Board of Directors August 2018 Meeting Minutes
August 2, 2018
Board Members Present:
- Ms. Charlene Harris, Chair
- Mr. Clay Parker Davis, Vice Chair
- Mr. Jonathan Arnett
- Dr. Allison Cherry
- Mr. Phillip Duncan
- Ms. Kelly Johnson
- Ms. Karlie Berry
- Mr. Gary Napier
- Ms. Holly Bowers
- Mr. Marshall Todd
Board Members Absent:
- None
Call to Order
Chair Harris called the meeting of the Somerset Community College Board of Directors to order at 1:02 p.m. in the Citizens National Bank Community Room in the Harold Rogers Student Commons. She welcomed all in attendance and expressed appreciation to Chef Michael Wells for a wonderful lunch.
There were several welcomes and introductions to the Board: Chair Harris welcomed Dr. Carey Castle, new President/CEO of SCC, to the meeting and expressed that Board members are looking forward to working with him. Chair Harris also introduced three new Board members: Kelly Johnson, Holly Bowers and Karlie Berry. Ms. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Biology who has been with SCC for six years, and she is the new faculty representative. Ms. Bowers is an Upward Bound Education Specialist for Pulaski County who has also been with SCC for six years and she is the staff representative. Ms. Berry is the new Student Government President, is working part-time in the bookstore, and is majoring in education. She is the student representative to the Board.
In closing, Chair Harris recognized Donna Eastham and Shawn Anderson, who just completed their terms on the Board. Ms. Eastham served six years as the faculty representative and Ms. Anderson served four years as the staff representative. Both were in attendance to be thanked for their service.
Minutes
Currently there is not a Secretary serving the Board, so Chair Harris presented the minutes from the last meeting.
MOTION: Mr. Davis moved that the Board approve the minutes of the May 10, 2018 meeting. Mr. Todd seconded the motion.
VOTE: The motion passed unanimously.
President's Remarks
Dr. Castle thanked everyone for the extremely warm welcome he has received since being at Somerset Community College. Everywhere he has been, the people have been friendly and welcoming.
As of the date of the meeting, 1,416 students registered for the summer session compared to 1,318 on August 2 the previous year. Last summer’s enrollment ended with 1,315 students enrolled. For fall, there are currently 4,558 students enrolled compared to 4,723 this time last year. The semester starts on August 13 and many more students will enroll for the fall semester, fall bi-term that starts on October 15, high school students taking dual credit, and Workforce Solutions classes. Fall enrollment locks in on November 1. The new Dual Credit policy should help with the enrollment.
Dr. Castle announced that there will be a college-wide meeting on August 3 at The Center from 8:30 am until 1:00 pm. It will be a great day discussing the upcoming semester, plans for events, marketing, professional development, safety, and many other updates. Forty-four employees will receive annual service awards.
The fall semester begins on Monday, August 13. There are plans for back to school cookouts for the Laurel Campus on August 28 and on the Somerset Campus on August 30. It will be a fun day for students and will include games and information tables showing students how to get involved on campus.
During the week of August 6-9, there will be extended hours for prospective students to come in and enroll.
SCC will host the Watershed Arts Alliance with the Big Band & BBQ on the Somerset Campus on Saturday, August 11. The event will be held on the lawn between the buildings and the patio outside Meece Hall is the location for the concert.
Recent events include the Laurel Campus hosting the London Red, White & Boom event on June 30 to celebrate the Fourth of July. The Master Musicians Festival, held on July 13-14, showed off the beautiful Somerset Campus to over 6,000 people. Recently we hosted our first Intern Day through the recruiting office. Students had the opportunity to hear their local community business executives speak about real world, on the job experience. Eighteen students participated from four counties in our service region.
Workforce Solutions is about 90% complete on the labs on the Somerset south campus for KY FAME. All the major equipment has been installed and now partner companies are providing gifts-in-kind of small equipment and tools needed for the classroom.
There are two KY FAME cohorts this fall. One is a Monday/Tuesday schedule and the other is a Thursday/Friday schedule with a total of 28 students. Two new KY FAME instructors were hired. They are Chris Bell and Marv Neubig.
The Lineman Training Program continues to have a lot of success. We had the largest Advanced Lineman Technician class ever with 24 incumbent workers from industry in the class. There is still a nine-month waiting list for the program with an 85% job placement rate.
Preparation continues for our SACS Accreditation visit on October 2-4. Also during the SACS visit, the SCC Quality Enhancement Plan will be reviewed for approval. This is a five-year college-wide effort that focuses on a guided pathway from the first year through completion to provide students with the tools and resources they need to learn essential skills to complete their academic and career goals.
SCC received a $60,000 grant from the USDA for our Additive Manufacturing Program. The goal of this grant is to collaborate with business and industry to help train employees on 3D printing and develop ways to produce and sell their products.
SCC is also receiving funding through KCTCS-TRAINS to establish SCC as the Center for Excellence for Additive Manufacturing. TRAINS is a partnership with the Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky Career Center and the Kentucky Labor Cabinet. More details will come later when the grant is finalized.
We received notification of the 2018 Kentucky Skills U grant applicants, which is the adult education program in each county. SCC was awarded Casey, McCreary, Russell, Pulaski, and Wayne counties. Pulaski and Wayne are new this year and we are in the process of hiring staff.
The Meece Hall Auditorium renovations and the HVAC project in Meece Hall are complete. Dr. Castle invited Board members to walk over and check out the new auditorium, which has a new sound system, television monitors throughout and a larger seating capacity than the community room.
In closing, Dr. Castle announced that the Culinary Arts Program is moving from the McCreary Center to the Somerset Campus, with plans to renovate the area across from the Meece Auditorium. The bid opens on August 15.
Chair Remarks
Chair Harris commended the College on having extended hours for enrollment.
Action Item
Ms. Jill Meece, Chief Business Affairs Officer, presented the FY 2018–2019 Operating Budget.
After presentation of the budget, Mr. Arnett moved that the Board of Directors adopt the final 2018-2019 budget in the amount of $59,116,300, as presented. Mr. Davis seconded the motion.
VOTE: The motion passed unanimously.
Action Item
Chair Harris informed the Board that under KCTCS policies and procedures, Dr. Marshall is eligible for the honor of College President Emeritus status. She pointed out that the process and criteria was included in each member’s Board book. Chair Harris called upon Cindy Clouse, Chief Institutional Advancement Officer and Board Assistant Secretary, to read the nomination letter.
After reading of the nomination letter, Mr. Davis moved that the Somerset Community College Board of Directors nominate Dr. Jo Marshall for College President Emeritus status. Mr. Duncan seconded the motion.
VOTE: The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Remarks
Chair Harris announced that the next scheduled Board meeting is October 25 and she appointed a nominating committee for officers to be elected at the October meeting. She asked Mr. Arnett, Mr. Napier and Dr. Cherry to serve.
Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Duncan moved that the meeting adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
Date Approved by Board of Directors
10-30-2018
Charlene Harris, Chair SCC Board of Directors
Signature on file
Cindy Clouse, Assistant Secretary SCC Board of Directors
Signature on file
