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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.a. Recognition of Dr. Ron Thomas�11QSEMOU T EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CITY COUNCIL City Council Regular Meeting: June 18, 2013 AGENDA ITEM: Recognition of Dr. Ron Thomas AGENDA SECTION: Presentations PREPARED BY: Mayor Droste AGENDA NO. 3.a. ATTACHMENTS: None APPROVED BY: RECOMMENDED ACTION: Present plaque to Dr. Ron Thomas SUMMARY The Rosemount City Council is recognizing Dr. Ron Thomas for his service as President of Dakota County Technical College as he retires after more than 13 years of service. Dr. Thomas became President of the college in 1999. Listed below are the high points of his effective and innovative tenure: • Began tenure at DCTC in September 1999 • IT Training Center opened in Eagan in 1999 • Created Student Life and Wellness Center facilities • Established DCTC TRIO Student Support Services and Upward Bound through Department of Education grants • Launched athletics at DCTC, which now encompasses six NJCAA varsity teams • Three new sports state -of -the -art facilities on campus • YMCA Family Center proposed for DCTC Rosemount campus • Logo change introduces college community to Future Guy in 2000 • Founded Partners In Higher Education in Apple Valley in 2003 • Secured Flint Hills Community Partnership grant to launch the Institute for Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship in 2004 • DCTC received $7.38 million through capital bonding to renovate the DCTC Library, library atrium, Learning Center, Instructional Technology Center, Information Systems classrooms, Visual Communications office, lab and classroom space as well as some general classrooms • Launched first multidisciplinary two -year Nanoscience Technology program in partnership with the University of Minnesota in 2004 • Received $3 million NSF grant in 2008 for Nano -Link (Midwest Regional Center for Nanotechnology Education) • Fostered development of SkillsUSA and Business Professionals of America programs that compete successfully at state and national levels • Brought DCTC entrepreneurship initiatives to the national scene through NACCE • Oversaw development of programs such as TXT: Teens eXperiencmg Technical Education that enhance outreach with K -12 and the community. • DCTC received $7.23 million through capital bonding to carry out Phase I of the Transportation and Emerging Technologies Renovation Projectin 2012 • Led DCTC Customized Training to becoming a business model for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system • Helped secure DCTC as lead for MnSCU Transportation Consortium • Most effective, versatile Operations department in MnSCU system • Received state and national recognition for leadership as a college president • Provided leadership to more than a dozen MnSCU, local, state and national groups and organizations • Oversaw DCTC Foundation portfolio increase from $500,000 to $3.2 million in a decade • Oversaw creation of $800,000 Endowment for Employment in 2010 • Received two HLC -NCA 10 -year re- accreditations during tenure • Partnerships with GM and Chrysler led to corporate on- campus technician training centers • Partnership with ISD 917 on track to establish Transportation Academy • Provided leadership for the creation of 130 new academic award offerings at DCTC • Led the college to 42 percent enrollment growth over a decade • Leaves a college in 2013 that is financially healthy, growing and well- positioned for a bright future 2