MINUTES
Board Briefing
and
Regular
Meeting - Board of Trustees
March 4, 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, March 4, 2002, at 5:45
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; Allen Kaplan; Barbara Mink.
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.
Board Briefing
– One Student’s Perspective
Dr.
Davis introduced Jaime Martin, ACC student/community representative, who spoke
regarding Austin Community College and the financial deficit.
Recess
Dr.
Davis recessed the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Reconvene
The
Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District reconvened in public
session on Monday, March 4, 2002, at 6:07 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; Allen Kaplan; Barbara Mink; Della May Moore
[arrived at 6:45 p.m.]; Carol Nasworthy [arrived at 6:40 p.m.] and Rafael
Quintanilla [arrived at 6:20 p.m.].
Recognitions
There
were no recognitions.
Citizens
Communications
·
Sean
Collins Murray, ACC Full-Time Faculty Senate, spoke regarding the financial
deficit/needs of faculty and students.
·
Jaime
Martin, community representative, spoke regarding evaluation of College
President/ACC financial status.
·
Catherine
MacLaughlin, ACC employee, spoke regarding personnel credentials/policy
compliance.
·
Wade
Cooper, Downtown Austin Alliance, spoke regarding the Downtown Education
Center.
·
Myra
Bradley, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding shared governance/resolution.
·
Constance
Elko, ACC/Southwest Austin resident, spoke regarding accountability.
·
Mark
Goodrich, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding shared governance.
·
Nancy
Keller, Adjunct Faculty/AFT, spoke regarding role of Adjunct Faculty Association.
·
John
Cise, ACC Full-Time Faculty Senate, distributed information and spoke regarding
ACC budget/ACC Full-Time faculty.
·
Diane
Kramer, AFT, spoke regarding ACC/future of institution.
·
Catherine
Watson, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding institutional changes/financial health of
College.
·
Narc
Prevost, ACC Professor/AFT, institutional changes/processes.
·
Charles
Rand, ACC Adjunct/AFT, concern of union/adjunct faculty.
Reports from
Employee Associations
·
Adjunct Faculty Association - Kitty Henderson,
President, spoke regarding College crisis/need to work with Adjunct Faculty
Association.
·
Classified Employees Association - Mark Goodrich,
President, spoke regarding resolution/State audit/comments from Association
members.
·
Full-Time Faculty Senate - Laura Ore, President,
distributed information and spoke regarding resolution/financial deficit/shared
governance.
·
Professional/Technical Employees Association - Karen
Anderson, President, spoke regarding activities of the Association and
presented a shapshot of the thirteen Professional-Technical employees at the
Cypress Creek Campus.
·
Student Government Association – Zander Parker,
President, introduced officers of the Association and distributed
information/spoke regarding the official position of the Student Government Association.
Trustee
Report(s) to the Board
No
reports were presented.
Report to the
Board
Report of Achievements and Recognitions
Dr.
Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President, distributed kudos information and
acknowledged:
·
ACC Library Information Literacy Program selected for
inclusion in the Association of College and Research Libraries Best Practices
Conference. Two librarians (Teresa
Ashley, Red Wassenrich), one administrator (Julie Todaro), and one classroom
faculty/instructional designer (Tina Buck) will team with other libraries whose
programs were also identified as exemplary to establish program characteristics
that can be adopted by other colleges.
·
Notification by Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners
that ACC August 2001 Vocational Nursing graduates had a 100 percent pass rate
on the NCLEX-PN (licensure exam).
·
Red Wassenrich was featured in John Kelson’s column of
the Austin American-Statesman and credited with “KeepAustin Weird” bumper
stickers.
·
Pinnacle Campus History Instructor, Jeff Hunt, is
helping to film a documentary about World War II episodes on the Doolittle Raid
and the Battle of Midway. In his role,
Jeff dressed as a World War II United States Army Air Force lieutenant, sat in
the cockpit of a World War II B-25 bomber while Oliver North spoke dialogue to
the camera.
·
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs has voted to award continuing accreditation to ACC’s
Diagnostic Medical Sonography program.
·
ACC and Texas A&M University College of Veterinary
Medicine in College Station have signed an agreement to ensure that ACC
students transferring to the university’s biomedical science undergraduate
program will not lose any credit hours.
