MINUTES

Regular Meeting – Board of Trustees

November 3, 2008

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, November 3, 2008, at 6:05 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: Ms. Nan McRaven, Chair/Presiding Officer (arrived at 6:40 p.m.); Ms. Veronica Rivera, Board Vice Chair; Dr. James W. McGuffee, Board Secretary; Mr. Raul Alvarez; Mr. John-Michael Cortez; Mr. Allen H. Kaplan; Mr. Tim Mahoney (arrived at 6:37 p.m.); Dr. Barbara P. Mink; and Jeffrey Richard..

The meeting was convened by Vice Chair Veronica Rivera.

Recognitions

· Ms. Christina Chapman, Associate of Science in Mathematics student, spoke regarding her experience at Austin Community College. She was home schooled from the age of 11-14 and had to stop when her mother became ill. At the age of 18, she entered ACC’s GED Program. She stated she is taking credit classes and is an honor student with Phi Theta Kappa. She also works for ACC’s student newspaper, Accent. Additionally, she was a recipient of a scholarship through the ACC Foundation. She is planning to transfer to The University of Texas and major in neurobiology. She expressed appreciation to Austin Community College for the classes, instructors, and financial assistance provided to allow her to live her dream.

· Ms. Melinda Townsel, Head Librarian at Cypress Creek and Northridge Campuses, and and Ms. Pam Spooner, Head Librarian at the Rio Grande Campus, called attention to the 2008 award from the Texas Library Association for the Know How Campaign and the latest READ Poster featuring Board Chair Nan McRaven. Dr. Kinslow introduced Dr. Julie Todaro, Dean of ACC Library Services.

Citizens Communication

No one was registered to address the Board of Trustees.

Reports from Associations

· Adjunct Faculty Association – Mr. Don Morris, President, invited attendance at the Association’s Fall General Meeting on Friday, November 7, 2008, 5-7 p.m., HBC Board Room (201), and spoke regarding shared governance.

· Classified Employees Association – Ms. Suzanne Ortiz, President, expressed appreciation for attendance of Trustees at the recent Williamson County Growth Summit and spoke regarding opportunities to communicate with Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, College President/CEO, and his leadership team. She stated there had been very meaningful discussions.

· Full-Time Faculty Senate – Dr. Dan Dydek, President, spoke regarding an October 24 meeting regarding developmental courses and academic freedom, orientation, and faculty compensation.

· Professional-Technical Employees Association – Ms. Susan Thomason, President, expressed appreciation for Trustee Mink’s attendance at the October 31 meeting of the Association; insight and volunteerism regarding Office of Emergency Management Association and American Red Cross. The Association is gathering feedback and recommendations on the employee grievance administrative rule, student g-mail accounts and the use policy development concerns, merger of APTE and Classified Associations, compensation review of the Board Policy F-10 including review of the current living-wage policy and review of shared governance committees and membership. She advised that Holiday fundraiser would be held.

· Student Government Association – Mr. Brad Burnett, President, spoke regarding participation in a recent Center for Public Policy and Political Studies with Matthew Dowd, and noted voting locations for students to vote on Tuesday, November 4. Mr. Arnold Perez, Eastview Campus Senator, expressed appreciation for having the opportunity to visit with members of the U. S. Congress in Washington, D.C., and other Student Government Association activities.

President’s Report

Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, College President/CEO, expressed appreciation for participation in the Williamson County Growth Summit by Trustees Veronica Rivera, Allen Kaplan, and Tim Mahoney. Dr. Kinslow provided information regarding the October conference of the Association of Community College Trustees held in New York, New York. He stated that two presentations were developed by ACC and submitted to ACCT. The presentations were accepted and were presented at the ACCT conference. Trustees reported that the Conference was well attended.

Dr. Kinslow called attention to a Fielding Institute magazine which featured Trustee Barbara Mink.

Reports to the Board

· Facilities Update – Mr. Bill Mullane, Executive Director of Facilities and Construction, called attention to current construction and renovation projects, GO Tax Bond Projects, District-Wide Renovation Projects, and Detailed Usage of Interest Earnings.

