MINUTES
Retreat -
Board of Trustees
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 at a Board Retreat on
Friday, September 5-6, 2003, at 3:15
p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2003, in the Library of the Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center located at 4801 LaCrosse Avenue,
Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Rafael Quintanilla, Chair/Presiding Officer;
Barbara Mink, Vice Chair; Allen Kaplan, Board Secretary; Trustees Lillian
Davis, John Hernandez, Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:10
p.m.], Beverly Silas, and John Worley.
Trustee Beverly Watts Davis was absent from the Retreat.
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.
Items for
Discussion/Possible Action
Agenda Item
7772
Discussion of
Board Team Development
Board
Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and welcomed Trustees to the
Retreat. He provided an overview of the
Retreat. Mr. Quintanilla advised that
the purpose of this item was to allow the Board to become more focused as a
group. Trustees completed a Myers-Briggs
self-assessment instrument and discussed individual strengths and preferred
work styles. Trustees met in small
groups to conduct small group discussions.
Trustees discussed characteristics of the Board and identified what the
Board does well and areas which could be improved. Trustees discussed future professional
development.
In
preparation for Saturday’s discussion, Dr. Barbara Mink asked Trustees to
review A New Vision for Board Leadership
by John Carver and Miriam Mayhew: Chapter 1, The Principles of Policy
Governance, and Chapter 2, Describing the Board’s Job regarding policy
governance; ethical dilemmas; and the survey recently completed by Trustees
regarding policy governance and Board ethics.
She stated Dr. Gary Davis, Executive Director of the Illinois
Association of Community College Trustees, and Dr. Bill Wenrich,
Chancellor Emeritus of Dallas County Community College District, would
facilitate the Saturday discussions.
Recess
Having
no motion before the Board, the meeting was recessed on
Reconvene
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 reconvened in public session on Saturday, September
6, 2003, at 9:00 a.m., in the Library of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower
Center located at 4801 LaCrosse Avenue, Austin,
Texas, with the following members present:
Rafael Quintanilla, Chair/Presiding Officer; Barbara Mink, Vice Chair;
Allen Kaplan, Board Secretary; Trustees Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Nan McRaven, Beverly Silas, and John Worley. Also in attendance
were Richard Fonte, College President; Dr. Gary
Davis, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Community College
Trustees, and Dr. Bill Wenrich, Chancellor Emeritus
of the Dallas County Community College District. Trustee Beverly Watts Davis
was absent from the Retreat.
Agenda Item
7773
Discussion of
Policy Governance
Board
Chair Rafael Quintanilla introduced the item and Trustees introduced themselves
by stating who they were; how they came to run for the Board; and something
that others may not know about them.
Drs.
Davis and Wenrich distributed information and
discussed policy governance. Trustees
discussed policies; Trustee orientation; policy process; limitations;
presidential reporting; committees and sub-committees of the Board; and Board
goals.
Dr.
Davis discussed a recent survey of Trustees regarding ethics; ethical dilemmas;
the Board’s self-evaluation process; and involvement of Trustees in
organization of College/personnel decisions. Trustees also discussed the role
of the Board Chair including a possible rule stating that the Board Chair is
expected to counsel and mentor Board members regarding ethical, “appropriate”,
and legal behavior.
Trustees
identified what was learned; what worked; what didn’t work; and areas which
need further Board development.
Trustees
expressed appreciation to Dr. Davis and Dr. Wenrich
for the valuable information presented.
Adjournment
Having
no motion before the Board, the
Approved By
Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary