Editor’s note: Midland College releases Board of Trustees meeting minutes only after board approval at the following meeting. As a result, The Permian Press received the Dec. 16 minutes on Feb. 2, following the Jan. 20 meeting.

What happened: The Midland College Board of Trustees met on Dec. 16, received a division presentation on Criminal Justice and Forensic Labs, approved the college’s annual financial audit, and reviewed the board’s self-evaluation.

Key points:

  • Criminal Justice and Forensic Labs: College staff presented an overview of the division, which uses crime scene simulations and laboratory-based instruction. Students receive hands-on training in crime scene documentation, forensic photography, sketching, fingerprint processing, blood pattern analysis, and trace evidence recovery.

The program includes partnerships with the Midland Police Department and Texas Rangers for guest instruction and joint training scenarios. Recent grant funding was used to purchase forensic equipment and supplies to support instruction.

  • Annual audit: Trustees approved the Annual Financial Report and Independent Auditor’s Report. The audit issued an unmodified, clean opinion on the college’s financial statements, with no internal control findings related to financial reporting and no compliance findings. Auditors also issued unmodified opinions on federal and state programs.
  • Board self-evaluation: Trustees reviewed results from the board self-evaluation conducted at the September board meeting. The trustees agreed that no further action was required. The board identified priorities, including career and technical education and workforce programs, on-campus drilling, dorm renovations, planning for the board retreat, fundraising, and instructional program evaluation.