The Neosho County Community College Board of Trustees reviewed institutional performance data, heard faculty and administrative reports, and received financial updates during its first meeting of the year on Wednesday Jan. 14.
All board members were present. The board elected to keep its current leadership in place, with the chair and vice chair remaining unchanged. College officials presented an institutional effectiveness dashboard analyzing data collected over the past 15 years to evaluate how well the college is fulfilling its mission.
The dashboard measures performance in four core areas: student learning, student success, accountability to stakeholders, and meeting community needs. The analysis includes 331 data points drawn from sources such as audits, accreditation reviews, enrollment trends, social media metrics, and state and federal reports. Data are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with efforts made to maintain consistency year to year.
For the 2024–25 reporting period, student learning received a score of 94, the highest recorded for the college.
Student success scored 89.2, though officials noted a decline in that category, including seven indicators rated at the lowest level. Administrators said the data highlight areas for improvement, including tuition affordability, graduation rates, and tutoring usage.
Officials emphasized that the dashboard is designed to support continuous improvement rather than simply measuring compliance. The information is publicly available on the college’s website.
Enrollment, Events, and Communication Administrators reported that college-hosted events in 2025 reached nearly 4,000 students, a 42% increase from the previous year.
Communication and safety reporting were also discussed, including compliance with the Clery Act and the use of data to better inform college leadership about campus safety and security.
Faculty reports included an update from Alan Murray on upcoming Phi Theta Kappa activities scheduled for early February. The music club was also recognized for its recent caroling performances.
Administrators noted the launch of a new tutoring initiative aimed at improving student success outcomes. Scores for ACT and WorkKeys testing continue to decline statewide, a trend officials said is not unique to NCCC.
The board also discussed artificial intelligence and the development of a strategic plan to both integrate AI responsibly into instruction and guard against academic dishonesty.
President Inbody and trustees discussed recent Kansas Association of Community Colleges (KACC) meetings and state and federal policy developments. Officials said higher education policy remains uncertain, with potential changes expected at the federal level and renewed discussions of a possible government shutdown beginning in February.
The board noted that recent state changes to career and technical education funding are expected to reduce NCCC funding by less than $1,000.
Trustees also discussed workforce education, noting that Newman University is offering bachelor’s degree programs in Garden City, while technical education programs remain a strength across the state.
The board received the December treasurer’s report, showing approximately $5.3 million in total funds. The college received about $800,000 during the month, including a $201,000 Kansas Promise payment. Approximately $1.6 million was disbursed, leaving a balance of about $4.5 million. Officials said balances are expected to increase next month.
Inbody reported that the college meets regularly with employees and continues its automatic salary adjustment process tied to degree completion. He also noted recent purchases, including an electric vehicle and an ambulance to support the second level of the automotive program.
The Kansas Board of Regents has approved the college’s CDL program, with final approval now pending from the Higher Learning Commission.
Officials reported that 64.5% of students either complete a degree or transfer, ranking NCCC first among Kansas community colleges. Enrollment remains open until the final enrollment deadline next week.
The board also heard updates on campus projects and community efforts, including landscaping plans at Ruth’s Garden and the installation of a moongate honoring the Asian heritage of the Mih family.
