Irene Church

The meeting included a presentation from the college's wrestling team and representatives from the Michigan Community College Association regarding legislative priorities and advocacy. Administrative reports covered updates on the college's strategic plan, community outreach events, recent campus safety drills, and student success initiatives. Business items included the approval of the tax and appropriation estimate for fiscal year 2026-2027, the selection of an independent auditor, a new contract with Barnes & Noble, and the authorization to issue a request for proposals for a high-fidelity manikin.

The board discussed the campaign strategy for the Operating Millage Restoration project, aiming to restore the rate originally approved in 1993 to support campus infrastructure and student success. The discussion covered target demographics, communication channels, and the campaign timeline. Additionally, the board addressed the legal and administrative requirements for finalizing ballot language, including the need to obtain updated Headlee Rollback figures and the development of supporting resources such as FAQs and a website.

Muskegon Community College is seeking community input on a proposal to restore its operating millage to the level originally approved by voters. This restoration aims to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality, affordable education and facilitate investments in key upgrades, including aging infrastructure, classrooms, student spaces, and athletic facilities. The college intends to present this proposal on the August 2026 ballot, contingent upon community feedback.

The meeting included a review of the Strategic Plan Transfer Domain, led by President Selmon, focusing on objectives to increase student transfer rates to four-year institutions (targeting an increase from 31% to 36% by Summer 2030) and the completion of the Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) (targeting an increase from 287 to 400 students by Summer 2029). The board also reviewed reverse transfer degree completion goals. In administrative reports, President Selmon discussed federal and state legislative priorities and announced his attendance at the 2026 National Legislative Summit. Updates were provided on MCC Nursing NCLEX pass rates (100% for PN, 97.3% for RN for Fall 2025) and winter enrollment headcount (+4.4%). The Board approved a sole source selection for the renewal of the Stevenson Center chiller from Trane Technologies for $67,673. Additionally, the Board approved an update to the policy regarding Public General Comments, limiting participation to five individuals for three minutes each.

Key discussions included the presentation of community survey results by Banach, Banach & Cassidy, Inc., which highlighted a strong Net Promoter Score (+44.13) but also identified concerns regarding aging facilities, food options, and transfer advising. Recommendations focused on facility modernization and strengthening the college's workforce narrative, with plans for a work session on millage restoration. A focus panel detailed the Workforce Focus Area strategy, including objectives to increase employer partnerships, add new academic programs, enhance career preparation services utilization, and define employment pathways for occupational programs. Financial reports indicated Fall and Winter enrollment trending over budget, and the Operating Fund is projecting a reduced deficit of $3.4M. The President reported on meetings with state senators regarding workforce and Pell Grants, updates on the OH-MI Pathways Initiatives, and ongoing focus on Artificial Intelligence integration. New business involved approving a 5-year contract with Clark Construction Company, approving the election services campaign phase for Millage Restoration, contracting with Cintas Corporation for Automated External Defibrillators, and waiving the requirement for a new Request for Proposals for independent audit services for upcoming fiscal years.