LIBERAL, Kan. — Tuition and fees at SCCC will remain level for the 2021-22 academic year, the board decided unanimously at its regular meeting Feb. 1. Trustees Kay Burtzloff, John Engel, Casey Mein and Marvin Chance Jr. attended via Zoom, while board chair Ron Oliver, Dustin Ormiston, and Sharon Hobble joined the executive team on campus in SU 214.
“This is not a year to raise tuition in light of the COVID situation,” said vice president of finance and operations Dennis Sander. “So many people have had to cut back and are struggling financially, administration recommends that the Board adopt the base tuition and fee schedule, which includes no increases, as presented.”
Beginning at $113 per credit hour for Seward County residents and $114 for in-state students, SCCC’s tuition and fee scale is lower than peer institutions in Colby and Dodge City, and roughly even with Garden City. In comparison with neighboring states, SCCC’s $136 border-state tuition remains a competitive option for Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas residents.
With a light agenda, the meeting wrapped up business in less than one hour:
• Approved a motion to support the work of the SCCC Foundation for completion of the Sharp Family Champions Center project, with Phase 2 in the near future. Pres. Bennett received permission to solicit donations on behalf of the College and the SCCC Foundation, as presented.
• Received a report from Dan Artamenko, Director of Athletics, noting that enrollment from Fall to Spring is up in athletics. “I want to give credit to our coaches who worked over the holiday break to continue recruiting,” he said. Seasons have begun for men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, and baseball.
• Received a report from chief development officer Kyle Woodrow, who noted that employee giving has more than quadrupled, moving the development office closer to its goal of 100 percent employee participation. Staff changes include the hiring of a new Development Office Coordinator and the opening of the Alumni and Giving Coordinator position. The Foundation’s annual meeting is set for Wednesday, March 24.
• Approved the personnel report, which included hiring Shawna Polk as ESL instructor and resignation of math instructor Bob Hayes. Current openings include director of human resources, nursing instructor, accounts payable clerk, and coordinator of alumni & giving, all full time. Job descriptions may be viewed at sccc.edu > faculty/staff > human resources.
• Reviewed and approved board policy series 500, with changes to 544: Email Acceptable Use Policy and 547: Information Security Policy.
• Reviewed policy series 700, pertaining to agreements and contracts with the Western Kansas Educational Compact, transfer agreement and articulation guide for Kansas community colleges, area vocational technical schools and technical colleges for the associate in applied science degree and associate in general studies degree. No changes were necessary.
Reports from the executive team:
• Chief Information Officer Louie Lemert reported the IT department “is still saturated with equipment and projects,” including wireless replacement across campus, faculty mobile computers, and quarterly reports on website ADA compliance and cybersecurity.
• Vice president of student services Celeste Donovan provided an enrollment report, which included growth in high school enrollment and downward trends in other groups. The Enrollment Management Committee continues to meet to develop strategies, goals and objectives to build enrollments for fall 2021. She noted that graduation plans might include multiple options due to crowd restrictions.
• Vice president of academic affairs Luke Dowell reported that faculty hope to increase the offerings for summer courses to help students complete degrees, and to increase enrollment.
Higher Learning Commission will expect a follow-up report concerning Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes during the 2023-2024 school year as part of the regular Open Pathway Assurance Review. “The reviewers approved of the plans we have put in place to collect assessment data more consistently and provide evidence of using that data to improve student learning,” he noted. “The Reviewers also approved of our updates to our Faculty Credential guidelines and process. They ask us to continue to monitor that process as needed to ensure that qualified faculty are available for all courses.”
• Vice president of finance and operations Dennis Sander brought a list of campus projects in process, including outdoor lights for the circle drive pathway and new automation equipment in the agriculture department’s greenhouse number one, as part of the new grain elevator operator program.
• President Bennett said the randomized testing program is testing 30-40 students each week. Thus far, everyone has tested negative. In February he will attend the ACCT legislative summit (virtually), and plans to organize a board retreat in March.
