GCC October Board of Trustees Meeting

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - The Fall enrollment report was given by Jeanne Graham, Director of Admissions and Public Information and Miranda Lawver, Assistant Registrar and Institutional Researcher at last night’s meeting of the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees. Headcount at GCC this fall is up 16%, with 737 full time students and 435 part time students. Credit hours taken by student is also up 16.7% over last year, from 12,045 in 2008 to 14,052 this fall. These figures mark the fourth consecutive year for increases in both headcount and credit generation at Gogebic.

Over 71% of GCC’s student population takes courses on the Ironwood campus. Internet courses also rose in popularity, with close to 15% of GCC students taking classes over the internet, up over three percent from last year. An additional 14% attend Gogebic Community College classes in the Copper Country.

Tony Pollack, of Joki, Makela, Pollack, & Ahonen, PLLC, presented the 2008-09 audit to the Board. The college once again received an unqualified opinion on its financial statements.

Larry Gabka, GCC faculty member and coordinator for AQIP, the college’s accreditation model, presented the recent findings by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. GCC has been informed that the college’s Systems Appraisal, which was submitted in June, was accepted and that the institution’s accreditation was reaffirmed for the maximum time allowed, through the 2014-2015 academic year. There were no conditions, stipulations, reports, or focus visits required for the college, which was outstanding.

In other action, the Campus Master Plan and Major Maintenance Plan were approved and will be submitted to the Capital Outlay Office in Lansing. This is required annually to be placed on the Capital Outlay List for future funding for major projects.

Also, Steven Wesselhoft, the Dean of Student Services for the past 25 years, submitted his retirement, effective June 30, 2010. Wesselhoft began his career at GCC in 1984, serving as the Director of Financial Aid, Housing, and Veteran’s Affairs. In 1989, he became the college’s third Dean of Student Services. He has taken a lead role in many projects that have advanced student learning, activities, and opportunities. The Board accepted his request for retirement with regret, commended him for his twenty five years of service, and authorized the Administration to begin the search for the position to be vacated.