WCCCD, Board of Trustees - IN PERSON ONLY!

Wayne County Community College District
Education

Wednesday, July 17, 2024
6:30 p.m. EDT

View meeting details

Add to iCal

Add to Google Calendar

801 W Fort St Detroit, MI 48226 (Directions)

IN-PERSON ONLY MEETING!

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Shaheda Jenkins

The board heard presentations on the Summer Water Research Project and the successes of the college’s paralegal program, and discussed efforts to make hybrid learning easier.

View notes
Live reporting by Nathaniel Eichenhorn

The board heard presentations on the Summer Water Research Project and the successes of the college’s paralegal program, and discussed efforts to make hybrid learning easier.

Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit
Good Evening #Detroit !
I will be live tweeting the WCCCD Board of Directors meeting today at 6:30 for #DetroitDocumenters @DetDocumenters media partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @MichiganRadio @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

05:01 PM Jul 17, 2024 CDT

Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 2/56
Here's the agenda for your perusal. Sorry for the photo, no pdf available.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 3/56
We're in the room and waiting for the meeting to start
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 4/56
Straight up packed in here
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 6/56
The meeting was called to order at 6:31
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 7/56
The minutes were approved unanimously
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 8/56
First up there going to hear from the Educational Affairs and Student Services Standing Committee
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 9/56
They're*! What a shameful mistake😰
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 10/56
The presenter is talking about the school leveraging technology to adapt to a post-COVID environment if hybrid online/in person learning.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 11/56
This includes making technology easier to take advantage of, specifically utilizing Learning Resource Centers to coordinate things like streaming videos to classrooms, digital access to the library, and similar efforts
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 12/56
Curtis Ivery, seated next to the chair, asked after the card catalogs he was "used to" from years ago. The presenter responded that they have a place "in our hearts" eliciting laughter from the room.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 13/56
This is my first WCCCD Board of Trustees meeting, and I admit I'm surprised by a few things.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 14/56
Chairperson Vernon Allen commented on the importance of distance learning and asked to hear more about it from the presenters. They responded that support services for distance learning are developing, and gave some examples
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 15/56
Chairperson Allen asked about Veterans services, and how they have improved since the last meeting. Response: we're making the programs and opportunities for veterans "louder". That is, it is believed that veterans who are students remain unaware of the offerings.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 16/56
The board and presenters are discussing the difficulty some students have understanding the exact contours of the Pell Grant system
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 17/56
Allen explained that if a student qualifies for the Pell Grant, the Grant will replace tuition, but if they do not qualify, tuition is waived.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 18/56
This has led to some confusion among students who have somewhat misunderstood the promise of "free tuition" that may have led them to choose WCCCD.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 19/56
Chairperson Allen commended Gov. Whitmer for her efforts on behalf of education in Michigan.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 20/56
He goes on to say that there needs to be more clarity about the Pell Grant "free tuition" policy, as even he himself has trouble explaining it. He suggests coordinating with the financial aid office, and says he is going to meet with reps from the State government next week.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 21/56
The report was adopted unanimously and now the Finance/Personnel/facilities Standing Committee
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 22/56
The presenter said that the higher than average Fed rate has made investments more complex. Nonetheless, tuition is up.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 23/56
The school is campaigning for a grant that funds updating emergency services with technology to streamline emergency response in district buildings
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 24/56
The tuition revenue increase is over $2 million more than expected
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 25/56
The expenditures dune the last meeting are in line with expectations
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 26/56
That is to say, actual expenditures are in line with budget expectations
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 27/56
Having heard that report, The Committee of the Whole has adjourned and reconstituted itself as the full board
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 28/56
The board is now hearing about HVAC updates to various campus buildings. I'm not sure where this is on the agenda, and I'm not sure if this is part of the Finance/personally etc committee. I don't know why they adjourned the COW if they haven't completed the agenda item
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 29/56
Sorry about the terrible quality, I'm in the back of the room.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 30/56
Allen says that the high costs seen on the slide is reflective of "startup costs" of the Pathways program, and that costs will go down.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 31/56
A motion has been made on item I 11, which is for raising the millage to pay for parking lot improvements. It passed unanimously
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 32/56
All reports in agenda section J were accepted and filed unanimously
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 33/56
Now the board is hearing a presentation from Dr. Christian Nwamba about the 2024 Summer Water Research Project
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 34/56
After thanking Chancellor Ivery for his efforts on behalf of the program, Dr. Nwamba explained how this program is intensive, and is more superficially similar to a graduate program, as opposed to an undergraduate or survey course.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 35/56
Several students in the program are now coming forward to praise the program and thank the board
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 36/56
The students have been conducting open-ended research centered around the Detroit River
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 37/56
Several of the students have thanked Chancellor Ivery by name
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 38/56
One student studied the levels of E. Coli in the river, another studied levels of heavy metals, etc
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 39/56
There are 8 students total standing in this room, before the conference table, and one by one describing their research, and then thanking the board and the Chancellor.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 40/56
Dr. Nwamba is praising the website for the program, describing it as "accessible instantly all over the world" and saying it puts the school "on the map"
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 41/56
He says that their research has led to a beach closing due to high E. coli levels, and praises the research program for helping people who may have otherwise been exposed to unsafe water
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 42/56
Dr. Nwamba thanked the board and concluded his presentation. Trustee Rahman praised the program and Dr. Nwamba.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 43/56
Dr. William McConico is now presenting about the paralegal program at the college
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 44/56
Tasked with improving the paralegal program, Dr McConico held a series of popular symposia on important local issues in the law
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 45/56
such a domestic violence law, the ins and outs of jury duty, and one examining police violence against Black people, and the curious dearth of such incidents in the Detroit PD
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 46/56
He emphasized the focus on practical applications in the symposia and classes, and described how many of the students in the class gained employment in the field.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 47/56
Dr. McConico is highlighting the accomplishments of individual students, including one who works now at a prominent firm, and another who became a clerk Dr. McConico himself
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 48/56
He described a high number of students entering the professional workforce and "entering the middle class"
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 49/56
He said that the program has become so successful that they have had to develop strategies for students to actually finish the program before being recruited out.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 50/56
It seems Administrative Law courses have been cut across the country because the entire field has been rendered obsolete by the Supreme Court. He suggests expanding the paralegal program to fill the holes left by the loss of an entire field of law being destroyed
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 51/56
The board is moving on to individual trustee reports, that so far have consisted of thanking the presenters and praising the shorter meeting format.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 52/56
Chancellor Ivery described an program put on by the American Legion to teach kids about the American political process and suggested a similar program for the college.
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 53/56
The meeting was adjourned at 8:06pm
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 55/56
Well folks, this closes my coverage of the WCCCD board meeting for July 17. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings at
documenters.org
Nachum Eichenhorn @NachumDetroit 56/56
If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line
View thread

