Sandra LaRocque

The meeting included the election of officers, with Sean LaFountain elected as Chair and Tracy Maxon as Vice-Chair. The board approved the purchase of 3D printers and simulators for the Solar/renewable Energy program. The Hazing Policy was approved to go out for a 30-day comment period, and the Strategic Plan 2025-2030 was also approved. The possibility of the college hosting the Regional Science Fair was discussed. The HR report was reviewed, and updates were provided on various job openings and recent hires. The Comptroller reported on the recent auditor visit and the status of monthly vendor and expense reports. The President reported on travel to the AIHEC Fall Board Meeting, the upcoming HLC site visit, and supervisors training. Discussions were held regarding the potential shutdown of the Snap program and efforts to support affected students.

This strategic plan serves as an economic roadmap to diversify, strengthen, and sustain Turtle Mountain College, creating a world of opportunities. It focuses on three primary goals: expanding access to relevant and culturally responsive education, enhancing institutional effectiveness and resource optimization, and cultivating a supportive and engaging student experience. The plan is rooted in the college's mission to integrate the culture, language, and social heritage of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa throughout its curriculum, fostering an academic environment that promotes scholarly research, lifelong learning, and community service.

The meeting included a call to order, an opening prayer, and a discussion to select Kerry Azure as the BOD for a five-year term. The meeting also involved presentations from Jessica Wallette, LouAnn Jerome, Kerry Azure, Robert Poitra, Kylie Keplin, and Ann Longie.

The board meeting included discussions on updating member contact information, HLC trustee input, advertising a Board of Director position, and changes to BOT and BOD bylaws regarding the grievance process. There was also a review of the updated introduction to the bylaws and the 2024 Board of Trustee Budget. The board discussed the President's evaluation, governance/leadership training, the graduation ceremony, and a report on a trip to Washington D.C. Updates were provided on the HLC visit, and there was a discussion on the utilization of the Jack Fiddler Fine Arts Series and Terrace Space, as well as a food service plan for students. A trends forecasting study for strategic planning was also discussed.

The meeting included discussions and approvals regarding the final BOT (section 2) and BOD (section 3) Bylaws, with changes to be made in-house. A quorum was established for the Trustees, and it was decided that chairmen or presidents/vice presidents of the BODs would attend BOT meetings. The Bylaws will be reviewed annually, and Tribal Council approval is not required once the BOD & BOT are approved. The Guiding Principles for TMCC Governing Boards were approved to address board member conduct. The importance of Fine Arts at TMCC was discussed for inclusion in the Strategic Plan.