· Financial Report – September 2008 – Mr. Ben Ferrell, Vice President, Business Services, called attention to the information provided including:

o Based on current information, the College’s budget was on track and projecting a positive $3.5 million Net Revenues & Expenses, and a $8.1 million increase in Net Assets.

o Fall SCH enrollments were up about 5.0%. This exceeds the original projections of 2% growth, and therefore tuition revenues are projected to be above budget..

o As for expenses, Adjunct Faculty and Overloads were projected to slightly exceed original estimates due to the increased enrollments and vacancies in Full-Time Faculty Salaries. This would be offset by increased tuition revenues and lapsed salaries in Full-Time Faculty. Total salaries were projected to be under budget by $1.8 million.

In summary, adjusting revenues up by $1.7 million and expenses down by $1.8 million, Net Revenues over Expenses projected a budget surplus of about $3.5 million and an increase in Total Net Assets of about $8.1 million. Cash and investments were in line at approximately $195 million, including $129 million in bond proceeds.

[Trustee Tim Mahoney arrived at the meeting at 6:37 p.m.]

[Board Chair Nan McRaven arrived at the meeting at 6:40 p.m.]

Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees.

· Report on Cypress Creek Student Forum – Board Vice Chair Veronica Rivera, Trustee Allen H. Kaplan, and Trustee Tim Mahoney stated the Cypress Creek Student Forum was well attended and expressed appreciation for the work of Linda Haywood and the Cypress Creek staff in preparation for the Forum and to Dr. Kathleen Christensen, Vice President for Student Support and Student Success, for her attendance and participation in the Forum. Trustees provided information concerning comments from the students.

· Report on Rio Grande Campus Student Forum – Trustee Allen H. Kaplan stated the Rio Grande Campus Student Forum was well attended. He expressed appreciation to Ms. Marilyn Lee-Taylor and her staff; Ms. Cheryl Richards and her staff, and Dr. Kathleen Christensen for the Forum. Trustee Kaplan provided information concerning comments from the students.

· Report on Association of Community College Trustees Annual Congress, October 29-November 1, New York, New York – Trustees Alvarez, Cortez, Kaplan, Mahoney, McGuffee, McRaven, Richard, and Rivera provided comments regarding the success of the conference.

Chair McRaven expressed appreciation to ACC staff for preparation of ACC’s presentations at the ACCT Annual Congress regarding ACC Branding and ACC’s Center for Public Policy and Political Studies--first and only in the nation. Trustee Allen H. Kaplan encouraged attendance at the February 2009 ACCT National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., and the 2009 ACCT Annual Congress to be held in San Francisco.

CONSENT ITEM(S)

Chair McRaven introduced the Consent Agenda.

Agenda Item 8514

Minutes of the October 6, 2008, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees

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

Trustees James W. McGuffee moved and Veronica Rivera seconded that:

MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve Agenda Item 8514, Minutes of the October 6, Regular Meeting of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees

VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR: Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST: None.

Agenda Item 8515

Update on Sustainability Initiative;

Discussion of Board Policy E-2 Revision

Chair McRaven introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, provided information regarding recycling on ACC Campuses and advised that an ACC Sustainability Committee, a shared governance body that includes representation frm the ACC Student Government Association, ACC Student Life, and the ACC students for Environmental Outreach, had been reviewing and updating ACC’s planning activities regarding recycling, “green” operations, and facilities planning.

Ms. Elysia Morrison, Community and Administration Liaison – ACC Student Environmental Outreach and former President of the Students for Environmental Outreach, and Ms. Addie Broussard, Students for Environmental Outreach Club and Student Carbon Assessment Committee, South Austin Campus, provided information to update the Board on current and upcoming activities.

Board Vice Chair Veronica Rivera distributed possible revisions to Board Policy E-2, Provision of College Facilities, or perhaps a new policy was needed. Ms. Rivera asked for input from faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Kinslow stated this item would be placed on the agenda for December 1, 2008, or January 14, 2009.

