Program continuation, Teaching Excellence nominees highlight March Board of Trustees meeting

The Board of Trustees hosted its meeting at Peru State College March 23-24. They approved several items for Chadron State College, Peru State College, and Wayne State College, in addition to reviewing items for consent and discussion.

The first item the Board approved was the Teaching Excellence Award recipient from each college. Chadron State College’s nominee is Dr. Nathaniel Gallegos, assistant professor of business. CSC faculty have won the award four of the past five years.

In addition to Gallegos, other nominees include Peru State’s Kristi Nies, assistant professor of English, and Wayne State’s Dr. Glenn Kietzmann, professor of biology. The Teaching Excellence Award winner will be recognized during his or her college’s spring commencement ceremony.

Another agenda item introduced each college’s Student Trustee as selected by Gov. Pete Ricketts. Chadron State’s Ashley Goad, Peru State’s Treyten Nelson and Wayne State’s Jayme Krejci will begin a year-long appointment to the Board of Trustees in May 2017.

Revisions to Board Policy 5017 were approved. The update to the policy dealing with Emeritus status for faculty members or professional staff who were previously tenured faculty now better explains the criteria for the Board granting the status to recognize employees who are nominated by the college for significant contributions and service.

“A significant part of the changes to this policy occurred because of CSC’s Faculty Senate and its recommendation,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Charles Snare. “We wanted to demonstrate that we value the work of faculty and professional staff members and what they contributed, and may still contribute, to CSC.”

Other approved agenda items include the Director of Market Development will supervise the START Office, Creative Dining Services will continue its food services through June 20, 2018, and the agreement between the City of Chadron’s Police Department and the college will provide a certified police officer being assigned as the College Resource Officer to engage in general law enforcement activities at CSC.

The Board also approved to continue the Physical Science program, updated room and board rates, and accepted design development documents for the stadium and track improvement project at the college.

The Salary Policy for 2017-18 and five-year academic calendar were also approved for the state colleges.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chancellor Stan Carpenter and the three state college presidents gave reports. Coy Clark, Chadron State’s outgoing Student Trustee also gave a report where he spoke about collaboration between student leaders and administrators dealing with the college’s HLC reaffirmation and data collection for the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).

The next Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for June 15-16 in Chadron.