GCC Holds October Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - The college budget topped the agenda of the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees at last night’s regular monthly meeting. According to Erik Guenard, Dean of Business Services, revenues and expenditures are up about 3.8 percent, reflecting the increased revenue and costs of enrollment growth. “At this point, state aid has increased by 1.6 percent,” said Guenard. “Local property tax revenue is up five percent.”

The budget as presented to the Board maintains a contingency of approximately $280,000.

However, officials at GCC are closely watching discussions in Lansing regarding Michigan’s current economic situation, especially in light of Governor Granholm’s stated intent to issue executive order budget reductions in the upcoming weeks.

“Certainly, the issuance of any Executive Order cuts by the Governor’s Office will affect the college budget,” said Guenard.

The annual college audit was completed earlier in November by Joki, Makela, & Pollack, of Ironwood. The auditors expressed a clean audit opinion and found no significant deficiencies and no findings or questioned costs. The Board formally accepted the audit report and authorized its submittal to the appropriate federal and state agencies.

In other action, December candidates for graduation were approved and will be invited to attend the Commencement Ceremony in May.

Several additional equipment purchases were added to the capital outlay list contingent on funding availability. These include items such as software and simulators for Allied Health classes and laboratories, digital cameras for the Graphics Communications program, a replacement CNC lathe simulator for the Computer Aided Design and Automated Manufacturing Lab, and a replacement snowgun for Mt. Zion.

In personnel matters, the retirement of Fine Arts Division Instructor Faye Korpi was approved with regret, effective at the end of the academic year in May. Korpi has been employed at the college for 21 years, with assignments in English Composition, Philosophy, interpersonal communications, development English, and literature. She has been actively involved in many college initiatives and committees, as well as serving as the college’s representative to the Michigan Community College Liberal Arts Network.