Huntyr Schwegman
Chanute, Kan.—The Neosho County Community College (NCCC) Board of Trustees held its December 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in the Student Union Boardroom on the Chanute Campus. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Trustee Recognition
Trustee Martha McCoy was recognized for service on the NCCC Board of Trustees during the final meeting of her elected term.
“We appreciate all of Martha’s counseling and help to achieve our mission during her time as a trustee,” said. Dr. Brian Inbody, NCCC President. “We would like to thank her for her time, talent, and energy over the last 4 years.”
McCoy was presented with an honorary plaque in recognition of her service to the college from 2022-2026.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve in this role,” McCoy said. “It truly filled my heart.”
McCoy’s position will be filled by trustee- elect Kathryn E. Taylor during the NCCC BOT Organizational Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.
Minibus
With the college’s current minibus approaching 11 years of service and logistical limitations created by the 28-passenger maximum, a request for bids was published for a 51-passenger bus. A bus with similar specifications was chartered by some athletics teams during the fall season while the current minibus received repairs. After two months of use, it was determined to be suitable for current and future needs.
Purchasing a larger bus also reduces safety risks, as activity and athletics would no longer be required to drive multiple vehicles following events while fatigued. The bus would be driven by a dedicated driver.
The increased seat count and underbody storage would grant the ability for multiple athletic teams and larger activity groups to travel together comfortably, reduce costs associated with maintenance and outside charters, and simplify logistics.
The current minibus’ construction also limits the range of trips. The proposed bus would greatly increase that range.
Trustees approved a bid from National Bus Sales (Tulsa, Okla.) in the amount of $332,982.00 to be financed over a term of seven years. This bid includes additional safety and convenience options such as air-ride, a grill guard, LED headlights, on-board Wi-Fi, and access to service centers in Wichita, Tulsa, and Joplin.
Bids were also received from Masters Transportation (Kansas City, Missouri) and Best Bus Sales (West Memphis, Arkansas).
Department of Outreach and Workforce Development Division Report
Trustees heard a division report from the Department of Outreach and Workforce Development (OWD), presented by Dr. Brenda Krumm, Dean of Outreach and Workforce Development.
Dr. Krumm reported continued enrollment growth at the Mitchell Career and Technology Center (MCTC) for the Fall 2025 semester. 294 students generated 1,599 credit hours, up from 1,534 hours in Fall 2024 and 1,075 hours in Fall 2023.
Now in its second year, the Automotive Technology program continues to grow. During the Fall 2025 semester, 35 students generated 314 credit hours. This semester also saw 30 privately-owned passenger vehicles receive repairs by students, as well as the addition of an electric vehicle and relevant curriculum to the program’s instructional capabilities.
Lifetime Learning, the outreach initiative aimed at Neosho County residents aged 65+, has also seen impressive growth since 2019. Enrollment increased from 73 students in five courses generating 131 credit hours during 2019, to 147 students in 10 courses generating 378 credit hours in 2025.
OWD also distributed orange and black cords to high school students who graduate with at least 24 credit hours at NCCC. The Class of 2025 included 145 students at 21 high schools who earned these cords.
TRiO programs Talent Search and Upward Bound continued to see successful retention as well. After graduating high school in spring 2025 having received services from either program, 21.3% of students enrolled at NCCC for Fall 2025.
Recruitment contacts totaled 15,424 across 104 occurrences via newsletters (376), campus tours (1,575), high school visits (172), health occupations events (6,476), high school administration luncheons (14), career fairs (6,805), and community events (30). Several events were attended for the first time this year, including a recruitment event in Arma, and career fairs at Erie and Prairie View high schools.
A community-favorite event, the SHOKnowsCTE Kids Camp, welcomed 70 children to the MCTC during the week of July 7. Six instructors, five RSVP members, and a college student volunteered to make the event possible.
Letters of Intent were signed by 13 students during the 3rd Annual NC3 CTE Signing Day Ceremony on April 10. The NCCC-Ottawa team placed first in the college division of the 15th Annual Welding Stick Welding Invitational on April 17. Micas Bolley, a welding student on the Ottawa Campus, finished 3rd in the college division of the Kansas Skills USA Welding Contest on April 24.
The annual Halloween Spooky Parade welcomed 71 toddlers and preschoolers to the Chanute Campus.
A special thanks was given to Construction Technology students for their help with various facilities projects across the Chanute Campus.
President’s Report
Dr. Inbody reported enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester finished down 4.3%, with enrollment for the Spring 2026 semester underway.
A new Commercial Driver’s License program was presented to trustees to begin during the Fall 2026 semester. More information will be provided as program details are finalized.
A grant in the amount of $8,000 was received from the Carl D. Perkins Reserve Fund for meeting program outcomes. Dr. Inbody thanked Dr. Sarah Robb, Vice President for Academic Learning, for the accurate work being completed to receive these grant funds.
Faculty Senate Report
Eric Row, Biological Science Instructor and Faculty Senate President, presented a Faculty Senate Report to trustees.
