Meeting Minutes

October 26, 2023

Board Members Present:

Board Members Absent:

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Harris called the meeting of the Somerset Community College Board of Directors to order at 12:58 p.m.  She welcomed everyone in attendance and thanked Jeremy Phillips, SCC’s Culinary Arts student, for organizing and planning the luncheon before the meeting.

Chair Harris introduced Ms. Patricia Burnsed, SCC’s Student Government President for the 2023-2024 academic year, the newest member of the Board of Directors.

ACTION ITEM: July 27, 2023 MINUTES

Ms. Kelly Johnson announced that the minutes of the July 27, 2023 meeting were included in the agenda booklet and the book was mailed to Board Members in advance of the meeting.  Mr. Duncan moved the minutes to be approved as distributed.  Mr. Larry Vanhook seconded the motion.  The minutes were unanimously approved.

CHAIR’S REMARKS

Chair Harris announced Mr. Jonathan Arnett and Mr. Gary Napier have been reappointed to the board by Governor Beshear. Their term goes through August 31, 2029.

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS

Dr. Castle provided an update on significant developments within KCTCS, announcing the appointment of Dr. Ryan Quarles as the fourth System President. Dr. Quarles, currently serving as the KY Agriculture Commissioner, was officially selected by the KY Board of Regents in late September and he will start this position on January 1, 2024.  Regarding the HURON project, Dr. Castle outlined its nearing completion. First, the identification and prioritization of twelve key opportunities for the initial year were approved by the Board of Regents. These have now become elements in SCC's strategic planning and will integrate into various operational aspects in the forthcoming months. Second, the assessment phase of the class and compensation aspect is nearly finalized and will soon transition into the implementation stage.

Dr. Castle provided an encouraging update on Somerset Community College's enrollment, noting a significant increase compared to the previous year. He presented an overview of the enrollment data, highlighting notable improvements in headcount, credit hours, and full-time enrollment figures.  Dr. Castle's presentation indicated a promising trajectory for Somerset Community College's student enrollment and overall academic engagement.

Dr. Castle emphasized the ongoing utilization of the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) methodology at the College, aimed at guiding employees in identifying their primary focus areas and fostering dedication toward achieving the institution's goals. He elaborated on the College's designated wildly important goals (WIGs) and underlined how aligning efforts with these strategic objectives has positively influenced and contributed to the College's enrollment figures.

Dr. Castle informed the Board that SCC has received notification from SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) to prepare and submit the 5-year report. The College is in the process of finalizing this multi-year report, which is scheduled for submission next summer. Additionally, SCC is expecting a brief visit from the SACSCOC team in September 2024. Dr. Bruce Gover, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, is leading this work over the next year and will keep this Board updated through the spring.

Dr. Castle provided an update on SCC's work toward crafting a campus master plan during a meeting held in September. This strategic process, essential to budget development and project planning across all 16 colleges, is now underway. Anticipated to unfold over eight to twelve months, the master planning procedure includes data gathered from diverse student areas within the College.  Ms. Jill Meece, Vice President of Business Administration, is leading this work and will keep the Board updated on the planning initiative as it progresses.

Dr. Castle announced the addition of four new endowments for SCC into the Common Fund, managed by KCTCS. These funds undergo strategic investments, generating annual distributions that enable the College to award scholarships.

• $100,000 endowment for Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and we applied for matching funds.
• $25,000 endowment in Memory of Clarence Griffith
• $25,000 Wanda Bolze Endowment
• $35,000 Richard and Dick Cornele Endowed Scholarship

Total endowments for SCC are $7.3 million with an income of $264,00 a year to award scholarships.

Dr. Castle announced that all SCC centers (except Casey) will move to a five-day work week with regular business hours from 8-4:30 PM.

Dr. Castle invited Ms. Alesa Johnson, Vice President of Workforce Solutions (WS), to provide an update. Ms. Johnson highlighted that Workforce Solutions specializes in tailored training programs designed for Business and Industry, focusing on the most sought-after skill areas of today. These training programs are flexible, offering options for on-site sessions or access to training facilities within the College.

Ms. Johnson explained the roles undertaken by WS and provided an update on four ongoing projects: Heavy Equipment Operations, Underground Utility Tech, Overhead Utility Tech, and a recently secured grant aimed at revolutionizing rural housing and fostering job opportunities through concrete 3D printing.

ACTION ITEM: ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2024

Mr. BJ Brown, representing the nominating committee, reported to the board the decision for the current officers to continue serving in their respective positions throughout the year 2024: Ms. Charlene Harris as Chair, Mr. Phillip Duncan as Vice Chair, and Ms. Kelly Johnson as Secretary. Mr. Vanhook made a motion to approve the presented nominations. Ms. Wilburn seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

ACTION ITEM: MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2024

Chair Harris asked board members to review the meeting dates distributed in their booklets. Ms. Wilburn made a motion to approve the schedule as presented. Mr. Duncan seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Harris announced the next meeting will be on January 25, 2024.  Chair Harris asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Duncan made a motion and with no further business, the members were dismissed at 1:36 PM.

Date Approved by Board of Directors: January 25, 2024