NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2007, OLESON CENTER

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

APPROVAL OF AGENDA — Elaine Wood made a motion to move Consent Items Q. and R. to become Action Items W. and X., and to move Report Item F, Board Finance and Audit Committee Report, to follow the President's Report. Ross Childs moved to approve the agenda as amended. Bill Myers seconded the motion, which carried.

FACULTY COUNCIL REPORT — Faculty Council Chair Jerry Dobek said that NMC recently hosted the Skills USA competition for automotive students, that dental assistant students have been participating in a series of free clinics for area children, and that NMC students placed third in the recent Winter Baja. He invited people to the Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony on March 18.

BOARD STRATEGIC GOALS COMMITTEE — Committee member Bill Myers reported on topics considered at the February 20, 2007 meeting of the Strategic Goals Committee.

• Volunteer Recognition Sculpture Project - The "Celebrating Volunteerism Sculpture Selection Committee" considered over 30 proposals. They propose a work entitled, "What You Can Do" by Bob Emser, to be placed to the north of the entrance to the Tanis Building.
• Strategic Planning - Committee members are very satisfied with the mission, vsion, values and purposes as well as the strategic initiatives. It was noted that the new document incorporates everything from the past while nicely enhancing it and reflects the unique spirit of the college. The Committee expressed appreciation to SPC Co-chairs Karen Sabin and Doug Domine for the great work that was done. The Board's next meeting on March 5 will include a special public hearing on the proposed Mission, Vision, Values and Purposes, as well as the three strategic initiatives.

BOARD POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT — Committee Chair Jay Hooper reported that the committee did not meet in February, but all Trustees have had an opportunity to review and discuss the Mission, Vision, Values and Purposes policies as part of their retreat and at committee meetings. Those policies will be discussed at the March 5 Special Meeting, at which time the Board will welcome public comment on those policies as well as the strategic initiatives. The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, 2007.

FOUNDATION REPORT — Ross Childs reported that

• The 2006-07 Annual Campaign has achieved 94% of goal, with $297,000 raised to date. The committee is busy making follow-up calls to those who gave last year but not yet this year, to remind them how important their gifts are to NMC.
• The Foundation's Endowment Task Force heard an update from President Nelson on the NMC Strategic Plan and draft Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Initiatives at their February meeting. They discussed the structure of endowment strategy conversations and likely participants. They continue to investigate best practices for endowment fundraising.
• The Government Relations Task Force met on February 6 and examined the goals of the committee, which include strengthening awareness and positive recognition of NMC issues among elected representatives at the local, state and federal levels. This process will include visiting, hosting, making phone calls and writing letters to communicate about NMC and its current initiatives to serve learners and the community. Tim reviewed the MCCA's Legislative Agenda for 2007-08 in Lansing.
• The Foundation Board will spend time at their meeting this Wednesday studying the draft version of the new NMC Strategic Plan.
• And…it's that season again…BBQ and Golf committees are actively working behind the scenes to make both of these events a success for NMC and the Foundation.
  • The NMC Scholarship Open Committee has begun securing sponsorships for the August 2nd event. Our goal this year is to net in excess of $80,000 for Honors Scholarships-which will be a new record. Sponsorships are key to helping us meet this bottom line goal. If you would like to be a sponsor and haven't yet been asked, please see Kathleen Guy.
  • The BBQ Board has begun advance ticket sales for this year's event on May 20th. Advance ticket sales are critical to the BBQ's financial success; last year 75 percent of our sales were done in advance. If you are interested in buying tickets for employees, friends or other groups, or want to help with group sales, contact Paul Heaton.
• The Foundation is accepting nominations for 2007 Foundation Excellence Awards, which will be presented at the Retirement and Recognition Reception on April 19, as well as the Outstanding Alumni Award which will be announced at Commencement.

FOUNDATION FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT — Ross Childs reported that at the NMC Foundation Finance Committee meeting on February 21st, the Committee:

• Received a portfolio report for the quarter ending 12-31-06 reflecting a 5.09% return and fiscal year-to-date time weighted return of 8.32%
• Received a quarterly statement of activities for the Foundation which reflects new revenue of $1,416,015 for the first six months of the year
• Heard a presentation on investment performance from Huntington National Bank
  • Investments produced a 4.93% return; for the quarter ending December 31, 2006.
  • Investments produced a one-year return of 11.80%.
• Moved that the designation of an unrestricted bequest from the Lorenzo and Beverly Wagner Trust be designated as a quasi-endowment forming the Wagner Endowment.
• Moved that the Deepwater Point property received from the Richard Engstrom trust be auctioned in June of this year.

