MINUTES

Regular Meeting – Board of Trustees

October 7, 2003

 

In accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of Texas Government Code, the Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District convened in public session on Tuesday, October 7, 2003, at 6:02 p.m. in the Board Room (201) of the Highland Business Center of Austin Community College located at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas, with the following members present: Rafael Quintanilla, Chair/Presiding Officer; Barbara P. Mink, Board Vice Chair; Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary; Lillian Davis; John Hernandez; Nan McRaven [arrived at 6:15 p.m.]; Beverly Silas; and John Worley.  Trustee Beverly Watts Davis resigned effective October 1, 2003, and  therefore, did not attend the meeting.

 

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.

 

Citizens Communication

·        Savitri Saldana, citizen, spoke regarding accolades for ACC’s Non-Profit Center.

·        Mary Daigle, citizen, spoke regarding accolades for ACC’s Non-Profit Center.

·        Charlie Briggs, Texas Commission Volunteerism and Community Service, spoke regarding accolades for ACC’s Non-Profit Center.

·        Barry Lovelace, citizen, spoke regarding accolades for ACC’s Non-Profit Center.

·        Guadalupe Sosa, Chair, South Austin Campus Advisory Committee, spoke regarding involvement needs for plans regarding South Austin Campus.

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

·        Mark Goodrich, President of ACC/AFT, spoke regarding organization officers for 2003-2004:  Hazel Ward, Vice President; Bill Cheek, Secretary; Dan Dewberry, Treasurer; and provided information regarding activities of the organization.

 

[Trustee Nan McRaven arrived at 6:15 p.m.]

 

Reports from Associations

·        Adjunct Faculty Association – Don Becker, President, spoke regarding Presidential Search Advisory Committee; Early College Start; Process for Filling Board Member Vacancy; and Potential Board Policy on Professional Development.

·        Classified Employees Association – Judy Green, President, spoke regarding Presidential Search Advisory Committee; Temporary Adjustment Pay; educational incentive rules, and distributed information on the State Employees Charitable Contribution activity

·        Full-Time Faculty Senate – Daniel Traverso, President, spoke regarding a resolution passed by the Full-Time Faculty Senate regarding staffing table half-time counseling position; amendment of Administrative Rule 4.03.004.6.B concerning maximum paid overtime; and ACC sports program.

·        Professional-Technical Employees Association – John Kennie, President, spoke regarding activities of the Association, Presidential Search Advisory Committee, and profiled Maxine Kaplan.

·        Student Government AssociationScott Stewart, President, spoke regarding Early College Start; athletics program and introduced James Madison of the ACC Core Student Alliance.

 

Reports to the Board

·        Report from Citizens Advisory Committee on Finance and Budget – Hunter Ellinger and Bob Rutishauser, Committee members, presented information concerning the Committee activities, operating principles; and intended work products.  Trustees expressed appreciation for the service of the Committee members and the information presented.

·        Financial Report – August 2003 – Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business Services, distributed a revised August 2003/End of Year Report.  Mr. Ferrell detailed year-to-date expenditures and revenues against the budget and a monthly revised fiscal-year projection of expenditures and revenues.  He stated the College will have a positive balance of revenues versus expenditures for the current fiscal year and that the College will meet the expectations of the minimum reserves level policy (G-6) or the corrective action plan requirements.  Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees.

·        Report on Fall Enrollment and Tuition -  Ben Ferrell provided information regarding the enrollment and tuition for Fall 2003 and called attention to possible advertising implications for Fiscal Year 2005.  He discussed the plan to increase Spring 2004 advertising by $50,000 by reallocating existing dollars from lapsed salaries.  Mr. Ferrell and Dr. Kinslow responded to questions from Trustees regarding enrollments and tuition.

·        Report on Rio Grande Campus/Property – Bronson Dorsey, Associate Vice President, Facilities and Operations, stated that pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) approved by the Board, the purchase agreement contract was signed by Austin Community College and Austin Independent School District.  It became effective on August 6, 2003, with the purchase price of $4.75 million.  A first amendment to the agreement was signed on September 23, 2003, that provided for an extension of time for ACC to provide the survey to Austin Independent School District; extended the initial study period to November 19, 2003; and, because of some changes in occupancy that AISD requested, it also amended the terms of the future license agreement between the two entities for future lease of space.  He reported on due diligence efforts and responded to question from Trustees.

·        Report on Achievements and Recognitions – Dr. Steve Kinslow, Executive Vice President, distributed the Kudos Report and called attention to recent awards/recognitions received by faculty/programs, staff, students, and Austin Community College.  Trustee Hernandez expressed appreciation to Professor Willoughby for a presentation made to the Metropolitan Breakfast Club.

.

