CCCC discusses housing rate increase

The Cloud County Community College (CCCC) board of trustees met on Tuesday evening to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to the school, including an increase in the housing rates for the 2022-2023 academic year.
As first reported by KNCK, the Office of Residence Life is recommending a ten percent increase in housing rates, through the administration is recommending no change in tuition and fees.
Vice President for Administrative Services Caesar Wood said Residence Life made $356,190 worth of improvements to campus housing this past summer, including the demolition of Building 8, extensive renovations to Buildings 9 and 10, installation of a new air conditioning system in Building 14, new flooring installed in all rooms in Thunder Heights, laundry machines placed in Thunder Heights, and more.
The college also has identified nearly $300,000 of possible improvements and repairs for 2022.
Wood said the continuous improvement of Cloud County's campus housing facilities is intended to attract and help recruit students to meet the college's goal of increasing and maintaining enrollment.
To make these continuous improvements, the Office of Residence Life is proposing a ten percent increase to the housing rates for the 2022-2023 academic year, generating an estimated increase of $156,360 each year.
At their November 9th meeting, the college's Student Senate voted unanimously to support the proposed increase.
In other business, the CCCC board of trustees approved a resolution authorizing renewal of the Capital Outlay Fund for capital improvements not to exceed four mills annually for fiscal years 2023-2027. The current capital outlay levy expires in 2022.
The board also approved the purchase of an electrical AC/DC training system from Innovative Education Systems for the wind energy program at a cost of $59,200. The equipment purchase will be used for academic purposes, designed to introduce students to the basic principles of electrical circuits, both direct current and alternating current, giving students a thorough understanding of electrical power.
In personnel matters, the board approved the appointment of Donald Benjamin of Raymond, Nebraska, to the full-time position of Division Dean of Math, Science and Technical Programs, effective December 1st.  Benjamin, who had been serving as a college Agriculture Instructor and Interim Dean of Math, Science and Technical Programs since August, replaces Brian Stark who resigned in June.
Two new Nursing Instructors, Kelsey Longfellow of Concordia and Lori Frybarger of Munden, were hired during the meeting. Longfellow replaces Kristen Kruse who resigned in September, while Frybarger has been named to a new position on the college's Concordia campus.
Gracie Rudolph from Clyde was appointed as an Admissions Counselor at the Concordia campus, effective January 3rd. Rudolph, who received an Associate of Science degree from Cloud County in 2019 and a Bachelor of Psychology degree from Fort Hays State in 2021, replaces Molly Seifert who resigned in August.
Before adjourning, the board held a 30-minute Executive Session for Attorney/Client Privilege with the administration, College Attorney Justin Ferrell and Attorney Gregory Goheen of Kansas City. Goheen's practice primarily consists of complex civil litigation at both the appellate and trial levels in state and federal courts, including multi-district litigation. There was no action was taken at the end of the session.