Hill College’s Board of Regents holds November meeting
Jessyca Brown
Friday, December 9, 2022 8:29 AM
General Events, Enrollment Management
Hillsboro, TX
On November 22, 2022, the Hill College Board of Regents met for the monthly regular session meeting.
The minutes and financial report from the October meeting were both approved. President Dr. Thomas Mills reported a wide range of tours attended at Johns Manville and KASE Industries, the Cleburne ISD CTC, the Hill County Boys and Girls Clubs, and Venus ISD. Dr. Mills and his team also went to the Burleson Higher Education Facility, set to open in January 2023, and toured the facility.
Hill College was proud to be the host of the district volleyball game and also presented the play “Misery,” performed by the college’s Performing Arts Department. Band and choir concerts were also held on campus.
Dr. Mills attended the third of the Teach the President Forums on November 11 on the topic of performing arts; the final forum of the semester was held on December 2, discussing student information services. He also continues to host weekly lunches with staff as an effort to build relationships within the Hill College community. He attended the Chamber of Commerce quarterly lunches, both in Cleburne and Burleson. He continues to meet with various community members to increase the college’s presence in the region.
In an initiative to update the Vara Martin Daniel Performing Arts Center on the Hillsboro campus, the board approved renovations to the center to bring the facility to industry standards and providing a first-class facility for drama/theater, band, and choir programs—all focal to the college’s mission. The first phase includes infrastructure, such as stage improvements and new carpet and chairs. The next phase will focus on the sound and lighting technology. These improvements will also benefit the community, providing opportunities for hosting community groups, such as graduations for local high schools and other events.
Arts and Humanities Pathway Dean Nancy McKenzie stated, “On behalf of the students and faculty in the Visual and Performing Arts program, we are grateful to the Board of Regents for approving the budget needed to start the improvements on the Performing Arts Center. We are also thankful to Dr. Mills for advocating for the advancement of this space that will be utilized for our performances, campus, and community events.”
The choir department announced that five students qualified for All State and will compete at the Texas Music Educators Association in San Antonio, Texas, in February 2023.
In an ongoing effort to support the college’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiative, the DEI committee hosted several student events, including Kindness Day, with donations for the Student Resource Rooms; Native American Day; and International Students Day.
Other topics addressed at the meeting included enrollment and the continuation of the Asset Management Plan (AMP). Current enrollment numbers are up in both headcount and contact hours. The AMP continues to assist with project needs on campus, including repairs and campus beautification, with maintenance programs in place for both.
Phase 1 of the AMP is ongoing, as reported in last month’s meeting, including library erosion, Loftland demolition, cybersecurity breach prevention, and baseball facility repairs.
In addition to the updates to the performing arts center, a motion for the baseball facility repairs, indoor facility electric and insulation, the Loftland demolition and asbestos removal, and cybersecurity breach prevention and recovery was presented by Dr. Mills and approved.
Athletic Director Paul Brown gave a report on the sports program. Women’s volleyball ended the season with a 20–16 overall record and 10–4 in the conference, tying for 2nd place. They won the Region V North tournament championship.
Men’s soccer finish 5–7–1 overall and 2–1–1 in region play. They were the Region V reserve champions.
Women’s soccer finish 15–3 overall and 7–0 in region play. They were the Region V champions, making this the ninth year in a row. They also received an at-large bid to the National Tournament in Evans, Georgia, receiving the number two seed.
The men’s cross-country team was the NTJCAC champions and the third in the NJCAA Region V championship. They also placed 11th in the NJCAA National Meet in Tallahassee, Florida. Jarod Lauenslauger finished 14th, becoming the first-ever Cross Country All-American for Hill College.
The rodeo team has had a successful fall run. The men’s team is sitting fifth in regionals; six athletes are currently in the top three of their respective events. The women’s team is sixth in their regional race at halfway through the season.
Basketball is in full season, with the men’s team off to a 4–3 start and the women’s team at 4–2. Conference plays begin in January 2023.
Finally for sports, baseball and softball had good showings in the fall and are ready to start the spring season in February.
The board also approved an affiliation agreement with Outcomes Detox and Recovery and Hill College for students in the drug, alcohol, and abuse program in the Health and Public Service Pathway to do their field work, a requirement of the degree plan.
Members present: William Auvenshine, Kent Eubank, Allan Lane, Jolene Lehmann, Bill Galiga, Tony Marley, Jennifer Nowlin, and Kevin Ray
Members absent: Karen Brackin, Dwight Lloyd, Rick Sullins, and David Teel
The Hill College Board of Regents meets the third Tuesday of every month.