Board of Trustees
Front Row: Vernie Coy; Bill (William) Noll; and Tom Smith. Back Row: Jason Taylor, Mark Rounds, and Carl Tharman. Spring 2026.
HCC Board of Trustees
The College is governed by a six-member Board of Trustees comprised of residents of
Doniphan County, the location of the original campus, who are elected for four-year
terms. Three members are up for re-election every two years. On the state level, HCC
is coordinated by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR), which governs the state’s six
universities. KBOR was reconstituted by legislative action in 1999 to include coordination
of the state’s 19 community colleges and 12 technical schools. Prior to 1999, Kansas
community colleges and technical schools were under the auspices of the State Board
of Education, which governs the state’s K-12 system. The 1999 change was designed
to implement a seamless system of higher education in the state.
The Board of Trustees meets every fourth Wednesday of the month, with the exception of August, November, and December, which are held on the third Wednesday. Meetings begin at 6:30 PM in the David Reist Administration Building Conference Room on the HCC Main Campus.
Board of Trustee Minutes (2007-present)
current members

Vernie Coy
Wathena
Bill Noll
Highland
Mark Rounds
Highland
Tom Smith
Chairperson
Highland

Jason Taylor
Vice-Chairperson
Highland

Carl Tharman
Secretary/TreasurerTroy
College News & Events
Highland Community College Sees 12.3% Increase in Student Enrollment
Highland Community College (HCC) has reported a 12.3% increase in student enrollment for the Fall 2026 semester, according to preliminary 20th-day enrollment data released September 30 by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR). The early data shows HCC serving 2,579 students this fall, compared...
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HCC Secures Transformational Title III Investment September 24, 2026 | By President Vincent Bowhay
Highland Community College has been selected for a Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant to support One Highland: Powering Rural...
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Scottie Gold wins award from Rural Community College Alliance September 16, 2026 | By Melissa Bower
Highland Community College’s “Scottie Gold” initiative won an Innovation and Access Award from the Rural Community College Alliance. Scottie...
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