In a unanimous vote, the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees agreed late Friday afternoon to extend President Dene Kay Thomas’ contract through 2019.
Thomas began in her position as the college’s first female president in 2010. She originally was given a three-year contract, which was renewed for another three years in 2012 to run through 2016. This extension was offered after evaluations of Thomas’ performance by faculty, students and an external evaluator.
Thomas’ current compensation package is $257,680.
“They haven’t determined what the compensation package in the new contract will be,” FLC spokesman Mitch Davis said. “They’ll spend the next couple of weeks negotiating that.”
Just as Thomas arrived, FLC was in the process of cutting budgets by $4 million because of state funding cuts. The school also was amid a decade of falling enrollment rates, Davis said in a news release. The downward trend of enrollment has been halted during her tenure in the office, he said.
Under her administration, FLC has evaluated courses and eliminated some majors, such as computer science and Southwest studies, that a study said did not pay their way. FLC has added both a bachelor’s degree in engineering and the college’s first graduate degree, a Master of Arts in Education, Teacher Leadership Option. Enrollment in the engineering major has exploded in recent years, Davis said.
“In addition to the growth in engineering, geosciences and physics continue to be strong majors for Fort Lewis College,” Davis said. “To meet the need for bigger and better facilities for these programs, President Thomas pushed for state funding to build a new Geosciences, Physics and Engineering Hall. After many trips to Denver, many meetings with state legislators and advocacy from FLC supporters such as Colorado Sen. Ellen Roberts, funding was secured, and construction has begun on the new facility.”
Thomas also repeatedly has lobbied Congress to seek federal funding for the Native American Tuition Waiver program.
It was that perseverance the trustees particularly noted.
“The Board of Trustees appreciates President Thomas for moving Fort Lewis College forward,” said Karen Wilde, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees. “We need her to carry that determination into engaging with faculty, staff, students and the community to create new academic opportunities and growth in the future.”
Thomas is pleased to be asked to continue to serve, she said.
“I am excited to work with those who love this wonderful college in moving forward,” Thomas said.
abutler@ durangoherald.com
