President’s Report To the Board of Trustees November 1, 2006 This report is intended to provide members of the Ozarka College Board of Trustees with information regarding college activities and accomplishments. Upcoming Events of Interest • • • • • • • • • • November 1 College Planning Day November 6 Faculty/Adjunct Faculty Meeting and Appreciation Dinner November 6-10 CAAP Testing November 9 Coffee House (Student Support Services) November 13 Spring/Summer registration begins November 22-24 Thanksgiving Holidays December 4 Ozarka College Foundation Quarterly meeting December 12 Ozarka College Foundation Concert (The World Famous Platters 7:00 pm) December 14 Christmas party/Board of Trustees meeting December 21-January 1 Christmas holidays
Ozarka College Events • October 12 - Annual Fall Festival was a great success with over 250 community participants • October 30 - Kids Academy held a fun and successful Fall Festival • October 31 - Chili Cook-Off (Student Support Services) College Governance • Dr. Mike DeLong has been a welcome addition to Ozarka College as the new Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. DeLong has hit the ground running by meeting with faculty, division chairs and others to help determine instructional needs of Ozarka College. • Dr. Johnston and others have made several meetings this past month to promote Ozarka College and to present information about ACT I, the college savings bond issue on the November 7 ballot. Information has been shared at the following: o Ash Flat Chamber of Commerce o Izard County Optimist o Melbourne Chamber of Commerce o Calico Rock Chamber of Commerce o Mountain View Chamber of Commerce o Horseshoe Bend Chamber of Commerce o Boeing Retired Employee Luncheon o Highland Rotary Club o Ozarka College Fall Festival In addition, several area newspapers will be including information about ACT I in upcoming issues. Dr. Johnston also appeared on Melbourne’s channel 5 to promote the passage of ACT I. • Dr. Johnston presented information about Ozarka College at the Legislative Budget Committee hearing on Tuesday, October 24. This is a routine process that all Page 1
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community colleges and universities participate in prior to an upcoming legislative session. Ozarka College was well represented at the AATYC conference with 24 faculty and staff participating as well as the 2006 outstanding student and outstanding alumni. Dr. Johnston, Joan Stirling, Karla Rush, and Kim Whitten presented programs during the conference. Also assisting in presentations were DOJ student advocates Beth Qualls and Terry Bennett. Recognized at the conference were: o Cheryl Ekenes - Outstanding Student o Betty Eash - Outstanding Alumni o Rex Whitfield - Outstanding Faculty o James Spurlock - Outstanding Staff The Task Forces assigned this fall are continuing to meet to fully analyze policies, procedure, processes, and practices to ensure that Ozarka College is operating in an effective, efficient, and student friendly manner. The fall 2006 Task Forces are: o Budget o Payroll o Advising o Facility Usage
Instruction • Dr. Mike DeLong started as VP for Academic Affairs October 2, 2006 • Created Instructional Council that consists of ALL direct reports to VP for Academic Affairs o The purpose is to ensure better communication within Academic Affairs and enhance and facilitate a better problem solving and improvement process • Established timelines for the scheduling process o Spring and Summer schedule will be posted November 6 o Fall schedule will be posted April 2 • Registration will now begin November 13 for Spring/Summer and April 9 for Fall • Book orders will be in turned in by November 20 • Fifteen faculty members attended the recent AATYC conference o These faculty members have been sharing lessons learned from sessions at the conference with other faculty through e-mail and the myOzarka discussion board • Starting the process of developing a new catalog o Will be going to a 1 year catalog • Working on the Division Chair position descriptions and will be completing that process in early November • The Advisory Task Force has been meeting the past few weeks o The task force is chartered to look at ways to improve the advisory process so that it enhances retention and ultimately graduation rates o Have mapped out the current process o Sent surveys to students and faculty to gather data o Will be discussing possible improvements to the current process once surveys are gathered and tabulated Ash Flat Campus • Enrollment Growth o Fall 2005 220 Page 2
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o Fall 2006 229 4% Increase FTE Enrollment Growth o Fall 2005 101.00 o Fall 2006 119.73 18.5% Increase Ozarka College hosted the Sharp County Arts Fair in September 2006 which drew an estimated 300-400 area residents to the campus. The Domestic Violence Unit held a candle light vigil for the victims of domestic violence in the lecture hall (10/19/2006) Highland High School used the lecture hall for their standardized testing, which brought over 150 potential students onto the campus (10/23/2006). TRiO Student Support Services held a Halloweenie Roast which was met with a big turn out by the students (10/25/2006) Attorney Douglas Jones held an Alzheimer’s Awareness and Long-Term Care Planning Seminar in the lecture hall (10/30/2006). FNBC held a training seminar for about 30 employees in Room 106 (10/31/2006).
