Hazard Community and Technical College Board of Directors Minutes | HCTC

Leadership

Hazard Community and Technical College Board of Directors Minutes

Present: Chair William (Bill) Weinberg, Tom Eckert, Don Barnes, Charlene Fugate, Chuck Davidson, Amelia Prater, & Dr. Larry (Bart) Francis

Guests: Dr. Jennifer Lindon, Connie Watts, Dr. Deronda Mobelini, Dr. Ella Strong, Donna Roark, Delcie Combs, Alicia Lucas

The meeting began at 5:30 PM with dinner being served.

Chair Bill Weinberg called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Chair Weinberg asked for a review of the minutes from the May 4, 2023 meeting. Chuck Davidson moved, and Charlene Fugate seconded the motion to approve the minutes. The motion was passed unanimously.

Second, Chair Weinberg welcomed the new Faculty representative to the Board. The Oath of Office was conducted to Don Barnes, faculty representative.

Action Item

Connie Watts, Chief Business Officer, presented the finalized 2023-24 Annual Budget to the Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) Board of Directors. Connie stated as noted in April, the revenue and expense totals were rounded up/down, but now that the budget has been finalized, we have a balanced budget (the revenue and expenses equal). Also as stated in May, the budget included recurring expenditures for faculty promotions, and employee raises. The Board of Regents had discussed $1000 raises, but in June BofR voted do a $2000 raise. Connie stated that the college had set aside funds for the raises. Also in June the Board of Regents approved a tuition increase.

Tom Eckert moved, and Don Barnes seconded the motion to accept Resolution 4-23 Final Allocation of Budget Request. . Resolution 4-23 passed unanimously

PRESIDENT’S UPDATES

Dr. Deronda Mobelini, Chief Student Affairs Officer, next provided an enrollment update.

  • HCTC is going to reimplement the cancellation list by working to help students enroll. Dr. Mobelini stated that some potential students needed to complete their FAFSA due to form changes, for example, certain circumstances such as needing a parental signature when they reside with grandparent(s).
  • A list is also being compiled to pull students from last semester with a GPA below 2.0, to be proactive and match them with a success coach.
  • A non-barrier student survey is being performed where students can log on, state any issues they’re experiencing and HCTC will receive a daily report of any issues. 167 issues have been reported.
  • Dr. Mobelini reported that current enrollment as of August 20, 2023, was at 2,885 students, which was 995 short of our goal. She attributed this shortage to on-going issues from COVID-19, recent flooding, and students enrolling in summer courses at high schools. She also stated that dual credit only enrolled 200, because several area schools are not open. This was half of our goal. She also expressed her concerns over SB-150. Dr. Lindon added that SB-150 restricted what could be taught in dual credit high school courses without parental consent. HCTC is hopeful that curriculum standards will be clarified, so as not to affect its dual credit students and KEA is advocating for these changes.
  • Targeted messages were sent to students via text, email, etc. due to forgetting to do certain things in between terms and information within the system not rolling over.
  • Work Force – 300 people were enrolled in Fire School and/or Mine Training.
  • It was noted that residents have left the area due to the effects of the 2022 flooding.
  • Dr. Mobelini shared that a total of 8 students were nominated for HCTC Student Representative to the Board of Directors. An email will be sent to each to confirm their nomination and then they will conduct a email for students to vote on the representative to the Board.
  • A Saturday express enrollment event was held on August 5, 2023. It was deemed to be successful, so another has been scheduled for September 9. The Business Office and Bookstore will also be opened to further accommodate students.
  • Both day and evening new student orientations are planned.

Dr. Ella Strong, Chief Academic Officer, provided the Academic report:

  • Dr. Strong gave a report of HCTC faculty awards and promotions. She also listed changing faces to include new and retired faculty.
  • Concern with hiring of nursing faculty, due to the fact that qualified applicants can practice nursing and earn double their HCTC salary.
  • Bobby Osborne, instructor at HCTC’s Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music, passed away.
  • The SACS-COC 5th Year report was completed and 4 reports were submitted. SACS-COC Peer Team Reviewers will visit HCTC September 25 – 29. The SACS representatives will be visiting 4 local high schools.
  • Nathan Walker, evening construction instructor, will be offering courses to 15 inmates housed at Lee Adjustment Center by working with the prison regarding PELL grants.
  • The Heavy Equipment program will be hiring another instructor due to a grant that was received.
  • Beacons of Hope and Hazard Housing Authority will be working with students in recovery.
  • 12 students are enrolled in the Education Program. Jackie Fugate will be working with UCM for advising and transfer needs.
  • Success workshops to promote student engagement will be held in the HCTC Library with hopes of outside agencies joining the college for these events.

Connie Watts, Chief Business Office next shared the shared the budget with the Board of Directors. It was $583,000 short meeting the tuition revenue goal. She also stated that HERF grants were received after the 2022 flood, but those funds have now run out, much to the surprise of students.