Attachments

Document Document
By Shaheda Jenkins 7/17/2024
QR code for WELCOME WCCCD Detroit River Water Research 2024 QR code for WELCOME WCCCD Detroit River Water Research 2024
By Shaheda Jenkins 7/17/2024
Transcript and recording
By Noah Kincade 7/17/2024
7/17/2024 WCCCD Board Meeting
By Shiva Shahmir 7/17/2024

Agency Information

Wayne County Community College District

www.wcccd.edu

(313) 496-2600

See Documenters reporting

The story of Wayne County Community College District is one of continuing growth and innovation in providing educational training and leadership for the metropolitan region. The College was established in 1967 by the Legislature of the State of Michigan, and its initial seven-member Board of Trustees was elected the following year: The first operating budget was based on a $1,000,000 grant from the State of Michigan, as well as a $300,000 stipend from New Detroit, Inc., and anticipated student tuition payments at that time.

WCCCD’s five campuses are located in industrial, rural and metropolitan areas where a major share of Michigan’s technical and skilled occupations is located. Because of the diversity of its service areas, WCCCD places a strong emphasis on occupational and career programs, and traditional college and university transfer programs, including those within the liberal arts discipline.

Documents

No documents available

More from this agency

WCCCD, Board of Trustees

Wayne County Community College District

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024

6:30 p.m. EDT

WCCCD, Board of Trustees

Wayne County Community College District

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024

6:30 p.m. EST

See more