NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 24, 2005
6:30 p.m., Oleson Center

CALL TO ORDER
Chair Cheryl Follette called the regular meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.

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

PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input received.

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

• Minutes of the September 26, 2005, regular meeting and the August 22, 2005, regular meeting (revised)
• Contributions for September 2005
• First Quarter Grant Notifications
• Summary Report for General Fund Accounts as of September 30, 2005 (attached)

PHI THETA KAPPA REPORT
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) advisor, Kari Kahler, introduced PTK officers Samantha Russell, Chapter President; Jason Laughlin, Vice President of Membership; and Dana Boomer, Vice President of Scholarship. They thanked the Board for their support and the opportunity to share their activities with them. They reported on the activities the group has undertaken since their last visit with the board in May 2005. Summer activities included: the Relay for Life team; participation in three Friday Night Live events; sending two officers to the National Honors Institute to explore the Honors topic of Popular Culture: Shaping and Reflecting Who We Are; sending one PTK officer to the Regional Officer Leadership Academy in Mississippi; and collecting back packs and back-to-school supplies for the children in Helen's House. The officers also shared the projects they did this fall, including: the five-part satellite seminar series on popular culture; hosting the Michigan region Leadership/Mock Chapter conference; and the second annual Light the Night walk, a fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which raised over $12,000.

CONVERSATION DAY REPORT
On Tuesday, October 18, NMC faculty and staff participated in Conversation Day, an element of the Vital Focus portion of the AQIP accreditation process. Craig Mulder reported that the Higher Learning Commission provided two facilitators for the day. In the morning session faculty and staff identified what NMC does that is most important, what we do well, and what NMC should be doing in the future. At the end of the day the group had produced more than 30 potential action projects, which will be narrowed down to a few most important and viable projects. Craig will bring additional information to the board at their November 9 study session. He reported that people especially enjoyed meeting with colleagues outside of their own area and that students assisted with logistics throughout the day.

FACULTY COUNCIL REPORT
Jerry Dobek reported on behalf of the NMC Faculty Council. He noted that NMC faculty are involved in more than just teaching in the classroom. Many are working with the community, other areas of this college, and even with peers from other institutions. An example of these is John Mauk who has recently published his second book, a text on writing, that is used by John and Mark Howell for their ENG 112 classes. This text is also used at the University of Houston, Ball State University and Bowling Green University. Garyn Roberts, Judy Chu, and Barcley Owens have contributed stories or poems, as well as several NMC students. Barcley Owens has a book review on poetry that has appeared in the Texas Review. Several NMC faculty have also contributed to conferences around the region. The recent Bioneers Conference, that Bronwyn Jones helped to organize, was a great success. Dave Terrell, once again, was a key organizer in the Lily Conference. Jerry also reminded the board of Mars Nights at the Observatory this week and noted that Mars is the closest to earth that it will be until 2014.

AUDITS
Debby Disch introduced Vicki VandenBerg of Plante & Moran, who reported on the company's financial audits of NMC FY2005 general fund and the NMC Foundation. Both were clean audits, the highest level possible.

MCCA REPORT
Bob Brick and Tim Nelson attended the MCCA Board of Directors meeting in Alpena on October 7 and 8. Bob reported that there was lively and interesting conversation at the meetings, and that the 28 Michigan community colleges serve 50% of all students in the state. Tim Nelson told the board that he will serve on a state appropriations task force made up of four community college presidents and four legislators to discuss potential funding of community colleges based on performance indicators.

FY07 CAPITAL OUTLAY PLAN
Debby Disch reported on the FY07 Capital Outlay Plan that is required by the State to be submitted annually by each community college. The plan identifies potential capital projects that might be eligible for state funding. This year NMC identified growth needs at the University Center as its next priority project.