Dr. Jennifer Lindon next provide the Presidents report:

  • Enrollment is currently at 1835, but the cancellation list is being worked.
  • Fire School & Mine Training enrollment reached 300. Fire School had not been scheduled for a number of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as local flooding.
  • Dual credit numbers are still high due to scholarships and 50% discounts. This has resulted in students completing associate degrees at the same time they received their high school diplomas.
  • The Pathfinder Award was implemented last year. Each college nominates individuals for the award (teacher or counselor). Tammy Duff provided the nominations of Judy Eversole and Mildred Blank, both of Buckhorn High School, on behalf of HCTC. Both ladies went on to win at the state level.
  • Spirit Week is planned for October 8 – 14 to increase student engagement.
  • HCTC Facilities are booked for events through the month of December.
  • The Trail of Enchantment is scheduled to take place on Hazard Campus October 19 – 21, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM each night. Local organizations are invited to set up displays featuring Disney themes.
  • HCTC will be participating in a number of upcoming local festivals, parades, and events.
  • The Big Ideas Festival will be held at HCTC.
  • Hazard Civic Night will focus on and honor community members who helped the most with flood relief efforts.
  • The Rural Student Access Conference will also take place in Hazard.
  • The HCTC Center of Engagement & Belonging will display student artwork, as well as provide a location for students to congregate.
  • Loan repayments will be due in October, so there are concerns over the default rate.
  • As far as safety goes, HCTC is looking to hire Safety Officer by the end of the Spring Semester, to be contracted with Fastaff. We would like to work with the Sheriff’s Dept. to ensure we receive an officer with previous training. HCTC is locking additional doors on each campus and increasing the number of security cameras.
  • HCTC is preparing for the SACS-COC 5th Year Visit.
  • Allied Health Programs (Surgical Technology, Radiography and Nursing) have an upcoming accreditation visit.
  • There are Presidential searches for KCTCS and Big Sandy, and currently 8 applicants for the positions.
  • The Systems Office is going to match $50,000 received from Steele Reece.
  • $100,000 was received from the Vocational Trades Association, which is being disbanded.
  • The HCTC Golf Tournament raised $22,000 for Skills Training.
  • The First Trust Bank Endowment can now be used for technical programs.
  • Wolfe County - An anonymous donor gave $10,0000 to an emergency fund for students at Lees Campus. Wolfe County is also expected to receive $2 million from AML. HCTC would like to lease a building and work with legislators on where to get more funds.
  • Knott County - Renovations to the Appalachian Center are being completed. The Kentucky School of Craft will be donated to the Hindman Settlement School. Phillip Watts, Knott County Schools Superintendent, called regarding the use of Jackson Hall, but would still like the ATC on Lees Campus.
  • Primary Care would like to utilize 2 classrooms for Adult Education and would be working with Hickory Hill.
  • With the jail program, Perry County inmates will be on the Tech Campus of the evenings beginning in September. Inmates at Lees Adjustment Center will start the Construction Program during the Spring Semester.
  • Education First Employers – an announcement was made in Frankfort to list businesses the college has partnered with. HCTC named Primary Care Centers of East Ky, Dajcor Aluminum, ARH, Thacker-Grigsby, and AEP.
  • Grants – HCTC applied for a Title III grant for Student Services to maintain success coaches. We are awaiting confirmation of whether it will be awarded. The Heavy Equipment Operator Program received a grant from ARC.
  • The Huron Study is focusing on 12 areas throughout KCTCS, in which the system can make improvements or implement changes.
  • SB-98 Resolution is ongoing. Ernst & Young has been enlisted to perform a study beginning December 1.

There being no further college reports, Chair Weinberg ask to go into Executive Session. Tom Eckert, moved, and Chuck Davidson seconded the motion to go into executive session.

Executive Session – Discussion of Distinguished Service Award – move to discuss at the next Board meeting due to the format of the Hazard/Perry County Civic Night being changed. They will be honoring businesses that assisted with the flooding.

Chair Weinberg asked to go back out of Executive Session. Tom Eckert made a motion and Charlene seconded the motion to go out of Executive Session.

Next Board Meeting was previously scheduled for November 2, but Dr. Jennifer Lindon had a conflicting appointment. It is now scheduled for Thursday, November 9, 2023.

Chair Weinberg next open the floor for other items:

Chuck Davidson expressed concerns that water plants will require four-year degrees to be employed by water treatment plants. An environmental science offering would give students an opportunity to stay in the area.

Dr. Bart Francis brought to the attention of the Board that the region is struggling with obtaining employees with higher level EMS training.

Dr. Lindon stated that she would look into both suggested programs and shared at a future meeting.

No further discussion, Chair Weinberg asked to end the Board Meeting. Chuck Davidson moved, and Don Barnes seconded the motion to end the Board Meeting.

Respectively Submitted:
Dew Gorman Board Secretary
Forwarded by Alicia Lucas, Senior Administrative Assistant to the Board