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Agenda Item 7787

Proposed Approval of Minutes of the September 2, 2003, Special Meeting; Minutes of September 2, 2003, Regular Meeting; and Minutes of the September 5-6, 2003, Board Retreat of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees

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

 

Agenda Item 7788

Proposed Renewal of Resolution on Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the renewal of Resolution 7598 supporting the continuance of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Finance and Budget.

 

 

Agenda Item 7789

Deactivation and Closure of the Consumer Electronics Program (Electrical & Electronics Equipment Installers & Repairers, CIP 47.0101)

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the deactivation and closure of the Consumer Electronics Program due to low enrollments, obsolescence, and lack of demand for workers with this preparation.

 

Agenda Item 7790

Deactivation and Closure of the Quality Assurance Program

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve the deactivation and closure of the Quality Assurance Program due to low enrollments.

 

Agenda Item 7791

Proposed Approval of Contract to Lease Excess Airtime on Austin Community College’s Instructional Television Fixed Services Channels (IFTS)

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees authorize the administration to negotiate a contract with Fixed Wireless Holdings, Inc.

 

Agenda Item 7792

Expenditures in Excess of $100,000

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve a list of vendors projected to have expenditures over $100,000 in Fiscal Year 2004 (Exhibit A).

 

Agenda Item 7793

Proposed Approval for Renumbering of Board Policies

Recommendation:  That the Board of Trustees approve renumbering of Board policies to reflect more logical groupings including:

·        Move A-4 (Tuition Rates) to become part of Group G (Budgeting) and be numbered as G-9.

·        Move A-5 (Service Area Responsibilities) to become part of Group E (Planning and Evaluation) and be numbered E-9.

·        Move A-8 (Student Travel) to become part of Group C (College Operations) and be numbered C-8.

·        Move E-8 (Auxiliary Enterprises) to Group G (Budgeting) and be numbered G-10.

·        Renumber A-6 (Student Goals) as a new A-4, since several of the policies will have been moved from the Group A category.

 

Trustee John Worley requested Agenda Item 7788, Proposed Renewal of Resolution on Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget, a technical correction to be made to include information inadvertently omitted from the Renewal Resolution:

 

Renewal Resolution

 

The Board hereby establishes a Citizens’ Advisory Committee on Finance and Budget.

 

 

Purpose

 

This committee will (1) evaluate the quality and accuracy of the economic and financial analyses that the administration provides to the Board through the Master Plan, (2) examine the College budget for possible ways to reduce expenditures and increase revenue, taking into account the recommendations of the Internal Budget Committee and the State Comptroller’s Office, and (3) examine any additional economic or financial analyses of substantial financial impact that the administration provides to the Board if the Board votes to refer any such set assumptions to the committee for their review.

 

Membership and Chair

                Each Trustee may appoint one person to the committee.  The Board Chair will appoint the chair of the Committee.

 

                Procedure for referring an economic or financial analysis to the Committee:

 

                (1)           If a Trustee submits a request for a Committee review of an economic or financial analysis to the Board Chair by the seventh day before a Board meeting, the request must be put on the Board agenda for discussion.

                (2)           If a Trustee, either in a written message sent to the Board Chair (and copied to all Board members) before the meeting at which the request for review is posted or at that meeting, asks that the request for review of the financial or economic analysis be put to a Board vote, the issues will be put on the agenda of the next regular or specifically-called meeting for a vote.  If no Trustee asks for a vote in this manner, the request for review of the economic or financial analysis will be referred to the Committee.  If a Trustee asks for a vote in this manner, five Board members must vote for referral to the Committee for a request for review to be referred.

                (3)           When a request for review has been referred to the Committee, the Board Chair will transmit the request for review to the Chair of the Committee.  The Chair of the Committee will then convene the Committee to discuss how the request for review will be handled.

                (4)           If the Committee is of the opinion that its workload will not permit immediate review of all the economic or financial analyses referred to it by the Board, it may accordingly prioritize or decline Board referrals.

 

Term of Committee

                Because this Committee is established by resolution, it will dissolve in one year from the date this resolution is adopted, unless the Board renews this resolution before then.  (See Policy B-1[2].)

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                Rafael Quintanilla, Board Chair

                                                                                                               

Attest:

 

                                                                               

Allen Kaplan, Board Secretary

 

______________________________
Date

 

Trustee Barbara Mink requested that Agenda Items, 7789, Deactivation and Closure of the Consumer Electronics Program (Electrical & Electronics Equipment Installers & Repairers, CIP 47.0101), and 7790, Deactivation and Closure of the Quality Assurance Program, be pulled from the Consent agenda

 

Trustees Allen Kaplan and Beverly Silas move that:

Motion:  The Board of Trustees approve Consent Agenda items 7787, Proposed Approval of Minutes of September 2, 2003, Special Meeting; September 2, 2003, Regular Meeting; and September 5-6, 2003, Board Retreat; Agenda Item 7788, Proposed Renewal of Resolution on Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget (as corrected); and 7791, Proposed Approval of Contract to Lease Airtime on Austin Community College’s Instructional Television Fixed Services Channels (IFTS).

