June 2026 Board Meeting Highlights

The Cowley College Board of Trustees gathered for their June 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 Phil White provided the invocation, and Chair Dr. Alan Marcotte recited the College Mission Statement.

Under Awards and Reports, Cowley President Dr. Michelle Schoon shared that Cowley College received a $27,000 Perkins Reserve/Kansas Talent Development grant. Cowley also received an honorable mention Jenzabar Impact Award for the prison education program. The college also hosted three events for promoting Cowley nights with the Kansas Collegiate League Baseball.

Joe Shriver provided an update from the KACC quarterly meeting, held June 7-8 at Allen County Community College.

Jennifer Searle gave an update on Cowley road sign replacements.

Government Affairs Liaison Jessica Lucas provided a legislative update.

Under Administrative Reports, The EMT Program hosted the Difficult Airway Training. Admissions processed 323 applications in May. The KJCCC All Academic awards for 2025-2026 included 88 student-athletes with 3.5 GPA or higher.

No Public Comment.

Chair Marcotte requested the Board recess into executive session to discuss professional negotiations, pursuant to the exception related to employer-employee negotiations, for 10 minutes. The Board requested Dr. Michelle Schoon, Holly Harper, Dr. Scott Layton, and J.T. Seitz be present in the executive session. No action followed the executive session.

Under Standing Committee Reports, Brett Bazil provided a summary of the June 9th, 2026, Trustee Policy Subcommittee review of policy 2433.00 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) (revised), presented for a first review. Final approval will be requested at the July meeting.

Trustee Joe Shriver provided a recap of the June 10th, 2026, Trustee Finance Subcommittee meeting, where members discussed the 2026-2027 Operating Budget (approved 8-0) and procurement of the Wright Room Flooring Replacement using Capital Outlay Mill Funding, totaling $27,838.00 (approved 8-0), and Galle-Johnson first floor south window replacement, using State Deferred Maintenance fund, totaling $66,810.78 (approved 8-0). Administration and the Finance Subcommittee requested the Board approve the proposed contract for legal services with J.T. Seitz - Seitz Law Office, LLC as presented (approved 8-0). The subcommittee recommended the Board authorize Chair Marcotte to sign the KBOR Certification regarding the 2027 Property Tax Levy as required by Section 114(a) of the 2026 House Bill 2513 (approved 8-0). Additionally, the Finance subcommittee and Administration recommended that the College continue to use Union State Bank, RCB Bank, Sunflower Bank/Wichita, and Carson Bank/Mulvane as official depositories, and that the College utilize all qualified institutions in the County for the investment of idle funds (approved 7-0-1). 

Holly Harper provided a roofing update, and Chair Marcotte provided a recap of the recent Cowley Foundation meeting and an update on the MOU signing between the College and the Foundation.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda as presented, including the Minutes from the May 18th, 2026 regular meeting, Financial Reports, Bills and Claims, Personnel Transactions, and Board Policies 272.00 – Employee Participation in Student Elections (revised) (approved 8-0).

Chair Marcotte requested the Board utilize the Cowley CourierTraveler for publication of official notices and accept the official meeting dates as presented (approved 8-0):

2026-2027 Board Meeting Dates

• Monday, July 20, 2026. 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Monday, August 24, 2026, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Monday, September 21, 2026
  • 1:00 pm-4:30 pm (Work Session) – SEACenter, Mulvane Campus
  • 6:00 pm (Board Meeting) – SEA Center, Mulvane Campus
• Monday, October 19, 2026, 6:00 pm – Short Community Room, Sumner Campus
• Monday, November 16, 2026, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Monday, December 14, 2026, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Tuesday, January 19, 2027, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Monday, February 15, 2027, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Monday, March 15, 2027, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Monday, April 19, 2027, 6:00 pm – Short Community Room, Sumner Campus
• Monday, May 17, 2027, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus
• Monday, June 21, 2027, 6:00 pm – McAtee Dining Center, Main Campus

Under the Discussion Agenda, Dr. Ryan Burkett presented the proposed 2026-2029 Strategic Plan for Board consideration (approved 8-0).

The Board then held an additional pair of executive sessions totaling 25 minutes to discuss the President’s annual evaluation, pursuant to the exception related to non-elected personnel. The Board requested that  J.T. Seitz be present in the executive sessions. No action followed the executive sessions.

With no other business to discuss, Chair Marcotte declared the meeting adjourned at 7:51 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