The Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Board of Trustees
met Monday, May 3, for its regular board meeting. Prior to the board meeting
the board met with a cross-section of students to discuss their experiences
at the college. The board said that overall the students were pleased with
their education at the college.
Suggestions for improvement included the feasibility
of providing child care and continuing to insure awareness of student
activities to all students enrolled.
Donetta Dreitz, registrar, gave a review over the 2010 graduation ceremony
scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, May 8 in the gym. Members of the board of
trustees will hand out diplomas to more than 300 graduates, which is an
increase above the number of students receiving diplomas in 2009.
Dr. Duane Dunn presented several scenarios from the Kansas legislature for
raising additional revenue in the state, including changes in the state
income tax and possible cigarette and liquor tax increases.
Further reductions from the state are possible, Dunn said, and reductions in
the departmental budget requests will continue to be developed.
Doug Browne, multimedia technology director, presented an overview of a
campus-wide security camera system that would include all off-campus
facilities. The security camera system will enable the college to provide
improved security and record of any accidents or damages that occur on the
college property.
The board approved the purchase of the necessary equipment from Alexander
Open Systems of Garden City in the amount of $111,906.11.
Although the Gas Compressor Institute was very good this year, attendance
was down, said Dale Reed, associate dean of educational services. The board
will re-evaluate the materials as well as the overall institute to see what
can be done to boost enrollment. One aspect was a change in
pre-registration procedures which may have had an impact on the number of
people who attended.
The college signed an articulation agreement with National American
University to provide and online bachelor??s degrees as well as graduate
degrees, said Cynthia Rapp, dean of instruction. The new agreement provides
another avenue for on-line students who have completed an associate degree
through SCCC/ATS to complete a bachelor??s degree without having to relocate.
Celeste Donavon, dean of student services, told the board that the phonathan
to raise money for scholarships brought in $33,776. The Baseball Team raised
the most money as an organization and Galen McSpadden, head men??s baseball
coach, raised the most money as a staff member.
In other action, the board
Accepted the resignation of Ryan Stock, assistant men??s
basketball coach;
Approved the quote from Luminous Neon of Dodge City in the
amount of $39,527 to update the electronic sign at the west entrance of
campus, including an RGB color electronic message center.
Approved the purchase of nine ADA-compliant classroom desks,
75 regular classroom desks, 128 caster chairs for hard surfaces and 40
caster chairs for carpeted surfaces from Kansas Contract Design of Wichita
in the amount of $43,420.55 that will be used at the area technical school;
Approved the purchase of carpet for the Humanities Building
from Flooring American and Furniture of Liberal in the amount of $47,608;
Approved the purchase of one server and three players from
Mission Electronics, Inc., of Lenexa in the amount of $15,000 to expand
monitors for Channel 17 and other messages at the Area Technical School and
the Student Activities Center;
Approved the purchase of a water jet cutting tool from
Kansas-Oklahoma Machine of Wichita in the amount of $113,275 for the
Manufacturing portion of the Welding, Drafting and Design Technology and
Machine Tool technology programs. Funds for the purchase of the cutting
tool are provided through a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
The next board meeting is Monday, June 7 in the board room