May 2024 | WKCTC

President's Cabinet

May 2024

West Kentucky Community & Technical College
Board of Directors
May 14, 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, Kenneth Hurt, Barry McDonald, Erika Mehta, Chuck Murphy, Jay Simmons, and Jessica West. Other attendees were Dr. Anton Reece, Dr. Renea Akin, Ashley Burns, Bridget Canter, Chase Durrance, Octavia Lawrence, Tammy Maines, Shay Nolan, Dr. Kate Senn, Jennifer Tubbs, Whitney Walker, Geelyn Warren, Andy Wilson, Kat Byars, WPSD Tv representatives, and Melissa Allcock, assistant secretary.

Old Business - Approval of the Minutes

A motion was made by Mr. Chuck Murphy and seconded by Mr. Gorman Bradley to approve the minutes of the March 5, 2024 meeting. Motion passed.

Chair's Report

Chair Simmons recapped the May graduation ceremonies. He thanked Mr. McDonald for representing the Board at the first ceremony in his absence. The Unsung Hero awards presented at graduation went to student Charlie Wright and faculty member Crystal Jackson.

Mr. Simmons recognized the Board's new Staff Representative, Jessica West. Jessica is the new Manager of Business Affairs and has been with the college for thirteen years.

Chair Simmons thanked the recently graduated student representative, Lindsey Gipson, for her service to the Board. Lindsey is transferring to Murray State University, majoring in Public Relations and minoring in History. The new student Board representative is the newly elected Student Government Association President, Kat Byars.

Mr. Simmons directed the Board to the handout with the proposed 2024-2025 meeting dates for notable conflicts. No conflicts were identified. The Board meeting dates for 2024-2025 are as follows:

  • October 1, 2024, 2:00 p.m. Anderson Technical Building Conference Room
  • November 21, 2024, noon Anderson Technical Building Bistro – Joint lunch meeting with Paducah Junior College Foundation Board of Trustees
  • March 4, 2025, 2:00 p.m. Anderson Technical Building Conference Room
  • May 13, 2025 2:00 p.m. Anderson Technical Building Conference Room
  • July 15, 2025, 8:00 a.m. to noon Emerging Technology Center Room 140

President's Report

President's Leadership Team (PLT) and Board of Regents (BOR) Updates Senate Joint Resolution 179 (SJR179)

Dr. Reece recapped the filing of SJR 179. This resolution is a follow-up from SJR 98 and will directly impact KCTCS in the coming months. Specifically, the resolution requires KCTCS, in coordination with CPE, to examine the following topics and deliver specific recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2024:

  1. Academic programming and training offerings, including the quality of credentials and program relevancy;
  2. A comprehensive statewide KCTCS workforce plan, which may include financial and academic support, comprehensive career counseling, and experiential learning elements;
  3. The KCTCS geographic footprint, including but not limited to the need for mergers and consolidations;
  4. Single system accreditation versus individual college accreditation;
  5. Governance reform, including the KCTCS Board of Regents and the college boards of directors;
  6. The KCTCS funding model and its adequacy, including state appropriations, existing performance funding, the funding of the system office, and modern outcome-based funding structures;
  7. Tuition rates, with a commitment to ensuring affordability and return on investment;
  8. The personnel system for KCTCS employees;
  9. Effectiveness and affordability of dual credit course offerings;
  10. Transferability of associate's degrees to four-year institutions; and
  11. Outdated or conflicting statutory language

Bolded are the three essential items of focus. KCTCS President Dr. Quarles has initiated four groups within PLT to provide input and responses on these items for submission by September 1, 2024.

Restructuring-Budget Reduction

Retirements and transitions have led to the restructuring of some key leadership positions. Whitney Walker is the new Marketing Director. Whitney joined WKCTC in January and brings twelve years of talent to the marketing department. Chase Durrance is the new Dean of Students and previously served as the Interim Dean of Student Services. His area encompasses non-academic services. Tammy Maines is serving as the Interim Dean of Enrollment Management. Tammy has been at WKCTC for twenty-one years, serving in the business office and, most recently, Adult Education. Dr. Kate Senn will be the new Vice President of Academic Affairs beginning July 1. Dr. Senn has been with KCTCS for twenty-six years and is currently the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. Jennifer Tubbs will serve as the new Vice President of Business Affairs. Jennifer brings twenty-three years of budget and grant knowledge from her time in Business Affairs at WKCTC.

