguerite Cotto, Vice President for Lifelong and Professional Learning and Rebecca Teahen, Executive Director for Resource Development and Foundation presented on the Fund for Transformation Request. Marguerite noted that it has been six years since a request for use of the fund for transformation, and reviewed a request to invest in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) faculty and additional marine tech course development to occur in FY15 and FY16. Hans Van Sumeren, Director of Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, responded to a question noting the high demand for jobs in this field. Rebecca showed a video of NMC alumni stories to show the power of an alumni relations program. Will aid in persistence and recruitment efforts, create alumni networks will be very beneficial, potential donors.

 

 

The next meeting of the NMC Board of Trustees is Monday, August 25 at the NMC Great Lakes Campus.