Denise Barnett Bower

The Board of Trustees meeting covered a broad agenda including an accreditation update, president's report, and various reports from the student government, faculty senate, and the AFT. Financial discussions featured an overview of the March financial report and consideration of newly tenured faculty. The Board engaged in executive sessions to discuss contract negotiations and approved two Memorandums of Understanding regarding instructional terminology and professional staff reduction in force procedures. Additionally, the Board reviewed enrollment data and discussed budget scenarios.

This Mid-Cycle Report details the progress of Walla Walla Community College's strategic plan, approved in September 2023. It focuses on institutional effectiveness, student achievement, and systematic assessment of learning outcomes, including closing equity gaps. Key initiatives include implementing data-informed decision-making through KPIs, strengthening programmatic assessment via the GRAPL cycle, and integrating planning and budgeting through the STEPS framework. The report emphasizes ongoing efforts in faculty development, governance, and data transparency, with future priorities extending through academic year 2026-2027 and beyond.

The meeting included announcements and planning for upcoming winter events such as Popcorn Days, Paint Night, and the Career Fair. Officer reports were provided, including an update on the success of the Mario Kart Tournament, attendance at a College Council meeting, preparation of a Board of Trustees Report, and the receipt of SGA merchandise. The Dean provided a brief update regarding an upcoming Board of Trustees meeting.

The meeting included announcements regarding updated office hours and upcoming winter events, such as Popcorn Days and a Career Fair, while noting that the Blood Drive has been postponed. Planning for stress-free finals week involving student snacks was discussed. Officer reports covered activities such as redecorating for St. Patrick's Day, organizing promotional merchandise, graduation planning, and maintenance of office equipment. Additionally, facility updates were reported, including lobby renovations and a reminder regarding the deadline for purchasing card usage.

The meeting included an executive session to review the performance of probationary faculty members relative to tenure status. Following this, the Board considered tenure recommendations for specific faculty members based on evidence heard by the Tenure Review Committee and input from the administration.