The Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees met in regular session yesterday with several causes for celebration, including the news of the college’s recent accreditation. Assignment reporter Chris Fleischman was there to join in on the festivities…
There was a celebratory atmosphere as the Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees met in regular session yesterday (February 10) in the Community Room of the Bell Center. Regular session resumed after some technical difficulties, which were resolved in part by this month’s STAR Award recipient and Information Services Technician Brian Scott. The meeting began on a more serious note with some elegiac words of reflection from Trustee Greg Gilbert, as he delivered remarks on the passing of Cathy Allen, Professor Emeritus. While some of her sculptures and photographs were projected on screen, Trustee Gilbert reflected on “a life constantly in the making,” relating that Professor Allen “found beauty in the abandoned.”
Later, during his report to the board, Superintendent/President Dr. Daren Otten provided COVID policy updates, explaining that the college mask mandate would remain in place for the remainder of the semester even if the state mask mandate is lifted later this month. He also addressed the college’s recent full accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. The college’s accredited status is affirmed through 2026.
The trustees later voted unanimously on a resolution honoring the legacy of Dr. Roger Wagner as part of the college’s ongoing 20th Anniversary celebration. Chief Business Officer Meredith Plummer also delivered remarks on the retirement of Steven Kemp, Director of Information Services, whose retirement was also celebrated during the meeting with pizza and root beer.
The trustees then unanimously voted to approve all but one action item. Trustee Gilbert voted against a second reading of the board policy regarding emergency meetings, urging that the Academic Senate should be represented in emergency meetings if decisions are made which would impact teaching, concerns which were first introduced by Academic Senate President Mike Danza; the action item was passed 4-1. The board unanimously adopted the $332 Nonresidential Tuition Fee for 2022-2023 and approved a partnership with Grand Canyon University in their Concurrent Enrollment Pathway Program, which would allow CMC nursing students to begin their bachelor’s coursework prior to graduation.
