NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Regular Meeting
Monday, December 19, 2005
6:30 p.m., Great Lakes Campus Room GL112

CALL TO ORDER
Chair Cheryl Follette called the regular meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.

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

PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input received.

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

• Minutes of the November 21, 2005, regular meeting
• Contributions for November 2005 in the amount of $140,837.04
• Summary Report for General Fund Accounts as of November 30, 2005 (attached)

FACULTY COUNCIL REPORT
Stephen Drake, Council Chair, reported the following on behalf of the NMC Faculty Council:

• Faculty are in the process of wrapping up a good semester
• Grading process is being finalized
• At the last Foundation Board meeting Jim Press and Tom Gordon reported on the Veterans' History Project. Students develop questions and conduct class interviews with war veterans. The stories they share are a wonderful way to bring history to life.

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP REPORT
Kathleen Guy stated that her report was one of inspiration (students), confirmation (donors), and perspiration (Teri Hedrich). Over 200 students and their families, donors and friends attended the recent Scholarship Luncheon, at which students sit with the donors of their scholarships. This year Kari Kahler shared her history as a college student. Kari and her husband, Chad, provide a scholarship to Phi Theta Kappa students, and this year's recipient of their scholarship is a 16-year-old NMC sophomore who carries 21 credits, works part time during the school year, and is an All-American Scholar nominee. The luncheon always serves to confirm to donors that they are doing the right thing. Kathleen also reported the following:

• About 50% of NMC students receive some sort of financial aid.
• She and Jack Stegenga had the opportunity to talk about scholarships on the Ron Jolly show last Thursday.

Teri Hedrich reported that she continues to be amazed at community support for scholarships. Over $1 million was raised for scholarships in the last year. Teri noted an apparent trend for donors to be less restrictive.

BBQ BOARD REPORT
Bob Brick reported that the BBQ Board's advance ticket sales team is "continuing to work their magic." More than 300 letters have been sent to area business owners announcing the 50th Anniversary BBQ and encouraging the purchase of tickets for their employees. They have been invited to be part of creating a new Guinness Book category-the world's largest buffalo barbecue-and to help NMC set a world record in that category. The 50th Anniversary BBQ poster contest, open to area high school and college students, is underway and design entries are already being submitted.

BOARD FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Chair Jay Hooper reported that the Board Finance and Audit Committee met and reviewed the financials for the period ending November 30, 2005. NMC is beginning to see the effects of increased energy prices on the expense side and continues to see better revenues than projected for investment income from the Hagerty Center. Jay also reported that the Committee reviewed a written recommendation from Debby Disch, Chair of the RFP Selection Team, to select Sodexho Campus Services for NMC's Facilities Management beginning July 1, 2006. Karen Sabin and Marguerite Cotto reported on the Facilities RFP and selection process. Jay noted that originally the timeline was to review the information in December and vote on the final vendor in January, because the college was reserving the option to do on-site visits of final candidates campuses. The RFP team decided site visits were not necessary. The Committee agreed with the selection and recommended it be included as an action item at the December board meeting.

BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT
Chair Jack Stegenga stated that the committee will be meeting in January and outlined topics of interest at both the State and Federal levels.

• State:
  • Retirement Act revisions
  • Community college participation in pooled health care
  • Community college participation in the Michigan Public School Employee Retirement System
  • Community college part-time employee participation in Optional Retirement program
  • State funding of community colleges
• Federal:
  • Funding for completion of Great Lakes Campus Harbor
  • Higher education and community college funding
  • Legislation regarding workforce development programs that impact community colleges
  • Legislation that affects regional economic development issues

BOARD STRATEGIC GOALS COMMITTEE REPORT
Chair Cheryl Follette reported that the Board Strategic Goals Committee met on December 15, 2005, and discussed the following topics:

• Upcoming AQIP Strategy Forum: at least one board member is required to attend on March 8 and 9, 2005.
• Invitation from the Higher Learning Commission to join the AQIP movement.
• Update from Tim regarding the State of Michigan Task Force on Community College Performance Based Funding.
• GLMA Baccalaureate partnership and renewed movement in the Governors office regarding the potential for community college baccalaureate degrees in selected areas
• Update from Tim regarding a consortium submission for consideration as a site for one of the State of Michigan's applications for a $15 million grant under the WIRED initiative in the federal Department of Labor. The WIRED initiative provides us another framework through which we can have additional economic development conversations.
• Next meeting is planned for January 16, 2006.

BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT
Chair Ross Childs reported that the Policy Committee met on December 13, 2005. No new comments had been received on the five policies that were approved in November on a first-reading basis, so they were placed on tonight's agenda on a second-reading basis without further revision. The Committee reviewed two other policies and offered them on a first reading basis:

• B-0100.00 Delegation to the President: the committee recommended approval of the policy on a first-reading basis. Revision may be recommended as the college moves into the AQIP method of assessment.
• B-0101.00, President's Role and Job Description: Ross reported that this policy speaks to the accountability of the president to the board. The committee proposed addition of language that makes reference to the President's annual performance evaluation conducted by the board. The Committee recommended approval of this policy on a first-read basis, with the addition of that language.

FOUNDATION REPORT
Jack Stegenga reported on the following topics:

• He enthusiastically requested approval of three new appointments and seven reappointments to the Foundation Board, with terms beginning January 1, 2006. Jack stated that one of the strategic goals for the Foundation is to build an informed, committed and aligned Board, and these appointments are evidence of solid progress along this continuum.
• The Foundation Board elected officers for 2006: Barb Benson, Chair; Jim MacInnis, 1st Vice Chair; Tim Nelson, 2nd Vice Chair; Jim Beckett, Secretary, and Bob Boeve, Treasurer.
• The Board presented outgoing chair, Jay Hook, with a resolution of appreciation for his two years as chair-he has truly done a fine job! The Board designated Ken Kleinrichert as an Emeritus member of the Foundation.
• The Annual Campaign continues to "add up." We are at nearly 60% of the $300,000 goal and 50% toward the goal of 60 new donors. The College Relations Office will continue to receive annual gifts through December and into the first quarter of 2006.

FOUNDATION FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Ross Childs reported that, at their regular bi-monthly meeting on December 7, Barbara Keane and Dennis Piskor of Fifth Third Bank presented a review of the NMC Foundation's portfolio performance as of November 30, 2005. This is part of our regular review and discussion of portfolio performance with each of our five trust managers. Fifth Third Bank has more than $10 million of Foundation funds under management.

BOARD CHAIR REPORT
None given.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President Tim Nelson reported that the first-ever December Graduate Reception held December 16 at the Dennos Museum was a great success, with more than 200 people in attendance. He also thanked the NMC staff for their dedicated hard work this past year.

SUMMER TAX RESOLUTION
On a motion by Jack Stegenga, seconded by Elaine Wood, the board approved the resolution to impose a summer property tax levy of 50% of the College property taxes, including debt service, as presented. Motion passed.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
Jay Hooper made a motion, seconded by Bob Brick, to approve the recommendation that the administration be authorized to enter into a contractual agreement with Sodexho for facilities management services beginning July 1, 2006, as presented. Three representatives from Sodexho were introduced at the meeting. Motion passed.

NMC FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS
Jack Stegenga made a motion, seconded by Elaine Wood, to approve the recommendation that new and continuing NMC Foundation Board members be approved as presented. The three new Foundation Board members are Bruce Byl, Terry Lobdell, and Barb Smith. Seven current, active and engaged Foundation Board members were reappointed for three-year terms. Motion passed.

REVISION OF POLICY A-103.00, BOARD COMMITTEES
Jay Hooper made a motion, seconded by Elaine Wood, to approve revisions to Policy A-103.00, Board Committees, as presented on a second-reading basis. Motion passed.

REVISION OF POLICY A-105.00, CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
Jack Stegenga made a motion, seconded by Bob Brick, to approve revisions to Policy A-105.00, Consent Agenda Items, as presented on a second-reading basis. Motion passed.

REVISION OF POLICY A-106.00, ITEMS FOR SPECIFIC BOARD APPROVAL
Bob Brick made a motion, seconded by Jack Stegenga, to approve the recommendation that Policy A-106.00, Items for Specific Board Approval, be approved as revised on a second-reading basis. Motion passed.

POLICY A-106.01, PROPERTY NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
On a motion by Elaine Wood, seconded by Jack Stegenga, trustees approved as reviewed without revision Policy A-106.01, Property Naming Opportunities, on a second-reading basis. Motion passed.

POLICY A-107.00, BOARD ATTENDANCE AT CIVIC AND COLLEGE EVENTS
Jack Stegenga made a motion, seconded by Bob Brick, to approve the recommendation that Policy A-107.00, Board Attendance at Civic and College Events, be approved as reviewed without revision on a second-reading basis. Motion passed.

POLICY B-100.00, DELEGATION TO THE PRESIDENT
Elaine Wood made a motion, seconded by Jay Hooper, to approve the recommendation that Policy A-100.00, Delegation to the President, be approved as reviewed without revision on a first-reading basis. Motion passed.

REVISION OF POLICY B-101.00, PRESIDENT'S ROLE AND JOB DESCRIPTION
Elaine Wood made a motion, seconded by Jack Stegenga, to approve the recommendation that Policy A-101.00, President's Role and Job Description, be approved as revised on a first-reading basis. Motion passed.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Recorded by
Karen Sabin