February 22, 2005

Cowley vice president to retire after 37 years of service

Conrad Jimison, an employee who has worn many hats during his 37 years of service to Cowley College, is retiring. The college’s Board of Trustees accepted his letter of retirement Monday night during its regular monthly meeting. Board member Donna Avery was absent.

Jimison, vice president of administration, will retire effective June 30, 2005. Dr. Pat McAtee, Cowley president, read Jimison’s retirement letter.

“I will sincerely miss him, and I wish him well,” McAtee said. “He knows that.”

Ron Godsey, Board chairman, said, “We all will.”

Jimison began his employment at Cowley on Aug. 1, 1968. Various positions throughout his career include vice president of instruction, dean of instruction, associate dean of instruction, registrar, agri-business instructor, and a position in continuing education.

In other matters Monday night, the Board:

1) Saw McAtee present Bronze Hill, a sophomore from Arkansas City (Dexter High School), with a gift for being named February Student of the Month.

2) Went into an executive session to discuss property acquisition, non-elected personnel, and to consult with legal counsel. Following the session, the Board denied two requests for sabbaticals submitted by faculty members.

3) Heard a report from Godsey, who attended the Community College National Legislative Seminar Feb. 13-16 in Washington, D.C. Godsey prepared a handout for Board members highlighting meetings. Among items Godsey said were discussed were the eventual elimination of the Carl Perkins Grant. “It will go away in time,” Godsey said. “I don’t know what they’re going to replace it with.” Godsey also said the Kansas congressional delegation was unable to meet with representatives from the state’s community colleges. However, Godsey shared the same flight with Todd Tiahrt, who represents Kansas’ 4th District in Washington. “I did get some one-on-one time with him,” Godsey said.

4) Viewed administrative reports that included an update on construction projects. The Webb-Brown Academic Center continues on schedule, with about 80 percent of the glass work complete. Renovation of the Bloomenshine building, Cowley’s new location in Mulvane, also is progressing. The Board also approved edited changes to Policy 132.00 (Purchasing Policies and Procedures). Also under administrative reports, the Board viewed a spring enrollment report. As of Feb. 25, full-time equivalency was 3,067, compared to 3,071 on the same date a year ago.

5) Approved additional personnel transactions: A letter of resignation from Nicole S. Tharp, receptionist at the Aviation Tech Center; and the employment of Stephanie L. Halsey as financial aid counselor at the Southside Center, effective March 1.

6) In other business, McAtee gave the Board good news relating to the college’s position with its Aviation Maintenance Technology program in Wichita. Wichita City Council members showed support last week for a plan to build a multi-million-dollar aircraft maintenance training facility at Col. James Jabara Airport. The plan calls for the city to develop a building at Jabara Airport that would replace Cowley’s Aviation Tech Center at Pawnee and Rock Road. “All of the leadership in Wichita was there,” McAtee told the Board. “About 40 or 50 of them came in support of the project. The next phase is the building at Jabara. It will be a state-of-the-art facility. All of the aviation (company) presidents were there, and they all came across on board and are very supportive.”