The Neosho County Community College Board of Trustees held its April 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in the Student Union Boardroom on the Chanute Campus. The meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. and adjourned at approximately 10:45 a.m.
Strahm Family Strength Center Major League Baseball pitcher and NCCC alumnus Matt Strahm has pledged a $330k donation to renovate the Wellness Center on the Chanute Campus.
Per the approved board policy “Naming Opportunities: Guidelines and Operating Principles,” the building is eligible for naming rights. Trustees approved a renaming to the Strahm Family Strength Center, nicknamed “The Spot.”
More information on the project, which is expected to be completed ahead of the Fall 2025 semester, can be found at neosho.edu/news/Strahm-Family- Strength-Center.
NCCC President Dr. Brian Inbody reported a 2.09% yearto- year increase in enrollment for the 2024-25 academic year. The Spring 2025 semester saw an increase of 2.6% over Spring 2024.
Dr. Inbody provided a report on the Higher Learning Commission’s Annual Meeting held in Chicago April 4-6. Dr. Inbody attended the meeting with Dr. Sarah Robb (NCCC Vice President for Student Learning) to hear updates to the HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation.
HLC, the institution that awards accreditation to NCCC and nearly 1,000 other colleges and universities, condensed its previous criteria into four distinct elements; Mission; Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct; Teaching and Learning for Student Success; Sustainability: Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning. These changes are set to go into effect Sept. 1, 2025.
Inbody also provided updates on several facilities projects.
The Student Union Plaza has been opened to the public. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the completion of the final steps of the project.
Geotechnical crews recently completed core sample surveys at the site of the upcoming Mih Family Fine Arts Center renovation.
Dr. Inbody, along with faculty from the Music and Theatre departments also met with theatre experts and audio visual engineers to discuss the specifics of the building’s interior.
Evaluation of current lighting systems, production technology, and electrical infrastructure is planned for this week.
A final Fire Code Footprint is expected to be completed within the week for the Panther Power Lab. Foam installation has been completed, and electrical work is expected to be completed by the City of Chanute in the coming days.
Technology Services has completed the installation of a 10-gigabit internet connection from the city fiber lines to the Chanute Campus. Hardware upgrades continue across campus to support the faster connection.
Electrical infrastructure has been upgraded in the Art classroom in Sanders Hall to support the newly installed pottery wheels. Five wheels have already been installed, with another five to be installed in the future.
Repairs to the sewer line in Stoltz Hall have been completed. The final step of the project will be to replace the outdoor sidewalk, which is expected to be completed this week.
Paul Walcher, NCCC Math Instructor and Faculty Senate President, reported on the following
events.
The Beta Nu Iota Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa on the Ottawa Campus held an induction ceremony April 3, welcoming five new members to the honor society.
Members of the Beta Nu Iota Chapter and the Omega Iota Chapter on the Chanute Campus attended the PTK Catalyst national convention in Kansas City, Mo., April 3-5. Students heard from keynote speakers, participated in leadership workshops, and attended a college and career fair.
Imogen Flint, Dylan Roberts, and Amy Styles (NCCC Honors Program students) were highlighted for their recently completed honors projects.
As Kansas statutes dictate, trustees must inform contracted full-time faculty of their intent to renew or not renew their contracts before the next academic year. Recommendations are given by the faculty member’s respective division chair or director, then confirmed by the Chief Academic Officer. If a faculty member receives their fourth consecutive contract from the Board, the instructor receives additional due process rights if a request for nonrenewal occurs.
Haley Kepley (Nursing Instructor) and Dawn Wrestler (Allied Health Instructor) completed three probationary contracts, awarding them a continuing non-probationary contract with full rights of due process. An additional 26 faculty members were renewed for non-probationary contracts, and 17 faculty members were renewed for probationary contracts.
Employment contracts for 11 coaches, 73 administrative and management support employees, and 50 hourly, non-exempt employees were also renewed.
Michael Campbell, Biological Science Instructor, was selected as the March 2025 Service Award winner.
“Due to my complications in Anatomy & Physiology, I have taken this class several times now. Not only is he insanely helpful and provides great resources, he isn’t afraid to reach out to you when he notices you struggling — which is such a big deal to college students who sometimes just need that helping hand without having to beg for it from their instructor,” the anonymous nomination read. “Not everyone knows how to ask for academic help. I’ve taken classes at NCCC for three years now, and I’ve encountered both great and not so great people here. I can confidently say I owe a lot of my ‘not giving up’ attitude to Michael Campbell.”
Campbell will be recognized with social media posts, a framed certificate, and a $500 prize.
In other business, trustees: —Approved the minutes from the March 12 meeting.
—Heard a Treasurer’s report from Chief Financial Officer Sandi Solander and approved claims for disbursement for the month of March.
—Heard updates on the 2024-25 Strategic Plan.
—Heard a report on the Ruffalo Noel-Levitz survey of student satisfaction.
—Approved an update to the Evaluation of Adjunct Instructor Policy.
—Approved an update to the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
—Approved a bid from Digital Connections, Inc. in Coffeyville for $8,750/year equipment lease, $4,400/year black and white maintenance, $8,800/year color maintenance, $.0044/copy color overage charge and $.044/copy color overage charge for a lease term of four years beginning July 1, 2025. Bids were also received from Century Business Technologies in Topeka, and Copy Products, Inc. in Iola.
—Approved updates to the following job descriptions: Assistant Director of Residence and Student Life, Coordinator of Residence and Student Life, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Clinician (Clinical Coordinator), and Administrative
Assistant to the Athletic
Director.
—Approved the following Course Inventory Revisions / Additions: Updated Math Pathway for Sociology, A.A., Psychology A.A., and Theatre, A.A.; Added courses CMCT 109 – Intro to Concrete, CMCT 113 – Basic Home Repair, CMCT 117 – Placement of Concrete, CMCT 119 – Home Repair: Drywall, CMCT 120 – Construction Equipment, and CMCT 222 – Home Repair due to KBOR Realignment; Changed title of ART 266 from “Sculpture” to “3-D Design;” Deactivated CMCT 107 – Carpentry Basics, CMCT 110 – Floors, Walls & Ceiling Framing, CMCT 111 – Roof Framing, CMCT 112 – Windows, Doors & Stairs, CMCT 205 – Site Layout, Handling & Placing Concrete, CMCT 206 – Drywall, Window, Door & Ceiling Installation, CMCT 210 – Roofing & Exterior Finishes.
—Approved the appointment of Kevin Blackwell (NCCC Humanities Professor) as Liberal Arts Division Chair for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.
—Approved the following hirings: Dawson Ashmore as the Assistant Director of Residence and Student Life with a start date of April 14, 2025; Kevin Unrein as Fulltime Maintenance – Carpentry with a start date of April 10, 2025.
—Approved the following resignations: Milan Dhameja as Biology Instructor with a last day of May 21, 2025; Michael Cooper as Maintenance – HVAC with a last day of April 1, 2025; Dawson Ashmore as Assistant Director of Residence and Student Life with a last day of April 13, 2025; Melodie Milliken as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Nursing with a last day of July 31, 2025; Kevin Unrein as Part-time Maintenance with a last day of April 9, 2025; Kenneth Gragg as Part-time Custodian at the Ottawa Campus with a last day of April 17, 2025; Aaron Dowsett as the Women’s Soccer Head Coach with a last day of May 21, 2025.
—Heard no public comment. The next NCCC Board of Trustees Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Boardroom on the Chanute Campus.
