MINUTES

Regular Meeting - Board of Trustees

April 1, 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, April 1, 2002, at 6:02 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 6:30 p.m.]; Allen Kaplan; Barbara Mink; Della May Moore [arrived at 6:25 p.m.]; 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

There were no recognitions.

 

Dialogue with WorkSource Board Members, Capital Area Training Foundation Board Members/Tech-Prep

Dr. Davis introduced the item and stated the discussion would concern the relationship with Austin Community College partners.  Participants included:  Austin Community College Trustees; Mark Hazelwood, Chair, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce; Sandy Dochen, Chair, WorkSource Board; Bob Rutishauser, Executive Director, School-to-Work Partnership, and Chair of the Austin Community College Foundation; John Fitzpatrick, Vice Chair, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Director, Capital Area Training Foundation; Dale McCollough, Executive Director, Tech-Prep Consortium; Allyson Peerman, AMD Manager and Co-Chair of the Capital Area Training Foundation; Rip Rowan, Managing Director, Education and Workforce, Capital Area Training Foundation; Richard Fonte, College President; Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President; Alan Rasco, Associate Vice President; and Mary Hensley, Associate Vice President.

 

Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to be housed at Austin Community College and the importance of the very close working relationship with the College.  Trustees and participants discussed the close collaboration between the organizations and the College.  Individual programs offered by the College were cited and praised by participants. 

 

Dr. Davis and Trustees expressed appreciation for the valuable information presented.

 

Citizens Communications

·       Mark Goodrich, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding AFT.

·       James McGuffee, citizen, spoke regarding Agenda Item 7506, proposed Committee on Economic and Financial Analyses.

·       Betty Edgemond, citizen, spoke regarding South Austin Campus.

·       Myra Bradley, ACC/AFT, spoke regarding shared governance.

 

Reports from Employee Associations

·      Adjunct Faculty Association – Kitty Henderson, President, spoke regarding shared governance.

·      Classified Employees Association – Mark Goodrich, President, spoke regarding activities of the Association.

·       Full-Time Faculty Senate – Laura Ore, President, spoke regarding shared governance.

·       Professional/Technical Employees Association – Karen Anderson, President, spoke regarding association activities and provided a snapshort of the 35 Professional-Technical positions at the Rio Grande Campus.

·       Student Government Association – Zander Parker, President, spoke regarding the needs of students and distributed information.

 

Trustee Report(s) to the Board

·       Sister City Relationship with Nigeria – Beverly Silas

Ms. Silas provided a snapshot of the recent visit she and Donetta Goodall, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, made to Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria, concerning a sister-city partnership with the Imo State Technological Skills Acquisition Centre,.  She stated that a full report will be provided at the upcoming Board Retreat on Friday, April 12, 2002, 11:00 a.m., at the San Jacinto Center, Room 160, 98 San Jacinto Boulevard, Austin.

 

Report to the Board

·       Report of Achievements and Recognitions- Dr. Kinslow, Executive Vice President, distributed kudos information and acknowledged:

 

·       Dorothy Barnett, Assistant Professor, Creative Writing, has been elected President of the two-year caucus of the Associated Writing Programs.  At the annual conference ACC’s program was highlighted, and it will be one of the models for setting the “Hallmarks” for two-year college creative writing programs.

 

·       David Potter, Adjunct Instructor, Physics, had a note published in the January 2002 issues of The Physics Teacher: The Speed of Sound in an Iron Rod (Apparatus column).

 

·       The Culinary Arts program was visited this past week by an evaluation team from the American Culinary Federation, who were impressed with ACC’s faculty and students.  This accreditation project is headed by Reuel Smith, Associate Professor.

 

·       Irie Glajar, Professor of Mathematics, presented at the 25th international conference of the Society of Educators and Scholars.

 

·       Barbara Hefner, Associate Professor of Surgical Technology, recently completed her 10th two-day medical mission to El Salvador for Austin Smiles, a non-profit organization that provides reconstructive surgery.

 

·       William Bastas, Associate Professor of Welding, demonstrated blacksmithing skills at the Ozark Mountain School of Blacksmithing, and also demonstrated power hammer techniques at the National Ornamental Iron Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.

  

·       Tom Applegate presented a training session on Decision-Making Skills as part of ACC’s staff development series.

 

·       Alysian Thomas, Westwood High School junior, was selected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington.  Alysian is an Early College Start student.

 

·       Charles Meeks is third in the individual rankings (of over 5000 students) participating in Round 2 of the national math competition.  ACC is in first place in the southwest region, with four of the top 11 students from ACC.

 

·       Trustee Beverly Silas was among eleven women inducted into the Connie Yerwood Conner African American Women’s Hall of Fame by the Austin chapter of the National Women of Achievement.

 

·       Our thanks to PIN staff Jeanette Brownlee, JoAnn Nunez, Lee Vallejo, Bynum Thomas, Judy Van Cleve, and Tom Applegate who responded to the problems created by a broken water pipe at the Pinnacle Campus in early March, and to the ACC Facilities and Operations staff who worked long hours on Sunday as well as during the week to get classes operational as quickly as possible.

