The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, December 12, 2016, at 2:30 p.m. in the Magnolia Building. Joe Brumit, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Wayne Brigman, Mike Fryar, Jacquelyn Hallum, Roger Metcalf, William Murdock, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, Robin Ramsey, Mary Ann Rice, Mandy Stone, and Andrea Howell, Ex-Officio.
Others present for the meeting included: Dennis King, President; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President Business and Finance/CFO; Terry Brasier, Vice President Student Services; Melissa Quinley, Vice President Instructional Services; Shelley White, Vice President Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education; David White, Executive Director of Research and Planning; Beth Stewart, Dean, Arts & Sciences; Kaye Schmidt, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development; Marketing; Kerri Glover, Executive Director, Community Relations and Marketing; Chad Donnahoo and Walt Currie, College Attorneys; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call To Order
Chair Brumit read the ethics statement; no conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. C. Rice called roll. A quorum was present.
Consent Agenda
Ms. Hallum moved to approve the Consent Agenda items: 1. A. Minutes of October 31, 2016; 1. B. Personnel Actions; 1. C. Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC, Parking Request; 1. D. Western North Carolina Historical Association Lease Renewal; 1. E. Approval of New and Revised Policies; 1. F. Policies for Deletion, and 1. G. Amendment to the 2016-2017 College Calendar.
The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. Fryar and approved unanimously by the Board.
Dr. King introduced Dr. Beth Stewart, the College’s next Vice President of Instructional Services, to the Board. Dr. Stewart spoke briefly about her vision and passion for community colleges.
Dr. King also introduced the College’s new Executive Director of College Advancement, Ms. Amanda Edwards to the Board. Ms. Edwards spoke briefly about her commitment to education and passion for fundraising.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Dr. Wilmoth explained that due to the change in frequency of Board meetings, a lapse in time has been created for approval of Connect NC Bond paperwork. Under the recommendation of the System Office, the Administration asks for the Board of Trustees to appoint the Chairman of the Board of the Authority to approve Connect NC Bond paperwork for the Board during months that the Board of Trustees does not meet.
On a motion by Ms. Stone, seconded by Ms. M. Rice, the Board unanimously approved the Delegation of Authority to the Board Chair to Approve Connect NC Bond Paperwork.
2. B. Dr. King informed the Board that Agenda Item 2.B. Resolution to the Buncombe County Commissioners in Support of a New Building on the Asheville Campus, would be removed from the Agenda and brought back for discussion on February 9, 2017 Board meeting.
2. C. Ms. White informed the Board that the College is offering an educational trip to Italy in February / March 2017. The trip will be chaperoned by College faculty and will focus on Italy’s culinary offerings.
On a motion by Mr. Murdock, seconded by Dr. Parham, the Board unanimously approved Global Education Trip to Italy, Spring 2017.
2. D. Dr. Wilmoth informed the Board that the College interviewed three Architectural Design firms for NCCCS Project No. 2145; the restoration of the exterior of the Sunnicrest Building. The College selected Mr. David Gall as the first choice of the three interviewed Design firms.
On a motion by Ms. R. Ramsey, seconded by Ms. Hallum, the Board unanimously approved the Agreement for Design and Engineering Services for the Sunnicrest Building Restoration, NCCCS Project No. 2145.
President's Report
Dr. King shared the following news with the Board:
- Ms. Melissa Quinley, Vice President of Instructional Services is retiring at the end of December 2016. Ms. Quinley told the Board that after working for 40 years in education, and at eight different community colleges, her experience in community colleges has been the most rewarding. The Board thanked Ms. Quinley for all of her hard work and appreciates all she has done for A-B Tech Community College.
- Dr. King asked Mr. Walt Currie to give the Board an update on the BASF/Enka property. There are 13.68 acres that BASF owns and leases to the College. Due to environmental concerns, BASF desires to keep ownership of that tract of land. The College is asking BASF to deed the property to the College and to allow the College to monitor the environmental issue. Mr. Currie along with Mr. Billy Clarke, an Environmental Attorney, has been in discussions with Ms. Nancy Martin, Assistant General Counsel of BASF Corporation. Ms. Martin has informed them that a decision will be made by the end of the year.
- Spring enrollment has started and the College expects the majority of enrollment to happen after the first of the year. The College has approximately1,700 career and college promise students to add to the registration numbers. Registration figures will be updated in the January Report to the Board.
- The fourth floor of the Ferguson Allied Health and Workforce Development building has been completed, and the Continuing Education offices are now located there.
- The College continues to offer customized training and has trained over 950 employees for local companies such as MB Haynes, Hi-Wire Brewing, Baldor, AVL Technologies, and Advanced Superabrasives. The training program expenditures system-wide were $1.8 million. The return on the investment of $1.8 million is $92 million.
- Several members of the staff attended the annual SACSCOC meeting in Atlanta. The SACSCOC reaccreditation process is a ten-year cycle. The College will begin work in January 2017 on an abbreviated report (the fifth year report) for SACSCOC, which is due in 2019.
- The College made federally mandated changes to employees and their exempt and non-exempt statuses according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These required changes are now being challenged in the court system. The College will honor all employee evaluations regarding exempt versus non-exempt changes, as determined by Human Resources.
Trustee Business
4.A. Chair Brumit asked the Board to contact Carolyn Rice if they are interested in attending the NCACCT Law/Legislative Seminar in March 2017.
Staff Report
Dr. Dirk Wilmoth updated the Board on the status of the Connect NC and other college-managed capital projects.
Dr. Wilmoth continued with a discussion of the following 2016-2019 Strategic Plan Initiatives
- 2.3.1. – Enhance campus safety and security awareness for employees and students. The College has shown the ALICE video to all students in all classes in an effort to inform all populations on campus on how to deal with emergencies. Also, the College is updating the Emergency Management Guide and its communication systems.
- 2.3.3 – Enhance vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow. The College is providing ADA accessibility at the parking deck, has updated campus signage, had a traffic light installed at the corner of Victoria and Fernihurst Roads, converted Genevieve Road in front of the Poplar building to a one-way street with additional parking, and has included sidewalks along Fernihurst Road for the future Arts and Sciences Building.
- 2.3.4. – Enhance campus safety/security. The College has installed remote access on the front door and entrance gates at the Woodfin location continue to add surveillance cameras on campus, installed card access points to campus buildings, as well as increased the installation of safety call boxes.
Dr. Wilmoth updated the Board on the State and County Budget. The College has four sources of funding: state, Buncombe County, Madison County, and the College Foundation. All funding streams are on track with last year and appear to be holding steady.
SGA Report
President Andrea Howell informed the Board that the Student Government Association just finished a busy and rewarding semester. The SGA leadership team went to a conference in Orlando for team building training and uses that training to try to get more students involved. The Holiday Party for over 106 Head Start children was very successful, hectic, and fun. Over 180 students participated in the event which provided each child with a “Big Wheel”, helmet, and holiday goodies.
The SGA participated in the spring registration drive with “iHeart Radio” and had students staffing the all-employee holiday luncheon.
Ms. Howell informed the Board how appreciative she and the SGA are of the leadership of Ms. Michele Hathcock.
Adjourn
On a motion by Dr. Parham, seconded by Mr. Fryar, the meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary