Henry Ford College

The board will convene to discuss the presidential search. Additionally, the board may enter into a closed session to review material exempt from public disclosure and to receive a legal opinion from General Counsel.

The Board discussed various recognitions, including student achievements and faculty awards, and reviewed updates from the President regarding Federal policy, Higher Learning Commission accreditation, and the search for an interim VP-CFO. Action items included the approval of contracts for IT consulting and interim leadership services, as well as staff appointments and MCCA representative certifications. The meeting also covered the Presidential Search Advisory Committee’s ongoing process, deliberations regarding closed session protocols under the Open Meetings Act, and Policy Committee updates concerning contract reviews and student data collection.

The meeting includes discussions on Board of Trustees policy updates and reviews of contract-related actions. Key agenda items involve the approval of contracts for landscape maintenance services, the purchase of kitchen equipment for the Fifty-one O One Restaurant, digitization of durable skills curriculum, acquisition of robotics training systems, procurement of a virtual reality training system, and the initiation of purchasing processes for a Building Science Living Laboratory proposal.

The meeting began with the acknowledgment of the new Chairperson. Key discussions included the recognition of several pre-engineering students for achievements in an international competition and a regional engineering showcase, as well as recognition for faculty work in a photography exhibition and a holiday radio production. The President updated the Board on various items, including college enrollment being slightly above the credit hour goal for the Winter 2026 semester, progress in securing a long-term interim VP/CFO, and a revision to the Learning Management System (LMS) contract with D2L. The Board revisited the D2L contract, opting to rescind the previous ten-year approval and approve a new structure composed of two consecutive five-year terms to allow for a five-year review point, despite an increased cost of approximately $261,000. Other action items approved included roof repairs for Technology Building E and the Child Development Center, and the Fiscal Year 2026 Mid-Year Budget Adjustment. Business sections covered an update on the Presidential Search process, including establishing a timeline for interviews and ensuring the confidentiality of semi-finalists, and a lengthy discussion regarding the Code of Conduct stipulations concerning communication between Trustees about presidential candidates to ensure process integrity and compliance with the Open Meetings Act.

The meeting began with a roll call, followed by the approval of the minutes for the October 20, 2025, regular board of trustees meeting. A significant portion of the meeting involved recognizing and acknowledging Kenny Isacson, a distinguished alumnus and first-generation college student who overcame significant adversity in the foster care system to become a firefighter paramedic for the City of Detroit and top graduate of the Henry Ford College paramedic program. Updates were provided on campus construction and renovation initiatives, including the completion of campus topographic and underground utility surveys, ongoing discussions regarding the chiller plant, and preliminary discussions on landscaping needs. Schematic designs for buildings A and K, as well as a new unlettered building, were received. A productive town hall provided faculty feedback on the plans for the NB building demolition and K building renovation, with similar feedback sessions planned for the A building renovation, which is scheduled to commence in May 2026. Plans are also underway for a community town hall focused on engaging local vendors and suppliers for the new construction project. Other highlights included recognizing the college as a Gold Level Veteran Friendly School for the eighth consecutive year and honoring an Associate Dean with a teaching excellence award. The President also noted the full complement of trustees present for the first time.