March 2024

West Kentucky Community & Technical College
Board of Directors
March 5, 2024, 2:00–4:00 p.m. ATB 101F

Call to Order

Chair Jay Simmons called the meeting to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members present were Gorman Bradley, Heather Coltharp, Lindsey Gipson, Barry McDonald, Erika Mehta, Jay Simmons and Mary Beth Head acting staff representative Other attendees were Dr. Anton Reece, Dr. Renea Akin, Bridget Canter, Shay Nolan, Dr. Kate Senn, Jennifer Tubbs, Geelyn Warren, Andy Wilson, Ashley Burns, Mellisa Duncan, Chase Durrance, Justin Jones, WPSD Tv, and Melissa Allcock, assistant secretary.

Old Business - Approval of the Minutes

A motion was made by Mr. Gorman Bradley and seconded by Mr. Barry McDonald to approve the minutes of the November 9, 2023, meeting. Motion passed.

New Business

No new business.

Chair's Report

Chair Simmons reviewed the April 3, 2024, term expiration date of three board members, Kenneth Hurt, Barry McDonald, and Chuck Murphy. Kenneth Hurt and Barry McDonald have completed the reappointment process. Mr. Simmons stated he would contact Chuck Murphy about the status of his application. Until an appointment has been made, all three will remain active members of the Board. Mr. Simmons noted that one vacancy remains unfilled.

Chair Simmons reported that at the May 14 meeting, the Board will be voting on the fiscal year 2025 budget and the annual evaluation of Dr. Reece. Mr Simmons noted that he would send the evaluation documents to the Board members as soon as they become available.

President's Report

Introductions

Dr. Reece introduced new Cabinet member Andy Wison, Vice President of Advancement, and noted that the new Director of Marketing and Communications, Whitney Walker, would be introduced at the May board meeting. Andy Wilson started in January and came to WKCTC from Chowan University in North Carolina. Andy brings advancement experience to WKCTC and looks forward to working in the community and the region.

Dr. Renea Akin introduced Ashley Burns, the Community, Workforce, and Economic Development Director. Ashley brings higher education community outreach experience to WKCTC. She is engaging with community and economic development to serve the needs of our region.

Dr. Reece also introduced Mary Beth Head as the acting Staff Representative to serve the remainder of the semester. Elections for a new Staff Representative will be held in April. In addition, he introduced Jennifer Tubbs, Associate Dean of Business Affairs, who assisted Bridget Canter with the preparation of the budget presentation.

President's Leadership Team (PLT) and Legislative Updates

Dr. Reece reminded the Board that the legislative timeline began on January 2 and will wrap up on April 15. It is a budget year with lots of decisions to be made. Dr. Ryan Quarles was onboarded as the Kentucky Community and Technical College (KCTCS) President in January and is spending a lot of time in Frankfort along with a rotation of the college Presidents. Dr. Reece will join Dr. Quarles in Frankfort later in March to engage all things legislatively. Dr. Quarles will be in Paducah on April 10 for a campus tour and luncheon and meet faculty and staff. In addition, he will be speaking at the Chamber Power in Partnership breakfast on April 11.

Dr. Reece noted that Senate Joint Resolution 98 (SJR98) looks at the feasibility of a study of higher education, and Senate President Stivers recently filed (SJR179)with about eleven areas that are looking for a continued study and assessability in concert with the KCTCS Huron study with ways to address the individualized items. Dr. Reece reiterated that it is a combination of vigilance regarding what is happening and advocating strongly for the college. We will be prepared to embrace the various bills from the legislative session.

Challenger Learning Center – Mellisa Duncan

Mellisa Duncan gave an update on the Challenger Learning Center (CLC). Summer camp currently has 546 full registrations out of a possible 616, resulting in another record-breaking year of summer camps. Mellisa also reported that the simulator upgrades would begin with a tear-out in late May and installation in June. In addition, she gave an update on the campaign, stating that 75% of the goal had been met and currently stands at $370,665. The campaign ends April 15, and a donor recognition/open house will be held in August.

Budget – Bridget Canter 

Bridget Canter updated the Board on the fiscal year 2024 budget year-to-date based on unrestricted revenue and expenditures. The FY24 year-end revenue is projected at $25,111,075, a shortage variance of $1,202,890 of the original budgeted amount. The FY24 year-end expenses are projected at $25,988,948, a surplus variance of $3,229,809 from the original budgeted expenses. The projected year-end revenue and expenses would result in an FY24 projected shortfall of $877,872.

Bridget discussed the factors considered when developing the FY25 budget.

Revenue

• State Appropriations
  • Unknown what the State Legislation will determine for the funding of the KCTCS budget and what the model will look like.
  • Discussion at KCTCS includes system-wide contracts and chargebacks to the colleges, which would impact the state appropriations revenue.
• New/Expanded Programs for creating and starting new revenue streams by increasing enrollment in those areas.
  • Prison Education
  • Electrical Technology
  • Cosmetology
  • Tuition Revenue
    Council on Post-Secondary Education (CPE) granted KCTCS the ability to increase tuition by $7 per credit hour but not exceed a $4 increase in any fiscal year. For the fiscal year 2024, tuition was raised by $4 per credit hour; for the fiscal year 2025, the recommendation will be an increase of $3 per credit hour. The KCTCS Board of Regents will have to vote on the increase.

