Board settles fund issue

McCook Daily Gazette

The Mid-Plains Community College board of governors ratified an agreement Wednesday to settle a question over donated funds.

Under the agreement, approved in a meeting at the Hormel Center in McCook, certain funds will be transferred from the college to the Area Foundation.

The next step will be for the Area Foundation board to determine which of its funds will be transferred to the McCook College Foundation and the new North Platte Community College Foundation, and how to disperse the remaining non-designated funds.

Chipps said the solution, which has been in the works for the past two years, needed to be clarified, and he commended attorney David Pederson for doing an "excellent job on bringing this about."

Enrollment numbers and an explanation of the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan were given by Patricia Allison, who said enrollment stands at a total of 2,680 students. Of this number, 38.36 percent are full time students, with 61.64 percent as part time students, showing a 4.8 percent increase.

Enrollment numbers are difficult to gauge this early in the year, she said, and a more accurate number would be available by June 30 of this year.

Students taking advantage of online credit hours have increased significantly, she said, with 358 students in 2005, compared with 115 students in 2003. MCC is increasing its online offerings and moving toward online degrees, which when finalized will be posted on the College Web site.

Senior citizen enrollment numbers have increasingly dropped, Allison said, from 467 students in 2003, 393 students in 2004, and 292 students in 2005. The reasons for this decrease have not yet been determined, she said, and agreed with board member Roger Wilson that a questionnaire or survey among the senior citizen population would be helpful.

Although the decrease has little impact in revenue, Allison said this it is still an area they would like to examine.

The Strategic Enrollment Management Plan has added another dimension in marketing the college, Allison said. By using a tracking process with potential students in the form of persistent communication, Mid -Plains will be better able to attract additional students from the area.

Allison also said data is being collected from current students by questionnaires and surveys, which will be used for future grant applications.

Ryan Purdy outlined deficit problems in the food service and childcare program in the Auxiliary Fund Analysis report. He cited that low occupancy rates, enrollment decline, and the new bond dorms are factors in this deficit.

To offset this deficit, housing rates were raised in McCook and North Platte, and cafeteria rates were increased in McCook. Aggressive marketing of the dorm rooms, which have internet access and cable, will be pursued as well.

Board member Jim Phrange said MPCC should also promote the childcare service MCC has on its campus, as it is a good marketing tool to attract young families. Chipps agreed, but said the child care program is currently at full capacity with 40 children, and the staff ratio would have to be reconsidered.

Dr. Michael Tubbs, MCC CEO said the child care program is particularly attractive to parents as it accepts drop ins, compared to other day care centers which require a commitment of a full day. This is desirable among students, he said, who may need the child care program for only a few hours a day.

Tubbs also discussed the Supervisory Management Training program the college has been offering, which began from a request from employers at the ethanol plant in Trenton. The program has grown substantially, he said, has has expanded to The Work Ethic Camp, McCook National Bank, Valmont, and SWATS. Currently 24 students are taking the program, Tubbs said, and grants are available for businesses to be used as waivers.

In other action, board members approved:

* the gradual move of programs from the north campus at the North Platte campus to the south campus, and to explore other uses for the north campus

* the purchase of computer laptops at a total cost of $254,882.40 for the 2005-2006 school year, which is on track with the three year plan to update technology at the college.

The next Board of Governors meeting will be Nov. 16 at 6:30 p.m., at North Platte Community College's north campus.