Seward County Community College
The Seward County Community College Board of Trustees prepped for the upcoming academic year at the regular monthly meeting — and they started by attending class in the form of a board workshop provided by the Kansas Association of School Boards. The 90-minute workshop covered all the basics of how elected boards function in the state of Kansas, including a review of recent legislative updates affecting higher education.
Longtime trustee, SCCC Board Chair Ron Oliver, thanked facilitator Dr. Steve Karlin of the Kansas Association of School Boards, noting how it’s great training for experienced board members as well as newly elected trustee Kelly Hill.
With the national search for the newly-created role of Associate Vice President of Athletics wrapping up, President Brad Bennett provided a quick update on Saints Athletics.
“We are just over a month away from home athletic contests and the fall 2024 rosters for women’s volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s soccer have all been announced. as of now because of the Kansas initiative we are looking at increased numbers of home-grown talent with close to 20 Kansans on our fall rosters,” Bennett said.
Men’s soccer will open its season Aug. 25 at Liberal High School, and women’s soccer will host Hutchinson Community College Sept. 4, also at Redskin Field.
Men’s and women’s basketball teams wrapped up their summer session with the women’s team going 7-0 and men’s team going 12-2 across two weekends of action against NJCAA competition. On the men’s side Lovasoa Andriatsarafara was invited to a Top-100 Juco event in Phoenix and will compete against other top junior college talent during the week of July 15.
SCCC Foundation Director Teresa Randle provided an update about the recent outpouring of community support, which has the staff working through tons of agreements. In all, the foundation will have received more than $1 million in new donor funding by the time the paperwork wraps up.
“I’d like to compliment Teresa,” said trustee John Engel, who also serves on the foundation board. “She has jumped in with both feet and is doing a great job.”
Board grants selective approval for alcohol service at campus rental events
SCCC’s rental and event spaces may now allow serving of alcohol on a limited, case-by-case basis, following an update to Policy 509: Public Use of Facilities. In an unusual split vote, trustees approved the policy change with vice-chair Marvin Chance Jr., Hill, Dustin Ormiston, Casey Mein, and Keeley Moree in favor, and chair Ron Oliver and Engel against.
The vote followed a three-month research and discussion process including review by SCCC legal counsel Shirla McQueen.
The updated policy reads as follows:
“All of the SCCC buildings are non-smoking facilities, except under special circumstances provided by Kansas law. Alcoholic liquors, including beer, and wine, and controlled substances shall not be consumed or used on SCCC property, except that, pursuant to K.S.A. 41-719, the Board of Trustees of SCCC may exempt from the provisions of this policy specified property which is under the control of such board and which is not used for classroom instruction, where alcoholic liquor may be consumed in accordance with the policies adopted by such board.”
Committee recommends naming for Adult Education facility
Following a donation of $30,000 from Liberal resident and SCCC Adult Education alumni Mary Lloyd, the College formed an advisory committee on naming opportunities for the Adult Education Center. Members are Dr. Katie Reck (Director of Adult Education), Rachel Coleman (Executive Director of Marketing and Public Relations), Teresa Randle (SCCC Foundation Executive Director), and Maddie Day (Vice President of Business Affairs). The Advisory Committee requested, screened and recommended appropriate names and identified areas that can be designated for gifts, based upon the size of the gifts.
Advisory Committee submitted a written recommendation with supporting documentation to the SCCC president. Supporting documentation is attached. Any names and signage to be placed will be approved by the foundation and administration for recommendation and brought to the Board of Trustees for final approval at the soonest available regular meeting. No signage will be recommended that will be discriminatory or project a negative image about the College or associated activities.
Administration recommends acceptance of the list of naming opportunities and gift amounts for the Mary & Dallas Lloyd Adult Education Center, which the board unanimously approved.
In other business:
• The board approved renewal of the college’s athletic Insurance through Al Shank insurance and Zurich Insurance. The 2024 policy comes with a zero dollar increase and no changes in benefits or rates for both the base and the catastrophic policies.
• The board approved an updated, 17-page drug policy for student athletes. The document outlines minimum parameters for student-athlete testing and treatment if needed. “We will randomly test 10 percent of our student athletes weekly through the entire year,” Bennett said. “Drug testing will start in August, and all student athletes will be required to sign the agreement for this,” he said.
• Following a resolution of intent approved June 17, and an open bid process, the board approved an agreement of a capital lease with Bank of Beaver City for financing in the amount of $2 million with a maximum cost of $2,961,977.11, pending the protest period through July 25.
• As required by law, the board voted to designate an official newspaper for publication of legal notices. The High Plains Daily Leader was identified as the official publication for SCCC.
• Administration outlined implementation of new items required by Title IX. This includes adding lactation rooms across campus and implementing new provisions for students who are pregnant and must take leave. According to new provision hey may return at the same point in the semester.
