LINN  — State Technical College of Missouri Director of Institutional Research/ERP Administrator Aaron Kliethermes told Regents at their meeting on Jan. 12 that the college’s 77% graduation rate is the best among colleges in Missouri.

“We are number one across all public two-year, four-year, and all of our peer institutions,” he said. “I went back to 2007 and have never seen us like that, so I think this is the first time we can say that we were number one in all three categories.”

Kliethermes added the college’s opening-day enrollment was up by 3.4%. “We are seeing a larger student body with our associate of applied science degrees or our associate degrees, and we are seeing a decrease in certificates as we continue to push more towards the associate degree.”

Enrollment this year was 79% male and 20% female, a ratio that has held relatively steady over the past six years.

State Tech VP of Student Affairs Dr. Chris Bowser noted the college had received 2,821 applications, with 825 students admitted and enrolled.

Placement remains at 99% for the sixth straight year, meaning graduates are employed 180 days after graduation. Although State Tech has students from 11 other states, most are from Missouri, with the highest numbers coming from Cole, Osage, and Boone counties.

• Regents approved changes to the Faculty Hiring Policy and the addition of a Substance Abuse Policy. The former was updated to refer to another document for qualification requirements.

The new Substance Abuse Policy states, among other things, that “Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 Substance under the 21 USC Controlled Substances Act. Federal laws prohibit universities and colleges receiving federal funding from allowing any form of marijuana/cannabis use or possession on their premises. State Tech considers the use, possession, purchase, sale, or distribution of marijuana or cannabis in any form on college or client premises as unauthorized and is prohibited.”

As a result of the changes, the Human Resources Department is starting supervisory training, developing a staff mentoring program (similar to the faculty mentoring program that has been in place for several years), and refining audit procedures.

In other business, Kliethermes provided an overview of the college’s new mobile app, which rolled out at the beginning of the 2023 fall semester and is available to all students. The app provides campus information, a token leaderboard, weather, student portal, student email, dining menu, campus services, and a digital student ID for use in the library, dining facility, and at campus events. Students can also use the app to access their grades, pay their student accounts, and complete housing and scholarship applications. “It’s nice for them to have everything in one location,” Kliethermes said.

Dr. Bowser praised Kliethermes for the app’s development, especially since it helps students connect faster when they need help.

A grant has allowed the college to offer a 24/7 wraparound service called Top Campus, linked to the State Tech student app. “They just click on it, log in, and they can talk to counselors about anything that’s bothering them, which is great,” said Dr. Bowser.

In the month prior to January’s Regents meeting,  students accessed the app 34 times, mainly those aged 12-24 (97%), with the rest being 25-34. Dr. Bowser said the average session lasted 12 minutes, and the top category was relationships, followed by family, mental health, studies, health, anxiety, overwhelmed, and lonely.

“They have licensed professional counselors on duty who can escalate those in need and notify campus,” said Dr. Bowser. “We have not had any escalated beyond peer counselors.”

Dr. Bowser also highlighted the app as it relates to student engagement. “They can click on that and see where they stand in terms of participation and how many tokens they have to be able to spend at the end of the year,” he added. “Aaron created a method for Student Affairs to post leadership in the State Tech app. They can also begin thinking about how to bid on silent auction items.”

In the fall, 5,447 students were engaged in various activities, from rock, paper, scissors (924) to holiday cookies and karaoke (42). Over 700 students attended the overkill grill event, where a whole steer was roasted and served.

In the fall of 2022, the college recorded 4,188 student engagements, up from 2,444 the previous year and 2,227 in 2020-21.

“Those are just the fall numbers of students that checked in to every event, so they’re not unique students,” said Dr. Bowser. “But if you check in for every event, you’re counted every time. The entire campus is focused on making sure we have extremely successful engagements in the classroom, but everyone is really focused on making sure the students have a great experience outside the classroom, too. I know Dr. Strong likes to say, ‘Work hard, play hard,’ and I think that’s exactly what that is.”

Among its many features, the app includes a token leaderboard that allows students to see where they rank in terms of participation and how many tokens they have to spend at the end of the year.

• Chief of Staff Amy Ames said she is happy with the progress of several ongoing projects, including the Donald M. Claycomb Information Technology Center remodel.

“It has been a very fast-paced renovation, and I want to give a big shout-out to maintenance, IT, and faculty members involved, and any staff members, especially marketing,” said Ames, adding she appreciates everyone’s support. “They’ve been a big part in making this happen. I want you guys to understand that from May to August, we have renovated space and moved 36 offices and 33 classrooms, and most of them are computer labs. That is amazing work.”

Ames added the Marketing Department has been working hard to update program videos, showcase alumni success stories, and complete State Tech’s Super Bowl commercial. They have also been promoting Osage View, student events, and working on campus branding and a tour path. “We’re trying to do a lot more campus branding than we’ve ever done before,” she said.

• The Information Technology (IT) department has been working since June to upgrade and expand the network, with 50 of 150 new access points having been installed. New fiber was installed on campus in September, serving the IT Center, Engineering Technology wing, Welding, Aviation, Nilges Technology Center, and the Automotive and Vehicle Power Center. They have put a new WiFi network in the activity center and are working on updating the dorms and commons. Classroom technology is being double-checked to ensure all classrooms are 100% ready for online instruction. A new, cloud-based phone system has been implemented, and AT&T microcell installation is nearly complete.

• Upcoming projects include the Airport Master Plan, currently under review by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), airport pavement preservation project, Agricultural Technology Center, Nilges Technology Center renovation and addition, main entrance renovation, sidewalks, and the development of the Safety Village.

• State Tech VP of Academic Affairs Angie Gaines thanked the faculty for a successful fall semester in the 2023-24 academic year.

Gaines noted that her department onboarded 23 new instructors since the June Board of Regents meeting.

The Academic Affairs Department administered the FY24 Enhancement Grant, which allows the college to acquire approximately $1 million in instructional equipment.

Gaines and her team are preparing for reaccreditation from the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) this spring. Twenty-nine programs and options are accredited by ATMAE and will participate in the April 2024 visit and associated self-study.

Gaines noted the department is also preparing for State Tech’s Higher Learning Commission Open Pathway Comprehensive Evaluation Visit, which will be from Feb. 24-25, 2025. The associated Assurance Argument is due on Jan. 27, 2025. Five criterion committees have worked with 18 component owners to gather evidence and create rough drafts. “We are now working on the revision of each component argument based on committee feedback,” said Gaines.

State Tech hosted the Advisory Council meetings last fall, collaborating with 232 advisors.

The Academic Affairs Department implemented a new scheduling format that enables improved time and space utilization, and accommodates future growth.

State Tech’s adoption of a new dean structure better supports academic programs and helped with the onboarding of two new academic deans.

Gaines noted the addition of a Spring Academic Affairs Working Session to launch the spring semester primarily focused on strategic planning.

The Academic Affairs Department continues to collaborate with the Facilities Department on instructional spaces associated with multiple building projects.

In September, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) revised the stipulation related to distance education by reinstating the “50% rule.”

Gaines explained the rule references three thresholds related to students, courses, and programs, which require approval and tracking. State Tech will continue to be approved for “distance education limited to courses” by limiting student course enrollment, course offerings, and program offerings to less than 50%.

“I want to thank the Academic Affairs team, whose efforts made these accomplishments possible,” said Gaines.