Mountain View Campus • Gin Brown visited with several Mountain View community organizations and committees in regard to the ACT I College Savings Bond issue • Mountain View high school chemistry classes toured the campus and viewed a demonstration in the chemistry and biology lab. Zeda Wilkerson assisted with the tour and provided information about admissions to Ozarka College • Ozarka College set up a booth at the Red Ribbon Car Show to “Say No To Drugs” and also provided information about the college • The campus has facilitated the Stone County Reserve Deputy training program and graduation was conducted on October 24 • Several faculty and staff participated in the Mountain View Annual Bean Fest & Championship Outhouse Races on October 28 • The campus continues to host and facilitate the Stone County Youth Leadership program. Student Services/Enrollment Information • The fall festival was well attended by public school students and other community members. College personnel and students attended, participated, and assisted with the activities. • The College Planning Program (Career Day - November 1) will be attended by 500+ seniors from service area high schools with representatives from colleges, universities, technical schools, banking and lending institutions, and military. • Registration for the spring semester will begin on November 13. • TRiO (Student Support Services) has a cultural experience planned for November 9. The Coffee House will include performances (music, poetry, and comedy) by students and others. • The student services department is currently updating job descriptions. Advancement/Workforce/Community Service • Update college marketing guidelines • Implemented 2006-2007 employee giving fund drive • Revised campus news policies and procedures Page 3
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Updated and revised job descriptions for foundation, marketing, and Tech Prep staff Redesigned and updated admissions materials for recruitment Conducted the Foundation Board annual golf tournament with 25 full teams Assisted Student Services with the Fall Festival Completed and mailed alumni newsletter Represented Ozarka College at the Arkansas Hospitality Trade show to assist in recruiting culinary students Facilitated public school board training in conjunction with the North Central Educational Cooperative for area school board members
Grants/Planning/Special Projects • The Ozarka Planning Manual for 2006-2007 is complete and a copy will be sent to Board members as soon as it is printed. • The final report for Title III is being compiled and the grant has been fully institutionalized. • The DOJ grant sponsored the Clothesline Project in Melbourne and Ash Flat but it was rained out in Mountain View. As an activity for Domestic Violence Awareness month, the tee shirts displayed were made by surviving family members of women in Arkansas who have been murdered from 1998 through 2005. • The Forestry grant has completed a 100-tree inventory on the Melbourne walking trail and will meet with Forester Dan Johns and a representative of the City of Melbourne to discuss results and recommendations in early November. This is one of the activities in the Ozarka Forestry grant to assist Melbourne in becoming a Tree City USA designated city. Finance/Auxiliary Services • Finance personnel are currently working with other faculty and staff members on the Budget Task Force and Payroll Task Force Committees. The purpose of these committees is to develop written policies and procedures for the budget and payroll process and to identify areas where efficiency and effectiveness may be improved. • All major financial aid disbursements for the semester have been completed. We will continue to process Pell and Student Loan Disbursements for those students who have yet to complete the appropriate paperwork. • The following reports have been completed and submitted during the month of October o AR Dept of Higher Ed • Series 22 • Millage Survey • Advertising Expenditure Report (special report for the AR Legislature) o Reports submitted to AR Dept of Finance & Administration • 2006 GAAP Closing Book to be included in the State of AR CAFR o Reports submitted to the Dept of Education • 2006 IPEDS – Institutional Characteristics Information Systems • New API for publishing new releases online • Wrote new billing report • Patched Sonisweb with latest vendor patch Page 4
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Updated myOzarka to work with new Sonisweb patch ADHE student record submission for Fall 2006 Worked with Business Office/Student Services on IPEDS report data Replaced cable in Ash Flat classroom for projector Worked with CenturyTel on router configurations for internet access Changed router configuration between Ash Flat & Melbourne Upgraded campus anti-virus software to 7.5
Physical Plant/Grounds • Curbing has been completed for the parking lot of the new Maintenance Building • The power, sewer, and natural gas lines are connected to the new Maintenance Building • The Hall building will be finalized soon with the columns being put into place and the lettering being placed on the front of the building • New flower bed designed and constructed on the east side of the Hall building • Time release fertilizer applied to all lawns, trees, and shrubs • Drain lines are being installed on the play ground side of the daycare to prevent flooding from heavy rains • All underground sprinkler lines are being blown out and winterized Personnel • New hires for consideration at the next Board of Trustees meeting • Resignations o Cindy Rush resigned her position as receptionist for the administrative office effective Friday, October 13, 2006 • Searches Travel/College Representation • Dusty R. Johnston o ADHE Trustee Conference—Little Rock, AR—October 8-9, 2006 o AATYC Concurrent Committee—Little Rock, AR—October 10, 2006 o AATYC Incentive Funds Committee—Batesville, AR—October 13, 2006 o AATYC Conference—Hot Springs, AR—October 15-17, 2006 o Legislative Budget Committee—Little Rock, AR October 24, 2006 o ADHE Coordinating Board Meeting—Russellville, AR—October 26-27, 2006 • Human Resources o Libby Cone and Earlene Martz attended the Arkansas College and University Personnel Assn. Fall Conference at the C. A. Vines 4-H Center in Ferndale Friday, October 20. • Grants and Planning o Terri Bennett, Beth Qualls, and Joan Stirling • Presented at AATYC about the DOJ grant, October 15-17 o Joan Stirling and Karla Rush • Presented at AATYC about the Forestry grant, October 15-17 o Mike DeLong, Ron Helm, Helen Loftin, Joan Stirling • Attended national training for the DOJ grant in Columbus, Ohio, week of October 23 o Joan Stirling Page 5
