Newly appointed Regent Ryan Pitts was sworn in at the Seminole State College Board of Regents meeting on Aug. 20. Continue reading “New SSC Regent Sworn in at August Board Meeting”
Category Board of Regents
Pitts Appointed to SSC Board of Regents
Ryan Pitts, J.D., was recently appointed to the Seminole State College Board of Regents by Governor Kevin Stitt. Pitts will serve from July 27, 2020 to July 1, 2023. He is completing the remainder of former Regent Paige Sherry’s term. Sherry stepped down in the spring when her husband, Jack Sherry, was appointed to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to avoid a conflict of interest. Continue reading “Pitts Appointed to SSC Board of Regents”
SSC Regents Approve Mask Requirement Amid COVID-19 Concerns
The Seminole State College Board of Regents approved a measure that would make the wearing of face coverings mandatory on campus at their meeting on July 23.
To open the meeting, Seminole attorney Ed Cadenhead administered the oath of office for Chair Curtis Morgan. Morgan was recently reappointed by Governor Kevin Stitt. His new seven-year term as a Regent will conclude on July 1, 2027. Continue reading “SSC Regents Approve Mask Requirement Amid COVID-19 Concerns”
SSC Regents Appoint Goeller as Vice President for Academic Affairs
At their meeting on May 21, the Seminole State College Board of Regents appointed Dr. Linda Goeller as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and approved the holiday schedule for the 2020-2021 academic year.
The meeting was conducted using the Go-To-Meeting video-conferencing application. Continue reading “SSC Regents Appoint Goeller as Vice President for Academic Affairs”
Morgan Reappointed to SSC Board of Regents
Seminole County Resident Curtis Morgan has been reappointed by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to serve on the Seminole State College Board of Regents. The appointment was confirmed by the Oklahoma State Senate Education Committee on May 12 using video conferencing software and sent to the Oklahoma State Senate for final approval. The nomination was carried by Senator Joe Newhouse (R-Broken Arrow). Morgan’s new seven-year term as a Regent will conclude on July 1, 2027. Continue reading “Morgan Reappointed to SSC Board of Regents”
SSC Regents Approve Emeritus Status for Four Former Employees
At their meeting on April 9, the Seminole State College Board of Regents revised a policy regarding administrative leave and approved emeritus status for four former employees.
The meeting was conducted using the Go To Meeting video conferencing application.
To open the meeting, President Lana Reynolds informed the Board about the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on campus and reported on online instruction and availability of labs to students. She stated more than 75 percent of employees are working from home. She reported that business office operations have been uninterrupted and enrollment for future terms is underway.
With the first action item on the agenda, the Board ratified changes to Board Policy II-4-19 regarding administrative leave. The changes expand the College’s ability to extend such leave for absences beyond instances dealing with inclement weather.
The Board then granted emeritus status to four former SSC employees recommended by President Reynolds. The four former employees recognized were Maintenance Services Coordinator Kelly Chastain, Associate Professor of Life Sciences Dave Helseth, Enrollment Management Advisor Cynthia Yerby and the late Paula Rutledge, who served the College as the Math, Science and Engineering Division Chair and a Math Instructor.
Chastain began at SSC part-time, and was quickly hired into a full-time position in 1988. He held his role in the maintenance department until his retirement in 2011. In that time, he served as an HVAC tech, maintenance tech, maintenance coordinator, and eventually oversaw the maintenance department. For several years, he was the sole maintenance tech on campus.
Helseth began as an adjunct instructor at SSC in 2001 and became full-time in 2006. He taught microbiology and biology and also served as division chair for his department. Prior to SSC, he served as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Family of Faith College in College, where he also taught high school science. In 1990, he retired as a U.S. Army officer.
Rutledge began at SSC in 2000 and passed away while actively employed in 2011. She worked at the college as a math instructor and also served as chair for the Math, Science and Engineering Division in 2006. She formerly taught at East Central University for 19 years.
Yerby began at SSC in 1978. During her 31 years, she served as a recruiter, a cheerleader sponsor, sponsor of the Native American Student Association and Student Services Coordinator. For 28 of those years, she served as the sponsor for the Student Government Association.
The final phase one project for a Guaranteed Performance Contract with Energy Solutions Professionals (ESP) was approved by the Board. A committee comprised of SSC Regents Curtis Morgan, Kim Hyden and Ray McQuiston, along with Vice President Tony Crouch and President Reynolds, have been working on this energy savings proposal with representatives of ESP over the past several months. Upon a full audit of the campus, ESP developed an energy savings and maintenance plan. When implemented, these recommendations will help SSC drastically reduce costs in the coming years as well as address long-needed maintenance and repair issues. One of the main expenses reported in the evaluation were costs associated with the campus pool – which currently needs many updates and repairs. One of primary issues is the need for a ventilation process to be installed in the natatorium at an estimated cost of $270,000. Necessary repairs to the building’s roof could not be done without addressing the ventilation problem, if the pool were to remain open. Roof repairs for the area with the most damage between the gym and natatorium were estimated to cost $220,00. Roof repairs for the entire building are estimated at $590,000. There are additional issues with the pool operation, including minor leaks in the 40-year-old underground piping and a crack in the bottom of the pool due to concrete deterioration.
