Here is an informal account of the Northwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees meeting, Monday, December 16, 2013.
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/2013/121613-regular-final.pdf.
On Monday, December 16, 2013, the NMC Board of Trustees:
DECIDED:
- To recommend approval of the appointment of Jim Weigand to the NMC Foundation Board of Directors, as well as the reappointment of those presented, for three year terms, commencing January 1, 2014 and expiring December 31, 2016.
- To recommend authorization for the administration to enter into a contractual agreement with Avalon Technologies for the purchase and installation of additional computer network storage for $119,124, plus a 10% contingency, for a total project budget of $131,036.40 to be funded by the Technology Plant Fund.
- To recommend authorization for the administration to enter into training agreements under the terms of the New Jobs Training Program (NJTP) for the following companies: Electro-Optics Technology, Inc.; Hagerty; Hayes Manufacturing, Inc.; Materne North American Corp.; Skilled Manufacturing, Inc.; TentCraft, Inc.
PRESENTATIONS/REPORTS:
- Jerry Achenbach, Superintendent, Great Lakes Maritime Academy gave a program focus on the Bachelor of Science degree in Maritime Technology. He lauded the efforts of NMC’s Student Financial Services department and Pam Palermo, Director of Financial Aid for all of their work in this transition to the state’s first community college bachelor’s degree. Achenbach said the biggest concern of the cadets is how it will impact their financial aid and that they are very impressed with the work of Pam and her staff in getting things put into place for them. He said four or five cadets who have met the course requirements for a bachelor’s will sit for their licensure, and upon passing will be eligible to receive the first NMC bachelor’s degrees.
- Chris Weber, Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services presented an enrollment report that shows that spring 2014 enrollment is in line with what the college saw in spring 2013.
- Vicki Cook, Vice President for Finance and Administration presented a financial report, that among other things showed the college is currently tracking at a slight budget surplus.
- Board Chair Doug Bishop, one of the Board Representatives to the NMC Foundation Board gave a Foundation update. He said that at the December Foundation meeting a new member, Jim Weigand was introduced and others had their reapproved.
- In a legislative issues report, NMC President Timothy J. Nelson said the college hosted a legislative breakfast on December 6, with area state legislators and representatives of federal legislators in attendance. He said the proposed bill on Michigan veterans receiving in district tuition to any Michigan community college has still not been acted upon.
- In the public input portion of the meeting, Dodd Russell, President of Skilled Manufacturing, Inc. in Traverse City, thanked the board for their support of the Michigan New Jobs Training Act, and encouraged the college to continue training in manufacturing. He said he has been working to educate the community about the importance of manufacturing to the local economy. He wondered if there could be a fit in the college’s new engineering technology program for a manufacturing option.
- In his board chair update, Doug Bishop thanked his fellow trustees for their service and for making his first year as chair a pleasure.
The next regular meeting of the NMC Board of Trustees is Januar 27, 2014 in the Oleson Center at 5 p.m.