WCC Board of Trustees Met on Wednesday, May 14, 2025

WCC Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, May 14, 2025

 

Wilkesboro, N.C. – The Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at the John A Walker Center, Orchestra Room, Wilkesboro, NC.

 

The business session began with the approval of the minutes from the April 10, 2025, Board of Trustee meeting.

 

College President’s Report

 

Dr. Rodgers honored Kim Faw, Vice President of Student Services and Instructional Support, for 34 years of dedicated service to WCC, the students, and the community. As Kim enters retirement, we want to wish her the best. She will be missed but her legacy will live on at WCC.

 

Enrollment Update Spring 2025 Curriculum Enrollment is up 6.4%. Workforce Development and Community Education (WDCE) is still in progress. Once WDCE enrollment is final, we will provide an update on spring FTE. Currently, summer and fall 2025 enrollment is tracking up. Enrollment in new coursework slated to come online in fall 2025 is strong and the new pathways should prove positive in relation to enrollment and FTE.

 

SACSCOC Update

 

The SACSCOC Offsite Review Committee has complete its review of the WCC Compliance Report. The committee and SACSCOC VP Liaison were complimentary of WCC’s submission. Their findings show non-compliance in seven (7) areas: 7 areas of non-compliance – 6.1 – Full-time Faculty – 6.2.a – Faculty Qualifications – 6.2.b – Number of Full-time Faculty – 8.1 – Student Achievement – 10.6 – Distance and Correspondence Education – 13.6 – Title IV and Financial Audits – 14.1 – Representation of Accreditation Status

 

The average number of non-compliance areas range between 13 and 15. The college has reviewed these findings and has already begun the process of completing a Focused Report in response. Each of these should require minimal explanation to clarify; therefore, we are planning to submit the focused report on July 11, 2025, well before the August 4 due date. WCC is on track to host the onsite committee in September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Budget Update

 

WCC is currently tracking the state and county budget process. We are waiting on the House budget to be released. Meetings have been held with all county commissioners in Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany to outline inflationary adjustments, salary, and supplement increases submitted to all counties. The Wilkes County Supplement was included in the overall general budget as requested. The Wilkes County budget work sessions are slated to begin on May 14 at 1 pm. This year’s recommended Wilkes County appropriation for Wilkes Community College is $4,144,956. The recommended budget is $3,578,956 for current expenses, $200,000 for capital outlay, and $366,000 for salary supplement. This year’s recommended appropriation reflects a 5% decrease in operation funding

 

 

Buildings and Grounds

 

Approval of Storm Drain Repair/Renovation Project

 

Mr. Arnold Lakey, Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee, advised the board that over the past several years, a sink hole has formed adjacent to the Billie & Larry P. Watson Command Center (former Bldg. 7) as the result of corroded galvanized storm drain piping and excess water flow during heavy rain. The problem was exacerbated by Hurricane Helene. One of the damaged pipes runs under the building, and there is a fear that the building foundation could eventually be compromised. A civil engineer was engaged to determine the best option for repairing the damaged storm drains and to ensure that water flow will not damage the building. The most likely solution will include re-routing the storm drain around the rear of the building and filling/abandoning the piping that runs under the building. The college submitted a repair funding request as part of the FEMA recovery program for Hurricane Helene. After much review and analysis, the funding request was denied. The estimated cost provided by the engineer was $459,971. Because the cutoff for State Construction monitoring is $500,000, and to provide flexibility if bids are higher than expected, the recommended project budget is $600,000. Funding for the project will come from state capital funds. The building and grounds committee recommended, and the board approved the Bille & Larry P. Watson Command Center (formerly Bldg. 7) storm drain repair/renovation project in the amount of $600,000, and the committee was given authority to select the engineer for the project and to report the selection at the next trustee meeting.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program & Planning

 

Approval of Revised Polices 5.2.1- Attendance for Curriculum Programs, 5.2.2- Withdrawal from Curriculum Courses, and 5.2.7- Curriculum Prerequisites

 

Dr. Pam Scott advised the board that the Program and Planning Committee is asking the board for approval of policy updates to policies 5.2.1- Attendance for Curriculum Programs, 5.2.2- Withdrawal from Curriculum Courses, and 5.2.7- Curriculum Prerequisites. WCC is requesting updates as recommended by Financial Aid, Student Services, and the Instructional Division, and recently approved by the Academic Council and the Program and Planning Committee. While these updates do not represent major changes, they aim to clarify attendance-related policies to ensure compliance with federal financial aid requirements. Additionally, these changes reflect the discontinuation of the RISE developmental education model, which resulted from a recent NCCCS Developmental Education Alignment Project. The board of trustees approved recommended updates to policies 5.2.1, 5.2.2, and 5.2.7.

 

 

Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties and beyond. Established in 1965, WCC has a proud history of meeting the educational, cultural, and workforce needs of our community. As we look to the future, Wilkes Community College provides programs, resources, and services that create quality educational, economic development, and cultural opportunities. WCC aspires to be an effective, learner-centered institution and a dynamic learning organization, preparing students for success in a changing world.

 

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