Enrollment hits a record at MAC

College refinances a loan to save almost $2 million

By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Friday, February 15, 2008 11:40 AM CST

Good news greeted members of the Mineral Area College Board of Trustees as they met in regular session Thursday.

Mineral Area College has reached record enrollment.

“On our census date, Feb. 11, we were at 3,772 students,” Student Services Dean Jean Merrill Doss told the Board. The previous highest enrollment at all campuses had been 3,600. She predicted the college would hit 4,000 by 2010.

The Board heard its management praised as Carl Raney of Steel Nicolaus, Co., Inc. outlined a proposal to re-finance the loan on College Park Housing to save $1.8 million over the remainder of the loan.

“In terms of a refinance savings, this is unheard of,” said Raney. “Rating and insurance is a reflection of the college and how well you have run things.”

The Board approved the re-financing which MAC President Dr. Steve Kurtz said would help reduce the overall loss the college is experiencing with College Park housing on campus. The savings will be about $76,000 per fiscal year over about the next 30 years.

Director of Public Safety Mark Potratz reported crime statistics for the campus in 2007. There were four burglaries, eight liquor law violations, two auto accidents and nine drug violations.

“I expect you will see those numbers for drugs decrease now that the presence has been felt,” said Potratz, who explained that campus patrols had been increased in the last year.

The administration is considering how to make up the four days lost to severe weather in the current semester. Kurtz said options to be considered will be adding 5-10 minutes to classes each day or reducing the number of final exam days to allow for instruction. MAC called off classes about 10 a.m. Monday and students returned to class Thursday. They also had a snow day in January.

In executive session, the board voted to hire David Guemmer as head women’s softball coach and Michele Kiger as assistant coach for the program that begins in the fall. They also voted to send out bids to renovate the TV studio on campus. The project will be funded through some of the money MAC received from the sale of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA.)

Former MAC President Dr. Dixie Kohn will be the commencement speaker on May 3.

In regular session, Dr. Kevin White outlined plans for the Jazz Festival to be held March 15. He said trumpet artist and studio musician Wayne Bergeron will be the featured artist for the event. Tickets for the 7 p.m. concert are $12 and are on sale beginning today at the MAC bookstore. Throughout the day, high school bands will play every half hour in the theater and the fieldhouse and those performances are free.

In other action, the board approved a 2-year academic calendar.

The next regular board meeting will be March 20 at 4:30 p.m. in the board room adjacent to the president’s office in the Fine Arts Building.

Donna Hickman is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact her at 431-2010, ext. 138 or at dhickman@dailyjournalonline.com.

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