Wheeler to retire

Gary Wheeler, the president of Glen Oaks Community College since 2007, said he will not seek a new contract when his current agreement expires in two years.

The 61-year-old Wheeler announced at Wednesday’s Glen Oaks Board of Trustees meeting he will retire after his contract ends at the end of June 2015. Wheeler’s request was approved by board members.

Wheeler in December was given a vote of no confidence by Glen Oaks faculty members. The issue was discussed in executive session at Wednesday’s meeting.

An Ohio native, Wheeler came to Glen Oaks from Gogebic Community College, where he served as president of the Upper Peninsula school for two years.

Nominations for award

Glen Oaks Community College Current has announced former students, staff and community members are invited to nominate a full-time faculty member for the E. J. Shaheen Chair for Teaching Excellence award for 2013.

The award is presented annually to an outstanding faculty member who exemplifies high professional standards, demonstrates excellence in teaching and whose position as a faculty member reflects on the value of education to his or her students and the quality of education.

Nominees for the award may be entered through an online form at glenoaks.edu until 4 p.m. March 29. The recipient will be named in April.

Milestone years

Glen Oaks Community College recently recognized 21 employees who reached milestone years of employment with the Centreville-area school.

Topping the list were James and Anne Cook, each for reaching the 35-year mark of employment.

Nursing faculty member Janell Lederman was honored for three decades of employment, while Beverly Andrews, Larry Hass, Lynne Holtz and Barbara Thole were honored for reaching their 25-year milestones.

Dresser passes at 81

A lifelong Sturgis resident, described as a pillar of the community, died last week of cancer.

Ray Dresser Jr., 81, was a philanthropist and driving force behind the creation of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation in 1962.

His contributions to the city included generous endowments to Sturgis Hospital and Glen Oaks Community College. An attorney, Dresser also served as co-chairman of the fundraising committee for the Doyle Community Center in Sturgis and was a member of the Sturgis Rotary Club for more than 50 years

A funeral service is to take place Friday at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis.

GOCC gets donation from Armstrong

Students in Glen Oaks Community College’s Electrical Technologies program are better able to gain hands-on experience with a supply of donated equipment thanks to Armstrong International.

Thirteen skids of materials, including pumps, controller motors and parts, were delivered to the college last week.

The equipment is the nuts and bolts of what is used in boiler systems, according to Charles Crouch, part-time GOCC faculty member who teaches in the program.

He said the heavy-duty equipment is in top-notch condition and will greatly enhance learning opportunities in the classroom.

In addition to using the equipment for the electrical program, the college may also utilize the equipment for the physical facilities, according to Glen Oaks officials.

GOCC faculty votes

Union faculty members at Glen Oaks Community College have issued a vote of no confidence in school president Gary Wheeler.

The 23-4 vote was taken last week, with four of the college’s 31 union faculty members abstaining. The vote was brought to the attention of Glen Oaks’ board of trustees at its meeting Wednesday.

Faculty union president Chad Worthington presented the results and said the vote represents no confidence in Wheeler’s leadership and management skills. Worthington said the concern stems from problems with accreditation renewal through the Higher Learning Commission. A portfolio necessary to receive accreditation was returned to the college and revisions are being sought, Worthington said.

Wheeler joined the Centreville-area school in 2007.

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