Craig — The Colorado Northwestern Community College Moffat County Board of Control began its meeting Monday with the college’s furriest and cutest students at the Canine Training Center.

The center hosted a Yappy Hour and invited community members and the board to lend their applause to the tricks and talents of several training center dogs. The center provides classes such as beginning and advanced nosework and puppy training.

Following Yappy Hour, the board did the following at its regular monthly meeting.

• Board President Mike Anson sought to renew conversation about adding residential facilities to the Craig campus.

The board and administrators discussed the idea of building housing in pods, following the example of Otero Junior College in southeastern Colorado. George was enthusiastic to move forward with the idea, and proposed possible solutions to financing and providing for student needs, such as food services.

Board member Dave DeRose also pointed out having campus housing could open the door to more economic opportunity for the college and for Craig, such as hosting sports camps and business trainings during summer months.

• Craig campus Dean of Instruction Donna Theimer said the college will be allowed to retain a surplus $40,000 from a nearly $100,000 Adult Education and Literacy Grant CNCC received at the beginning of the year.

The funds that weren’t used by a certain deadline were initially supposed to be returned to the Colorado Department of Education, however the college may now submit a new budget incorporating those funds. The $40,000 will be in addition to a second-year grant installment of more than $99,000 for adult education programs.

• The board recognized Mary Morris for her part in helping turn the Bell Tower building, which used to serve as CNCC’s main campus, into a vital community resource.

“It’s a wonderful example of true community college community education collaboration, making the most of an asset that at first glance we might’ve said, ‘We don’t need that anymore,’” said CNCC President Russell George.

• The board received a thank you from Yampa Valley Data Partners Executive Director Keith Kramer for providing nonprofits such as his with office space in the Bell Tower building.

“We’re really on the ropes right now trying to meet end of year funding so I just want to say its greatly appreciated,” he said.

Contact Lauren Blair at 970-875-1794 or lblair@CraigDailyPress.com or follow her on Twitter @CDP_Education.