May 3, 2019

Board of Regents approves policies, contracts; recognizes excellence

Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during its regular meeting Friday approved multiple policies and contracts in addition to recognizing several students, staff and faculty members for individual and team achievements.

Policy items approved by the Board included an Academic Administrative Withdrawal Policy that defines the standards for Northwest to administratively withdraw a student for academic reasons. The new policy outlines how Academic Affairs may withdraw a student in the best interest of the student and institution, and it notes that students who are withdrawn under the policy have the right to appeal the decision.

The Board approved the University’s request to renew its contract with TouchNet Information Systems Inc. to maintain its existing billing and payment software for an additional term of five years. The Board also authorized the University to execute a contract for its approximately 60 multifunction devices that provide scanning, copying, printing and faxing.

Among Friday’s special recognitions, the Board acknowledged Head Coach Ben McCollum and the Bearcat men’s basketball team for their most recent NCAA Division II national championship and a variety of accolades received during their undefeated season. The Board also recognized Kevin Nguyen, who earned the top prize in prose interpretation at the Pi Kappa Delta Biennial Speech and Debate Tournament, and Northwest’s Pi Omega Pi Business Honor Society, which was named the National Chapter of the Year at its biennial convention recently in Chicago.

Faculty and staff recognitions by the Board included John Bell, who received the Missouri Music Educators Association Outstanding Educator Award in January; Dr. Greg Haddock, who was featured by featured by Ingram’s magazine among its “50 Missourians You Should Know;” Dr. Tyler Tapps, who has been accepted to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Emerging Leaders Program; Dr. Terry Long, who received a citation award from the California Park and Rec Society for recreation therapy; and Gina McNeese, who was honored recently by the American Heart Association with its Mission Impact Award.

In other business, the Board approved candidates due to receive bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees during the University’s spring commencement ceremonies May 3-4. The Board also approved faculty appointments for Northwest’s 2019 summer session and the University’s academic calendar for 2021-22, which sets the first day of fall classes on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.