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Presented at the Noel Levitz Conference on Title III in Denver, Colorado, October 2-4 • Attended the Arkansas Urban Forestry Commission meeting and planning retreat at Mount Magazine, Arkansas on October 23rd and 24th. o Nancy Dust and Joan Stirling • Acquired, transported within service area, and returned the Clothesline Project to Little Rock, Arkansas from October 13 through October 19th. Scott Pinkston o Oct 23, 2006 State Disaster Planning Taskforce Meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas Finance o Earlene Martz, Karen Owens, & Tina Wheelis • Procurement Training sponsored by AR Dept of Finance & Administration in Little Rock, Arkansas on 10/05/06 o Tina Wheelis & Dusty Johnston • Legislative Budget Hearings in Little Rock, Arkansas on 10/24/06 o Michelle Cunningham, Karen Owens, & Tina Wheelis • Southern Association of College and University Business Officers Fall Meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas on 10/29 - 31/06 Student Services o Laura Lawrence and Zeda Wilkerson - ArkACRAO – October 3 – Hot Springs, Arkansas o Ron Helm – October 11 – Horseshoe Bend Chamber of Commerce Meeting o Ron Helm – Couch (Missouri) High School – (Speaker for Career Program) – October 13 o Laura Lawrence & Joyce Baker – October 16 & 17 - attend AATYC Conference in Hot Springs, Arkansas o Ron Helm – CALCASA – Campus Training and Technical Assistance Institute – October 25-26 – Columbus, Ohio o John Peterson – TRiO Transfer Trips – UALR / October 4, ASUMH / October 11, ATU/ October 16, ASU / October 20, MSU / October 25, and HSU / October 30 Auxiliary o The Kids Academy staff (Amy Pinkston, Ginny Dudra, Connie Hoskinds, Annette Mitchell, Brenda Patrick, Teresa Perrin) attended the Arkansas Early Childhood Association Conference in Hot Springs AR on October 20 and 21. •
Kudos • Joan Stirling and Nancy Dust for successfully closing out the Title III grant • The Ozarka College Foundation Board and staff for a very successful golf tournament • Kim Whitten for service to the Arkansas Association of Two Year Colleges as new member of the AATYC board • Suellen Davidson for being appointed to serve on the Central Ozarks Task Force for Economic Development • Judy Cannady hosted “Dance of the Dragons” on October 5 in the Miller Auditorium. The play was well attended by local junior and high school students and taught them in a unique modality, Chinese culture and history
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In our thoughts For challenges of family or personal illness: o Ronnie Rush – Surgery scheduled for November 21 o Hannah Brown (daughter of Karin Brown) – recent gall bladder surgery Tentative action items for the next Board of Trustees meeting • None at this time Tentative discussion items for the next Board of Trustees meeting • Overview presentation of the 2006-2007 Strategic Plan • Overview of Employee Professional Review process • Use of ACT I College Savings Bonds funds • Culinary Program expectations Monthly Financial Report College Monthly Calendar (attached) (attached)
DRJ Closing Comments • I appreciate the participation of several board members at the ADHE Trustee Conference in Little Rock on October 9. Barbara Perryman, Bonnie Wyatt, Sharon Mathis, and Larry Billing were able to attend. The conference provided much information and opportunity for discussion on the future of K-12 and higher education in the state of Arkansas. • I have covered a lot of ground in promoting the passage of ACT I as have all the other two-year college presidents in Arkansas. I believe with our grassroots efforts combined with the heavy radio, newspaper, and television promotions by the universities that this effort has a great chance for success. We need to begin serious discussions about the future efforts that Ozarka College can pursue with this bond money to position the college for future enrollment and for meeting regional workforce needs. • The Ozarka College portion of the Legislative Budget Committee hearing on October 24 went very smoothly. My presentation was short and to the point and our portion ended with Representative Bill Abernathy and Senator Paul Miller making very positive comments about the work we are doing at Ozarka College. • The traditional Christmas event/Board meeting is scheduled for December 14 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm with the board meeting starting at 4:00 pm. Dinner will not be served and I anticipate a short agenda. The only change to the Christmas event is that I am inviting the community to attend it as an open house event and culinary will be supplemented with volunteer dishes from the faculty and staff. I think it will be a fun time for us all. • I am excited about the work of the Task Forces this semester. The end result is a better Ozarka College. I am also excited about the new Strategic Plan that we have developed the past few months and look forward to sharing it with you at the December 14 meeting. • If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions please contact me at : o djohnston@ozarka.edu o Office - 870-368-2001 o Cell - 870-373-2141
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