Northwest Mississippi Community College

The meeting covered several key administrative and academic matters. The Instructional Policy Manual Procedures (601-610) were reviewed, with specific policies needing updates, disbursement, or further review. In Career-Technical Education, approval was unanimously granted for a new Graphic Design course (CAT1173 Typography II) and a Cosmetology offering (COV295) designed to help licensed professionals renew expired credentials. The Division of Health Science discussed guidelines for Pre-Nursing students regarding class registration based on ACT scores, encouraging the creation of pathways for at-risk students. Approval was also granted for the Health Care Administration (HCA) program launch in Water Valley, transitioning from non-credit to for-credit status by Fall 2021. Finally, a proposal for creating an Honor's Program through PTK and a PTK chapter initiative at the DeSoto Center was introduced for future review.

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the agenda and a focus on the College's mission, vision, and values. A report from the Executive Council detailed the decision to reject a proposal regarding subscores for scholarships, but approved four other scholarship-related proposals. These included changing the art and speech in theater scholarship to a performance scholarship with a 2.0 GPA requirement, revising the scholarship matrix based on ACT scores, recommending the use of scholarships in the third year for nursing, aviation, and physical therapy assistant programs, and establishing ACT 19 and below with a B high school GPA for leadership scholarships. Discussions also covered student concerns regarding residence hall visitation policies, with the decision made to revisit the policy in November for potential changes in the Spring semester due to COVID-19 tracing concerns. Additionally, a proposal was brought forward to extend the timeframe for financial aid funds remaining on student ID cards, with the explanation that current cutoff times are dictated by Department of Education disbursement dates. The discussion on the No Show Policy was tabled until the subsequent meeting.

The meeting agenda was approved, and discussions focused on several key areas. President Dr. Michael Heindl announced the upcoming Leadership Forum Retreat and requested volunteers for future presentations. Vice President Mr. Jeff Horton provided detailed updates on the utilization of CARES Act and CRRSAA stimulus funds across Instructional Success, Institutional Success, Health & Safety, Personal Success, and Community Success initiatives, detailing expenditures on technology, faculty support, and equipment purchases. Executive Director Ms. Patti Gordon updated the forum on the Foundation Alumni Association event schedule, noting that $972,769 was raised in 2020, surpassing the goal, and highlighted the first million-dollar gift received. A campaign update indicated over $1.7 million raised to date. AVP Mr. Dwayne Casey reported on updates for Workforce Solutions and Career-Technical Education, including new grant funding for Adult Education technology, anticipated offerings at the Marshall County Workforce Training Center (Welding, Forklift, Machining), approvals for new CTE programs, and progress on the Utility Line Worker apprenticeship.

The meeting included a review and acceptance of agenda changes. Key discussions under the Associate VP of Academic Instruction focused on curriculum alignment resulting in changes across several course series (CSC, LEA, LIS, HPR, AGR, AFR). Specifically, the prerequisite of College Algebra was dropped for CSC2134 and CSC1614. Additionally, two new 2+2 transfer degree plans were approved for addition to the Bulletin: Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies and Associate of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies, both in articulation with the University of Mississippi. The council addressed several new program options under Workforce Solutions and Career-Technical Education, including adding Welding and Cutting options at Batesville Campus, approving a new Residential/Commercial Electrical Career Certificate at DeSoto Campus, closing the Administrative Office Technology program, adding an online option for Marketing Management Technology, and adding Construction Management Technology programs at Senatobia Campus. Finally, an Institutional Research report on Instructional Program Review Assessment was presented for notification.

The meeting included a review of the agenda, with an addition concerning the 'civil tech - elective update.' Key discussions centered on Academic Instruction, specifically the outline of a new CSC 1123 course, where Computer Applications was proposed as preferred over Computer Concepts, and required academic instructors with specific qualifications; this proposal was tabled for prerequisite system changes. Course description changes for the UCNS bulletin for 2022-2023 were approved. A proposal was passed making Quantitative Reasoning equivalent to College Algebra for certain degree pathways starting Spring 2022, with degree plans to update by Fall 2022. The Absence Appeal Policy was amended to include that NWCC recognized no excused absences, and the 'F' Grade Policy was changed to remove the requirement for taking the final exam for a grade of 'F'. Approval was granted to place NUR2323 as a humanities course for nursing students only, and the amended MS Guide for AP Credit was approved. In Career-Technical Education, credentials for certain programs were eliminated, and the technical elective for the Civil Technology program was updated to replace Fundamentals of GIS with Computer Aided Design 2 (CDT1322) for Spring 2022. The School of Health Sciences approved adding lecture hours for CVT 2414 (Invasive Cardiology) and CVT 2513 (Critical Care Applications), and expansion of the HCA Evening/Weekend Program to Desoto and Oxford campuses starting Spring 2022. The Surgical Tech program expansion to Desoto campus for a Spring 2022 start was also approved, involving adjustments to course scheduling across semesters. Finally, the council discussed the policy of 'Masks Recommended' versus 'Masks Required,' concluding that Dr. Domas would advance the option for instructors to require masks in their classrooms to ECEC for further consideration. Information regarding the Google Career Certificate was reviewed, with a suggestion for further research on student advantages and curricular changes.