The Department of Music and Department of Theatre combined to present an afternoon dessert concert at the SEK Impact Center on Nov. 9. Over 200 attendees were treated to scenes from a comedic play, as well as instrumental, vocal, and a capella performances from the Chanute Area Community Choir, the Chanute Area Community Band, and the Kansas Citybased a capella group, Nightshade.
The Omega Iota chapter of Phi Theta Kappa on the Chanute Campus held a work meeting Nov. 10 for the chapter’s Honors in Action project as well as individual PTK Edges projects. The chapter also collaborated with Dr. Inbody to develop a College “Revitalization” Project, deciding to build a bench outside the Strahm Family Strength Center.
Scrub Club hosted an event for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week on the Ottawa Campus during the week of Nov. 17. Approximately 50 students were offered an opportunity to learn about GERD, take a short quiz, and take home antacids.
As one of the largest groups in recent memory, 11 Honors Program students presented their semester project presentations on the Chanute Campus Dec. 3. These projects are completed in conjunction and in addition to the student’s regular courseload. Topics presented ranged from gender inequality in athletics to the effects of addiction on marriages. Posters were displayed on the Ottawa Campus the following week.
Service projects have been a major focus of the Mary Grimes Student Nurses Association (MGSNA) as of late. MGSNA raised money to “adopt” three teenage boys to purchase gifts for the holidays through the Angel Tree. The group added another $1,733 with its Diaper Drive, enough to donate 7,600 diapers to the Neosho County Health Department’s WIC program.
November Service Award Nicci Wiltse, CTE Guided Pathways Coordinator and Lifetime Learning Instructor, was selected by the Senior Staff as the November 2025 Service Award Winner.
“Nicci is always willing to help anyone out no matter what it might be, and always with a smile,” one anonymous nomination read.
“Nicci is always helping keep everyone prepared out at MCTC,” another nomination read. “She makes sure we are not missing our committee meetings and everything else that comes up on our calendars. Besides that, she is a saint when it comes to helping the students navigate my Neosho especially when it comes time to input their PIU data.”
Wiltse will be recognized with social media posts, a framed certificate, and a $500 prize.
Athletic Recognition
Student-athletes from the Volleyball and Men’s Soccer teams were recognized for national success during their fall seasons.
Men’s Soccer finished the season with an overall record of 15-2-3, having carried an undefeated record into the Region VI Championship. The squad earned an at-large bid to the national tournament as the No. 6 seed, and posted a 1-1 record with freshman Danny Carroll earning All-Tournament Team honors. Season honors included sophomore Callum Niven being named NJCAA Second Team All-America and KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year, sophomore Luke Butcher being named NJCAA Third Team AllAmerica and KJCCC Defensive Player of the Year, and six other players being named to the All-KJCC honors list.
Volleyball finished the season with an overall record of 22-13 and earned an at-large bid to the national tournament as the No. 14 seed. Freshmen Ella Bryan and Trinity Collette also received season honors on the All-KJCCC honors list.
In other business, trustees:
—Approved the minutes from the November 12 meeting.
—Heard a Treasurer’s report from Chief Financial Officer Sandi Solander and approved claims for disbursement for the month of November.
—Heard facilities updates: Mirrors have been installed facing weight-lifting racks in the Strahm Family Strength Center; interior electrical work is nearly completed in the Mih Family Fine Arts Center, while footings are in the process of being formed and poured to begin construction of the project’s new squarefootage; all necessary fire safety devices for the Panther Power Lab at the MCTC are ready to be installed and awaiting approval from the State Fire Marshall; an exhaust fan has been ordered to accommodate the expected January installation of a pottery kiln in the Sanders Art Room.
—Made the following Course Inventory Revisions: Added – CDL program, MATH 033 as co-requisite for MATH 143, MATH 043 as co-requisite for MATH 143, ETEC 165 for state alignment; Revised – MATH 013 from 2 to 3 credit hours, CIS program sheet, CSS program sheet, and Math Placement Table to reflect revised classes, ETEC 105 title change and pre-requisite removal for state alignment, ETEC 106 title change and pre-requisite removal for state alignment, ETEC 275 title change and pre-requisite removal for state alignment; Inactivated – MATH 032.
—Approved an update to the Required Notification of Pending Criminal Charges or Serious Driving Infractions Policy.
—Approved the resignation of Alayna Finuf as the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Student Learning with a last day of Jan. 5, 2026.
—Approved the following hirings: Kari Roble as the Occupational Therapy Assistant Fieldwork Coordinator and Assistant Instructor with a start date of January 1, 2026; Alayna Finuf as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Development with a start date of January 5, 2026; Heather Morin as the Nursing Instructor – Ottawa with a start date of Jan.12, 2026.
—Approved the Chief Financial Officer to write off delinquent student accounts receivable for the period July 2025 through December 2025. All written-off balances are documented on the applicable student accounts and a hold is placed on student records until delinquent accounts receivable are paid. The college will continue to attempt to collect delinquent accounts receivable that have been written off.
—Heard no public comment. —Held an executive session to discuss real estate; no action was taken.
The next NCCC Board of Trustees Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2026 at 9 a.m. in the Student Union Boardroom on the Chanute Campus.