Expenses

• The performance-based Funding model is dependent on enrollment numbers. New methods of determining the funding are being discussed.
• System-wide Contracts are chargebacks to the colleges to cover expenses. The charges and reconciliation moving forward are being reviewed.
• Compensation – Huron Project
  • Huron – The KCTCS Board of Regents approved a new salary schedule, and all employees have been mapped into the new framework, resulting in about $500,000 in additional personnel expenses to bring employees to the minimum of their new pay band.
  • Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) – There is a discussion on building a 3% COLA into the annual budgets. KCTCS BOR would still vote annually on any increase in wages.
  • Faculty Promotion has been based on a flat dollar amount. A percentage model is being explored.

Bridget reviewed the FY2025 budget timeline:

In February, the strategic needs and personnel analysis was completed and submitted for review, and an update was provided at the faculty and staff meetings. On March 1, the budget module opened for initial data entry. Dr. Reece will meet with individual cabinet members in March to review their unit strategic needs analysis and personnel submissions. On April 15, the Legislative session ends, and budget allocations from the state will be known. On April 30, the budget module closes. On May 14, the FY25 budget will be presented to the WKCTC Board of Directors for approval. The KCTCS Board of Regents meets June 13-14 to approve all college's budgets. Finally, on July 1, the FY25 budget begins.

Enrollment and Student Support – Chase Durrance

Dean of Students Chase Durrance reported on enrollment and student support. Enrollment – spring 2024 comparison data shows a credential-seeking headcount of 2491 vs. 2477 at this time last spring, and in terms of total headcount (credential and non-credential), we are at 3993 vs. 3557 this time last spring. The final total headcount in spring 2023 was 4044. We still have time to add to the current total headcount of 3993 with workforce classes and eight-week offerings.

• Total headcount is up 12.3% and has surpassed last year's total. Workforce is up 399 students.
• Credential-seeking full-time equivalent (FTE) is up 1% and up a total of .6% (15 students) in credential-seeking.
• Retention rate is 69.9% vs. 67.2% from the fall of 2022 to the spring of 2023

Student Support 2023-2024

• Student Emergency Fund - $18,857.83 has been distributed so far. Support includes 109 campus cupboard requests, gas support, bus passes, and single expenses. The most common single requests are course supplies, including textbooks/online course access, drug/background screenings, utilities, and rent support. Chase noted the single expense requests are vetted through an emergency committee and are paid to the vendors.
• We partnered with Paducah Cooperative Ministries for a day of service. – Stuffed and distributed 500 meal bags around Thanksgiving 2023.

Campus Operations – Shay Nolan

Shay Nolan shared campus-wide project updates.

• An LED exterior sign has been installed at the Anderson Technical Building (ATB) to serve enrollment efforts.
• The sidewalk east-west connector is almost completed, and paving projects will resume at the end of April.
• Clemens Fine Arts Theatre and Haws Gymnasium roofing is under construction.
• The power Switch Gear Project is scheduled to be completed in January 2025 and will replace the older power equipment on campus.
• Cosmetology Project (ATB) – renovating the upstairs program classroom and moving the front-facing public area downstairs across from the bookstore, allowing program expansion. Projected completion fall 2024.
• Aviation Technology Project (ATB) – Phase one is preparing for first-year students with completion for fall 2024 classes. Phase two is to house fuselage engines and parts to be installed by July 2025.
• The amphitheater and outdoor seating have been installed, and shade coverings have been ordered.
• Wayfinding – Five-year grant – the first-year plans include a student support tech club, an area containing computer equipment modules, a 10-12-person classroom, and two podcast pods to assist students and faculty with course content recordings. The following years will include directional signage with building names and "you are here" signage.

Announcements – Mary Beth Head

Mary Beth Head announced the Regional Educators and Scholarship Program would be on March 28, with a reception beginning at 4:00 p.m. in the Student Center followed by the program at 5:30 p.m. in the Clemens Fine Arts Center with emcees Suzanne Farmer and Mike Mallory and featured speaker Pastor Donna Hawkins former Paducah City Schools teacher.

Mary Beth also announced spring graduation with two ceremonies on Thursday, May 9, at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. This year, the Honors and Commencement Committee decided to hold auditions for a student to sing the National Anthem at graduation. Nursing student Peyton Patel was chosen from the auditions to sing at the graduation ceremonies.

Dr. Reece announced a special designation regarding the Center of Excellence. Nationally, only thirty-three colleges received this designation. WKCTC has received this recognition for the second time for the work done with the river industry and associated training.

Adjournment

On behalf of the Board, Chair Simmons expressed his excitement and appreciation of the reports presented and the continued work at the college. Hearing no further questions or comments, he called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Erika Mehta moved to adjourn, and Mr. Barry McDonald seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.