 

·       Marketing and Public Information - ACCR17;s Marketing and Public Information office has received several awards:CASE District IV award in Category 11 (TV Spots - Series) for Judo.  The award will be made on April 8 in Oklahoma City; CASE award in Category 37 (News Writing) for ACC and APD Join Forces to Overcome Language Barriers and ACC Equips Non-profits with Survival Skills; Three Paragon awards from the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations for Recruitment Campaign: Classes Fill Fast.  Register Early. TV Ad Series, and Promotional Item (Start Here.  Get There. mouse pad).

 

Ed Osborn, Marketing and Public Information Executive, gave a presentation on how ACC is aligning its public awareness and enrollment marketing messages at the annual conference of the National Council on Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) on March 18 in Orlando, Florida. 

During the months of February and March, stories about Austin Community College’s programs, students, faculty and staff have appeared on every television station and every major newspaper in the Austin area.  There were 141 media stories about ACC, which translates into approximately $100,00 in ad equivalency rates. 

Several ACC students, including two enrolled in the Early College Start Program, were featured in the media:  Alysian Thomas in the Austin American-Statesman and the Villager for her selection to participate in a national leadership conference; Deborah Wills in two KTBC-7 spots, including a live package, about weightlifting at ACC and competing nationally; a KEYE-42 profile on Joseph Wour, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan; and a KXAN-36 interview with Purple Heart Scholarship recipient, Donna Banks, and ACC Foundation Executive Director, Stephanie Diina-Dempsey.

 

Newspaper and broadcast coverage also featured stories about a civil rights panel discussion and a gospel music extravaganza at the Eastview Campus; the ACC nursing program receiving grants; ACC adjunct teachers offering to work for free; the comptroller’s decision to audit the College; ACC’s budget issues; and an increase in enrollment in workforce courses.

 

Other highlights include a front-page metro story in the Statesman about ACC cutting fewer spring classes; two Statesman editorials by Alberta Philips that supported the need for a tax increase and a fee for students taking summer courses; a profile on Della May Moore ran on the front page of the metro section; an op-ed piece by Dr. Fonté in the Statesman discussed the College’s growing pains as did a letter to the editor published in the Austin Chronicle.  Dr. Kinslow’s letter to the editor in the Statesman discussed expanding ACC’s tax base.

 

Nationally, stories about ACC have appeared on the front page of the bi-weekly publication Community College Times.  The stories all included color art and were about diverse subjects:  ACC’s Visual Communication Design students counter-terrorism posters being displayed at the United Nations; the unveiling of the mural at the Eastview Campus; and a profile on expert stonesetter Stanley Young who teaches in ACC’s jewelry-making program.

 

·       Monthly Financial Report – Jerry North, Interim Business Services Administrator, called attention to the Monthly Financial Report provided in the agenda and stated that a balanced budget is projected for the Fiscal Year 2002.  He stated that the Business Services area is continuing to monitor revenue and expenses very closely.  Mr. North responded to questions from Trustees concerning revenue and expenditures.

 

·      Internal Auditor Report – Imad Mouchayleh, College Internal Auditor, called attention to materials provided in the Reports section of the agenda and provided a status report regarding the payroll reconciliation report and the Report on Conduct of Audit, August 31, 2001.  He also provided information regarding the status of the recommendation by SoCo Consulting, Inc., concerning the payroll process.  Mr. Mouchayleh responded to questions from Trustees.

 


CONSENT AGENDA:

 

Agenda Item 7502

Minutes of the January 14, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; January 28, 2002, Work Session; February 4, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; February 18, 2002, Board Briefing and Board Work Session; March 4, 2002, Board Briefing and Board Work Session; and March 18, 2002, Board Briefing and Board Work Session of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

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

 

Agenda Item 7503

Matters Related to Conduct of May 4, 2002, Board of Trustees Election

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve an Order setting polling places, election officials, and joint election agreed for the May 4, 2002, general election.

 

Agenda Item 7504

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy G-1, College Budget – Financial Report

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the revision to Board Policy G-1, College Budget.

 

G-1. COLLEGE BUDGET

The President shall, prior to the end of June each year, develop and submit to the Board and for public review a proposed annual budget that:

[1] Provides adequate support for the educational programs of the College, based on efficient operation of both direct and support services.

[2] Distributes resources primarily on objective criteria based on student enrollment and program needs.

[3] Provides a justification or plan for correction of any substantial disparities in the resources supplied to serve students in similar programs at different campuses.

[4] Budgets revenues and expenses based on actual expected performance. When there is substantial uncertainty about performance in an area, the associated budget projection should be moderately conservative; in such cases, the administration should describe its targets for the area and the budget effects of the range of plausible outcomes.

[5] Budgets expected overall current-funds expenses plus transfers mandated by law or policy of less than expected current-funds revenues, and budgets fund balances within the limits imposed by policy G-6, Fund Balance.

[6] Is consistent with a multi-year master plan developed in compliance with policy E-1 on Master Planning.

