Nicolet College District Board

1. 

PUBLIC INPUT

There was no public input.

2.

Action on Minutes of Meetings – 12/18/07

3.

Ratification of Business, Industry, and Government Contracts

4.

Ratification of High School Equivalency Diploma Contracts

5.

Status of College Accounts, Recap of Expenses, Operational Cost, and Action on Bills Payable

JACOBS MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY MARSHALL, THAT THE NICOLET COLLEGE BOARD APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, ITEMS 2, 3, 4, and 5 AS FOLLOWS:

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MEETINGS – 12/18/07

3. RATIFICATION OF BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

4. RATIFICATION OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA CONTRACTS

5. APPROVAL OF BILLS PAYABLE

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ON A VOICE VOTE

6.

COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN NICOLET COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM

Dean Lazear provided an update on current and potential articulations. She noted that the following overall articulation goals for 2010 are:

• Provide bachelor's degree completion opportunities for every associate degree offered by Nicolet.


• Provide completion opportunities (onsite, online, or distance) for place-bound students that would allow them to complete their degree while remaining in the district.


• Provide completion opportunities at in-state tuition rates.

Dean Lazear provided some examples of institutions where our students have transferred. She also noted last year's graduation speaker was Lynn (Steger) Hudson, Ph.D., currently the Director of the Office of Science Policy Analysis at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Hudson started her post-secondary education at Nicolet College. Dean Lazear talked about efforts to foster Nicolet's relationship with the University of Wisconsin System such as working more closely with UW Extension and participating in the LEAP initiative (Liberal Education and America's Promise).

7.

ACADEMIC QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (AQIP) OPTION FOR CONTINUING ACCREDITATION

President Lorbetske explained that the AQIP option for continuing accreditation offers an alternative approach to the traditional method. He noted that Nicolet is currently accredited to 2015 but that it is not too early to consider the AQIP alternative. President Lorbetske reviewed with the board a handout outlining the Principles of High Performance Organizations and asked each board member to rank Nicolet based on these principles. There was preliminary discussion on the results of this exercise and on questions posed by board members such as:

• Do we have the staffing and ability to document continuous improvement?


• Would the college benefit more from AQIP or from the traditional process?

President Lorbetske will ask the Presidents' Association to place this topic on one of their meeting agendas in order to gain some insight from those presidents whose colleges are AQIP participants.

8.

NICOLET COLLEGE STRATEGIC DIRECTION

President Lorbetske thanked board members for meeting with him individually to share their thoughts on the strategic direction of the college. He noted that board members were unanimous in their commitment to the direction(s) we have been following and unanimous in their agreement on the foundational goal of increased access. President Lorbetske shared the following thoughts that board members shared with him:

• The college needs to make learning opportunities available in all parts of the District.


• Board members identified the importance of connections with the UW System.


• Comments regarding our work with the K-12's were very complimentary, but our work could be even better


• There was emphasis on the importance of the University connection and the importance of us as an institution of higher education to look toward the development of the well-rounded citizen.


• We need to address unmet facilities needs.


• Board members were complimentary of the transfer program and the ease of transfer and acceptance of credits.


• We are dealing with a diverse population and we need to determine how to meet the needs of that diverse population.


• The college still needs to work harder at getting the word out, coupled with compliments on marketing efforts.


• There is support for what the college is doing in terms of offering programs at alternative times.


• Growth in positive image of the college is observed, but not enough has been done in terms of dealing with local governmental offices.


• More is wanted in Tomahawk.

President Lorbetske summed up the board's comments by stating that in general the college is doing the right things and should seek every opportunity to do the right things better.

Board members elaborated on some of the comments. Relative to facilities needs, President Lorbetske said this is an on-going topic at the college. We will bring this item back to the board no later than the March meeting.

9.

DISTRICT BOARDS ASSOCIATION (DBA) AD HOC COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL COLLEGE FUNDING

As reported at the last meeting, Chairman Martini was appointed to the District Boards Association (DBA) Ad Hoc Committee on Technical College Funding. Chairman Martini reported that the committee will be working on a number of different fronts to approach this issue. A number of groups also working on the same issue will be invited to join them. The committee meets again this Thursday. Chairman Martini encouraged board members to share their thoughts with him on this issue.

10.

OTHER INFORMATIONAL ITEMS OF THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENTS, AND BOARD MEMBERS

1. Board Members Marshall and Reach will attend the January meeting of the District Boards Association. President Lorbetske will attend as well.


2. Board Member Marshall will attend the Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Summit in Washington DC in February. President Lorbetske will attend as well.


3. Nicolet College will host a discussion/listening session in Eagle River on January 23rd. The purpose of the session is to hear thoughts on how the college can best work with local partners to expand and strengthen learning opportunities and to share information about college activities in the Vilas County area.


4. The February board meeting was confirmed for February 19th. The March board meeting date will be confirmed at a later date. There may not be an April board meeting because of the conflict with the Higher Learning Commission annual meeting.


5. Former board member Gina Koeppl will perform with The Timberdoodle Trio at Nicolet on January 29th at 7:30 PM.

11.

CLOSED SESSION

ALBERT MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY REACH, THAT THE NICOLET COLLEGE BOARD MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH WIS. STAT. 19.85(1)(c) FOR UPDATES ON NEGOTIATIONS AND STAFFING AND FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE PRESIDENT'S CONTRACT. ROLL CALL VOTE: ALBERT – AYE, GRAVEEN – AYE, JACOBS – AYE, KARLING – AYE, MARSHALL – AYE, MARTINI – AYE, METROPULOS – AYE, REACH – AYE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ON A ROLL CALL VOTE.

JACOBS MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY KARLING, THAT THE NICOLET
COLLEGE BOARD RETURN TO OPEN SESSION. ROLL CALL VOTE: ALBERT – AYE, GRAVEEN – AYE, JACOBS – AYE, KARLING – AYE, MARSHALL – AYE, MARTINI – AYE, METROPULOS – AYE, REACH – AYE. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ON A ROLL CALL VOTE.

12.

REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION

Chairman Martini reported that the board received updates on and discussed negotiations and staffing and discussed the renewal of the president's contract.

13.

ACTION ON THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE NICOLET AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE BOARD AND NICOLET AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE FACULTY ASSOCIATION

JACOBS MADE A MOTION, SECONDED BY ALBERT, THAT THE NICOLET COLLEGE BOARD APPROVE THE EXTENSION OF PRESIDENT LORBETSKE'S CONTRACT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2010. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY ON A VOICE VOTE.