The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, February 1, 2016, at 1:35 p.m. in the Magnolia Building. Joe Brumit, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Chair Joe Brumit, Pamela Baldwin, Bruce Briggs, Wayne Brigman, Mike Fryar, Roger Metcalf, Kaye Myers, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, Mary Ann Rice, Mandy Stone, and Ana Frady, 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; Lisa Lankford, Director of Business Services; Brian Willis, Vice President, Information Systems Technology; Kaye Waugh, Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development; Kerri Glover, Executive Director, Community Relations and Marketing; Chris Campbell, College attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call To Order
Mr. Brumit read the ethics statement; no conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called roll. A quorum was present.
Ms. Myers expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the Board for all of the kind thoughts and prayers she received for the loss of her sister.
Consent Agenda
Dr. Parham moved to approve the Consent Agenda: 1. A. Minutes of December 14, 2015; 1. B. Personnel Actions; 1. C. Second Quarter County and Institutional Financial Update, and 1. D. Approval of New and Revised Policies.
The motion was seconded by Ms. Stone and was approved unanimously by the Board.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Dr. White and Ms. Quinley presented the following proposed priorities to guide the 2016-2019 strategic planning process:
- Student Access and Success – Practice effective enrollment management to increase student access, retention, success, and completion. This is accomplished through active recruitment, relevant programming, high-quality instruction, and comprehensive student support services.
- Sustainability and Organizational Development – Ensure the success, security, and stability of the College through effective and efficient administrative processes, a diverse and supported workforce, and ongoing resource stewardship.
- Technology Infrastructure and Systems – Utilize current and effective technology to support the educational, administrative, and workforce systems of the College. Use efficient technology solutions to improve student access and success, strengthen the College’s operational effectiveness, enhance connections with the educational, workforce, and community partners, and support the evaluation of College initiatives and processes.
- Communication and Engagement – Cultivate understanding and engagement among constituents and stakeholders through positive and informative communication. Collaborate with educational, workforce, and community partners to establish pathways to regional jobs, supporting the development of a strong workforce and providing economic ability.
Ms. Stone, Mr. Fryar, and Dr. Baldwin asked to see the Strategic Plan further developed in more detail, specifically regarding the strategies that are needed to accomplish the Plan. Mr. Fryar suggested the Plan be developed for a shorter time frame to address current needs. Dr. Baldwin stated that the Board has spoken repeatedly about certain priorities that need to be included in the Plan; such as human resources and connecting with eleventh and twelfth-grade high school students. Dr. White and Ms. Quinley assured the Board that these details would be included in initiatives that will be outlined in the final plan. At this point in the planning process, the Board is being asked to set the broad strategic priorities that will be used to guide the planning process.
Dr. White and Ms. Quinley informed the Board that the next steps in the Strategic Planning process are:
- Developing detailed objectives and metrics,
- Presenting the proposed Plan to the College community,
- Finalizing the proposed Plan, and
- Presenting the proposed Plan to the Board again at the March meeting.
Chair Brumit stated that the Board and the Executive Leadership Team of the College are aware of the expectations for the Strategic Plan. Chair Brumit told the Board that there will be another chance to review the Plan at the March meeting and asked the Board for a motion for approval.
On a motion by Dr. Metcalf, seconded by Mr. Brigman, the Board approved the Board Priorities for 2016-2017, with Ms. Stone and Mr. Fryar opposing.
Trustee Business
3. A. The April 4, 2016, Board meeting date will not change. Dr. Locke will chair the April meeting in Chair Brumit’s absence.
3. B. The March 7, 2016, Board meeting will take place in the Event Center. If the acoustics are better in the Event Center than they are in the Magnolia Building, further discussion will be held regarding moving future Board meetings to that location.
President's Report
Dr. King shared the following news with the Board:
- The College continues to work diligently on the NC Connect Bond referendum. Several meetings have been attended with Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs. Dr. King, as well as the Chancellors of Western Carolina University and the University of North Carolina, Asheville, were featured on WCQS Talk Radio to discuss the Bond referendum.
- If the referendum passes in March, the College will receive $5.4 million for renovations and improvements. The College appreciates and continues to ask for the Board’s support.
- The Event Center naming opportunity has not been finalized. The discussion is ongoing.
- Discussions regarding the renovation of the Haynes Building (formerly Rhododendron) have been put on hold while further engineering studies are conducted. The Board will be informed of any changes.
- Mission Hospital is constructing another building on their property. The contractor who is bidding for the construction project is seeking a Memorandum of Understanding with the College to give the College all of the removed fill dirt at no charge. This would enable the construction company to have a quick turnaround with their trucks. A ravine is located south of the Sunnicrest building that needs to be filled as it has the potential to be used for parking in the future. If the contractor is awarded the project, the contractor would be responsible for all engineering, insurance coverage, etc., for the parking project.
Mr. Briggs asked that the Board have the opportunity to review the MOU before a final agreement is reached.
Staff Report
Cris Harshman gave the Board an updated report on student printing. The College installed a computer program called PaperCut which tracks and controls paper usage, reduces printing costs, and ultimately eliminates paper waste.
Since the installation of PaperCut, the College has seen a 53 percent reduction in paper usage. The College will be opening more printing locations, labs, and shared printing devices for students in the near future.
Mr. Harshman informed the Board that the reduction in printing costs project has been very successful; the focus will next shift to employee printing.
SGA Report
SGA President Ana Frady informed the Board that the first SGA meeting of 2016 was canceled due to inclement weather. The SGA continues to concentrate on fellow students and the local community by partnering with Eblen Charities in a coat drive and focusing on keeping the student food pantry stocked.
Adjourn
On a motion by Mr. Brigman, seconded by Ms. Rice, the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary