Jennifer Cremeens-King

The 'Changing Tomorrows' Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 outlines the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College's commitment to elevating the institution and fostering excellence. It focuses on enhancing academic offerings through new programs, offsite locations, and innovative teaching; bolstering student success via tuition affordability, retention, job placement, and tailored support; increasing enrollment through athletic growth and community partnerships; and maintaining and optimizing quality facilities.

The University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College's "Changing Tomorrows" strategic plan (2024-2029) focuses on enhancing academics, student success, enrollment, and facilities. Key academic initiatives include introducing new programs aligned with industry demands, expanding offsite locations, improving foundational math and English skills, implementing an early alert system, and offering short-term certificates. Student success initiatives focus on improving tuition affordability, enhancing retention and fulfillment through support services, facilitating job placement, strengthening onboarding, and developing initiatives for commuter and adult students. Enrollment goals include increasing participation in the RISE program, expanding athletic opportunities, conducting market research, increasing community partnerships, and building bilateral agreements with career and technical schools. Facility goals include maintaining and upgrading existing facilities, prioritizing deferred maintenance and renovations, and evaluating space utilization and technology integration.

The board meeting covered various topics, including clarifications from previous meetings, an update from the chair, approval of graduates, delegation of signatory authority, a financial update, approval of a tax budget submission, a technology fee modification, a scholarship renewal, additional Anthology payments, construction updates, power project contractor approval, a Pike County letter of intent, an ERP update, staff reports, old business, other business, and a discussion of the chair and vice-chair positions. Key decisions included approving a new technology fee, approving the 2024 budget (which included a deficit), awarding a construction contract to WAI (pending Attorney General's Office signature), approving a letter of intent for a Pike County project, and extending several contracts.

The board meeting covered various topics including a financial update, tuition increase waiver, course fee adjustments, and comprehensive fee adjustments. Discussions also included updates on construction projects, the ERP system implementation, staff reports, and the "Testing Your Faith Act" policy. The board approved a mileage reimbursement rate increase, new hires for coaching positions, and nominations for Chair and Vice Chair.