At their meeting on June 17, the Seminole State College Board of Regents approved the College’s budget for fiscal year 2027 and adopted policies addressing academic grading and nursing faculty qualifications.
President Lana Reynolds began the meeting with updates on athletics and campus activities. She also discussed the possible partnered use of Seminole Public School’s Pleasant Grove property for the College’s agriculture program, provided an update on the Enoch Kelly Haney Center roof and solar project and reviewed SSC’s institutional profile from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
The Regents reviewed and approved the College’s Educational and General Fund Budget for FY27. The budget reflects flat state funding and maintains current tuition and fee rates, meaning students will see no increase in tuition or mandatory fees for the coming academic year. The spending plan addresses institutional needs within existing financial constraints while maintaining an unobligated reserve for future needs.
Although the budget does not provide funding for employee pay increases, President Lana Reynolds said the College will continue working to grow enrollment and strengthen revenue so employee salary needs can be addressed in the future.
“I would like to commend Vice President for Finance, Grants and Enrollment Melanie Rinehart, along with other members of our administrative team, for working through the nuances of preparing the budget,” Reynolds said. “This is a difficult and arduous task that involves many calculated risks and plans for unforeseen expenses.”
The Board also approved a new policy regarding the academic evaluation of student grades. Adopted in response to House Bill 3700, the policy requires grades to be based solely on academic factors, including attendance, demonstrated knowledge of course content and established performance standards. It prohibits students from being academically penalized or rewarded for opinions, beliefs, associations, expressions or conduct unrelated to course requirements.
The Regents also revised Board Policy II-4-1 to align nursing faculty qualifications with Oklahoma Board of Nursing regulations. Under the revised policy, at least 50% of nursing faculty must hold a master’s degree in nursing. Faculty members without that degree must remain continuously enrolled and complete at least six graduate credit hours each year toward earning it.
The meeting also marked the final session for Board Chair Marci Donaho, whose seven-year term concludes June 30. President Lana Reynolds and fellow Regents honored Donaho for her service to the College. Appointed to the SSC Board by three governors, Donaho is the longest-serving Regent in the institution’s history with 21 years of service.
Donaho retired in 2022 after more than 25 years as executive director of the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum. She also spent 28 years as an elementary classroom teacher in public schools in Arizona and Oklahoma and recently completed 10 years of service on the Seminole Public Schools Board of Education. Her civic leadership includes serving as president of the Seminole Chamber of Commerce and Seminole Rotary Club. A graduate of Leadership Seminole and Leadership Oklahoma Class XII, Donaho was named Seminole’s Citizen of the Year in 2002 and was a three-time finalist for The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year honor.
“Marci Donaho has devoted her career to education, public service and the betterment of our community,” President Reynolds said. “Her thoughtful leadership, steady guidance and unwavering commitment to our students have strengthened SSC in so many ways. As the longest-serving Regent in our institution’s history, she leaves an extraordinary legacy, and we are deeply grateful for her many years of service.”
Regent Curtis Morgan will assume the role of Chair beginning July 1.
Board members present at the meeting were: Chair Marci Donaho, Mona Adkisson, Teresa Burnett, Curtis Morgan and Robyn Ready. The next meeting of the SSC Board of Regents will be held July 16.