NMC Board of Trustees > Meeting Minutes > 2005

NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Monday, February 28, 2005, Oleson Center
7:00 p.m., Regular Meeting

5:30 p.m. DINNER MEETING: The board heard reports and updates from Kim Schneider, Garret Ellison, Nicholeen Frusti, and Hadassah Versnick (White Pine Press); Walter Hooper and Ross Childs (MCCA In-Service); and Tim Nelson (Budget). No decisions were made or actions taken.

7:00 p.m. REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER

Chair Cheryl Follette called the Regular meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

ROLL CALL    
Trustees present:   Robert Brick, Ross Childs, Cheryl Follette, Walter Hooper, Ted Mattis, Jack Stegenga, Elaine Wood
Trustees absent:   None
Also present:   Karen Anderson, Tom Carr, Marguerite Cotto, Rebecca Cooper, Debby Disch, Stephen Drake, Kathleen Guy, Bill Hendry, Gene Jenneman, Craig Mulder, Tim Nelson, Steve Rawlings, Dick Redmond, Karen Sabin, Stephen Siciliano, Kristin Stehouwer, John Tanner

APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was approved on a motion by Ross Childs, seconded by Jack Stegenga.

PUBLIC INPUT
None.

CONSENT ITEMS
The following items were approved on a motion by Ross Childs, seconded by Elaine Wood:

DTE ENERGY FOUNDATION GRANT
The board welcomed Steve Rawlings and Dick Redmond, DTE Energy, and Becky Cooper, Water Studies Institute, and heard about the 5-year $265,000 DTE grant to support the expansion of the WSI summer teachers' institute on freshwater.

FACULTY COUNCIL REPORT
Stephen Drake reported that Faculty Council had heard an update on the Water Studies Institute from Tim Ervin and Becky Cooper and were discussing ways more faculty could become involved; that the CAAP Assessment has been completed; and that the Dennos Museum Center has had many faculty and classes on-site this year.

STATE ISSUES
Tim Nelson reported that there are no "revelations" since his board update; that the executive order had been vetoed by the legislature and we are in a wait-and-see position, still planning our budget with the possibility of a State reduction.

BARBECUE BOARD REPORT
Bob Brick reported that decisions had been made regarding funding. Projects to be funded fully or partially include:

BOARD FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Walter Hooper reported that projections for the FY05 budget look positive; that they are still looking at refinancing the bond which could save taxpayers about $1.1 million; and that the FY06 budget looks challenging.

BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Jack Stegenga said that this committee is reactivating itself to stay abreast of happenings in Washington and Lansing and to develop an NMC legislative agenda to maximize funding opportunities.

FOUNDATION REPORT
Jack Stegenga reported that he was impressed by the enthusiasm and quality of the Foundation board members; praised the addition of four new members; appreciated calls from Phi Theta Kappa and SGA members who thanked donors; and encouraged nominations for the Foundation Excellence Awards.

FOUNDATION FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Ross Childs said that for the quarter ending December 31, 2004, the Foundation investments returned $1,160,000 or 6.71% with an annual time-weighed rate of return of 8.26%; heard a Huntington Bank investor's report; and scholarship awards information has been made available to NMC departments.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Tim Nelson said that the Rotary's $100,000 challenge grant to the Water Studies Institute has been met so that $200,000 is available as seed money for an endowment.

BUDGET TOPICS
The board heard discussion on Budget Topics in which options for designating the projected $400,000 surplus were identified; also that decisions about a tuition increase will be made by the Board in April in time for the beginning of online registration.

APPOINTMENT OF FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS
Jack Stegenga made a motion, seconded by Ross Childs, that Jayne Mohr and Richard Redmond be appointed to the NMC Foundation Board for three-year terms, effective January 1, 2005. Motion passed.

PRESIDENT'S EVALUATION
Elaine Wood made a motion, seconded by Ted Mattis, that the Board adjourn the open session and consider in closed session (pursuant to Subsection 8[a] of the Michigan Open Meetings Act) the annual performance evaluation of the president, per his request for a closed session. Motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m.

Recorded by
Karen Sabin

SIGNED
 
    
 
K. Ross Childs, Secretary
ATTESTED
 
    
 
Cheryl Gore Follette, Chair