NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MONDAY, MAY 22, 2006, GLC Room 112

CALL TO ORDER
Chair Jay Hooper called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Elaine Wood moved to approve the agenda with one correction: Consent Item E should state that the May 1, 2006 meeting is a "special meeting." Ross Childs seconded the motion; motion carried.

CONSENT ITEMS
Ross Childs made a motion to remove Consent Item I, moving it to become Action Item EE; and with that change, to approve the consent agenda. Seconded by Elaine Wood, the following items were approved:

• Minutes of the April 3, 2006 special meeting; the April 24, 2006 regular meeting; and the May 1, 2006, special meeting;
• Contributions and pledges for April 2006 totaling $179,064;
• Summary report for general fund accounts as of April 30, 2006; (Attachment)
• Total Compensation Committee recommendations for wage increases for FY2007;
• Tom Gordon's Professional Development Leave for Summer 2006 and Sabbatical leave for Fall 2006.

FACULTY COUNCIL REPORT
Trustees heard the following Faculty Council report from Jerry Dobek:

• Spring semester is finished, grades are in, Honors and Commencement were well attended and much appreciated.
• Congratulations to Mark Nelson, 2005-2006 Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award winner.
• Early summer sessions have begun, with the main session to begin June 13.
• The NMC Science and Math outreach program, a collaboration with TBAISD to foster increased education in Science and Math, kicks off this week. The first part is a joint award for K-12 students. The award session is this Thursday, May 25th, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 101 of the Health and Science Building. Twenty-three students from Kindergarten through twelfth grade will receive awards. These students come from Benzie, Glen Lake, Elk Rapids, TCAPS (elementary, junior high, high schools, and MTA). Board members are invited to attend. The second part of the outreach is a summer institute for high school teachers, which begins this year. It will be held the last two weeks of June.

STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE
Kathleen Guy stated that the college will engage in a strategic planning process beginning in the fall of 2006. The Request for Qualifications for a facilitator has been sent out, with a deadline of May 31. Once facilitator qualifications have been identified, a Request for Proposal will go out. We hope to select a firm by the end of June.

AQIP UPDATE
Craig Mulder announced that a milestone has been reached in the AQIP process, the formal declaration to the Higher Learning Commission of our three action projects-a positive reflection of effective change. The three projects and their leaders are:

• Enhancing Student Preparation, led by Kari Kahler
• Understanding Community Learning Needs, led by Kathleen Guy
• Investing in Adjuncts, led by Stephen Siciliano

APARTMENT RATES FOR FY 2007
Stephen Siciliano recommended increases to the apartment rates for FY2007 as follows:
increase of 7% for two-bedroom apartments to $640; increase of 7.2% for one-bedroom apartments to $505. Also beginning in FY'07 tenants will cover the cost of electricity for their apartments, estimated to be approximately $15 per month. Stephen referenced a chart comparing NMC apartment rates to the cost of five local apartment complexes.

NEW DEGREE AND CERTIFICATES
Stephen Siciliano described a proposal to award certificates of achievement for clusters of coursework and to create a new degree that offers more flexibility for students that are seeking personal enrichment and specialized educational programs of study. He asked trustees to approve the following under Action Items CC and DD:

• Certificate of Achievement in General Studies
• Certificate of Achievement in Science and Arts
• Certificate of Achievement in Engineering
• Associates in General Studies degree

Creation of these new certificates and a the new Associate in General Studies degree requires that a student complete at least 64 credit hours with a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Creation of the new certificates and degree will:

• Align the college's credentialing better with the students' educational goals;
• Provide new credentials of value for students to earn;
• Provide certification for students that rewards their progress towards associate degrees;
• Assure student educational goal attainment is recognized by the state in terms of IPEDS assessment documentation for potential future appropriation formulas for our college.

Elaine Wood commented that this is a great improvement. We have had students achieving their goals but no way to have this recognized by the state.

EMPLOYEE OF THE SEMESTER
Bill Hendry introduced Jack (David) Crawford, Spring 2006 Employee of the Semester. David serves in several capacities, including as a Bridge instructor, teaching as adjunct instructor, and maintaining and supervising the M-TEC Learning Center. Additionally, Dave has developed and maintained a variety of credit courses that provide professional development for individuals who need specific occupational skills including Microsoft certification courses, with a continued increase in enrollment each year. Terry Sievert, Technical Division Director, commented that Dave teaches IT courses for the Tech Division and has outstanding compassion for Bridge students. He arranged courses to provide MOS certification for college credit.

BBQ BOARD REPORT
Bob Brick thanked everyone for participating in the BBQ and supporting NMC. There was lots of enthusiasm and hard work on the part of volunteers. Bob announced:

• The 50th anniversary BBQ was a great success! 9,377 meals were served and almost 300 meals were delivered to area seniors and shut-ins.
• The opening ceremony was well attended. The program included honoring the Olesons, announcing a plan to commission a sculpture entitled "Spirit of Volunteerism," and introducing the poster contest winner.
• Totals are not yet available for all pre-sales. BBQ Board members will be collecting from the elementary schools, financial institutions and other outlets over the next week.
• Corporate Sales were very successful this year and our final total was 4,231 tickets sold to area businesses. (Our goal was 3,500.)
• A preliminary day-of count shows that we sold over 2,800 tickets on Sunday.
• We have heard from several volunteers that many booths and activities were well attended. Two new initiatives this year were very successful:
  • The NMC Alumni hosted a photo contest and many people stopped by to have pictures taken with their families or other alums.
  • We hosted a reception for area newcomers in partnership with Newcomers Welcome Wagon to help introduce them to NMC. Each newcomer received two complimentary tickets and a gift related to NMC. Many of them brought their families and thanked us for hosting the event.

BOARD FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE
Jay Hooper reported that the Finance and Audit Committee considered the following at their meeting on May 16, 2006:

• The fiscal year financials through April 30. Marilyn Wieschowski reported that we will be able to transfer $256,358 to the plant fund and still have a $362,152 surplus for FY05-06;
• The proposed 2006-07 budget. The budget will be reviewed by the full board at their June 5 study session;
• The Total Compensation Committee recommendation for faculty and staff salary increases for FY06-07;
• Tanis Building carpeting replacement contract award;
• Apartment rates for 2006-07;
• Next meeting June 20, 2006.

BOARD STRATEGIC GOALS COMMITTEE
Committee Chair Cheryl Gore Follette reported that the committee did not meet in May due to a conflict with the Foundation Planning Retreat.

BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT
Chair Ross Childs stated that the committee did not meet in April. Policy review is suspended until after implementation of the AQIP process.

FOUNDATION REPORT
Cheryl Follette added the Foundation's thanks to the Olesons, Coca-Cola, our volunteers and the community for the outstanding 50th anniversary BBQ! She also reported that:

• The NMC Foundation and Foundation staff held a strategic planning retreat all day Thursday, May 18. Discussions were facilitated by consultant Bill Craft, who donated his time. Our time was focused on progress made on our 2000 strategic plan (we've done what we committed to in fundraising, board development and benchmarking) and we turned our attention to what we need to be thinking about for the next three years. Among our next steps from the retreat are:
  • Having Foundation Board participation in helping to identify future NMC priorities through strategic planning and identifying how the Foundation can leverage resources to fund the future;
  • Developing a plan to create endowments for NMC ;
  • Staffing for Grants and Endowment Development and engineering for increased fundraising;
  • Mobilizing the Board for Endowment fundraising-by developing and learning the case for support story.
• Upcoming for the Foundation is the June 1st Planned Giving Council's inaugural reception for council members and their guests. The goal of this event is to introduce prospective planned gift donors to NMC through their advisors who are bank trust officers, financial planners, CPAs, brokers and attorneys. This inaugural event will be held at the Dennos Museum Center. Shannon LeJeune is orchestrating this event for the Foundation and plans to hold 2-3 receptions like this during the course of each year.
• Congratulations to our outstanding alum for 2006, James DeLapa, who will be honored at a dinner here on August 25.
• The Commitment Program Charitable Golf Outing, sponsored by the Kingsley Club, is set for June 14. Proceeds benefit special enrichment activities for our Commitment scholars like cultural field trips and college visits.
• Cheryl reminded everyone that the NMC Open is fast approaching. August 3 is the magic date and the committee is optimistic about meeting our goals for participation and fundraising. She asked trustees to mark their calendars and sign up for a tee time!

FOUNDATION FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
Ross Childs reported that the Foundation Finance and Audit Committee has not met since the last report on April 24. The next regularly scheduled Foundation Finance and Audit Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 14.

BOARD CHAIR REPORT
Jay Hooper reported that he is making some changes in the board's committee structure and will bring them to the board in June.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President Tim Nelson gave an update on the status of the state appropriations bill, announced that the T. S. State of Michigan is in Port Huron and all is fine with the trip. Tim mentioned the Bridge Program's appearance on the CBS Sunday Morning program, and stated his support for the proposed certificates and associate degree.

PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input.

TRUTH IN TAXATION AND BUDGET HEARING NOTICE
On a motion by Cheryl Follette, seconded by Ross Childs, the board recommended that the Truth-in-Taxation "First Resolution" be adopted as presented. Motion passed. (attachment)

APPOINTMENT OF FELLOWS
Ross Childs moved to approve Walter and Elaine Beardslee as NMC Fellows for 2006. Seconded by Bob Brick, the motion passed. The Beardslees have demonstrated outstanding commitment to and support of our learners from the earliest days of the college.

MCCA REPRESENTATIVE AND ALTERNATE
On a motion by Cheryl Gore Follette, seconded by Ross Childs, Bob Brick was designated as NMC's representative to the Michigan Community College Association Board of Directors for 2006-07, with Elaine Wood as alternate.

APARTMENT RATES FOR 2006-07 FISCAL YEAR
On a motion by Elaine Wood, seconded by Cheryl Gore Follette, the apartment rates for 2006-07 were established at $640 for two-bedroom apartments and $505 for one-bedroom apartments. Beginning in FY'07 tenants will cover the cost of electricity for their apartments, estimated to be approximately $15 per month.

CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT
Elaine Wood made a motion, seconded by Bill Myers, to award the following Certificates of Achievement as presented by Stephen Siciliano in his report:

• Certificate of Achievement in General Studies;
• Certificate of Achievement in Science and Arts;
• Certificate of Achievement in Engineering.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE
Cheryl Gore Follette made a motion, seconded by Elaine wood, to approve establishment of an Associates in General Studies Degree as presented. Motion passed.

CARPETING CONTRACT
Ross Childs moved to award a contract in the amount of $30,090 to Ritsema Associates for carpeting the lower level of the Tanis Building, plus a 5% contingency in the amount of $1,510, for a total estimated project cost of $31,600. Elaine Wood seconded the motion. Ross Childs pointed out that bids were let in February to carpet both floors of the building, and Ritsema was the low bidder. When it was decided to split the project between FY'07 and FY'08, the contractor was asked to revise his bid based on the reduced project scope. Motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 p.m.

Recorded by
Karen Sabin