The Seminole State College Board of Regents convened Feb. 21 for their monthly meeting. The Board awarded emeritus status to five former employees, approved a program modification to the Business Technology Associate in Applied Science and approved the resignation of Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Tom Mills.

During the President’s Report to the Board, President Reynolds gave updates on personnel, campus events, financial aid and legislative matters.

President Reynolds also discussed the recent submission of Dr. Mills’ letter of resignation. Dr. Mills has accepted a position as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Tarrant County College – Trinity River Campus, located in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Mills plans to remain on campus through May 17, 2019. The Board approved Dr. Mills’ resignation.

“This is an excellent opportunity for Dr. Mills, but, a loss for us,” President Reynolds said. “Tarrant County is a very large and well-respected college in the Texas Community College System.  Serving as the Vice President for Academics for this campus will be a great fit for Dr. Mills and a nice career advancement.

“Dr. Mills has served Seminole State College in a variety of roles over the past 16 years – ranging from coach to classroom instructor – and as an administrator of both athletes and academics.  We appreciate his service and wish him much success as he takes on this new role.”

Under the business agenda, the board approved a request to grant honorary emeritus status to five former SSC employees: Annette Barnes, Dan Factor, Dawna Hamm, Gerhard Laule and Beverly Williams.

Barnes served in education for almost 30 years — 17 of those years at SSC. From 2011 to her retirement in 2015, she served as a Math Instructor and the Math, Science and Engineering Division Chair. Factor served SSC for 17 years as the Coordinator of Police at Seminole State College. During his time at the college, he focused on courtesy services, emergency response, criminal investigations and maintaining a safe campus. Hamm served the College for 27 years. During that time, she held the positions of Business Instructor and Business and Information Systems Division Chair. Laule spent 25 years at SSC as a Chemistry Instructor, and for four years he served as the Math, Science and Engineering Division Chair. Williams served the College for 20 years as a Biology Instructor. She also served as the Vice Chair of the Math, Science and Engineering Division for many years.            

SSC Policy on Emeritus status states that the Seminole State College Board of Regents, at its discretion, may honor recommendations of the President granting retired faculty, administrators, or professional staff members emeritus status after retirement.  In evaluating candidates for this honorary status, consideration may be given to length of service, special recognitions and activities, and similar items related to performance.

Two items were approved under the consent agenda. First, the Board approved a program modification for the Business Technology Associate in Applied Science, which now will be submitted to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Secondly, the Board approved a report on the 2018-2019 ETS Proficiency Test.

Board members present at the March meeting were: Chair Marci Donaho, Curtis Morgan, Ray McQuiston, Paige Sherry and Kim Hyden.

The next SSC Board of Regents meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 28, 2019.