December 2025 Board Meeting Highlights

Board of Trustees gathered for their December 15th meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room inside the McAtee Dining Center on the Ark City Main Campus. Trustee Gary Wilson provided the invocation, and Chair Bob McGregor recited the College Mission Statement.

Under Awards and Reports, Cowley President Dr. Michelle Schoon shared that Cowley Volleyball along with the Men’s and Women’s Soccer team all made it to their National Semifinals. Cowley has launched the Behind the Stripes podcast with Rama Peroo, Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Media & Communication and Dave Burroughs, Former Cowley Basketball Coach. Dr. Schoon attended the Cowley College Theater Production of Twelfth Night.

Trustee Joe Shriver provided a recap of the December 5-6th KACC Quarterly meeting, held at Garden City Community College. 

Government Affairs Liaison Jessica Lucas provided a legislative update.

Under Administrative Reports, the Cowley Foundation will move to Galle-Johnson. The Golden Tigers program’s fall wrapped with 269 participants taking part in the semester’s fun. Spring

planning is well underway. Frank Owens, Criminal Justice Instructor, reported that Student Patrol will end the semester with 783 hours of community service outside of student patrol duties.

No Public Comment.

Under Standing Committee Reports, Trustee Gary Wilson provided a recap of the December 8th, 2025 Trustee Finance Subcommittee meeting, where members discussed FY 2024 Audit Approval, and Procurement of Mulvane Welding Booths. 

Administration and the Finance Subcommittee requested approval of the FY 2024 Audit as presented. Approved 7-0.

Administration requested approval to purchase welding equipment from Lampton

Welding Supply for $108,997.44, using Perkins Reserve Grant Funds, and Capital Outlay Mill fund. Approved 7-0.

Trustee David Stanley provided a recap of the December 9th, 2025 Trustee Academic Subcommittee virtual meeting, where members reviewed Paramedic Courses Updates.

Trustee Alan Marcotte provided a recap of the December 9th, 2025 Trustee Policy Subcommittee virtual meeting, where members reviewed policy 214.00 – Scheduling, Assignment, and Cancellation of Classes (Revised), which was presented for a first review. Final approval will be requested at the January meeting.

The Board moved to approve the Consent Agenda, including the Minutes from the November 17th, 2025 regular meeting, Financial Reports, Bills and Claims, Personnel Transactions, and Board Policy Approval of 144.00 – Services of the Bookstore (Review), 151.00 – Control of Vehicular Traffic on Campus (Revised), 153.00 – College Vehicles (Revised), 216.00 – Graduation Requirements (Revised), 250.00 - Admission (Revised), 403.00 – Student Code of Conduct (Revised), and 475.00 – College TB Testing Policy (Revised). Approved 7-0.

Under the Discussion Agenda, the Board completed its second reading of the revised Board of Trustees Handbook. Chair McGregor suggested the Board table the approval of the handbook for further review of the revisions. Approved 6-1-0.

With no other business to discuss, Chair McGregor declared the meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.

For more details, see the agenda.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu