Highlights from the November 2020 TCC Board of Regents Meeting

The Tulsa Community College Board of Regents met Thursday, Nov. 19, at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education.

As has become pandemic protocol, the Regents met on the stage, socially distanced and masked, while discussing the November agenda.

The meeting opened with a presentation on the College’s TRIO programs by Eunice Tarver, provost and associate vice president of diversity and inclusion.

The TRIO Programs are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to a bachelor's degree and beyond.

TCC student Tracy Moore recounted his experiences with TRIO. A transfer student from Oklahoma Junior College, Moore is a veteran, African-American male, and a non-traditional, first-generation college student.

“I walked through the doors of the College and was lost,” Moore said. “My mind was racing, wondering if I was going to be able to grasp what I’d attempted to start 32 years ago.”

Moore has a 4.0 GPA and has used many TRIO services, especially tutoring, while at TCC. He has earned 36 hours so far and is now a sophomore on his way to a degree in Computer Science. Moore thanked all the TRIO staff for their assistance and support of his educational journey.

“TRIO has been a great light in my life,” said Moore.

Board Meeting Items of Note:

• The Board approved 33 changes to curriculum in Academic programs.
• Regent Gerald McKamey, while giving the Facilities and Safety Committee report, discussed the College’s response to the pandemic. “We do not have the increase of COVID-19 you see in other institutions of higher education. Folks, we’re doing something right. That means these people are getting an education.”
• The Finance, Risk and Audit Committee reported that while the College saw better than expected enrollment numbers for Fall 2020, enrollment was still down slightly from last year. The committee also reported they expect local appropriations to be down next year because of the devaluation of commercial properties.
• During the President’s Report, TCC President and CEO Leigh B. Goodson briefly discussed the final KPIs from the last five-year Strategic Plan cycle. Goodson noted that retention rates, annual degree completions and the university transfer rate, among others, had all increased. “I couldn’t be happier about it,” said Goodson. Regent Paul Cornell added, “There’s a pattern among these key ratios. We’re bending the curve, literally. To say something’s increased from 12.7 to 18.8. There’s a 50 percent increase. That number is difficult to achieve in anything, especially in a 50 year-old institution.”
• The TCC 2020 holiday card, sponsored by the Tulsa Community College Foundation, was revealed to the Board. Christina Prada, the creator of the card’s art and TCC adjunct faculty member, received recognition from the Board for her work. Prada’s work was chosen after entries were opened to art faculty to make it easier on students during the pandemic. Prada chose candles as her subject for their embodiment of unity and hope. “One candle loses nothing by lighting another,” said Prada.