CCCC board approves purchase of HAL simulator

Purchasing an Advanced Pediatric HAL Simulator for the nursing and allied health department was approved by the Cloud County Community College board of trustees during its regular meeting on Monday night.
The board approved purchasing the simulator at a cost of $60,625.28 and authorized payment out of  Fund 63-building fund.
It was reported to the board that $27,000 of the cost of the simulator will come from the Kansas Board of Regents nursing grant and $10,014 will come from the workforce development funds. The remaining $23,611.28 will be paid for from student lab fees.
Stephanie Perret, the director of the college's nursing and allied health department, told the trustees that the new simulator will simulate a four- to six-year-old child.
"Pediatric HAL correlates with the simulators we already have on campus," Perret said. "This simulator has facial expressions. He is able to cry tears. He has movement that comes along with him." Training with the simulator can help reduce errors for the nursing graduates.
"We are really trying to ingrain simulation, not only with our students but with our practicing nurses," Perret said. "We don't want pediatric patients in the hospital, but we still need to prepare our students for whatever walks through the door. So this gives us that opportunity."
Also during the meeting, the board approved waiving policies on alcohol on campus to allow alcoholic beverages in Arley Bryant Gymnasium on April 19, 20, and 21 for the annual Cloud County Community College Foundation Scholarship Auction.
The scholarship auction is scheduled for April 20. The funds raised go directly to the general scholarship fund.
Neil Phillips, Jarred, Gilmore and Phillips, P.A., provided the college's 2022-2023 audit report to the board.
It was reported by Phillips that it was an unqualified audit, meaning all statements are materially accurate.
The board is expected to take action on the audit during its February meeting.
Brandon Galm, vice president for academic affairs, reported to the board that the college's new associate of arts in elementary education transfer degree was approved by the Higher Learning Commission.
The college can begin offering the elementary education transfer degree in the fall of 2024.
Cloud County is working to get the program added to the system, according to the Kansas Board of Regents' guidelines.
Caesar Wood, vice president for administrative services, reported to the board during his report that the construction of the new $18 million Technical Education and Innovation Center is 62 percent complete.
Wood said that the building project is on time and on budget.
"We are very happy with the progress," Wood said.