Welcome New Trustee Janie McNabb
- I’d like to welcome new NMC Board Trustee Janie McNabb who was appointed by the Board at their regular meeting on June 26, 2017, following a special meeting where nine very qualified applicants were interviewed. The Board conducted a public interview process during the special meeting where they selected the top three candidates to move up in the selection process to the regular meeting that same evening where Jane T. McNabb was unanimously appointed to fill the vacancy left by Marilyn Gordon Dresser’s resignation and will serve until the November 2018 election.
Thank you all for everything you do in pursuit of “Keeping Learning at the Center.”
Notable Accomplishments provided by Faculty and Staff
This section recognizes the good work being done and linkages to the Strategic Directions (SD) and Institutional Effectiveness Criteria (IE) are provided where possible.
- Thanks to Lisa Thomas and Tarah Elhardan who provided Title IX/ Campus Save Act Training to maritime cadets prior to their departure on the Training Ship State of Michigan. Lisa and Tarah conducted the training at GLMA on six occasions; three prior to the departure of the first phase, and another three sessions on June 26 prior to the ship’s departure on the second phase. Lisa and Tarah addressed in excess of 100 cadets, many of whom were sailing with us, but enrolled at Texas A&M Maritime Academy or Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Prior to the training Lisa and Tarah reached out to their counterparts at Texas and Massachusetts and ensured the cadets would have the proper information regarding Title IX Counselors for each institution. (IE4)
Activities of Note: Tim
- I welcomed the Michigan Clean Energy Conference & Fair to our Aero Park Campus on June 24. The three-day conference featured former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, and was designed to mobilize clean energy investments in Michigan homes, businesses, and communities. Attendees were able to see how residents and businesses are innovating to create a locally grown, clean energy economy.
- My thanks to the Board for my annual evaluation complete during a closed session of their June 26, 2017, meeting and supporting me to continue on with my contract to serve as NMC’s president. I look at my evaluation as an evaluation of the college and together we have accomplished a lot toward student success over the past year as you can see by the list of accomplishments and strategic goal updates included in my annual review materials provided to the Board.
- I gave a brief update on NMC’s relationships with China at the International Affairs Forum special event held on June 28 titled, “Where Great Powers Meet: America and China in Asia.” The keynote speaker, Dr. David Shambaugh, presented on how the continuing growth of China’s influence is shifting the dynamics of U.S. and China relations, after returning from an extended study tour of key Asian countries.
- I welcomed a group of 45 Dow and Dow Corning retirees on June 29 that were provided a tour of NMC campuses that was arranged by the NMC Foundation in collaboration with Bill Donberg and Steve Constantin. As most external guests, they were very impressed with the breadth and expertise of program offerings available at NMC.
- Trustees Kennard Weaver and Ross Childs and I, along with Jerry Achenbach, Marguerite Cotto. NMC Aviation Director Alex Bloye, and Asst. Chief Flight Instructor Frank Jabour attended the USCG Change of Command on June 10. CDR Nathan E. Coulter relieved CDR Gregory A. Matyas as Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City. The USCG Traverse City Commander plays an important leadership role within our region and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with each of these commanders as they serve in Traverse City.
Legislative Issues
State
FY18 Budget
While the state legislature wrapped up their work on the FY18 Omnibus budget (which includes NMC’s 21st Century Innovation Center capital outlay construction authorization) several weeks ago, disagreements between leadership and the governor over tax incentive legislation, MPSERS reform and the education budget, held up the normal process of the budget being subsequently presented to the governor for his signature.
There was progress however this week as the legislature formally presented the FY18 Omnibus Budget bill (HB 4323) to the governor for his signature. Governor Snyder now has until the 25th of July to take action on the bill.
It is hoped that after continued discussions with leadership over these contentious issues, Governor Snyder will ultimately sign the budget and finalize the FY18 budget process which would allow NMC to move forward with our 21st Century Innovation Center project.
MPSERS Reform
Last week, after a brief delay, the legislature presented Governor Snyder with SB 401 (Pavlov), which would place new public school employees into a defined contribution (DC) retirement plan as the default, with an option to select a hybrid defined benefit (DB) plan if they chose to do so. The bill was a compromise that leaves the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) open, while limiting the investment risk to the state. It is expected that if there is agreement between legislative leadership and the governor on other issues such as tax incentive legislation, that this legislation will be signed into law.
Federal
While much of the federal attention has been on health care reform, there have been some movement of issues that we are tracking/concerned with. This includes the House reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act which now moves to the Senate for consideration. The Perkins Act is the largest direct federal funding source for community colleges and NMC receives approximately $230,000 annually from the Perkins Grant program. We will be contacting our senators to urge their support and passage of the House passed Perkins Reauthorization.
We are also tracking legislation introduced by Michigan Congressman Paul Mitchell, the College Transparency Act (HR 2434). This legislation would enhance current data reporting systems in place at the federal level to ensure that data is more readily available and easier to understand. NMC and all community colleges are increasingly being held accountable for metrics that show learner success and so having access to relevant data and information is critical. However, we want to make sure that new reporting requirements or methods are not overly onerous.
Therefore, we are supportive of this legislation with the caveat that more data is good — an unfunded mandate to collect/report data can place an undue burden on community colleges.
Miscellaneous
- MCCA Summer Institute—Tuesday, July 25 through Friday, July 28
- NMC Scholarship Open—Thursday, August 3
- NMC College-Wide Picnic—Monday, August 21
- North Hall Ribbon Cutting and Open House—Monday, August 21