Schoon Hired As Cowley College President Through Aug. 2024

UPDATED: 2:28 p.m. 

The Cowley College Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Dr. Michelle Schoon as the Cowley College President during Monday’s meeting held at noon in the Patrick J. McAtee Dining Center.

According to a press release from the college Monday afternoon, the board agreed to employ Schoon as Cowley College President for a period commencing March 1, 2023, and ending August 1, 2024.

Schoon has been at Cowley since 1991 and has served as the interim president since early February of this year. She previously served as the school’s vice president of academic affairs.

While at Cowley, Schoon received an Excellence Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, as well as being a recipient of the College’s Endowed Chair for Teaching Excellence and Student Learning and Paul Stirnaman Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence, the college said.

She was also named Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2004 and 2007. Schoon has a bachelor of science from Bethany College, a masters of curriculum and instruction from Wichita State University, and an educational doctorate from Southwestern College.

Earlier:

The Cowley College Board of Trustees will offer Dr. Michelle Schoon a formal contract to be president of the college.

According to the agenda for Monday board meeting, Chair Brett Bazil will request the board approve the appointment of Schoon as the Cowley College President and to sign off on an employment agreement.

Schoon, who was named interim president following the tumultuous termination of Randy Smith in February, was the Vice President of Academic Affairs for the college before Smith was fired after seven months at the helm.

Schoon, who has been associated with Cowley College since 1990, will be offered an 18-month contract for $178,000 per year, a housing allowance of $1,000 per month, plus business-related expenses and benefits.

Smith, who was fired without cause, officially, will continued to be paid for 11 more months, had a higher salary at $185,000 annually with a housing allowance of $2,000 per month.

There are some other difference’s between Schoon’s proposed contract and Smith’s besides salary/housing allowance.

Schoon’s contract does not include a monthly retirement annuity or a life insurance policy.

Terms of termination, with cause or without, is lined out as such in Schoon’s contract:

The President may be terminated for cause at any time, and then all compensation and benefits shall cease immediately. Cause shall be defined as any of the following:

a. A finding of probable cause to believe that the President has committed or is convicted in a court of law of a felony or any other crime or offense involving misuse or misappropriation or theft of money or property; or

b. Her failure or refusal to perform specific directives of the Board which directives are consistent with the scope and nature of her duties and responsibilities and which are not remedied by her within three days after notice; or

c. Any act of dishonesty by her which adversely affects the business of Cowley College; or

d. Her failure or refusal to comply with any of the terms and conditions set forth herein.

9. The Board may terminate the President at any time without cause and all rights, duties and obligations of both parties shall cease as of the termination, except that the President will receive her base salary, retirement and health insurance benefits for the month of termination, and for the following 11 months, or for the remainder of her contract term, whichever is less. The continuation of salary and benefits does not apply if the contract is terminated for cause