Agenda Item 8516

Membership in Community College

Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT)

Chair McRaven introduced the item. Trustee Allen H. Kaplan provided information regarding the formation of the group. Trustees from several community college districts have created the Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCAT), and its By-Laws and due structure, to create a statewide organization of community college trustees to enhance and focus advocacy initiatives that strengthen public support of community colleges. Several ACC Trustees have been involved in these early efforts, and the Board as a whole has received regular updates. CCATT has also formed an alliance with the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) and the two organizations are in agreement on the legislative agenda for community colleges, and desire to have a strong, coordinated advocacy effort. An estimated membership fee for the Austin Community College District would be $7,200 would be paid through auxiliary funds allocated for Institutional Memberships.

Trustee Kaplan said all community colleges in Texas would be invited to join. It is anticipated that 15-20 districts would participate in the beginning, and others had expressed a desire to participate. He stated a Resolution would be presented at the December 1, 2008, Board meeting to join CCATT.

Agenda Item 8517

Authorization for President/CEO to Serve

as Adjunct Professor at The University of

Texas at Austin

Chair McRaven introduced the item. She stated that under Board Policy C-3, Duties and Responsibilities, College President, this must be brought to the Board since it is not in the President’s contract. Dr. Kinslow responded to questions from Trustees.

This item will be included on the agenda for the December 1, 2008, Board meeting.

Agenda Item 8518

Approval of City of Austin Project Plan for

For Homestead Preservation Reinvestment Zone

Chair McRaven introduced the item and Mr. Ben Ferrell provided information. The City of Austin has proposed the creation of a Homestead Preservation Reinvestment Zone. As a taxing entity within the Zone, action is required by the ACC Board of Trustees on certain matters related to the Zone. The City did not request financial participation by the College as part of the creation of this Zone; therefore, ACC Legal Counsel has recommended waiving the 60-day notice and Zone Board representation. Mr. Ferrell responded to questions from Trustees.

Trustees Raul Alvarez moved and Veronica Rivera seconded that:

MOTION: The Board of Trustees adopt the attached Resolution related to the City of Austin Homestead Preservation Reinvestment Zone (Zone) which:

1. Declares that ACC will not be a participant in, or contribute tax revenues to the Zone;

2. Appproves a waiver of the requirement that the City provide a 60 day notification prior to the City conducting a pubic hearing and adopting an ordinance creating the Zone;

3. Agrees to a joint formal presentation to the entities in the Zone;

4. Approves a waiver of the right of ACC to appoint a member to the Zone Board;

5. Designates Bill Mullane, Executive Director for Facilities & Construction, as the college representative to meet with City staff on any questions related to the Zone.

VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR: Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST: None.

(Attachment A.)

Agenda Item 8519

Proposed Interlocal Agreement for The

Teacher Pipeline (Project Access)

Chair McRaven introduced the item and Mr. Mike Midgley provided information.

Trustees Veronica Rivera moved and Tim Mahoney seconded that:

MOTION: The Board of Trustees approve Agenda Item 8519, Interlocal Agreement Between Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Austin Community College (ACC) for The Teacher Pipeline (Project Access).

VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR: Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST: None.

(Attachment B.)

Agenda Item 8520

Authorization to Negotiate for Real Estate

For the Consolidation and Relocation of the

District’s Administrative Offices

Chair McRaven introduced the item.

Executive Session

The Board of Trustees of the Austin Community College District recessed into Executive Session at 8:25 p.m. pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.072 regarding the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, including land in the vicinity of the Eastview Campus, Pinnacle Campus, and ACC Administrative Offices.

Reconvene

The Board of Trustees reconvened in public session at 8:50 p.m.

Agenda Item 8520

Authorization to Negotiate for Real Estate

For the Consolidation and Relocation of the

District’s Administrative Offices (continued)

Trustees James W. McGuffee moved and Allen H. Kaplan seconded that:

MOTION: The Board of Trustees authorize the staff to negotiate potential property acquisition for future District Administrative Offices with the goal of planning for future growth of the District and explore options related to financing.

VOTE: The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.

FOR: Raul Alvarez, John-Michael Cortez, Allen H. Kaplan, Tim Mahoney, James McGuffee, Nan McRaven, Barbara P. Mink, Jeffrey Richard, and Veronica Rivera.

AGAINST: None.

Adjournment

Having no motion before the Board, the November 3, 2008, meeting of the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees was adjourned at 8:52 p.m.

Approved By

James W. McGuffee, Board Secretary