NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Monday, NOVEMBER 5, 2007, PARSONS-STULEN BUILDING

CALL TO ORDER

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - The agenda appended by adding an item in the Discussion section : President’s Parameters for Success.  It was approved on a motion by Elaine Wood, seconded by Bill Myers.

PUBLIC INPUT – There was no public input.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

Board Self-evaluation.  The board discussed the desired outcomes of conducting a self-evaluation.  President Nelson described possible methods and provided a sample draft Board Effectiveness Self Evaluation document.  The Board plans to have a conversation on their performance at each annual retreat in January/February.

Shared leadership vs. Shared Governance.  President Nelson led a discussion similar to those led with the Strategic Concepts Group on campus and the Vice Presidents.  This conversation is a part of the Strategic Goal: Decision Making.  It is a continuation of the conversation on Carver Trusteeship.  The conversation suggests that Trustees have two major responsibilities:  Oversight of college operations as defined through the Carver model and answering the question, “What do we do for whom at what value?”  Further discussions will be held to determine the parameters that will be most helpful in answering this last question.  President Nelson discussed the desire to establish a list of “leading indicators” that will be monitored and helpful in answering this question.

Helpful information.  President Nelson asked trustees what questions they are commonly asked about NMC and what we can do to assure they have the information they need.  He will prepare a “helpful notes” card.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

State Budget.   President Nelson reported on the status of the State Budget.  NMC did receive its delayed payment and the first payment for the year.  The budget as passed includes a 1% increase for community colleges.  NMC will see an approximate .9% increase due to the funding formula mechanics.

MCCA proposed Workforce Development bonding project.   President Nelson and trustees reviewed a proposal entitled “Bonds as Financing Mechanism for Economic and Workforce Development” developed by MA.  The proposal would authorize community college to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of financing job training with the repayment to come from a portion of the new job’s state income tax withholding.  The Board is interested in the concept but concerned over details.  It is not as high on the Boards list as the strategic goals the college is pursuing and President Nelson was advised not to “take the lead” in this state initiative.

Strategic Goals Update.   Time prohibited a comprehensive conversation in this area.  President Nelson quickly reviewed each goal and whether or not it had been initiated.

LEGAL OPINIONS

The Board voted to go into closed session to meet with Attorneys Charles Judson and Todd Millar of Smith Haughey Rice and Roege who joined the meeting to review written opinion regarding employee benefits and insurance coordination under ERISA and Michigan’s No-Fault Act and written opinion regarding granting of easements to college property.  No action was taken and the board voted to come out of closed session at 1:14 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

Recorded by President Timothy J. Nelson