“After much painful consideration, I am authorizing the closure of the SSC swimming pool,” President Reynolds said. “It is my hope that over time, the natatorium area maybe refitted and upgraded to provide alternate outlets for physical exercise.”
With the last item on the action agenda, the Board accepted the resignation of Vice President for Fiscal Affairs Tony Crouch. Crouch will be taking a position at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. His resignation will be effective April 30.
“Vice President Crouch has served this institution well and will be greatly missed. We are pleased to share in his excitement about his new position at a private four-year college in Kansas,” President Reynolds said.
Upon the recommendation of the President, the Board named Human Resources Director Courtney Jones as Interim Vice President for Fiscal Affairs.
“Ms. Jones is very capable of overseeing this area and has previously handled many of the VPFA duties on a temporary basis. She is a very intelligent and trusted member of our administrative team,” President Reynolds said.
Since 2009, Jones has served as SSC’s Human Resources Director. Prior to that role, she held the position of GEAR Up Advisor for one year.
Two items were then approved on the consent agenda from the Academic Affairs area. First, the Board approved a request to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to offer the current Business A.S. degree online. Secondly, the Board approved a request to replace two outdated courses in the Associate of Computer Science program.
Board members present at the meeting were: Chair Curtis Morgan, Bryan Cain, Marci Donaho, Kim Hyden, Ryan Franklin and Paige Sherry. The next meeting of the SSC Board of Regents is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2020.
SSC Regents Approve Social Media Policy and Tenure for Professor
At their meeting on Feb. 20, the Seminole State College Board of Regents approved tenure for a faculty member and adopted a social media policy for the College.
During the President’s Report, Reynolds informed the Board about recent activities and events at the College.
With the first action item on the agenda, the Board approved tenure for Assistant Professor of Life Science Theran Hernandez. Hernandez was recommended for tenure by Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Linda Goeller. Hernandez began working for SSC in 2011 as part of the TRiO program and quickly thereafter transitioned to the role of coordinator for the Upward Bound Program. In 2012, she became an Educational Talent Search Advisor and also served as an adjunct instructor. She was hired as a full-time faculty member in 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Langston University, a Master of Science from Grand Canyon University and a Master of Science from the University of Nebraska in Kearney. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Langston University.
The Board then approved the second action item on the agenda, a social media policy for the College. This policy was established to comply with Senate Bill 198, which passed during the 2019 Legislative Session. Senate Bill 198 requires all state agencies to adopt a social networking policy to discourage abusive or offensive online behavior by employees, on state time and using state resources.
SSC’s new policy reads, “All Seminole State College employees are discouraged from sharing content or creating comments on social media containing the following: obscene sexual content or links to obscene sexual content; abusive behavior and bullying language or tone; any unwelcomed discriminatory or harassing statements or images based on a protected characteristic that are so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively bars the victim’s access to an educational opportunity or benefit; conduct or encouragement of illegal activity; and disclosure of information which an agency and its employees are required to keep confidential by law, regulation or internal policy.”
Board members present at the meeting were: Chair Curtis Morgan, Marci Donaho, Kim Hyden, Ray McQuiston and Paige Sherry.
The next meeting of the SSC Board of Regents is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2020.
Politics and Baseball
Former Trojans, Oklahoma State Senator Darcy Jech of Kingfisher (left) and SSC Board Chair Curtis Morgan (right) visit with their coach Lloyd Simmons (center) during a Higher Ed Day luncheon last week in Oklahoma City. Senator Jech played baseball for then Seminole Junior College the first year that Simmons coached the Trojans. Morgan was on Simmons’ NJCAA World Series teams in 1980 and 1981, when he received the National MVP award and the Trojans finished as runner-up. The trio were part of a delegation of Seminole State College community and campus leaders showing Legislators grassroots support for Higher Education funding.
SSC Delegation Attends Higher Ed Day
Seminole State College student Kimberly Cotter spoke to state leaders during the “Higher Education Day” program at the Capitol in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Feb. 11. She, alongside students Ruth Herman, East Central University, and Natanya Hernandez, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, shared how higher education at Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities has positively impacted their lives. A large delegation of campus and community leaders representing Seminole State College attended. The event, sponsored by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE), is held annually to demonstrate grassroots support for Higher Education funding. Continue reading “SSC Delegation Attends Higher Ed Day”
SSC Regents Convene for January Meeting
At their meeting on January 21, the Seminole State College Board of Regents approved a revision to a policy regarding the reappointment of personnel and reviewed the terms of President Lana Reynolds’ employment.
During the President’s Report, Reynolds informed the Board about recent activities and events at the College. The President also provided Board members with a 2019 Year-in-Review. Continue reading “SSC Regents Convene for January Meeting”