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 8-0

FOR:  Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.

AGAINST:  None

 

Dr. Mink discussed the need to develop a process by which programs are initiated at the College and by which they are submitted to the Board for approval and by which they are deactivated.

 

Trustee Barbara Mink moved and Nan McRaven seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve Agenda Items 7789, Deactivation and Closure of the Consumer Electronics Program (Electrical & Electronics Equipment Installers & Repairers, CIP 47.0101), and 7790, Deactivation and Closure of the Quality Assurance Program.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 8-0.

FOR:  Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.

 

Agenda Item 7794

Early College Start

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Dr. Kinslow provided information.

Trustee Nan McRaven moved and Dr. Lillian Davis seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees continue to waive tuition and fees for the Early College Start Program and that this continue for the next two semesters pending a report from the Advisory Committee for Finance and Budget.  It would be reviewed again at that time.

 

Trustees John Hernandez moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:

SUBSTITUTE MOTION:  The Board of Trustees set the tuition and fees for out-of-district students in the amount of $82 per course as recommended by staff, waive tuition and fees for in-district students, and that this become effective in the Fall of 2004 for Fiscal Year 2004-2005.

Trustees discussed the substitute motion.

VOTE:  The motion failed on a vote of 4-4 for lack of a majority.

FOR:  John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Barbara Mink, and John Worley.

AGAINST:  Lillian Davis, Nan McRaven, Rafael Quintanilla, and Beverly Silas.

 

Trustees John Worley moved and Allen Kaplan seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees set a charge of $30 per course for out-of-district students beginning in 2004.

Trustees discussed the substitute motion.

VOTE:  The motion failed on a vote of 4-4 for lack of a majority.

FOR:  John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Barbara Mink, John Worley.

AGAINST:  Lillian Davis, Nan McRaven, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas.

 

VOTE ON MAIN MOTION: 

The motion passed on a vote of 7-1.

FOR:  Lillian Davis, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley.

AGAINST:  John Hernandez.

 

Agenda Item 7795

Process for Filling Board Member Vacancy

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item.  Trustees reviewed the proposed process and suggested changes.


Process for Filling Vacancy

On the

Austin Community College Board of Trustees

 

 

When a vacancy occurs on the Board of Trustees, the Board, in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, shall fill the unexpired term in accordance with the following guidelines:

 

1.        The candidate for trustee must be a registered voter who resides within the College Taxing District.

 

2.        The Board shall announce the vacancy through the news media, including minority-language newspapers.  The vacancy should also be announced on the Austin Community College website to interested agencies and individuals.

 

3.        The Board shall determine the period for responding to the announcement, the time being at least 10 calendar days.

 

4.        Persons interested in being appointed to the Board shall submit a cover letter, resume and support documents to the designee of the Board.

 

5.       The Board of Trustees shall review the resumes and support documents and select a number of candidates to be interviewed.

 

6.        The Board will send a standard list of questions to the applicants selected to be interviewed.

 

7.        The Board of Trustees shall interview the applicants and make a decision to fill or not to fill the position selection.

 

Each Trustee will submit to Rafael one question to be included on the list of questions to be provided to the applicants selected for interview.

 

Nan McRaven moved and Beverly Silas seconded that:

MOTION:  The Board of Trustees approve the process and establish October 27, 2003 (5 p.m.) as the deadline for candidates to submit applications.  Selection of candidates will be on the agenda for the November 3, 2003, Regular Board meeting.  Selected candidates will be interviewed at the November 17, 2003, Board Work Session.

VOTE:  The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 8-0.

FOR:  Lillian Davis, John Hernandez, Allen Kaplan, Nan McRaven, Barbara Mink, Rafael Quintanilla, Beverly Silas, and John Worley

AGAINST:  None.

 

Agenda Item 7796

Potential Board Policy on Professional Development

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and stated there is no Board policy on professional development.  This item will be included on a future agenda for discussion.

 

Agenda Item 7797

Resolution and Declaration of Official Intent – Authorization for Lease Agreement for Classroom Computers

Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Ben Ferrell provided information concerning the new leasing arrangement for the technology plan for computer purchases for the current year.   This Resolution and Declaration of Official Indent would authorize the President/Vice President to sign a lease agreement with Banc One to purchase the current year’s complement of computers.  Trustees discussed the need for any late interest payment.  This item will be included on the November 3, 2003, agenda for action.

Executive Session

There was no Executive Session

 

Announcements

There were no announcements.

 

Meeting Review

Trustees commented regarding the meeting: 

What we did well:  just fine, glad to be here; fine meeting; thought the reports were going to be long and tedious, particularly liked the first report from the Advisory Committee on Finance and Budget; good meeting.

What we can do better:  No comments.

 

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the October 7, 2003, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees was adjourned at 8:58 p.m.

 

Approved By

Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary