MINUTES

Regular Meeting - Board of Trustees

January 14, 2002

In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Monday, January 14, 2002, at 6:05 p.m. in the Board Room (201) of the Highland Business Center of the Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Lillian Davis, Chair/Presiding Officer; Beverly Silas, Vice Chair; John Worley, Secretary; Beverly Watts Davis [arrived at 6:10 p.m.]; Allen Kaplan; Barbara Mink; Della May Moore; and Rafael Quintanilla, Trustee Carol Nasworthy was absent.

It is further found and determined that in accordance with the policies and orders of this Board, the notice of this meeting has been posted and return thereof made pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, and there has been full compliance with the terms and provisions of said act, including the timely posting of the subjects of this meeting.

Recognitions

Dr. Gerry Tucker, Vice President for Human Resources, introduced new employee Mark Gomez, grant writer in the Grants Development department located at the Highland Business Center.

Agenda Item 7461

Dialogue: Social Equity Commission Report/Role of ACC

Dr. Davis stated that this item would not be discussed, but would be scheduled for discussion at another meeting.

Citizens Communications

· Dana Auert, ACC Classified Employee, spoke in support of Mark Goodrich, President of the ACC Classified Employees Association.

· Kerry Langfield, ACC Classified Employee, spoke in support of Mark Goodrich, President of the ACC Classified Employees Association.

· Joe Napolitano, ACC Classified Employee, spoke in support of Mark Goodrich, President of the ACC Classified Employees Association.

· Lewis Washington, ACC Classified Employee, spoke in support of Mark Goodrich, President of the ACC Classified Employees Association.

· Myra Bradley, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding the Rio Grande Campus and open communication.

· Mark Goodrich, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding the Texas Department of Health report and testing and the Rio Grande Campus.

· Steve Mason, citizen, spoke regarding a City of Austin resolution concerning immigrants/tutition.

· Janet Zeriveca, citizen, spoke regarding immigrants/tuition.

· Frank Zeriveca, citizen, spoke regarding immigrants/tuition.

· Guadalupe Sosa, citizen, spoke regarding the ACC South Austin Campus.

Reports from Employee Associations

· Adjunct Faculty Association - Kitty Henderson, President, spoke regarding an orientation program for adjunct faculty, requested an additional position in Human Resources, and an ombudsman.

· Classified Employees Association - Mark Goodrich, President, expressed appreciation for the agreement to look at practices in Human Resources Department and spoke regarding monthly meetings with the College President and the desire for position information from the Ernst Young study.

· Full-Time Faculty Senate - Laura Ore, President, spoke regarding the request for a financial and performance audit of the College and full-time faculty salaries.

· Professional/Technical Employees Association - Karen Anderson, President, spoke regarding the association’s self-study on compensation for professional/technical employees; Association activities for 2002, and campus snapshots.

· Student Government Association – No report was presented.

Trustee Report(s) to the Board

· Central Texas Regional Vision Project – Beverly Silas

Ms. Silas provided an overview of the Central Texas Regional Visioning Project. She stated that there are 3 areas in Texas in which growth is expected to occur. The Central Texas area is one of the areas. In the past, we have responded to the growth and reacted to it. This will be a 2-year, $2 million project involving five counties--Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. A plan will be developed to include a comprehensive transportation system, affordable housing, affordable health care. The project will allow individuals to participate through outreach. Through a series of meetings, there will be information presented on where we are currently and know how many people are expected to move to this five-county region. Scenarios will be reviewed and selected by the public. At the end of the project, there will be a plan developed to address the needs and desires of the region. Growth must be addressed regionally; therefore, this information will also be made available to CAMPO and the Texas Department of Transportation for information on planning for the five counties in the region.

Report to the Board

Report of Achievements and Recognitions

Dr. Kinslow, Executive Vice President, distributed kudos information and acknowledged:

· Stacy Thompson and Patti Dungan who have been certified as “Developmental Education Specialists following completion of a summer long training program at the Kellogg Institute for Training and Certification of Developmental Educators.

· Allen (John) Underwood, Physics professor, had a proposal (Testing the Physiological and Psychological Side Effects of Superficially Inducing Earth’s Gravitational Pull on a Human Subject in Microgravity) accepted by NASA to participate in NASA’s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunity Program

· ACC’s Biotechnology Program, in the Math and Sciences Instructional area, was selected as a finalist for the Bellwether Award by the Institute for Higher Education.

· The Government Department presented a December Symposium on Judicial Selection in Texas.

· Linnea Fletcher, Program Coordinator for Biotechnology, and Alice Sessions, Professor of Biology, co-authored Lesson Learned Through Bio Link: Austin Community College as Beneficiary, which was published in the December issue of biolink Connection.

· Holt, Rinehart & Winston will publish Billy Boyar’s (Professor of English) essay on teaching grammar to ESL students in the teachers’ editions of English textbooks, grades 6-12, which have been adopted by the State of California.

· Joe Lostracco, Communications Task Force Chair, completed his term of service as a member of the Commission on Composition for the National Council of Teachers of English.

· The Austin Advertising Foundation Board of Directors recognized ACC’s Visual Communications Design Program (Andrew Saldana, Program Coordinator) and student in its e-mail publication.

· Linda Smarzik spearheaded the award wining success of the Graphic Design students in the Design 2 show which was held in Dallas.

· Randee Fox, who teaches in ACC’s visual communications design program and student, Jennifer Capers-Wehrlen, were featured on FOX 7 to discuss how the ACC students’ artwork ended up at the United Nations in New York and in Oslo, Norway, at the celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize.

· Joseph Wise, 1A in English Writing at Eastview and a GED instructor in Adult Education, published an article in the November issue of Texas Highways magazine titled, “Old Texas Gristmills,” focusing on mills in San Antonio and Ft. Worth.

· PeiLing Miyagi has joined Instructional Resources Technology and Faculty Development as an instruction design specialist at Riverside.

· ACC has received an ESL Refugee grant, a social service grant funded through the Teaxas Department of Human Services in the amount of $52,000. The purpose of this funding is to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) training to approximately 100 eligible recipients. This program is under the direction of Dr. Guadalupe Cox, Adult Education.

· Project ISO 9000 is a $219,583 grant through the Texas Workforce Commission to help retain and create jobs in Austin and surrounding areas. Sonio Hogan, Coordinator of Workforce Grants, is director of the project.

· Jere Hammer, Program Coordinator of Associate Degree Nursing, was awarded a $48,755 THECB Category A grant, “Nursing Faculty and Student Recruitment: Preparing the Future Workforce,” designed to provide additional nurse educators and nurse graduates to meet the diverse health care needs of Texas at the local, regional, and state levels.

· Jere Hammer was awarded a $218,213 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Category B grant “AND Student Retention Model” designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive retention model that results in increased student retention in the nursing program with a special focus on minority students.

· Tom Applegate, Executive Dean of Cypress Creek and Pinnacle Campuses, secured a donation of 10 beds from Seton Hospital and is working on a potential donations for the nursing classroom. He has also been nominated for President of the Association for Career and Technical Education and recently was elected 2001-2001 Chair of the Texas ACT Advisory Council.

· Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President, has been appointed as 2002-03 Chair of Leadership Round Rock by the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Kinslow announced recipients of Sabbatical Leaves for 2002-2003:

· Jonathan Backstead, Reference Librarian (Distance Learning)

· Mike Dellens, Professor of Mathematics

· Linnea Fletcher, Program Coordinator for Biotechnology

· Stefan Haag, Professor of Government

· Patrick Hughes, Professor of History

· Teri Layton, Administrative Assistant III, Child Development Children’s Lab School

· Stephen Rodi, Professor of Mathematics

· Jerry Sheppard, Professor of Sociology

Items for Discussion/Possible Action:

Agenda Item 7462

Proposed Approval of the Minutes of the December 3, 2001, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the minutes as presented.

Beverly Silas moved and John Worley seconded that

MOTION: the Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda Item 7462 as presented.

VOTE: The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 7-0.

Absent: Trustee Carol Nasworthy was absent.

The Chair did not vote.

Agenda Item 7463

South Austin Campus Committee

Dr. Davis presented information and called attention to the revised listing of recommendations to the South Austin Campus Advisory Committee. Trustees discussed the recommendations and the make up of the Committee.

Della May Moore recommended the addition of Rosie Mendoza and Bobbie Enriquez.

Rafael Quintanilla moved and Della May Moore seconded that:

MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve the following persons to serve on the South Austin Campus Advisory Committee: Thomas P. Eisenhour; Richard Cilley; Colleen Nance; Lucio Varela; Billie Nell Chambers; Dea Eggleston; Victor Rodriguez; Tom Huver; Betty Edgemond; Guadalupe Sosa; Rosie Mendoza, and Bobbie Enriquez. Martha Oburn will Co-Chair the Committee with the election of another Co-Chair from the Committee.

VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 7-0.

Absent: Dr. Carol Nasworthy

The Chair did not vote.

Dr. Davis requested Trustees to provide additional recommendations for appointment to the Committee. Dr. Fonte, College President, stated that the Committee would have its first meeting within the next two weeks.

Agenda Item 7464

Board Work Plan for Next Six Months

Dr. Davis introduced the item and Dr. Fonte discussed the revised Board Work Plan for February through July 2002. Trustees discussed the proposed work plan and suggested revisions.

Agenda Item 7465

Fund Balance Policy and Operating Reserves Strategy

Dr. Davis introduced the item. George DeTuccio, Vice President for Business Services, introduced Jorge Rodriguez, Vice President of Coastal Securities. Dr. Fonte, Mr. DeTuccio, and Jorge Rodriguez responded to questions from Trustees. Additional information will be provided at the next Board meeting.

Executive Session

The Board of Trustees of Austin Community College recessed into Executive Session at 8:35 p.m., to consult with legal counsel regarding Texas Government Code 551.072 relating to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.

[Trustee Allen Kaplan left the meeting at 8:45 p.m.]

Reconvene

The Board of Trustees of Austin Community College reconvened in public session pursuant to Government Code 551 at 8:59 p.m.

Agenda Item 7466

Bonds Refinancing and Real Property Acquisition

Dr. Davis introduced the item and Jorge Rodriguez, Vice President of Coastal Securities, presented information concerning the debt status, financial options, and a proposed financing time frame. Trustees discussed the information and Mr. Rodriguez and Dr. Fonte responded to questions from the Trustees. Additional information will be provided at the next Board meeting.

President's Administrative Report

Dr. Kinslow provided updated information concerning the testing at the Rio Grande Campus. Dr. Kinslow responded to questions from Trustees.

Quick Meeting Review

Trustees commented regarding the meeting:

What we did well rated as 1-5 (with 5 being very satisfied): 4-5—very fine; lively; satisfied;

What we can do better: very dissatisfied—want timely financial information on a regular basis; need more Board briefings on financial obligations on a regular basis;

Announcements

· Beverly Silas was named to the board of the Austin Area Urban League.

· The reception for Gus Garcia will be held at the Eastview Campus on February 26, 6-9 p.m.

· Beverly Watts Davis was selected by the Bar Association to receive a peacemaker award on February 8.

· Rafael Quintanilla was appointed by Mayor Garcia to the K-12 Task Force.

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the January 14, 2002, regular meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.

Approved By

John B. Worley, Secretary