Rachel Sullivan

The meeting included a review of action tracker items and updates from various departments. Key discussion topics included SACS accreditation preparations, a review of Northwest Leadership Forum pain points, marketing and legislative updates, college nominations for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, and updates on SACSCOC, athletic playoff games, technology and physical plant projects, and the Heindl Center schedule. Additionally, the council discussed HR updates regarding background checks, policy manual updates, grant management, student services committee changes, enrollment and advising processes, and various departmental activities including upcoming events for the DeSoto campus, eLearning initiatives, and fine arts scheduling.

The council discussed proposals for tuition adjustments for the upcoming school year, specifically regarding increases to part-time and full-time tuition fees based on comparative rankings among Mississippi community colleges. Furthermore, the committee approved the implementation of a new music major fee to help offset the high costs associated with the music program.

The council discussed and approved several fee adjustments, including increases to transcript fees and the reinstatement of a graduation fee for cap, gown, and diploma cover costs. Additionally, the committee approved increases to student conduct violation fines to align with current disciplinary standards. Revisions to scholarship policies for full-time employees, retirees, and employee dependents were also reviewed and approved, including the introduction of a new senior citizen scholarship policy. All approved fee and policy changes are set to become effective in the Fall 2025 semester.

The council reviewed various operational and academic items including updates on the Action Tracker, state legislative appropriations, and upcoming community college consortium initiatives. Academic department reports included approvals for several course additions and curriculum changes, updates on athletic achievements, and details on upcoming graduation ceremonies. Additionally, the council discussed IT software implementations, grant opportunities for campus infrastructure and programs, student services updates, and plans for fine arts and nursing program developments.

The council discussed and approved the reinstatement of the PaperCut print management solution for student printing in open computer labs. The plan establishes a $30 per term print credit for students, sets page fees for black and white and color printing, and provides a portal for students to manage their printing usage and add funds as needed.