The Arkansas Northeastern College's Board of Trustees held their August meeting Wednesday afternoon in a remodeled, newly expanded, and fully equipped student activity center. The board met in the new conference room, as students on their third day of classes enjoyed all the new amenities and fun decor of the center, such as pool tables, video games and televisions.
The board unanimously approved the financial statements presented by Pacey Bowens, the Interim Vice President for Finance. The statements reflected revenues and expenditures from the month ending June 30, 2015, and also detailed the end of the college's 2015 fiscal year. The college ended the year with a $522,452 positive change in its fund balance, despite a three percent reduction in revenue from last year and an eight percent reduction from its projected budget for fiscal year 2015. This was accomplished primarily through a seven percent decrease in expenditures from last year, and a 12 percent reduction from what was budgeted. Revenues in 2015 for the college were $12,953,526, while expenditures for the same time were $12,431,074.
The trustees also unanimously approved the personnel report, which reflected the personnel changes for the college during the period of June 17-August 18. An early retirement agreement was also attached and approved. The board was introduced to its newly hired/assigned staff. Kiesha McCaughey was hired as Administrative Assistant at the Crisp Center, Tabitha Hampton was hired as Office Manager/Human Resource Representative, Michael Fischer has been named the Theater Director, Debra Lyles-Benedict has been hired for the Department of Advancement, Jacob Cooper as Digital Learning Coordinator, Jeff Echols as the Career Coach at Blytheville High School, Donald "Duane" Busby as Criminal Justice Instructor, and Linaa Lee for Adult Education.
The board unanimously approved the creation of a new advisor position with the ANC Career Pathways Initiative. The new advisor will allow for two full-time positions on the Blytheville and Paragould campuses. It was stated that the program is geared for parents with dependent children, and that the college is awarded money based upon student achievement.
"This grant has been in effect for about a decade. We have been very successful. In fact, we've had the best outcomes in the entire state with the exception of one year during that time," Dr. James Shemwell, ANC President, told the board.
The board heard an update on campus construction projects and drainage issues and unanimously approved a small change order of $546.49 for the furnishing and installation of additional electrical outlets to allow for creation of a neon sign.
The trustees unanimously agreed to accept seven renewal grants, the accompanying personnel contracts including interim contracts and their attached grant budgets. The grants include $485,555.81 through four Adult Education Grants, $129,600 for the College and Career Readiness Program, $488,307 for TRiO's Educational Talent Search and $281,511 for TRiO's Student Support Services.
The board unanimously approved accepting a $10,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation in support of the Advanced Manufacturing summer camp and to provide college scholarships. The scholarship awards will be for $1,000 to $2,500 per student, to support enrollment in the CNC Machining based programs at ANC.
Shemwell also announced that 33 years ago, when he was a student at what was then Mississippi County Community College, there was a solar field where the meeting was being held and that the student activity center was room A-101, which included a few chairs, vending machines and ashtrays.
"This is our number one marketing tool now. This is nicer than any of us could have dreamed. He took the ugliest spot on campus and has turned it into an architectural delight. When we first outsourced the Outback [ANC Student Grill] we were selling about $300 a day. The first couple of days this week we've been selling about $600 per day. The center has been full and feedback has been very positive. Academic research shows that if students connect, whether with other students or with faculty, then they are more likely to persist and if they persist then they succeed. This will make us competitive. They [prospective students] like to see themselves in a future that will be fun...the operating hours are 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m... we do not have as large a night student population as in the past and that's mostly because of online classes," Shemwell added.
Shemwell also announced that Courtney Fisher is the new Director for Student Services at the college.
thenry@blythevillecourier.com