ACC has a similar agreement with Texas A&M for its College of
Engineering.
·
Cheryl Richard, Manager of Student Activities, has
collaborated with Sharon Grady of the Department of Theatre and Dance with UT
Performing Arts to begin the ACC
Coffeehouse.
·
An overview of the ACC Pinnacle Campus was featured in
“Spotlight on Business” of the February Oak Hill Business and Professional
Association Newsletter.
·
On February 8, 2002, the American Advertising
Federation held their annual competition known as the “Addy Awards” which honor
excellence in advertising and cultivate the highest creative standards in the
industry. Through the dedication of
Andrew Saldana, program coordinator, and the Visual Communication Design staff,
the presence of ACC continues to grow at these competitions and is recognized
by other institutions and local industry.
Austin area students earned 21 awards.
Visual Communication Design “Addy Award” winners were:
· Colleratal Material, single entry only: Suzanne Rosato, Gardiner Rhoderick, and Candan Sherbest (two winning entries), Stacy McDonald
· Photography: Kim Johnson (3 winning entries)
· Campaign, 3 to 5 pieces: Melody Rivera
FY03 Internal Budget Process
Dr.
Kinslow reminded the Board of the Expanded Budget Committee as provided in
Agenda Item 7495. The committee will have five current staff members appointed
to it and thirteen representatives chosen by the Student Government
Association, Full-Time Faculty Senate, Adjunct Faculty Association,
Professional-Technical Employees Association, and the Classified Employees
Association. The thirteen
representatives will select their own co-chair for that Committee. He stated the Expanded Budget Committee will
receive and review all suggestions provided by faculty, staff, and students
regarding the College budget. The
Committee will make recommendations based upon the suggestions received. They will also look at the development
process and will be the internal group to review the quarterly reports as well
as the monthly financial statements.
The Committee representatives will be the liaisons back to the
constituencies they serve. Dr. Kinslow
reviewed the information which will serve as the basis for the initial
development and discussion of the FY03 budget.
Items for
Discussion/Possible Action:
Consent Agenda
Agenda Item 7491
Minutes of January 14, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; January
28, 2002, Board Work Session; February 4, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; and
February 18, 2002, Board Work Session
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve the
minutes as presented.
Agenda Item 7492
Award of Bonds and Enter into Bond Purchase Agreement
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve a
Resolution authorizing the issuance of approximately $10,500,000 Austin Community
College District Combined Fee Revenue Building and Refunding Bonds, Series
2002; entering into an escrow agreement, a purchase contract, and a paying
agent/registrar agreement; approving an official statement; and authorizing and
approving other matters related thereto.
Agenda Item 7493
Matters Related to Conduct of May
4, 2002, Election
Recommendation: That the Board of Trustees approve an Order
setting polling places, election officials, and joint election agreement for
the May 4, 2002, general election.
Allen Kaplan requested that
Item 7492 and 7493 be pulled for discussion and Beverly Watts Davis requested
that Item 7491 be pulled for discussion.
Agenda Item
7491
Minutes of
January 14, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; January 28, 2002, Board Work Session;
February 4, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; and February 18, 2002, Board Work
Session
Beverly Watts Davis
requested an addition to the Minutes of the Agenda Item 7465, Fund Balance
Policy and Operating Reserves Strategy, of the January 14, Regular Board
Meeting: The Board learned from the
administration that the College was over budgeted in the amount of $3 million.
Barbara Mink requested that
voting be clarified for Agenda Items 7478 and 7485 and that it be noted when
the Chair does not vote.
Agenda Item
7492
Award of Bonds
and Enter into Bond Purchase Agreement
Della May Moore moved and Beverly Silas seconded that:
Motion: The
Board of Trustees approve a Resolution authorizing the issuance of approximately
$10,500,000 Austin Community College District Combined Fee Revenue Building and
Refunding Bonds, Series 2002; entering into an escrow agreement, a purchase
contract, and a paying agent/registrar agreement; approving an official
statement; and authorizing and approving other matters related thereto.
Trustees
discussed the item and Jerry North, Interim Business Services Administrator;
and Tom Pollan, College Legal Counsel; and Tim Kelley, Coastal Securities,
responded to questions from Trustees.
Vote: The motion passed on a vote of 5-3-1.
For: Lillian Davis, Della May Moore, Carol Nasworthy, Beverly Silas,
and Rafael Quintanilla.
Against: Beverly Watts Davis, Allen Kaplan, and John Worley
Abstaining: Barbara Mink
[Beverly Silas, Vice Chair, became Chair.]
Agenda Item
7493
Matters
Related to Conduct of May 4, 2002, Election
Beverly Silas introduced the
item and Linda Young, Special Assistant to the President for Governmental and
Community Relations, distributed updated information concerning an order
setting polling places, election officials, and joint election agreements for
the May 4 general election.
Allen Kaplan moved and Carol Nasworthy seconded that:
Motion: The Board of Trustees approve an Order setting polling places, election
officials, and joint election agreement for the May 4, 2002, general election.
Vote: The motion passed on a vote of 8-0.
For: Beverly Watts Davis, Allen Kaplan, Barbara Mink, Della May Moore,
Carol Nasworthy, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.
Against: None
Abstaining: None
The Chair was not present for the
vote.
Trustees
agreed to re-order the agenda to discuss Agenda Items 7495 and 7496 next.
Agenda Item
7495
Resolution Relating
to the Financial Health of Austin Community College
Vice
Chair Silas introduced the item and Dr. Fonte responded to questions from
Trustees.
[Lillian
Davis returned to the dais as Chair.]
Beverly Silas moved and Allen Kaplan
seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees adopt a resolution providing direction to
the administration regarding financial matters.
AMENDMENT TO MOTION: Beverly Silas requested the following
addition to the motion: (h) The Board
of Trustees instructs the administration to investigate whether or not the City
of Austin is interested in purchasing the Riverside Golf Course to maintain and
retain as a golf course/green space.
Allen Kaplan agreed with the
proposed amendment to the original motion.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Beverly Watts Davis requested the addition
of a proposed amendment to the end of (h) to state: “in perpetuity. Should
the City of Austin not retain the property as a golf course/green space, the
property would revert back to Austin Community College.”
Beverly Silas and Allen Kaplan
accepted the Friendly Amendment.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: John Worley requested that the property also
be dedicated parkland.
Beverly Silas and Allen Kaplan
accepted the Friendly Amendment.
Vote on Amendment to Original Motion
to add (h): The motion passed on a vote
of 5-2-1.
For: Allen Kaplan, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas,
John Worley
Against: Della May Moore and Carol Nasworthy.
Abstaining: Beverly Watts Davis
The Chair did not vote.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Barbara Mink requested addition to 3 of the
amended Resolution: “Through an open
and collaborative process, develop a corrective action plan to address the FY02
budget.”
Beverly Silas and Allen Kaplan
accepted the Friendly Amendment.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: John Worley requested deletion of 3(g) from
the Resolution: “Recaptures extra cost
of summer processing of applications involving transcript reviews.”
Beverly Silas did not accept the
Friendly Amendment.
AMENDMENT TO ORIGINAL MOTION: John Worley moved and Beverly Watts Davis
seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees delete 3(g) “Recaptures extra cost of
summer processing of applications involving transcript reviews” and look at it
separately under another agenda item.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Barbara Mink requested addition of “college”
before transcript reviews.
The Friendly Amendment was accepted
by Beverly Silas and Allen Kaplan.
VOTE ON AMENDMENT TO ORIGINAL
MOTION: The motion failed on a vote of
4-5.
For: Beverly Watts Davis, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, John
Worley.
Against: Allen Kaplan, Della May Moore, Carol Nasworthy, Beverly Silas,
Lillian Davis
Abstaining: None.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: John Worley requested that 3(i) be
added: “Reduces or eliminates, as
appropriate, expenditures for activities that cause a net revenue loss and that
do not relate to the core mission of the College.”
Beverly Silas and Allen Kaplan did
not accept the Friendly Amendment.
AMENDMENT TO ORIGINAL MOTION:
John Worley moved and Beverly Watts
Davis seconded that:
MOTION: Addition of 3(i) to Resolution:
“Reduces or eliminates, as appropriate, expenditures for activities that
cause a net revenue loss and that do not relate to the core mission of the
College.”
