Attendees:
Dr. Shaink – MCC President
Michael Simon - Manager, Office of the President & Board of Trustees
Troy Boquette – Dean of Enrollment Mgmt & Retention, Counseling & Student Development
Chris Engle – Registrar
Mary Cusack – Dean of Fine Arts & Social Science
Linda Rutherford – Coordinator of Technical Services, Library
Clark Harris – Dean of Technology
Johanna Brown – Dean of Science & Math
Cheryl Bassett – Chief Technology Officer, Information Technology Services
Larry Koehler – Executive Director/Architect, Physical Plant
Lt. Malcolm – Public Safety Supervisor
Lt. Becker – Coordinator Public Safety Health Services
Steve Robinson – Executive Dean; Planning, Research & Quality
Stephanie Kile –Customer Service Coordinator, Student Financial Services
Dawn Vanniman – Student Life Coordinator
Mark Kennedy – Chief Human Resources Officer
Amy Fugate – Vice President Academic Affairs
Pat Bergh – Dean of Humanities
Scott Jenkins – Vice President Student & Administrative Services
Larry Gawthrop – Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer McDonald – Executive Director of Student Financial Services
Tammy Cummings – Interim Executive Director, Systems & Operational Improvement, Student & Administrative Services
Candice Pickens – Faculty, Nursing/Interim Dean of Health Sciences
Michael Kelly – Executive Director, Public Information
Ken Martin – Director, Student Services Communications
Chuck Hayes – Dean of Business
Dolores Sharp – Executive Director, Academic Operations
Dante Dunn – Student Government President
Jessica Banks – Student Government Treasurer
Q : How does MCC handle LGBT rights and protection on campus?
A: MCC will not tolerate any discrimination or bullying of any sort toward anyone. If you have an issue, please call Public Safety at 762-0222
Q: Are there any plans for a tuition increase?
A: Last June, the Board of Trustees voted an increase, which will begin in January. With our increased enrollment we have more costs, but we try not to pass on all the expense as tuition increases. The college takes the cost internally and does budget cuts also. The increase amounts to $10.30 per contact hour. The increase in cost per contact hour only covers 40% of the cost.
Q: Only faculty and staff can park near MMB now. What are your plans to expand parking as MCC grows?
A: Well, it's $15million for another parking ramp, it comes to about $15-$20/space. In the parking survey done this fall in the first three weeks (busiest time) all but Lots A and B were only 75% - 80% full. So there are spaces not being used even at our busiest times.
Q: Faculty/Staff are parking in handicap spaces. How will you handle that?
A: If they are handicapped, they can park there. The spaces aren't just for students, they are for anyone on campus. We have more than the required amount of handicap parking spaces. But everyone wants to park in certain areas.
Q: What's up with the gates in front of Prahl?
A: The gates eliminated safety hazards for everyone. There are only about a dozen spaces for student parking in that area, so it's not a big loss of parking. We also put in the new plaza between MMB and the Library, so that it's more pedestrian.
Q: The cigarette receptacles are right next to the building doors, so smokers don't stay 25' away.
A: Smokers should be and the receptacles should be 25' away from the buildings also. Our Clio campus is no smoking already and all of our extension sites are going to smoke-free campus'. Soon our main campus will be smoke-free also. If the receptacles are moved up to the buildings, let Public Safety know and they will be moved back out 25'. Mr. Koehler will ensure it.
Q: Why is the parking structure closed between MCC and FIA?
A: The driving bridge is closed, but not the walking bridge, behind the ramp. The historical bridge is in need of repair with a cost of about $350,000. We have looked at various ways of funding, but there just isn't enough money right now. We have closed it for everyone's safety and are still looking into it.
Q: Will the extension sites have more classes offered? A larger variety?
A: There are never going to be enough classes offered at the extension sites to not have to come to main campus. The extension sites are 'feeder' sites. Classes are rotated and need to be broad-based.
Q: Is it possible to find out quicker if classes will be dropped? I had my class and work schedule set up and then a class was cancelled at the last minute and I had to rework my whole work schedule.
A: There could be. Deans wait as late as possible to see if there will be enough enrollment to keep a class open. We tell Advisors and Site Managers to 'push' students to those classes which are close in numbers.
Q: There are certain books for certain semesters – is there any way professors can make the decisions on books earlier instead of last minute?
A: Federal law requires that we give the ISBN#'s when the schedule is printed, the professor cannot switch books or tell you not to buy the books after that, it's not legal.
Q: If a professor is using book A, then in the first class they say 'don't buy it, we won't be using it'. What do we do then?
A: Report that to the Dean of the Division, it's taken very seriously.
Q: Why don't we have a recycling program at MCC?
