MINUTES
Board Work
Session – Board of Trustees
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 Monday, March 22, 2004, at 6:00 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; Beverly
Silas; and John Worley. Trustee Beverly
Watts Davis resigned effective
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
7871
Program Review
- Adult Education
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Mary Harris, Executive Director of Adult
Education, provided a review of the Adult Education program including the
program goals. She called attention to
the program offerings; Fiscal Year 2003 student success; financial partners and
non-financial partners; Fiscal Year 2003 performance regarding retention,
gains, and completions; and Fiscal Year 2004 information on the budget, funding
sources, and grant funding. Dr. Mary
Hensley, Associate Vice President for Instructional Support Services, and Mary
Harris responded to questions from Trustees.
Staff from the Adult Education were introduced including: David Borden, Debbie Talavera, Pat Hernandez,
Sonia Hogan, Don Henderson, and Leticia Gonzales. Trustees expressed appreciation for the
information presented.
Agenda Item
7872
Program Review
- Developmental Education
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, Interim President,
stated that review of all programs was a part of the Fiscal Year 2005 budgeting
process.
Dolores
Segura, Department Chair of Developmental Communications, Constance Elko,
Department Chair of Mathematics, and Christopher Vinger, Interim Director of
Institutional Effectiveness, provided a report on developmental education at
Agenda Item
7873
Early College
Start Waiver/Undocumented Immigrants
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Dr. Mary Hensley provided information
regarding the Early College Start program and tuition and fees for undocumented
immigrant students in the service area.
She called attention to the need for the College to determine (a)
whether to waive tuition and fees to allow undocumented immigrant high school
students to participate in the Early College Start program and (b) the semester
the change would take effect. Dr.
Hensley responded to questions from Trustees.
Trustees supported the Interim President’s suggestion that the tuition
and fees be waived for undocumented immigrant high school students for a
one-year period to allow impact analysis to be considered. The Administration will review the
information and data collected during that year to determine what impact this
would have on the College for possible implementation of a recommendation in
Fiscal Year 2006.
Agenda Item
7874
Renewal of
Investment Policy
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Ben Ferrell, Vice President for Business
Services, stated that Section 2256.005(e) of the Public Funds Investment Act
requires that the Board reaffirm the current policy. He called attention to Austin Community
College Board Policy E-6, A.:
“Investment Officers and Board Oversight”, requires the College
Investment Officers to annually recommend revisions or reaffirmation of the
policy.
This
item will be included on the agenda for possible action at the
Agenda Item
7875
Internal Audit
Report
Agenda Item
7876
Review of
Board Policy F-8, Due Process for Employees
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Trustee John Worley called attention to the
need for a review of Board Policy F-8, Due Process for Employees, in response
to an earlier discussion by the Board concerning the recent Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) warnings. He proposed the addition of : “[6] Prohibition on Retaliation: No adverse personnel action may be taken
against an employee for a good-faith report of a violation of a Board policy if
the report is made to either (1) the administration in accordance with
administrative Board Policy B-6, or (2) the Board Chair or Vice Chair in
accordance with Board Policy B-3. An
employee who files a grievance alleging retaliation of this kind may choose to
have the grievance decided by binding outside arbitration before an arbitrator
acceptable to all parties.” Trustees
discussed Board Policy F-2, Ensuring A Workplace Free from Harassment and
suggested other revisions.
This
item will be reviewed by the College’s shared governance and placed on a future
agenda.
Agenda Item
7877
Advisory
Committee for Finance and Budget Recommendations
·
G-5, Capital Equipment Projects Replace
with depreciation policy
·
G-6, Minimum Reserve Levels 8%
of total expenses + payables
The
recommended policy changes will be reviewed by the College’s shared governance
and placed on a future agenda.
Agenda Item
7878
District Wide
Parking Study
Mr.
Quintanilla introduced the item and Bronson Dorsey, Associate Vice President
for Facilities and Operations, and Ben Ferrell presented a summary of the final
report on the District Wide Parking Study conducted during Fall 2003, including
findings and recommendations of the consultant.
Mr. Dorsey and Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees.
This
item will be included on a future agenda for additional discussion.
Agenda Item 7879
Selection of
Project Delivery Method – Cypress Creek Campus Expansion
Mr. Quintanilla introduced the item and Bronson Dorsey presented information regarding the Cypress Creek Campus Expansion design and construction process, the method of project delivery, and the scope of administrative authority. He stated the staff recommended Construction Manager-at-Risk. Mr. Dorsey responded to questions from Trustees. Trustees discussed the proposed community advisory committee. Dr. Kinslow discussed the proposed composition and stated additional information would be provided.
Announcements
· Dr. Mink stated the final two candidates from the Presidential search would be on Campus on March 24 and March 25. She distributed schedules for the visits and stated that Dr. Roberto Aguero would participate in meetings/forums on Tuesday, March 23 and Wednesday, March 24. Dr. Beverlee McClure would participate in meetings/forums on Wednesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 25. Dr. Mink indicated that evaluation sheets would be available in the forums for comments regarding the finalists from those attending the meetings/forums. She stated there was a 24-hour turnaround time on the evaluation forms. The evaluations would then be assembled to the Search firm and reviewed by the Board.
Meeting Review
Trustees commented regarding
the meeting:
What we did well: Good meeting, lots of good
information; good meeting; very good meeting, thought the Adult Education and
Developmental Education reports were excellent, there was so much good
information presented here that doesn’t get out to the public because it is not
televised that I will renew my call very shortly to televise the Work Sessions
and add a second camera so that people can see who is speaking, very good
meeting; I am fine with it, a lot of good information, very educational about
the Adult Education and Developmental Education important work we are doing;
good enough to televise; good meeting; good meeting.
What we can do better: No
comments.
Adjournment
Having no motion before the Board, the
March 22, 2004, Board Work Session of the Austin Community College Board of
Trustees was adjourned at
Approved By
Allen H. Kaplan, Secretary