Kelly Milligan

The board meeting involved the approval of the agenda, followed by a brief period for verbal communications and a review of written communications. The primary agenda item was the adjournment of the special meeting to proceed into a closed session held in room 120 of the ML building for the purpose of conducting a personnel evaluation.

The meeting included a mission moment presentation regarding campus facility signage fabricated by a college student. Key agenda items included the introduction of strategic goals for 2026-2029, featuring discussions on professional development and organizational health, student success and satisfaction, and innovation and agility. The board also addressed visibility and branding initiatives, specifically focusing on website modernization and targeted outreach strategies for adult learners.

The board meeting included a review of collective bargaining strategies in a closed session. Key discussion topics included a mission moment recognizing the Phi Theta Kappa honor society for their academic excellence and community service projects, such as a children's book drive. Additionally, the board received a comprehensive update on the college's three-year strategic planning cycle, focusing on student success initiatives, data analytics for decision-making, online learning experiences, and the campus master plan.

The meeting included a moment of silence for a longtime faculty member, a motion to go into closed session to discuss collective bargaining strategy, and citizen participation regarding the DDA expansion. Special reports featured a presentation on a student's success in international welding competitions and an introduction to the upcoming master planning and strategic planning process by the lead campus planner.

The board discussed several topics, including the process for nominating honorary associate degree recipients, market analysis of tuition rates among Michigan community colleges, and a proposed strategic framework for setting tuition. The board reviewed plans to align online tuition rates with face-to-face rates, ensuring modality neutrality, and proposed a structured multi-year adjustment for non-in-district tuition rates to remain competitive. The discussion also focused on maintaining access, affordability, and the value proposition for different student demographics, including guest students and in-district residents.