Trustees
and Dr. Fonte discussed the proposed amendment to the motion.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Barbara Mink requested the following change
to item 4 of the Resolution: “4. Begin development of FY03 budget through an
open and highly collaborative process that seeks and utilizes input from all
employees on means and methods to: (a)
reduce costs that do not relate to the core missions of the College; (b)
maintain the total number of sections offered to students at the current level;
and (c) run a modest surplus as required by previously adopted funds reserve
corrective plan.
Beverly Silas and Allen Kaplan
accepted the Friendly Amendment.
VOTE ON AMENDMENT TO ORIGINAL
MOTION: The motion failed on a vote of
4-5.
FOR: Beverly Watts Davis, Barbara Mink, John Worley, Lillian Davis.
AGAINST: Allen Kaplan, Della May Moore, Carol Nasworthy, Rafael
Quintanilla, and Beverly Silas.
ABSTAINING: None.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT:
John Worley requested the following
addition: Add a new 3 (i) to the
Resolution: “Increases efficiency and
economy in scheduling, taking care, in accordance with Board Policy E-1, B [1]
to retain sections that break even or make money and hence require no tax
subsidy.”
Beverly Silas accepted the Friendly
Amendment.
Dr.
Fonte distributed information and provided information concerning average cost
to run a section.
PROPOSED CHANGE TO FRIENDLY
AMENDMENT: Allen Kaplan requested
deletion of “and hence require no tax subsidy.” from the proposed new 3 (i).
Beverly Silas and John Worley
accepted the proposed change to the Friendly Amendment.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Della May Moore requested that 3 (i) be
changed to read “Increases efficiency and economy in scheduling, taking care,
in accordance with Board Policy E-1, B[1] to retain sections that break even or
generate sufficient revenue to cover cost.”
Beverly Silas, Allen Kaplan, and
John Worley accepted the Friendly Amendment.
VOTE ON ORIGINAL MOTION AS
AMENDED: The motion passed on a vote of
6-3.
FOR: Beverly Watts Davis, Lillian Davis, Allen Kaplan, Della May
Moore, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.
AGAINST: Barbara Mink, Carol Nasworthy, Rafael Quintanilla.
ABSTAINING: None.
*****
Resolution Relating to the
Financial Health of Austin Community College
Whereas, the Board of Trustees is charged with the public
trust of responsibly overseeing the use of financial resources of Austin
Community College,
Whereas, the Board of Trustees has established
policies aimed at ensuring that the fund reserves are maintained above certain
minimums and that said policies require corrective action if the reserves fall
below such minimum levels,
Whereas, the Board of Trustees has taken corrective
action to restore these fund reserves and insists that the current and future
budgets do not again push reserves below the minimum threshold level,
Whereas, the Board of Trustees has established
policies that mandate the development and administration of a balanced budget
between revenues and expenditures and that the Board requires that it be
immediately informed of corrective actions whenever the president identifies a
negative imbalance between revenues and expenditures,
Whereas, the Board of Trustees has been made aware
that the FY02 budget is in imbalance by $2.1 million.
Whereas, the Board of Trustees recognizes that ACC financial
stability is of critical concern to both internal and external constituencies
of the College
Whereas, the Board of Trustees desires to return to
the pattern of four consecutive balanced budgets that existed prior to FY 01,
and as required by board policy, and wishes that future budgets be planned to
run at a surplus necessary to maintain the fund reserves threshold.
Whereas, the Board of Trustees recognizes that
meeting the needs of the community are restrained by available resources and
that ACC has the lowest tax rate among community colleges and has among the
highest tuition rates charged students,
Whereas, the Board of Trustees recognizes that the
college has continued to expand its offerings in terms of programs, services
and class sections offered despite these constraints on resources,
Whereas, Board of Trustees adopted a strategy in its
master plan of only “incremental” expansion in light of the constrained
resources,
Whereas, the Board has been made aware that planning
for the FY03 budget will soon begin in an environment of extremely restrained
revenues,
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees
directs the President and the administration to take the following steps:
1.
Provide
a monthly financial report to the Board of Trustees that accurately reflects
the timeliest available data on revenue and expenditures and take whatever
steps are necessary to improve internal reporting systems to assure that such
data is as current as possible.