BOARD CHAIR REPORT — Board Chair Walter J. Hooper thanked the trustees for attending the retreat and stressed that he appreciated their taking the time.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT — President Tim Nelson reported that the Michigan House Subcommittee on Appropriations is holding meetings around the State: one was held in Grand Rapids; one is scheduled this Thursday at Mid Michigan. Tim stated that the Strategic Planning Committee worked very hard and expressed his appreciation for their efforts.

BOARD FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT — Chair Elaine Wood reported that the Board Finance and Audit Committee considered the following items at their February 20, 2007 meeting.

• Strategic Plan Components - will skip since Bill discussed this earlier in the meeting
• Impact of State Budget Issues - Tim Nelson covered this item in his President's Report.
• Financial Projections for FY07 - Year-end projections continue to look positive.
• Monthly financials for January 31, 2007 - As a whole, revenues and expenses are in line with budgets at this time of year.
• Budget Model - The interactive budget model shows different scenarios as it has done in the past, but it now also gives different scenarios regarding investing in the capital plant and the different cost levels.
• Aviation Fleet Management Cycle - Marguerite Cotto gave a presentation on the current proposed buy-back approach to Aviation fleet management for NMC. The buy-back approach would make it possible to keep the fleet up to date. This will allow NMC to decrease the number of planes in the winter months, manage students' flight training and simulator training times more efficiently, and keep maintenance costs down. The Committee agreed with the proposal to negotiate a contract utilizing this buy-back approach.
• Great Lakes Campus Signage - The scope of the work was broken down into three components: signage structure, digital display unit, signage elements. The committee recommends that the signage structure construction be awarded to Comstock Construction, who was the lowest bidder.

CONSENT ITEMS — Elaine Wood made a motion to approve the following consent agenda items as amended. Seconded by Ross Childs, the motion carried.

• Minutes of the January 22, 2007, regular meeting and the February 2-3, 2007, special meeting retreat
• Contributions for January 2007
• Summary Report for General Fund Accounts as of January 31, 2007 (attached)
• Resolution of Appreciation for former Trustee Ted Mattis

PUBLIC INPUT — Trustees heard public input from Michael Taetsch, Tim Dunn, and Craig Silliven, alumni of the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, who asked the Board to support efforts to increase visibility, and to remember that alumni, although not often visible, have a tremendous impact on the economy of the region and nearby states.

AVIATION FLEET MANAGEMENT — Elaine Wood made a motion, seconded by Bill Myers, to adopt the aviation fleet management strategy for the single-engine trainers as presented, including approval of a contract with Suburban Aviation, Inc. to provide the single-engine Cessna training planes through their buy-back program. Motion Carried. The contract with Suburban Aviation, Inc., of Ottawa Lake, MI., will provide an ongoing cost-effective way to maintain a modern fleet of single-engine Cessna planes.

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION SCULPTURE — Ross Childs made a motion, seconded by Bill Myers, to accept the proposal of the Volunteer Recognition Sculpture Selection Committee as presented. Motion carried. The new outdoor sculpture will be installed on main campus, north of Tanis Building. After reviewing resumes, an NMC committee that included five current volunteers in January commissioned the sculpture proposed by artist Bob Emser of Eureka, IL. The $40,000 sculpture, which is being funded by a private gift, is expected to be installed in time for the NMC Barbecue on May 20.

CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT — Elaine Wood made a motion, seconded by Bill Myers, to approve the following certificates of achievement. Motion carried.

• Automotive - Electrical and Drivability Specialist (Level II Certificate)
• Automotive - Under Car Specialist (Level II Certificate)
• Culinary Arts (Level III Certificate)
• Office Applications Specialist (Level 1 Certificate)

ASSOCIATE DEGREE — Ross Childs made a motion to approve the Creative Management and Art Direction Associate in Applied Science Degree. Seconded by Elaine Wood, motion carried.

MONUMENT SIGNAGE STRUCTURE FOR GREAT LAKES CAMPUS — Elaine Wood made a motion, seconded by Ross Childs, to award a contract in the amount of $16,185 to Comstock Construction for construction of the GLC monument signage structure. Motion carried.
Pending city approval, construction and installation is expected in April.

DIGITAL SIGNAGE FOR GREAT LAKES CAMPUS — Ross Childs made a motion, seconded by Bill Myers, to award a contract in the amount of $23,692 to Signplicity Sign Systems for procurement and installation of digital signage for Great Lakes Campus.

ADJOURNMENT — The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Recorded by Karen Sabin