By Tammy Gray Dr. Chato Hazelbaker was selected by the Navajo County District Governing Board to serve as the new President of Northland Pioneer College (NPC). He will step into the role on July 1, taking the place of Dr. Jeanne Swarthout who stepped out of retirement to serve as interim president of the college while the search for a permanent president was conducted. The selection was made during a board meeting held on Tuesday, April 20. “I could not be happier or more honored at the opportunity,” Hazelbaker said. Hazelbaker hopes to continue the work started by President Swarthout to guide NPC through the remaining challenges brought about the pandemic, as well as serving the future educational needs of the area. He plans to work closely with community partners and leaders to achieve those goals. Prior to his selection as president of NPC, Hazelbaker served as the Vice President of Enrollment marketing at Caroll College in Helena, Montana. He and his wife Shari, who is a registered nurse, will be relocating to the area. They enjoy outdoor activities and are looking forward to exploring the unique sites that the White Mountains and Little Colorado River corridor have to offer. Board members offered their thanks to Dr. Swarthout for taking on the interim position during the school’s time of need, and for offering her assistance in the selection process for a new president. During the April 20 meeting, the board also: * Heard a presentation on spring enrollment. According to the report, fulltime student enrollment for the spring semester is down overall by approximately 10% compared to last year. It was noted that the pandemic created major shifts in some enrollment numbers, such as a massive increase in enrollment in online classes and a major decrease in on-campus enrollment. Programs that require hands-on learning were also affected by the pandemic. * Received an update on the verification process for receipt of in-district tuition rates. The board previously approved a reduced tuition rate for students that reside within the boundaries of the NPC district. The report noted that, “Barriers will be created for Native students living on the reservation who may have a physical address similar to the NPC Hopi Center and are unable to provide any of the necessary documents to show they live in Navajo County.” * Reviewed a salary and wage recommendation report that would give most staff members a 5% increase in pay. * Approved a preliminary budget for fiscal year 2022. The budget totals $33.4 million, which represents a 13.2% increase over the 2021 fiscal year. The board will need to approve a final budget at a later date. * Approved a preliminary three-year capital expenditure budget. The proposed budget includes expenditure of $17.15 million in fiscal year 2022, $11.27 million in fiscal year 2023, and $9.27 million in fiscal year 2024. * Approved revisions to the 2022-23 academic calendar, and approved the 2023 academic calendar. * Approved the purchase of three Cisco Telepresence endpoints under the state procurement contract at a total cost of $74,093.55. The next board meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18.