Budget – Bridget Canter and Jennifer Tubbs

Bridget Canter gave a wrap-up of the fiscal year 2024 budget. The FY24 year-end revenue is projected at $25,111,335. The contributing factors include a return of $1,686,790 of overcharges by KCTCS for system-wide contracts and personnel-related expenses. In addition, a $4 per credit hour rate increase in tuition contributed to the revenue. At no surprise, the expense line is slightly above the revenue that came in at $25,988,948. One contributing factor to the increase in expenses was a $2000 salary increase voted on by the KCTCS Board of Regents (budgeted for a $1000 increase). On the plus side, we had one and a half million plus dollars in salary savings from unfilled positions. As we wrap up the fiscal year 2024, we estimate that we will come in at around $800,000 in not meeting our revenue. Reserve dollars were budgeted to cover the shortfall.

Jennifer Tubbs presented the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for Board approval.

Factors affecting revenue and expenses when planning the Fiscal Year 2025 budget:

Revenue

  • The Performance-Based Funding  - volume of enrollment credit hours produced appears to be the drive of the performance-based funding
    • Fiscal Year 2024 decrease of $595,000
    • Fiscal Year 2025 decrease of $292,000
  • Enrollment remains challenging
  • Inflation adjustment – positive increase
    • $459,300

Expenses

  • Personnel Expense Reduction savings
    • $1,206,891.09
  • System-wide Contracts and Services Increase
    • $316,400
  • Salary Increase
    • Huron Compensation Adjustments
      • $512,000
    • Budgeted 3% Cost of Living Allowance (to be voted on at the June 13-14 KCTCS Board of Regents meeting)
      • $509,000

Dr. Reece noted that he tasked Cabinet to submit personnel reduction expenses in a 5, 10, and 15% scenario as we proactively planned the budget. The end result was a 7.5% reduction at a total of $1,206,891.08 across campus units.

Jennifer continued with the trial balance 2025 projections (Appendix A), highlighting revenue and expense changes from the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. She noted that five million dollars has been budgeted from reserves to balance the budget if necessary.

Dr. Reece commented on potential revenue increases with the Aviation Program, which would offer new enrollment opportunities. Dr. Kate Senn elaborated on the online Associate in Arts degree offering at the West Kentucky Correctional Complex and Kentucky State Penitentiary. Geelyn Warren spoke to the decline in high school students within our service area and the transition from high school to college, resulting in a smaller pool of newly graduated students. Dr. Reece commented that our enrollment strategy would entail expanding partnerships for adult recruitment.

Recognitions

Dr. Reece recognized Dr. Renea Akin on her retirement after three decades plus years of service to the college. Additionally, he recognized Bridget Canter, who is transitioning to the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) offices as the Vice President of Human Resources, and Octavia Lawrence, who is also transitioning to KCTCS in the Project Management office.

New Business

Approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget

Chair Simmons called for a motion to approve the fiscal year 2025 budget. A motion was made by Ms. Erika Mehta and seconded by Mr. Barry McDonald to approve the Fiscal Year 2025 budget as presented. Motion passed.

Board Evaluation of Dr. Anton Reece

Chair Simmons reviewed a summary of the Board's evaluation of Dr. Reece. Overall, Dr. Reece scored extremely high and either met or exceeded expectations in basically all categories, with most of the scores falling in the exceeds expectations.

Contributions Dr. Reece made to move the college forward in the past year included

  • His emphasis this year on keeping up with current legislative issues and the
    legislative session for the many possible issues that could affect the college.
  • His continued excellent leadership skills overall in dealing with many issues, including the many new hires in key positions.
  • Acquisition of new grants and the advancement and development of new programs at the college
  • His accessibility and communication with both the faculty and the students
  • Several improvements to the grounds and buildings on campus and supporting student life initiatives that make the campus more student-friendly and lead to student success and retention. 

Chair Simmon noted there were others, but these were the main themes.

Issues the Board wanted Dr. Reece to concentrate on included

  • The retirement and movement of so many key staff and how to recruit and retain talent to the college.
  • Continue to work on increasing enrollment and workforce development.
  • Continue to deal with the continuing legislative issues that face all KCTCS schools and keep everyone aware of those issues.
  • Continue to keep the community aware of all the offerings WKCTC has and expand on those efforts to get the word out and broaden the college's footprint to include more outlying counties and cities.
  • Continue to manage the budget to ensure the future success of the college.

Once again, it is clear that Dr. Reece is an incredible asset to WKCTC and our continued success. 

Dr. Reece thanked Chair Simmons and the members of the Board for the evaluation.

A motion was made by Mr. Gorman Bradley and seconded by Mr. Chuck Murphy to accept the evaluation results of Dr. Anton Reece. Motion passed.

Adjournment

On behalf of the Board, Chair Simmons thanked Dr. Renea Akin, Bridget Canter, and Octavia Lawrence for their hard work and dedication to the college. He also welcomed the new people introduced and expressed excitement from the Board about working with them. Mr. Simmons reminded the Board of the upcoming retreat on July 23 in the Emerging Technology Center from 8:00-noon. Mr. Simmons adjourned the meeting at 2:45 p.m.