NPC utilizing OERs to reduce text book costs for students

“OERs are resources that are put together either by our own faculty, or in some cases, put together by other faculty across Arizona or across the country in the world,” stated Jones. “These resources are often, but not always, governed under creative common licenses, which allow individual instructors to go in and alter textbooks, customize them, cut things out that they don’t need, add things that they do want.”

In 2020, NPC received a three-year grant from the Department of Education for $220,000 to assist faculty with training and adopting OER material during the grant period, which is August 2021 through September 2024.

“We are able now to reimburse our faculty for the professional development and training, meeting with other colleagues around Arizona to talk about OERs, and also developing new materials that we can put into a hub that we’re building for Arizona students and for faculty members,” stated LaTonya Motley who has been overseeing the grant at NPC.

According to the report, OERs and free resources saved NPC students $106,276 in textbook costs during the Spring 2023 semester. These per-semester savings are projected to grow as more instructors adopt OERs. Since the fall of 2020, it’s been conservatively estimated that these alternatives have saved students $570,067 in textbook costs.

The board also received information on the proposed tuition and fees for 2024-2026 as part of the upcoming fiscal year budget discussions. The proposal states the in-state rate will increase $3 for each of the next three years, the in-district rate will now include Apache County and will be set at approximately 80% of the in-state rate, rounded to the nearest whole dollar and a rate for bachelor courses is being introduced at 150% of the in-state or out-of-state rate as applicable with no discounts.

If the increase is approved, the in-district rate and early college in-district (for Navajo and Apache counties) tuition rates would increase from $68 per credit hour for 2022-23, to $70 in 2023-24, $73 in 2024-25 and $75 in 2025-26 school years.

The in-state, early college in-state for all Arizona counties except for Navajo and Apache counties, and early college out-of-state tuition rates would increase from $85 for 2022-23, to $88 in 2023-24, $91 in 2024-25 and $94 in 2025-26 school years.

The out-of-state tuition would remain at $410 per credit hour.

During the NPC Friends and Family (NPCFF) report from Director Betsyann Wilson, she announced that the annual scholarship fundraiser Pedal the Petrified will be held Sept. 30. “I’ll be opening registration for that hopefully by the first week in March,” she added.

Wilson also mentioned that there will be 20, $1,500 transportation grant awards for this spring semester, which has increased from past years due to gas prices and inflation. “We also had significant help from an anonymous donor in Green Valley in the fall semester with a large grant that allowed us to award an additional $25,000 in Leg Up and Fill the Gap scholarships for students.

Wilson also stated the NPCFF will be able to award over $289,000 in scholarships this year.

Director of Construction David Huish provided a construction update for the board, in which he stated Winslow campus’ One Stop Shop building is completed and faculty has moved in. The Head Start building on the same campus is done with the exception of minor finishing touches that have been postponed due to weather. Huish added that playground equipment at the building is being replaced to suit ages three to five, as the original was made for children up to the age of three.

Huish also touched on the White Mountain campus in Show Low, which is still facing delays due to weather. “We’re getting to the point where we’re starting to get some of the finishes on the inside of the building. But if you drive by, you can see that it’s going to be awhile before we do anything on the outside,” Huish stated.

The board approved Susan Jamison for Faculty Emeritus Status. Jamison is retiring from the nursing program at NPC, where she has worked since 2005. “The number of students whose lives Susan has touched is tremendous, and chances are good that we or someone we love has been cared for locally by a nursing assistant or registered nurse whose training Susan played a part in,” stated Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Ruth Zimmerman. “We will miss having her on campus and in the classroom or clinical setting every day, but she has worked long and hard and is deserving of retirement.”

In other business, the board:

* Held for first reading the 2023-24 salary and wage recommendation. The recommendation is a 7% salary and wage increase for all eligible employees for an estimate of nearly $1.3 million. This excludes new positions, which are still under review.

* Received a presentation on the initial analysis of the 2023-2024 budget.

* Approved modifications to the following business programs: Entrepreneurship Specialization Certificate of Proficiency (CP), Certification of Applied Science (CAS), and Associate of Applied Science (AAS); Management and Leadership Specialization CP, CAS, and AAS; Medical Office Administration Specialization CP, CAS, and AAS. This is to align with prerequisite requirements and look towards alignment with future bachelor’s degree programs.

* Authorized board member Derrick Leslie to attend the Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference in Chicago, Ill. The approximate cost to send a participant will be approximately $,2800 and money is available in the college budget.

* Authorized the acceptance of $402,555 in grant funding from the Arizona Department of Health Services for the Nurse Education Investment Pilot Program.

* Approved the purchase of two Laerdal Medical Corporation SimMom Model Childbirth Simulators at a cost of $114,876. Funding for this capital purchase is available over the life of the Nurse Education Investment Pilot Program grant.

* Approved an expanded partnership with Cellular One for leased line connectivity over a three-year period in the amount of $870,700. Funds were budgeted in Fiscal Year 2023 by the Technology Advancement and Support (TAS) division and Arizona State Contract CTR049876 is utilized to ensure best value for the college.

* Approved the purchase of Firewall hardware, software, and related services from HyeTech Network & Security Solutions, LLC. at a total cost of $341,811. Funds were budgeted in Fiscal Year 2023 by the TAS division and Government Procurement Alliance contract 22-02PV-08 is utilized to ensure best value for the college.

* Approved the purchase of SMART Boards, mounting hardware, and warranties from CCS Presentation Systems for a total cost of $174,750. Funds were budgeted in Fiscal Year 2023 by the TAS division and Government Procurement Alliance contract 22-02PV-04 is utilized to ensure best value for the college.

* Approved the purchase of Cisco room kits, cameras, microphones, etc. from HyeTech Network & Security Solutions, LLC. at a total cost of $695,463. Funds were budgeted in Fiscal Year 2023 by the Technology Advancement and Support (TAS) division and Government Procurement Alliance contract 22-02PV-08 is utilized to ensure best value for the college.

* Approved the purchase of computers, monitors, peripherals, hardware, and service agreements from SHI International Corp at a total cost of $97,521. Funds were budgeted in Fiscal Year 2023 by the TAS division and National Association of State Procurement Officials Software VAR Contract #: ADSPO16-130651 is utilized to ensure best value for the college.

* Approved a design fee contract with SPS+ Architects (SPS+) in the amount of $391,250 to renovate the White Mountain Campus (WMC) Goldwater Center to relocate the campus office and create a one stop shop for student services. The design fee will be paid from the capital expansion budget originally set aside by the District Governing Board (Board) in October 2018 for $20 million. The current balance is $5.5 million after completion of the Skills Center.