2.
Report immediately to the Board of Trustees
if any budgetary imbalances or projected trends will jeopardize the fund
reserve corrective plan already enacted by the Board.
3.
Through
an open and collaborative process, develop a corrective plan to address the
FY02 budget that:
a)
Retains
the total number of section offerings for students for FY02 above the level of
sections offered to students in FY01.
b)
Restrains
or curtails hiring, except for emergencies or extremely high priority such as
campus police, for the rest of the FY02 budget year.
c)
Shares
solving the financial problem across all budgetary units but makes the largest
cuts from administrative supportive units, not instructional disciplines or
student serving units and undertakes this cost cutting through an open and
collaborative process.
d)
Honors
any advertised financial tuition reduction commitments made to students for the
spring term.
e)
Restrains
or freezes available and uncommitted technology/equipment expenses,
f)
Covers
some longer range capital and physical plant expenses through bonding without
increasing building fees and additional financial burden on students.
g)
Recaptures
extra cost of summer processing of
applications involving college transcript reviews.
h)
The Board of Trustees instructs the administration to investigate
whether or not the City of Austin is interested in purchasing the Riverside
Golf Course to maintain and retain as a golf course/green space in
perpetuity. This property is to be
dedicated parkland. Should the City of
Austin not retain the property as a golf course/green space and dedicated
parkland, the property would revert back to Austin Community College.
i)
Increases efficiency and economy in scheduling, taking care, in
accordance with Board Policy E-1,B [1] to retain sections that break even or
generate sufficient revenue to cover cost.
4.
Begin
development of FY03 budget through an open and highly collaborative process
that seeks and utilizes input from all employees on means and methods to (a) reduce costs that do not relate to the core missions of the College (b)
maintain the total number of sections offered to students at the current
level; and (c)
run a modest surplus as required by previously adopted funds reserve
corrective plan.
AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Lillian Davis, President
Board of Trustees
ATTEST:
John Worley, Secretary
Board of Trustees
*****
Agenda Item
7496
Summer
Application Fee
Dr.
Davis introduced the item.
Carol Nasworthy moved and Della May
Moore seconded that:
MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve a $30 summer application fee for
college students to become effective Summer 2002 Semester.
VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 7-1.
FOR: Beverly Watts Davis, Allen Kaplan, Barbara Mink, Della May Moore,
Carol Nasworthy, Rafael Quintanilla, and Beverly Silas.
AGAINST: John Worley
ABSTAINING: None.
The Chair did not vote.
Agenda Item
7494
Board
Financial Policy Revisions: G-1,
College Budget – Financial Reports, and G-6, Minimum Reserves Level
Agenda Item
7497
Proposed Board
Committee on Economic and Financial Analyses
Trustees
tabled this item until the March 18 meeting.
Trustees were asked to provide comments regarding scheduling of Board items for this six-month work period moving some items to the next six-month period. Vice Chair Beverly Silas requested comments regarding scheduling of Board items prior to 7 a.m. on Wednesday, March 6. The current Six-Month Board Work Plan will be forwarded to Trustees.
Executive
Session
There
was no Executive Session.
President's
Administrative Report
Dr.
Fonte spoke regarding two inaccurate statements in the American-Stateman:
·
Statement regarding $40,000 spent for remodeling in the
President’s Office - There has been no remodeling in the President’s Office in
the last five years.
·
Reference to funds for the Holiday Party coming from the
Operating Fund – The funds come from the Auxillary Fund and employees pay their
portion of the cost.
Trustees encouraged the
President to demand accurate reporting by the news media.
Quick Meeting
Review
Trustees
commented regarding the meeting:
What we did well rated as 1-5 (with 5 being very
satisfied): good meeting; meeting was fine, but did not
particularly care for some of the comments; good meeting; good meeting; very
good meeting; 3, good meeting, pleased that Board Work Plan will be
prioritized.
What we can do better: did not have a
problem with staff, but does have a problem with how the statistics are used by
the administration; disappointed in how the Trustees beat themselves up all of
the time.
Announcements
There
were no announcements.
Adjournment
Having
no motion before the Board, the March 4, 2002, regular meeting of the Austin
Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Approved By
John B. Worley, Secretary