The Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents will meet next Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. on the Tonkawa campus. At the Sept. 13 regent meeting in Enid, they approved the change of date in the October Regents Meeting from the 18th to the 25th and filed this change with the Secretary of State.
During the September meeting, the NOC Board of Regents also approved the FY 2023 internal audit report, as presented by Justin Kersey with Crawford & Associates. The scope of their professional services included internal audit monitoring procedures in miscellaneous claims encumbrance and pre-audit system and follow-up on prior year recommendations noting a few basic findings in clerical errors. Kersey noted to the Board that Anita Simpson and her staff did a wonderful job working with them during the audit.
The 2023-2024 Employee Handbook was approved noting several policy additions/revisions including: Alcohol Exception Policy and Procedures, Insurance change to an employee defined contribution plan, Purchasing Card Program (Pcard), and System for Compensation of Instructional Overloads and Special Assignments.
NOC’s financial report, prepared by Vice President for Financial Affairs Anita Simpson was approved as presented for the months of July and August. Regents approved purchases of $25,000 including: Campus Lawn Care – Tonkawa (emergency) – Sparks Yard and Home Maintenance $27,000; Maintenance Software – Brightly Software, Inc. $35,542.80; Roof Replacement Vineyard Library Administration Building – Tonkawa (emergency OMES insurance claim) – American Roofing $395,216.94; Powerfaids Net Partner Maintenance and Support – The College Board $27,993.
The regents also approved the proposed surplus property list which included various buses and vehicles, maintenance equipment, miscellaneous items from Enid dorms and Stillwater language arts books.
In the administrator reports, Vice President for Academic Affairs Diana Watkins reported that the transition to Cloud-based Blackboard Learning Management System has gone smoothly and gave kudos to Lori Erasmus, Linn Laughery, and Mike Machia in the IT department for all their assistance with the transition. Introduced the Supplement to Nursing courses designed to provide additional support to students in theory courses during their first semester. These courses are taught by the Nursing Success Specialist. Celebrated the 100% pass rate for the spring graduates taking the National Registered Nurse Licensure Exam.
Vice President for Development and Community Relations Sheri Snyder announced that planning continues with the Renfro Endowed Lectureship Program and private screening of Killers of the Flower Moon. She also stated that the Foundation has received several major donations supporting the lectureship program, the soccer programs in Enid and the new wrestling programs in Tonkawa. She invited the Regents to the Jets Soccer Take-Off Event set for Sept. 20 at Advance Soccer Complex in Enid.
NOC Vice President for Enid Jeremy Hise announced progress with several grants submitted including the AT&T Digital Divide grant funds have been received and will begin implementing program this fall. Numerous student groups will be participating in the Enid Cherokee Strip parade on Sept. 16.
Dr. Rick Edgington, Vice President for Enrollment Management, provided an enrollment report to the regents. The report states that fall 2023 enrollment is down 5% in headcount and 3% in credit hour production compared to fall 2022 numbers.
Vice President for Student Affairs Jason Johnson announced that Jets soccer season has kicked off in Enid under the new interim coaches hired in August. He noted several new coaching hires in both Enid and Tonkawa. Fundraising efforts continue for the potential men’s and women’s wrestling program in Tonkawa.
Vice President for NOC Stillwater Marsh Howard announced several student and community activities at the start of the semester highlighting Get Going with Gateway event in August. Marsh announced that the Gateway Program will be participating in the OSU Homecoming parade this year with a float.
Vice President for Financial Affairs announced that the executive council approved to increase the hourly wages for College and Federal Work-study Student Employment effective Aug. 21, the beginning of the fall semester. While the FY2023-2024 budgets remain the same, the hourly rate for tutors, clerical, lab coordinators, and office workers will increase from $8.50 to $10.00 per hour with custodial and physical plant workers increasing from $10.00 to $12.00 per hour. Simpson also shared a residence hall report for Fall 2023 semester noting that Tonkawa campus was at 64% occupancy or 224 students and Enid campus was at 73% occupancy or 168 students.
In the president’s report, Dr. Harris noted the school year has started off well. He shared the 2024 Legislative Agenda for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education which includes eight priorities: Oklahoma Promise, Adult Degree Completion, Grow Oklahoma’s Stem Workforce, Enhance Campus Safety and Security, Stabilize Mandatory Cost Increases, Maintain Campus Infrastructure, and Staff Salary Support.
The new NOC Fact Book was presented as well as updates to the Institutional Scholarship Program.