Joshua Howell

The Board of Trustees meeting agenda included several key items. Discussions covered the acceptance of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year Foundation IRS Form 990. Finance and Facilities actions involved the amendment and ratification of prior resolutions concerning the purchase of Metal Working Equipment and Contract for Dual Enrollment Software, as well as the approval of a contract for a Contract Management Software System. Financial reports for the Operating & Capital Funds and the Healthcare Reserve were scheduled for review. Ratification was sought for firewater response work and the repair of HVAC units. Educational affairs included the approval of a new program and revisions to several policies: Drug and Alcohol Policy, Residency Policy, Noncredit Refund Policy, Transfer of Credit Policy, and Grading System Policy. Personnel items involved the approval of a revision to the Civil Rights/Title IX Policy and Complaint Procedure, and a first read of five other policies.

The board is considering the approval of a contract for a Non-Credit Education System for Workforce Development and the Public Safety Training Center (PSTC). This system aims to streamline registration, invoicing, certificate issuance, data collection, and address workforce-specific needs for Non-Credit and Workforce Development programs, replacing the current LUMENS system. The purchase will be funded by the FY25 College Capital Budget.

The 2024-2027 Strategic Plan for Westmoreland County Community College outlines four key strategic priorities: improving student outcomes and success, serving as a hub for career pathways, developing employees and enhancing the workplace, and ensuring the college's financial stability. Specific goals include increasing graduation and retention rates, boosting transfer rates, enhancing revenue generation, expanding workforce training programs, improving employee engagement, and strengthening financial performance. The plan details tactics across four focus areas (Students and Stakeholders, Systems and Processes, Internal Operations Management, and Revenue and Productivity) to achieve these goals, encompassing initiatives such as optimizing course scheduling, enhancing student support services, strengthening community engagement, developing an academic master plan, integrating AI technologies, expanding adult learner support, fostering workforce partnerships, improving employee onboarding and retention, implementing a new performance management system, enhancing IT governance, and exploring new revenue opportunities.