NOC Board of Regents hear reports, begin next round of financial planning

TONKAWA — The Northern Oklahoma College Board of Regents met on Wednesday at its monthly meeting at NOC Tonkawa.

Chair Dale DeWitt presided over the meeting with Regents Jeff Cowan, Jodi Cline and Stan Brownlee present and Regent Chad Dillingham absent.

The regents heard a program showcase from Troy Cochran, Social Science faculty. He highlighted the NOC criminal justice society’s research project on Bonnie and Clyde’s burglary on the NOC Enid campus, formerly Phillips University, in 1933. Cochran has made several campus and community presentations receiving great publicity regarding the research.

Board action included approving additional FY2020 academic service fees that will be submitted to the State Regents for consideration; monthly financial reports for December 2018 and January 2019; and monthly Section 13/New College Fund 600-650 allocation requests.

During regents’ comments, Regent Jodi Cline complimented the NOC Roustabouts for a great performance during their NOC Tonkawa Homecoming Show.

During the administrators’ monthly updates, Vice President for Enrollment Management Dr. Rick Edgington shared the spring 2019 preliminary enrollment report, which showed a six percent decrease in headcount and seven percent decrease in credit hour production. He shared that overall enrollment within the state higher education system is down.

Anita Simpson, Vice President for Financial Affairs, notified the board that NOC has started planning for next year’s budget and has set up budget review hearings with division chairs and vice presidents in the coming months. She also shared a summary of residence halls occupancy and meal plan options in Tonkawa and Enid.

During the president’s monthly report, Dr. Cheryl Evans shared that NOC is in active search for the vacant vice president for NOC Stillwater position. She commented that Higher Education Day at the Capitol was very productive with PLC students attending from each campus. She shared the 2019 higher education legislative agenda along with the College’s economic impact report from the State Chamber. Evans also updated the board on the industrial hemp pilot project.

In other reports, Simpson provided an update on the new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system called Jenzabar One from Jenzabar, Inc., which will replace the POISE system currently in use. It has been nearly 30 years since the College has installed a new software system.

Dr. Pam Stinson, Vice President for Academic Affairs, provided an update on the strategic plan 2019-2025.

Next scheduled meeting will be March 13 at NOC Stillwater.