A: We've done investigation on moving to the next level of the recycling process. We have a lot of information and are putting together a team to look at all of it. We are prepared to have a major discussion on the cost and etc. We're not that far off, you just haven't seen evidence of it yet. In the Spring, we should be beginning to roll out different kinds of recycling processes.
In energy conservation we were actually ahead of the game. We spent an estimated $8million eight years ago to set all the lights and air in the buildings to be sensitive to occupancy. We have deferred about 18% of our energy cost. In Michigan we have to break up our recycling. You don't see bottles, cans and trash on campus – we keep it clean. We are all working together.
Q: Who sets the prices on books? You buy a book for $130 and get $40 when you sell it back. Or sometimes nothing at all.
A: Books are a big business. We have no control over the cost of books, but we do work to try to reduce the costs by modifying the books. We request to have non-relevant chapters in order to get a less expensive price for our students. Faculty can also put a book on reserve in the library for free use by the students.
Q: I thought that bottle collectors were not supposed to be in student areas? A collector was in a classroom, blocking the door and I couldn't leave.
A: Remember, some of those collectors are your fellow students. Bottle collectors should not be disruptive or walk in during a class. If there is an issue, please call Public Safety at 762-0222 and give them the location and a description of the person.
Q: In Gorman, the computer labs and study rooms are sometimes not open at the times posted or the people that run them show up late.
A: The staff is on call but not assigned to the labs and study rooms, there are two student workers who are scheduled to open them. If there is a consistent issue, please let us know.
Q: Is there anything in the works for a better weight room or fitness center?
A: We are looking at how to expand that space and make it better. We've been looking at it for about five years, but it's a funding issue. We did update the equipment in the Fitness Center a few years ago. We do know that it's crowded in that small space. AQIP is looking at the health and welfare of employees and students right now. But the fact remains that it still comes down to funding.
Q: Is there ever a possibility of adding on to the arts program, theatre mostly?
A: Not at this time. We did add the Media Arts program last. A theatre program is very costly. It would also have to be a two-year program and transfer students as Juniors, typically 6-9 credits per semester.
Q: Dan Gerics, instructor, did suggest that students may be eligible for an independent study project.
Q: Is there going to be a better filtering system for classes? I have English 102, which has a prerequisite of English 101; but some of the students still can't write a complete sentence.
A: We do have a strong developmental program, but we do not have mandatory placement for anything but math right now. Literacy across the nation is down. We are working on mandatory placement for reading and writing. AQIP teams have studied data on the lack of preparedness and students taking classes they aren't ready for. We also can always use Peer Tutors in the Learning Center to assist those students who need it. We are forming a Focus Group of community and college to discuss literacy and see what programs exist in the community.
Q: What's being done to reign in the Mott Middle College kids? They're smoking, running around with their shirts off, etc.
A: Mott Middle College has been here for twenty years and is, overall, a good program. It was a drop out prevention program to begin with, but has developed into much more than that. There are a lot of times when it's not a MMC student, it's one of ours or a previous MMC student, not a current one.
Q: They walk in large groups and it's hard to get through the hallways!
A: The Student Code of Conduct applies to them as well, if you know them by name, let the Dean of the area know what's going on. They work with the MMC office and Public Safety. MMC is 9th – 13th grades. They generally have a 1.60GPA coming in to MMC and a 2.70GPA leaving it. The program does work. During 11th, 12th and 13th years; they attend MCC classes, no developmental classes for them.
In 2005 one student graduated from MCC with two associates degress and a 4.0GPA, then the next week graduated from MMC with a 3.99GPA. That student spoke at the MCC Commencement.
AQIP has done studies on behavior and college readiness. The Campus Cultural Readiness Committee has suggested ways to increase civility to the Board of Trustees. This is all college students, all ages.
We have probably suspended more students here and there than you know of. So we're not just ignoring it.
MMC now has an orientation process for students and parents.
Q: Why do we have to take Algebra for everything? I'm in Early Childhood, I don't need it.
A: By learning Algebra, it enables you to see patterns and you can share that with your young students! It's organizational and bonds the two parts of your brain. If you show kids that you love math, they'll enjoy it too. Also, the ECED Program Coordinator requires Algebra, you can speak to Mrs. Garske about it too.
Q: Do we have a dress code?
A: No, we are not the fashion police.
Q: I'm an FSU student, but want to do work study because I'm on campus in Flint. Can I do something at MCC?
A: Work Study is only for the college that you're attending by federal regulations.
If you haven't seen the video on the Aspen Award, please go watch it on YouTube or the MCC Facebook page.
Students would like to thank Public Safety, they make the campus friendly and safe. Kudos to you!
We do have an Emergency Response Team on campus, there are about 150 employees who are on the team in cases of campus emergency.