The Barton Community College Board of Trustees reviewed the policies on “Essential Skills,” during Thursday’s business meeting.
According to board policy: Students will acquire the skills needed to be successful for the program they are in. They will have the essential skills to succeed in the workplace and to lead productive lives. Policy also specifies that students will be provided remediation as needed.
In a report from staff,  trustees were reminded that BCC relies on advisory boards, made of up people in area businesses and industries. Dean Elaine Simmons said their input helps the college offer courses that are relevant to employers.
Many new programs are created because of employers’ input and needs, she said. The college continues to ask them what skills are lacking in new hires.
“More than ever, we have students today who’ve never had a part-time job,” Simmons said. For that reason, career classes may also need to emphasize “soft” skills such as customer service, reliability and proper attire.
Jo Harrington reported on the Course Assessment Project, now in its seventh years. The college reviews certain test questions in a number of disciplines to see whether students are mastering underlying concepts, such as relating course knowledge to a broader perspective. Other questions measure  the mastery of core concepts. If students consistently miss the same question, faculty members can improve their instruction methods, he said.
The result has been a gradual increase in the mastery of concepts.
Carole Murphy addressed remedial instruction and said Barton’s redesign of math and reading has resulted in 93 percent pass rates in remedial math and 90 percent in reading. “The pass rates aren’t the only exciting thing,” she said. A system that allows students to master topics one module at a time is allowing students who can master the “core competencies” quickly to spend less time in remedial classes. This saves them time and money because they can graduate earlier. “Several students have knocked a semester off,” she said.

Personnel approved
In action items, the board approved changes in nursing programs and the creation of a Mental Health Technician certificate program, as previously discussed. It also approved the following personnel:
On the Barton County campus: Penny Zimmerman, English & Reading Specialist; Zach Dobbins, part-time grounds keeper; Latoya Hill part-time instructor & coordinator of the Pharmacy Technician Program; Tracie Kalivoda, custodian; Kevin Bailey, academic advisor; Amber Kasselman, part-time BCUB Tutor. At Fort Leavenworth: Brittany Russell, part-time customer service representative; at Fort Riley: Kenneth Kolembe, instructor (Military Academic Services).
A position change/new faculty contract was approved for Marsha Finley,  instructor and coordinator of the Dietary Manager Program on the Barton campus. Finley actually lives and works in Illinois, but has headed the program from a distance for several years.