Patrick Casey

The Board of Trustees meeting covered several administrative and academic updates, including the President's report on student achievements, athletic highlights, and an enrollment update showing positive trends. Key policy and operational discussions included the Mid-Year Budget Update, a revision to the social media policy, and an update on the Student Affairs Cabinet charter. The Board formally approved the renaming of the Art Wing in honor of Sherman and Kimiko Petersen, a Letter of Agreement between the college and the Faculty Association regarding clinical assistant compensation, the acceptance of donated industrial equipment, and various personnel actions and financial statements.

The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Key discussions included an update on Spring 2026 enrollment figures, which showed positive trends in headcount, credit hours, and contact hours. A detailed report on the 'Food Wars' initiative highlighted the collection of over 10,000 items for the student pantry. The Board acknowledged Kellogg Community College as the 2025 Community Partner of the Year by Michigan Works! Southwest and as a 2025 Best-in-Class Employer based on a Gallagher survey. The Perkins V Postsecondary Monitoring Report from October 15, 2025, indicated no findings and noted KCC as a model. Transfer success data was presented, showing strong cumulative GPAs and graduation rates for KCC transfers at Ferris State University and Western Michigan University. Updates were provided by the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Council (IPS) on ongoing projects like the Binda rigging, new Help Desk, and Severin Building remodel, as well as a report from the KCC Foundation. Action items included the unanimous approval of revisions to the Faculty Senate constitution and bylaws, the extension of IT consulting assistance for the Colleague Cloud migration, approval for the donation of several paintings and display cases, approval of monthly financial statements, and approval of personnel items including new hires, transfers, contract extensions, resignations, and retirements.

The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Key discussions included a positive report on Fall 2025 enrollment activity showing increases in headcount, credit hours, and contact hours. The college was recognized as one of the 'Great Colleges to Work For' in 2025, securing honors in 'Compensation & Benefits' and 'Faculty Experience,' and ranked 55th nationally among community colleges by Smart Asset. An articulation agreement guaranteeing acceptance for KCC students into the Lee Honors Program at Western Michigan University was signed. The Marketing and Communications Department received 13 Medallion Awards. An update on Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Council (IPS) projects included the completion of work on the reflecting pools. The KCC Foundation reported on grant submissions, including an $800,000 grant to the Ford Foundation. Action items included the unanimous approval to elect the 80/20 cost share model for healthcare under Public Act 152 of 2011. The Board also unanimously approved the Healthcare Employee Advisory Team's recommendation to remain with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Dental and VSP vision coverage while transitioning dental coverage to 'The Pool.' Other approvals included the 2027-2031 Capital Outlay Request prioritizing the Roll Building, the repair of the Ohm Building cooling tower, a grant-funded equipment purchase for the Growing the Trades initiative, the replacement of employee computer monitors, the consolidation and approval of three institutional policies (Accessibility in Technology, ADA Compliance, and ADAAA Accommodation), the creation of the Associate in Business Management degree, monthly financial statements, and personnel actions.

The meeting included reports on athletic highlights, the new Career Consortium of Barry County (CCBC), the Spring 2026 enrollment update showing positive trends in headcount and credit hours, and recognition for the Choral Union's trip to the Baltics. The Human Resources team was recognized with a Top 50 Team Award. Key action items involved approving the 2025 fiscal year audit, which received a clean opinion. The Board also approved the appointment of Miller Johnson as the new General Legal Counsel following the cessation of Schroeder, DeGraw's services. Other approvals included an updated quote for cooling tower repairs, the renaming of the C Classroom Building to the Sojourner Truth Building, authorization for additional services for the Colleague migration project, the purchase of furniture for the Severin Building renovation, funding for a new recording studio in the Library Resource Center, a three-year contract for RMTC snowplowing services, and the acceptance of a donated forklift. Personnel changes, including new hires, transfers, and retirements, were also approved, along with monthly financial statements.

The report discusses the audit of Kellogg Community College's financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025, and includes required communications with those charged with governance, industry updates, and other relevant information. Key discussion points include the College's accounting policy changes related to GASB 101 and tuition discounts, the ERC, Plante Moran's Reimagined Client Service Review, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and changes to federal regulations, including revisions for the Uniform Guidance for federal grants and agreements. The report also covers the Department of Education's Student Financial Assistance Cluster changes and regulations, new auditing standards, and upcoming accounting pronouncements.