The North Central Missouri College Board of Trustees approved the request for endorsement on the new Fire Science Technology Program at its meeting Tuesday evening.
Nursing and Health Sciences Dean Brooke McAtee said the program will provide students with certifications and training to make them more marketable in the fire protection field. She said the program has been in the works for a while and will not have any start up costs.
The board approved NCMC’s strategic plan as presented.
President Doctor Lenny Klaver called the plan a “roadmap for the future” of the college.
The board also approved a board policy manual change on posting and distribution of non-college material in NCMC buildings. General postings must be approved by the President’s Office or the Dean of Student Affairs Office.
The trustees approved custodian Lenny White’s retirement resignation and Jack Green’s employment as a full-time agriculture instructor. White’s retirement will begin July 1st.
Green is the Milan C-2 High School agriculture instructor and FFA advisor with employment will start July 3rd.
Head Start Director Beverly Hooker discussed the reduction in matching funds from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. It was reduced from around $487,000 ($487,228) to around $227,000 ($227,228) for the budget period from February 1st, 2016 to January 1st, 2017.
Librarian Beth Calderello talked about NCMC’s Author Visit Series.
She said the series will continue April 11th with United States Marine Corps Colonel Rick Craig talking about leadership.
Academic Resource Center Director Tina Totten reported that the ARC has writing, math, and Spanish certified and well-qualified tutors and said the center can also help students in many other areas. The ARC provides online resources for students, including math conferences.
She said tutors will also help students if they call or send a snapshot with a question. Totten added that tutors come up with ideas to promote ARC programs throughout the year.
TRiO Director Marcie Cutsinger reported that NCMC’s Upward Bound Program met all of its goals for the first time, and Student Support Services met all of its goals. She also said Student Support Services gave almost $28,000 worth of scholarships last year.
Since it is a grant writing year, Cutsinger said she will find out at a later date if the programs will get to continue in the fall.
Academic Affairs Interim Vice President Sharon Weiser reported on how students are placed in classes based on their ACT, Compass, ASSET, or Accuplacer test results. She said high school grade point average is a better indicator of a student’s college success than a test score.
Student Affairs Dean Doctor Kristen Alley told the board the number of students defaulting on student loans went up slightly from last year, but the total is still low.
NCMC is one of five schools participating in Missouri Department of Education’s Guided Pathways for Success, which establishes meta-major.
Nursing and Health Sciences Dean McAtee reported that the online nursing program has more than 100 applicants. All curriculum for the program except for labs and clinicals are online and McAtee added this is the third year for the online nursing program.
President Klaver discussed the effect of Governor Eric Greitens’s budget cuts on NCMC.
He said the college is efficient with the funding it has and that he is trying to make the campus more communicative.
Klaver revealed that Missouri Senate Representative Dan Hegeman will be this year’s commencement speaker.
