During the Navajo County Community College Governing Board on Tuesday, Nov. 21, the board approved two new programs for Northland Pioneer College (NPC) including a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Degree (BAEE) and Bachelor of Applied Management Degree.
In conjunction with the new programs, the board approved program modifications for Associate of Arts Elementary Education (AAEE) and Education Professions Certificate of Proficiency (CP). The modifications to the two programs will create a fully stackable sequence of courses between them and the new BAEE program.
Due to the rezoning of the college’s districts, board member Elias Jouen’s residence no longer is within the zone area representing District 2 and therefore is no longer able to be on the board. President Chato Hazelbaker and Chair Kristen Laughter thanked Jouen for his service and work. “It’s been a pleasure serving alongside each and every one of you,” stated Jouen.
Retiring Northland Pioneer College Campus Manager Kathy McPherson was given Administrative Emeritus status for her service within NPC. According to Lead Campus Manager Jessica Kitchens, McPherson had worked at the college for over 22 years. “She will be greatly missed.”
Pioneer College Friends & Family (NPCFF) Executive Director Betsyann Wilson gave a NPCFF report. The organization received 52 qualified scholarship applications for the Spring 2024 semester, which closed Oct. 16. “I am not really sure what to do about this, but 20 of them came in in the last 18 hours. And so, this is something that we try to combat every semester.” Twenty-four of the accepted applications were from nursing students. Results for the scholarship awardees was anticipated to be on Nov. 27.
Wilson also announced a new scholarship that was awarded the day before, from the White Mountain Commissioned Officers Association to Melanie Francis from the Little Colorado Campus in Winslow. The group of public health professionals based out of the Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital in White River funded a $2,000 annual scholarship. The scholarship is for any Native American student in any nursing or allied health degree. “They intend it to be awarded to a student in the fall semester for $1,000 and then as long as the student continues to meet the requirements, they will be awarded in the spring and noncompetitive format.”
Fall semester scholarship applications for NPCFF will open March 1 and close April 18.
There was no construction update due to Director David Huish being unable to attend the meeting. Chief Information Officer (CIO) Michael Jacob provided an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation update.
President Chato Hazelbaker provided a report and updates on the college’s strategic action plan. Assistant to the President Paul Hempsey updated the board on changes to open meeting law from this year’s legislative session.
The board received an enrollment report from Director of Enrollment Management/ Registrar Frank Orona for Fall 2023. Unduplicated headcount was noted being at 2,826 which is an increase of 3.1% from the previous year. Enrollment for fulltime student equivalent also went up 2.33% for a total of 1,357.50.
Orano also presented the draft of the strategic enrollment management plan and suggested first year activities. Goals and key result indicators listed in the plan are increase enrollment, improved student success and improve college sustainability.
There were also quarterly reports from Institutional Effectiveness and Office of Development.
Chair Kristine Laughter requested to have a future update from the financial aid office pertaining to scholarship activity and the follow up that they do with students who are receiving financial aid from NPC. “I’d like to know if we have the staffing there to provide technical assistance to student. To ensure that we keep students enrolled who are receiving financial aid from us.”
Laughter also requested a cultural sensitivity presentation, citing the colleges diverse population. “We have been a community college now for 50 years, and we are in a day and age where things are changing in our nation and in our community. So I really would like to see that cultural sensitivity training for our board and NPC as a whole.”
In new business, the board:
* Approved the purchase of a new vehicle from San Tan Ford in the amount of $59,286 for the facilities department. The purchase price of this vehicle is included in the fiscal year 2024 budget for the facilities department.
* Approved the purchase of a used dump truck from United Rentals in the amount of $54,999 including sales tax for the facilities/ transportation board:
* Approved the purchase of a new vehicle from San Tan Ford in the amount of $59,286 for the facilities department. The purchase price of this vehicle is included in the fiscal year 2024 budget for the facilities department.
* Approved the purchase of a used dump truck from United Rentals in the amount of $54,999 including sales tax for the facilities/transportation department. The purchase price of this vehicle is included in the fiscal year 2024 budget for the facilities/transportation department.
* Approved board member Derrik Leslie to attend the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National Legislative Summit (NLS) in Washington, DC. Money for board travel has been budgeted in this fiscal year. The approximate cost is $4000 and dependent on any committee assignment that Leslie may receive from ACCT.
* Approved the cancellation of the Dec. 19 meeting.
* Approved contracting with CampusWorks for data assessment and cleanup efforts, related to the ERP implementation, for a total of $138,093. Funds were budgeted by the Technology Advancement and Support Division as part of the ERP implementation process and State Contract Deliverables-Based IT Services (DBITS) was used to ensure best value for Northland Pioneer College (NPC).
Following the meeting, the board held a work session to discuss the results of the board selfevaluation as well as NPC’s mission and vision statements.
