Date/Location:
2020/04/09 – 10:30 a.m. via Zoom
In Attendance:
- CJ Collins, Kileene Collins, Jared Cates, Julie Dulany, Karla Bean, Rebekah McKinney, Sheila Barton, Sheri Mayfield, Heath Lair, Charles Rietman, Kelly Becker, Trish Smith, Alex Graham, Marcie Bean, Krista Lair, Brett Becker, Amber Carr, Mark White, Mike Scheidt, Laurie Wall, Cindy Bridges, Keri Elrod, Rachel Peterson, Jennifer Walker, Sharon Holland, Bryan Moore, Alyssa Collins, Erica Puckett, Joan Wright, Wayne Cahoj, Carrie Steen, Susan York, Missi Jett, Kelly Becker, Terri Combs, Darrell Hampsten, Kris Brinkerhoff, Ron Kerns, and faculty senate representative, Leigh Adams. Members of the Admin Council: Shirley Lawler, Angela Totty, Dennis Lancaster, Brenda Polyard, Cheryl Caldwell, and Scott Schneider. Also visiting, Jeff Gettys, Springfield Staff Senate, and Josh Allen from Springfield’s HR department.
Approval of Minutes:
- Motion to approve the March 2020 minutes made and seconded, motion carried.
Approval of Agenda:
- Motion to approve the agenda made and seconded, motion carried.
Chancellor’s Report:
- Dr. Lawler recognized the IT department and all that have stepped up to keep things running smoothly.
- The Governor announced withholdings for spring, in the amount of $510,000. We were prepared because we had not spent the plus up money. With unfilled positions and saved salaries, our budgets will not be impacted and that will help us.
- Money will be put towards a marketing campaign because we need to keep our spring students and really need to work on recruiting for summer and full.
- Updates from members of the Admin Council:
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- Dr. Totty shared information about the Emergency Grant program and the Hot Spots available to students. The link to apply for an emergency grant or Hot Spot is available on the financial aid webpage. The Hot Spots will be available for use for 6 months. Heath added the Hot Spots are also available to any faculty and staff that need one. Brett added once they receive the Hot Spots, they will be tested and then distributed to those that requested one. Dr. Lawler added the Lybyer Lab is open and the IT dept. is monitoring those that come in, asking if they need a Hot Spot or any other assistance.
- If you come across any donors or supporters asking how they can help us, direct them to the Development office.
- Dennis Lancaster advised all if you come in contact with students, ask them how things are going and if they need anything. They could have some underlying issues that are not reflected in their academic standings or grades.
- Q & A with Admin Council:
- Is it possible we could still be in this position with all online classes for the fall? We are in meetings with Springfield twice a week and decisions change daily but as of right now, it is looking like we may begin to return to some normalcy by late May or early June and we do plan to have seated classes again for fall semester.
- Do you think after all of this, with being all on-line, we will grow our online programs? It was already growing before the pandemic and our hope is to hire a full-time online specialist after this is over. We have no plan to move to an all online university, but this will probably help us grow and expand the online programs.
- Can you give us an update on commencement and the BOG’s meeting? It’s too early to set a date but we are looking at a date for commencement, in early August and if we are able to do that, the BOG will have their annual retreat around the same time so they can be present for commencement.
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- Tomorrow, April 10 is Good Friday and is an extra given day for all faculty and staff. Take the day off and enjoy it with your families.
Welcome New Employees:
- Rebekah McKinney, Director of Library Services
President’s Report:
- Officer Nominations:
- President Elect: Amber Carr – Motion made, seconded and all in favor
- Secretary: Kileene Collins – Motion made, seconded and all in favor
- Treasurer: Alex Graham – Motion made, seconded and all in favor
- Discussion regarding our next meeting. A motion was made to hold an informal “Drop-in” Zoom meeting on April 23. The motion was seconded and all in favor. It was also decided our next formal meeting will be June 11.
President Elect Report:
- Jared expressed thanks to all and looks forward to the upcoming year as President
Secretary’s Report:
- Kileene expressed thanks to all and looks forward to the upcoming year
Treasurer’s Report:
- Alex expressed thanks to all and we have $1,684.09 in the account
Faculty Senate Report:
- Leigh Adams reported there were only three actions during their meeting last Friday
- Curriculum approval
- Dasha Russell was appointed as the Secretary for the new term
- Gary Phillips was appointed as the Chair Elect
- Leigh thanked all of the staff, on behalf of the Faculty Senate, for the smooth transition and help with online classes
Committee Reports:
- Event Planning – Spring BBQ (Mike Scheidt)
- Due to the pandemic, the committee plans to reconvene after things are back to normal and will look at rescheduling the event
- Food Pantry – (Mike Scheidt)
- On hold for now but the committee plans to re-look at the needs when things are back to normal
Department Updates:
- HR – (Josh Allen from Springfield):
- HR Blog is a good location to find available resources
- Financial Aid – (Jennifer Walker):
- Emergency Grants application is online, thanks to the IT dept
- Registration & Records – (Laurie Wall):
- Summer and fall registration has been pushed back a week, to April 27
- Student Life – (Jared Cates):
- Welcome Week committee has been given permission to resume their planning. It will be funded this year by the Annual Fund instead of reaching out to local businesses, due to the financial crisis a lot of them may be experiencing due to the pandemic
- Admissions – (Rachel Peterson):
- April 16 Tentative date for a Facebook Live Q & A session for prospective students, counselors, the community, etc…
- Testing Center – (Alex Graham):
- Permission has been granted to allow the Accuplacer test. Direct students to Alex and she will call them back with details
- Book Store – (Sharon Holland):
- Book Buy Back will be online only
- Graduation regalia will begin shipping April 20 at no charge. Honor chords can be included if they are requested before the gowns are shipped.
- IT – (Brett Becker):
- Brett shared a view of the web cam set up in Lybyer so the traffic can be monitored and students can be assisted as they come in
- GoCAT – (Sheila Barton):
- Sheila expressed an interest in the availability of joining our Staff Senate meetings via Zoom, after things get back to normal, for those that cannot attend in person
- They have received two new pieces of equipment, a Virtual Reality Welding Simulator and a CNC Plasma Table, both to be used in the Welding and Fabricating program
- They have postponed their showcase until August, with the date TBD
- Hoping to have a virtual job fair in May or June
- Donated N95 medical masks to OMC and they are making Face Shield masks with their 3-D printer
- Nursing – (Karla and Marci Bean):
- The nursing dept donated multiple boxes of gloves, some beds, and other needed items to OMC
- SBDC – (Darrell Hampsten):
- If you know of business owners looking for guidance regarding the pandemic, direct them to the Facebook page, facebook.com/wpsbdc
- Physical Plant – (Charles Rietman):
- The physical plant workers are continuing to work around campus and plan to have our facilities looking brand new when everyone returns
- Institutional Research – (Carrie Steen):
- Carrie expressed thanks to all that continue to report
Upcoming Events:
4/9 Spring Holiday (No Classes)
4/10 Spring Holiday (No Classes/Offices Closed – Extra Given Day)
4/13 Ask Week
4/15 Final Payment Due
4/27 Registration for Special Populations Opens
4/28 Concentrated Early Registration
5/1 Residual ACT Testing
5/2 Summer and Fall 2020 Regular Registration
5/4 GRE
5/4 Spring Final Grade Period Opens
5/5 Spring Last Day to Drop
5/7 Last Day of Spring Classes