At their monthly meeting Chemeketa’s Board of Education members reviewed planned program suspension and additions, policy updates and winter term enrollment numbers. 

The board consists of seven elected members of the public, members of the Executive Team and other leaders from around campus.  

The elected board members, opening with a Land Acknowledgement in respect to the Kalapuya heritage of the area, first reported their formal event attendance since the last board meeting before receiving various project updates. 

No public comments were made, but Chair Neva Hutchison announced the board received a list of questions from the Classified Association, “…separate from the public comment process.” 

Federal compliance audit  

First hearing from Kenneth Kuhns, a certified public accountant of Kenneth Kuhns and Company, he described conducting a Federal Single Audit Report of Chemeketa’s expenditures of federally provided funds, “to determine if the expenditures were proper and controls were proper.” Specifically, the firm analyzed the COVID cluster and the Student Financial Assistance cluster in the 2022/2023 fiscal year. 

Announcing the firm’s final opinion, “You did indeed comply with federal rules and regulations, and that’s what’s in this report; a clean audit.”

Annual presidential review

The board then provided a brief update on the annual presidential review, discussing a few of the components that will be considered such as movement on strategic initiatives and goals set by the president at the beginning of the academic year. 

“It’s a very comprehensive process…a thorough examination based on several different forms and so forth [that] we evaluate,” said Diane Watson of Zone Six. 

Digital Access Policy

Next came the announcement of a new proposed policy for the college within the Compliance Series, Policy #1762: Digital Access Policy. 

Dean of Student Accessibility and Testing Services Karen Alexander said, “Implementation of [this] college policy will allow students and community members who use the…technology to access college web pages, documents, course content and exams and media in an equally effective and integrated manner.” 

Interim Dean of Academic Innovation Layli Liss said that, “Work on digital accessibility has been taking place for over five years…we have laid the groundwork to provide resources to our faculty, as well as our staff, that will be needing support.” 

The proposed policy comes in the wake of a finalized Department of Education rule that sets minimum standards for digital access; the rule disallows discrimination on the basis of disability regarding, “Accessibility of web information and services of state and local government entities,” said Alexander. Chemeketa is an agency to which this rule applies under Title II of the Americans with Disability Act. 

Proposed program suspensions and degree/certificate additions

David Hallet, vice-president of academic and student affairs, then introduced several presentations. “We’re bringing forward a total of eight proposed suspensions and six new degrees and certificates,” Hallet announced. 

“We’ve worked really hard to make sure that there will be no negative impacts to students. All of the proposed suspensions will have teach-out options, and programs are working directly with students to ensure progression and completion.”

Some of the proposed program suspensions have comparable equivalents, like the Associate of Science Oregon Transfer – Computer Science degree. Some are being suspended with the intention of revamping and reintroducing them, such as the Fire Prevention Associate of Applied Science degree. 

As for the additions, some are newly formed certificates such as the Tax Preparation and Governmental Accounting Certificates of Completion. As for a few others, the Social Services Certificate of Completion and Addiction Counselor Certification Preparation Certificate of Completion are realignments of some of the proposed suspensions. 

Providing a myriad of reasons to suspend and add the proposed, Hallet and those making presentations referenced program needs, further transparency on prerequisite needs, and input regarding occupational demands in the area. 

A  full list of proposed program suspension, and degree/certificate additions can be found on the meeting agenda. And a further breakdown of each of the proposals can be found in the recording of the board meeting. 

Personnel report

During the Personnel Report provided by Vice President of Governance and Administration Alice Sprague, she announced nine new hires, including one grant funded position. 

Sprague also took time to remember Mason Stokes, a member of the Institutional Research and Reporting department, who passed away on March 29, 2024. Stokes was, “a vital part of that department,” she said. 

CFO reports

Chief Financial Officer Aaron Hunter provided board members with a Budget Status report, a report on General Fund expenditures and a Status of Investments report within their Board Report packets. A few highlights were reviewed by Hunter before moving on to the next agenda item. 

Enrollment update

President Howard tagged in Director of Institutional Research and Reporting Colton Christian to present the winter term enrollment update. On the final slide of Christian’s presentation were the key takeaways: headcount was down 3% compared to winter term in 2023, but FTE, or Full Time Equivalent, was up 4%. 

Recognition report

President Howard then handed down recognition for various campus achievements. Arguably the most exciting for students, the Diesel Technology program was honored by Daimler Truck North America’s Get Ahead program, rating Chemeketa fifteenth out of almost 300 programs around the country. 

Chemeketa’s Board of Education meeting schedule for the remainder of the academic year, as well as links to live broadcasts, can be found on Chemeketa’s website.