[7] Provides a recent history and (to the extent feasible) a three-year plan for tuition/fee levels, enrollment, overall revenues and expenses, debt service, plant-fund expenditures, and fund-balance levels, with a description of planning assumptions and significant changes.

When deemed appropriate by the administration, capital items in an annual budget may be purchased during the period after budget approval but prior to the start of the fiscal year.

The President shall inform the Board whenever the actual performance of the College differs significantly from the approved budget, and shall propose corrective budget amendments if projected performance differs from the budget target for current-funds surplus by more than ½% of annual Education&General-fund revenues.

The President shall provide the board a monthly financial report detailing year to date expenditures and revenues against the budget and a monthly revised year projection of expenditures and revenues. The external auditor shall annually review the availability of timely data under the reporting system and make any recommendations to the President and Board of any improvement in the monthly reporting system that may be necessary.

Agenda Item 7505

Proposed Amendments to Board Policy G-6, Minimum Reserves Level

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the revision to Board Policy G-6, Fund Balance Minimum Reserves Level.

 

Beverly Watts Davis requested that Agenda Item 7502 be pulled for discussion.  John Worley requested Agenda Item 7505 be pulled for discussion.

 

Agenda Item 7502

Minutes of the January 14, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; January 28, 2002, Work Session; February 4, 2002, Regular Board Meeting; February 18, 2002, Board Briefing and Board Work Session; March 4, 2002, Board Briefing and Board Work Session; and March 18, 2002, Board Briefing and Board Work Session of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

Beverly Watts Davis requested that information be included in the minutes of the February 18 Board Work Session that fourteen students were denied the opportunity to speak during the Eastview Campus Community Dialogue – College Master Plan.  Dr. Davis corrected the request to state that one student was ruled ineligible to speak by the Chair.  Allen Kaplan requested that the minutes of the March 4 Board meeting clarify the vote on Agenda Item 7492 and John Worley requested that the issuance of Austin Community College Combined Fee Revenue Building and Refunding Bonds, Series 2002, be reflected as $10,500,000.

 

Agenda Item 7505

Proposed Amendments to Board Policy G-6, Minimum Reserves Level

John Worley requested that the proposed change to Board Policy G-6, Minimum Reserves Level be amended to state:  “If for three (3) consecutive months, the monthly financial report provided the Board indicates (a) a projected deficit for the current fiscal year, or (b) that the projected reserves will fall below the level specified by this the policy or (c) that the reserves will fall below the level specified in a corrective action plan, the President shall provide a supplemental plan for corrective action to the Board of Trustees.” 

 

Board Policy G-6, Minimum Reserves Level

 

Austin Community College shall seek to maintain at the end of each fiscal year, adequate reserves including Retirement of Indebtedness, equal to 1.80 months of current operating expenses and not greater than 3 months of current operating expenses.  If the reserves fall below this level, the President shall present a corrective plan to the Board of Trustees.

 

If for three (3) consecutive months, the monthly financial report provided the Board indicates (a) a projected deficit for the current fiscal year, or (b) that the projected reserves will fall below the level specified by this policy or (c) that the reserves will fall below the level specified in a corrective action plan, the President shall provide a supplemental plan for corrective action to the Board of Trustees.

 

Allen Kaplan moved and Barbara Mink seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve the Consent Agenda including Agenda Items 7502 (as amended); 7503, 7504, and 7505 (as amended).

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

FOR:  Beverly Watts Davis, Allen Kaplan, Barbara Mink, Della May Moore, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.

Absent:  Carol Nasworthy

The Chair did not vote.

 

Items for Discussion/Possible Action:

 

Agenda Item 7506

Committee on Economic and Financial Analyses

Dr. Davis introduced the item and Dr. Worley provided information.  This item will be on the agenda of a future meeting for additional discussion.

 

[Allen Kaplan left the meeting at 10:00 p.m.]

 

Agenda Item 7507

Board Policy C-6, Community-College Linkages

Dr. Davis introduced the item and Dr. Steve Kinslow provided additional information regarding follow up to comments made at an earlier Board meeting and to the earlier dialogue concerning external partnerships/assignment of space at the Highland Business Center.  Dr. Kinslow responded to questions from Trustees.

 

President's Administrative Report

Dr. Gerry Tucker, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, distributed information and provided information concerning payroll enhancements including:  improvements to payroll process, general office operations improvements, benefits and deductions processing, Etime, and HR records.

 

Quick Meeting Review

Trustees commented regarding the meeting: 

What we did well rated as 1-5 (with 5 being very satisfied):  3; 5; pass; 4.

What we can do better:  continue to have a problem with dialogue, may be we shouldn’t call it dialogue; didn’t learn anything from the dialogue and it wasn’t adequately defined.

 

Executive Session

There was no Executive Session.

 

Announcements

Dr. Davis announced that Vice Chair Beverly Silas was recently inducted into the Connie Yerwood Hall of Fame 2002 at Huston-Tillotson College.  Dr. Davis called attention to a recent Austin American-Statesman article which chronicled retiring Trustee Della May Moore’s tenure as a member of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the April 1, 2002, regular meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.


Approved By
                                                        

John B. Worley, Secretary