The Neosho County Community College Board of Trustees held its May 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, in the Student Union Boardroom on the Chanute Campus. The meeting was called to order at 9:15 a.m. and adjourned at approximately 11:20 a.m. Trustees and the Professional Educators Association reached an agreement on several key updates to the 2025-2026 Negotiated Agreement.
A 3.04% increase in the total salary expenditure for professional educators was approved. This increase translates to an additional $1,000 added to each cell of the salary chart in Article 12, along with a $750 step increase where applicable. As a result, most faculty members will see an annual salary increase of approximately $1,750.
NCCC will also double its 403(b) Retirement Plan match, increasing the employer-paid contribution from $25 to $50 per month.
Lastly, revisions to Article 13 will provide greater flexibility in course load management. Instructors may now teach up to 24 credit hours in a semester, provided no more than 21 credit hours are taught concurrently at any given time. This change allows faculty to teach additional courses, such as late-start classes, within the same term — subject to approval by the Chief Academic Officer.
Trustees approved an 85-cent per hour raise for hourly employees, a 3% or $1,750 minimum salary increase for non-faculty employees, a $1,000 raise for full-time assistant coaches, and various additional increases for individual employees based on additional education and responsibilities. Minimum pay for salaried employees and full-time assistant coaches was also increased.
As the spring semester winds to a close, NCCC will finish with a 2.1% increase in enrollment over 2023-’24. This marks a 12.2% increase over the last three years and a return to pre-COVID-19 enrollment numbers.
Trustees held a special meeting on April 23 to approve a bid from Loyd Builders in Ottawa in the amount of $297,384.00 for the renovation of the Wellness Center, thanks to a donation from the family of NCCC Baseball alumnus and MLB All-Star Matt Strahm. Dr. Inbody reported work is underway, with NCCC student-athletes and Construction Technology students having teamed up with Maintenance to clear out the metal-frame building.
Dr. Inbody presented updated blueprints and visual renders for the Mih Family Fine Arts Center as the design process moves inside.
The project is currently on track to allow the bidding process to begin in July.
The Panther Power Lab at the Mitchell Career and Technology Center is now awaiting a final response from the Kansas State Fire Marshall, after floor plans were resubmitted alongside clarifications.
Dr. Sarah Robb, Vice President for Student Learning and Chief Academic Officer, presented a report onthe Student Learning Division.
Dr. Robb highlighted various academic successes this year, including statewide Phi Theta Kappa awards, the large group of Career and Technical Education students finishing their program with a 4.0 GPA, and various departmental honors.
Results were shared from the 2025 Ruffalo Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Survey, which surveys NCCC students’ opinions on Academic Advising Effectiveness, Admissions & Financial Aid Effectiveness, Campus Climate, Campus Services, Instructional Effectiveness, Registration Effectiveness, Safety & Security, and Student Centeredness.
NCCC increased satisfaction across nearly every category and surveyed higher than the national average in each category. Several strengths were also identified through this survey, including availability of academic advisors, the safety and security of campus, students feeling welcomed, ease of online access, and a well-maintained campus.
With the many changes occurring within the developmental education area of the College, Dr. Robb provided a full breakdown of changes, including the addition of the College Algebra Workshop, Math Essentials / Statistics Workshop, and Composition Studio classes.
Each year, SLD completes a formal review of each of NCCC’s academic programs. Reviews were completed this year for the Art, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Education, History, Office Technology, and Theatre programs. The review suggested the termination of the Office Technology program and the strengthening of the Art, Electrical Technology, and Theatre programs. All other programs were deemed healthy and directed to maintain. An update to the program review template is expected to be completed by the next review deadline.
Paul Walcher, NCCC Math Instructor and Faculty Senate President, reported on a record year for the Honors Program. A total of 14 honors projects were completed during the academic year, and seven students will graduate as Honors Scholars.
Billy Hinson, Desktop Support Technician, was selected as the April 2025 NCCC Service Award winner.
“ Billy is always incredibly friendly and patient,” the anonymous nomination read. “He never makes me feel rushed or like a nuisance. Instead, he calmly walks me through every IT issue I run into — usually just user error on my part. It’s such a relief to have someone so kind and reliable on the team.”
Hinson will be recognized with social media posts, a framed certificate, and a $500 prize.
NCCC received unanticipated revenue for both the General Fund and the Postsecondary Technical Education Fund, requiring an amendment to the 2024-’25 academic year budget.
Anticipated revenues and expenditures were originally approved at a total of $13,282,323 for the former and $7,010,284 for the latter. An amendment was approved to raise the budgets to $14,282,323 and$7,760,284, respectively.
There was no adjustment made to the mill levy, and NCCC will host a hearing for the amendment on Wednesday, June 11, at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Board Room on the Chanute Campus.
In other business, trustees: — Approved the minutes from the April 9 regular meeting and the April 23 special meeting.
— Heard a Treasurer’s report from Chief Financial Officer Sandi Solander and approved claims for disbursement for the month of April.
— Approved a 5-Year Fiscal Plan for FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-’30.
— Approved an increase in the 403b Retirement Plan Match from $25 per month to $50 per month.
— Accepted a bid from Great Western Dining Services, Inc. (Tipton, Missouri) to provide operation and management of food services. Bid requests were also sent to Chartwell’s (Charlotte, North Carolina), Consolidated Management Co. (Des Moines, Iowa), and Aladdin Campus Dining (Canonsburg, Pennsylvania). The contract term will begin July 1 and is renewable year-to-year for five years.
— Accepted a bid from Advanced Exercise (Littleton, Colorado) for $31,722.69 to lease three treadmills, two dual adjustable cable machines, and two sets of 15 pairs of dumbbells with racks. Bid requests were also sent to PLAE Vertical (Canton, Georgia), Hammer Strength (Franklin Park, Illinois), Sorinex Exercise Equipment, Inc. (Lexington, South Carolina), and Woodway USA (Waukesha, Wisconsin).
— Approved updates to the job description for - Occupational Therapy Assistant Instructor/Fieldwork Coordinator.
— Approved an Updated Math Pathway for Art, A.A., English A.A., and Philosophy and Humanities, A.A.
— Approved the following course inventory revisions: Deactivated MATH 111 – College Algebra, MATH 112 – Intermediate Algebra, ENGL 100 – Pre-Composition; Reactivated CMCT 211 – Electrical, H.V.A.C., Drain, Waste & Vent; Updated course titles for ETEC 146 – CompTIA A+ Core 1, ETEC 147 – CompTIA A+ Core 2 — Approved the following hirings: Kyndal Gaas, Diagnostic Medical Sonography Clinical Coordinator, with a start date of June 1; Gage Delimont, Coordinator of Residence and Student Life, with a start date of July 28; Gage Delimont, Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, with a start date of August 11; Kristin Chase, Head Cheer and Dance Coach, with a start date of August 11; Michael Martin, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach, with a start date of August 11; Samuel Hall, Head Women’s Soccer Coach, with a start date of August 11.
— Approved the following resignations: Stephanie Mitchell, Nursing Instructor, with a last day of May 21; Samantha Gastineau, Assistant Cheer Coach, with a last day of May 21; Elizabeth Donnelly, Accounts Payable Clerk, with a last day of May 29.
— Approved a change to the resignation date of Melodie Milliken, Administrative Assistant to Nursing, to June 30.
— Heard no public comment.
The next NCCC Board of Trustees Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Boardroom in Chanute.