BBQ BOARD REPORT
Bob Brick reported that the BBQ Board held a retreat on the T. S. State of Michigan in August, at which they identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the BBQ and reached some decisions about important next steps. Subcommittees were established to work on presale of tickets and the 50th Anniversary goal of setting a new Guinness Book record for the "world's largest buffalo BBQ."

BOARD FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Chair, Jay Hooper reported that at their last meeting the Board Finance and Audit Committee met with Darlene Middleton from Plante & Moran to review the final draft of the 2005 audit, discussed NMC's FY07 Capital Outlay Plan, and reviewed the monthly financial statements. Jay reported on the RFP process for facilities management services. Four companies have submitted bids. A 14-person committee is reviewing the bids, along with the feasibility of NMC taking facilities management back in-house. The committee will present their recommendations to the Board at their January 9, 2006 special meeting/study session.

BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
No meeting to report.

BOARD STRATEGIC GOALS COMMITTEE REPORT
No meeting to report.

BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT
Chair Ross Childs reported that the Policy Committee had not met since the last board meeting, but pointed out that revisions to two policies are action items on a second-reading basis this evening.

FOUNDATION REPORT
Jack Stegenga reported that the Foundation's next regular session is Wednesday, October 26. Last week the Foundation kicked off the personal solicitation phase of the Annual Community Campaign, which has more than 62 community volunteers on 11 teams. Co-chairs are Barb Benson and Fran Gingras. The goal is 60 new donors and a total of $300,000 to be raised. The faculty and staff portion of the campaign is at 54% of the goal of 150 participants. Jack also reported that 40 new 8th grade students have been inducted into the Commitment Scholarship Program.

FOUNDATION FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Ross Childs reported that at their last meeting of the Foundation Finance and Audit Committee members reviewed the NMC Foundation portfolio performance for the quarter ending September 30, 2005. Investments increased 3.08% to $21 million. The committee also received its first investment report from Northwestern Bank's Roger Norkoli and Robert DeLonge, who presented a review of the NMC Foundation's portfolio performance for the quarter ending September 30, 2005. As of early 2005, the Foundation has funds on deposit at Northwestern Bank. The Committee continued its discussion of the possibility of hiring an independent asset manager to advise the committee about investment policies, strategies and choices. They will continue this discussion at their December meeting.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President Nelson:

• thanked Samantha, Jason, Dana and Kari for the good work they are doing in the name of Phi Theta Kappa and for sharing information with the Board;
• thanked Debby Disch, Marilyn Wieschowski, Vicki Cook, and Chris Ruszel and congratulated them on the clean audits. He noted that the auditors appreciated their cooperation and had commented on how easy it was to get the information they needed;
• reported that the next step in the process for securing state funding for the Oleson Center Renovation project is to have the project approved by the Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee. We expect the project to be on their agenda November 3 or 10. As soon as the meeting is scheduled, we will meet with key legislators ahead to time to review the plans and answer their questions;
• thanked Debby and Cathy O'Brien for their work in preparing the Capital Outlay Plan.

POLICY A-100.00
Ross Childs made a motion, seconded by Ted Mattis, to approve revisions to Policy A-100.00 Board of Trustees By-laws, as presented, on a second reading basis. Motion passed.

POLICY A-106.02
Jay Hooper made a motion, seconded by Jack Stegenga, to adopt Policy A-106.02 NMC Investment Policy, as presented, on a second reading basis. Motion passed.

ACCEPTANCE OF NMC AUDIT
The financial audit for Northwestern Michigan College for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, was accepted as presented on a motion by Elaine Wood, seconded by Ross Childs.

ACCEPTANCE OF NMC FOUNDATION AUDIT
The financial audit for the NMC Foundation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, was accepted as presented on a motion by Elaine Wood, seconded by Ross Childs.

FY07 CAPITAL OUTLAY PLAN
Jay Hooper made a motion, seconded by Jack Stegenga, that the FY07 Capital Outlay Plan be approved for submittal to the Michigan Department of Management and Budget. Motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Recorded by
Karen Sabin