Despite fate’s best attempts to turn the Allen Community College board of trustee meeting upside down, Allen’s campus will see some big improvements.
The meeting began with Harvey Rogers filling in as chairman due to Neal Barclay’s absence. The board had a quorum until later in the night when trustee Larry Manes became ill and was taken to the hospital by trustee member Spencer Ambler.
Manes was able to return for the latter part of the meeting.
All agenda items that required a motion were skipped until Ambler returned.
After Ambler’s return the board approved a bid to replace the main electrical service with Shelly Electric, Emporia. It also approved bids from Mid-Continental Restoration for repairing a concrete retaining wall and steps for $13,064 and water proofing and repairing brick on Horton Hall for $13,103.
Steve Troxel said water leaks in through the brick and the bricks have deteriorate many times. The construction will begin at the end of the school year.
Dean for the Iola Campus Tosca Harris introduced three Phi Theta Kappa members to the board. Hailee Miller, chapter president, Jessica Lancaster, executive officer, and Elvira Avdeyeva, executive officer, told the board the chapter became a five star chapter at the Kansas Regional Conference. The group was the winner of the College Project award, Most Improved Chapter, Distinguished Recognition for Honors in Action and Distinguished Recognition for the Paragon award. Avdeyeva was selected as the vice president of the Southern District of the Kansas region.
Jon Marshall, vice president for academic affairs, demonstrated how the Allen website is improving. Searching for information on degrees and programs on search engines was difficult before. Now terms will register when students search for a program and will be taken to the program’s page.
Marshall also introduced the new library director for Allen, Sandy Moore.
Moore received her master’s degree in library science from Emporia State University last year. She also has a bachelor’s degree in religion and philosophy from Rutgers and a master’s in religious studies from the University of Kansas. She said she has met with many people on campus and has multiple ideas for the library system.
Cynthia Jacobson, vice president for student affairs, presented the marketing project her team has been working on.
The project has ads depicting current and former students saying why they chose Allen for their education.
In other news:
— Jennifer Gould was hired as the allied health corrdinator. She will be stationed at the Burlingame campus.
