Several items approved, reviewed at June Board meeting

The Board approved several items during its meeting, including providing authorization for Chancellor Turman to sign construction contracts for the Math Science renovation and construction, and operating budgets for each of the state colleges and the NSCS System Office were reviewed.

Employee salaries, revenue bond budgets, the student fee schedule, promotion and tenure, employee demographics, personnel actions, physical plant status reports, capital construction quarterly reports, and spring residence hall occupancy and income reports were also discussed at the meeting. Additionally, CSC’s beverage and vending contract with Pepsi-Cola based in Alliance and its grant application and awards were approved.

The Board also voted to set tuition and fees for the state colleges for the next two years. Full time students attending the state colleges will pay an additional $4.50 per credit hour in tuition for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years. According to the NSCS, the 2.54 and 2.48 percent increases respectively are the lowest increases the NSCS has implemented since the 2014-15 academic year.

The Board of Trustees approved changes to its policies, including those that deal with criminal background checks, residence requirements, and protest procedures for vendors and service providers following a bidder negotiation. The Board also approved a change to its policy that an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree from Nebraska Tribal College would fulfill all requirements of a general studies program at a state college if it included a minimum of 30 semester hours of general studies coursework.

The Board approved an agreement between CSC and the City of Chadron Police Department to provide a certified police officer assigned as the College Resource Officer to engage in general law enforcement activities on the CSC campus. The Board also approved a Nebraska Statewide Workforce and Educational Reporting System agreement. The data from that agreement will be shared for evaluation and research purposes to PK-12 and postsecondary education institutions to improve education and respond to Nebraska workforce needs.

CSC also shared its updated Mission, Vision, and Values with the Board. The President’s Cabinet approved the college’s updated Mission, Vision, and Values May 7.

“It was time for a review and revision of the CSC Mission, Vision and Values. Higher Education has significantly changed in the last decade. The process to review and revise was fruitful in furnishing the campus and community an opportunity to step back and reflect on who we are, what we stand for, and where we are headed,” said Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Charles Snare. “CSC continues to play an important role in western Nebraska, High Plains, and Frontier and Remote regions of the world.  I greatly appreciate the contributions of many individuals and committees as well as community feedback on the Mission, Vision, and Values.”

Chadron State College’s new Mission: “Chadron State College delivers experiences that foster knowledgeable and engaged leaders and citizens to enrich the High Plains region and beyond.”

CSC’s new Vision: “Chadron State College aspires to continue as a learner-centered institution. We are committed to students through our focus on continuous improvement and excellence in teaching, applied scholarship, and service.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Randy Rhine gave a report focused on the spring blizzards and The Big Event. Rhine stated within the report: “CSC’s campus is a community of learners … committed to helping one another and making the most of their time and that has been exemplified many times over this spring … I am proud at the devotion and resilience our students and employees show.”

The Chancellor’s report outlined the NSCS 2025 Strategic Plan that has identified four outcomes for the System: Student Success and Completion, Institutional and Academic Quality, Workforce and Economic Impact, and Access and Affordability. The Strategic Planning Task Force is on target to meet the timeline for completion for the Board of Trustees’ September 2019 meeting in Chadron.