The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened their quarterly meeting on Monday, January 28, 2013, at 1:15 p.m. in Magnolia Dining Room. Richard Hurley, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Tom Alexander, Joe Brumit, Mary Ruth Fowler, Bill Hart, John Parham, Carol Peterson, David Wyatt, Chair Richard Hurley, Vice Chair Ray Spells, and Lin Orndorf, SGA President.
Others present for the meeting included: Hank Dunn, President; Brian Willis, Vice President for Information Technology/CIO; Kaye Waugh, Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development; Debby Harmon, Vice President for Student Services; Dennis King, Special Assistant to the President for Accreditation; Shelley White, Senior Executive Director for Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education; Melissa Quinley, Vice President for Instructional Services; Sara Smith, Special Assistant to the President; Gene Loflin, Associate VP Instructional Services, Martha Shanks, Secretary to the Board; Mona Cornwell, Director, Community Relations and Marketing; and Chris Campbell, College attorney.
Call To Order
Chair Hurley read the ethics statement; no conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Shanks called roll. A quorum was present.
Introductions
Ms. Sheila Tillman, Associate Dean of Hospitality Education, introduced the Student Hot Food Team which won gold at the January 2013 state culinary competition. The team, consisting of Rita Sigman (Captain), Ashley Sweeney, Tim Nelson, Josh Page, Cassie Stockton, Kristin Allen (Team Manager), and Chef Eric Backer (Coach), will go on to the regional competition on March 2nd in Louisville, Kentucky.
Consent Agenda
The Board received the Consent Agenda one week prior to the meeting. Mr. Hart moved to accept the Consent Agenda items to include: (A) Minutes of the November 5, 2012, Quarterly Board meeting, (B) Personnel Actions, (C) Budget Resolution Amendment, (D) State Funds Budget Transfers, (E) Schedule of Investments, (F) Schedule of Fees 2013-2014, (G) Approval of New and Revised Policies: 1. Admissions, 2. Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act Compliance, 3. Faculty and Staff Credential Requirements, 4. Instructional Live Projects, 5. No Weapons on Campus, 6. Recognition and Facility Naming, 7. Scrap Materials, 8. Sexual and Other Unlawful Harassment, 9. Workplace Violence Protection. (H) Approval of Policies for Deletion: 1. Advisory Committees, 2. Challenged Material, 3. Course Outlines and Syllabi, 4. Course Waivers and Substitutions, 5. Curriculum Change Procedures, 6. Curriculum Course Repetition, 7. Dean’s/President’s List, 8. Divisional Objectives, 9. Dual Enrollment, 10. Faculty Substitutes, 11. First Year Seminar, 12. Parking and Traffic Regulations, 13. Payments and Compensation of Foreign Nationals, Governments and Corps., 14. Use of Shops and Labs. Dr. Parham seconded the motion. Dr. Parham questioned the increase from $7.50 to $35.00 for the GED Testing fee contained in the 2013-2014 Fee Schedule. Dr. Dunn explained that the state set the new fee level, which must be charged by community colleges. Dr. Parham also questioned if pocket knives were included in the No Weapons on Campus policy listing of unallowable weapons. The answer was affirmative; they are not allowed. Only items included on the list required for particular class participation and stated as such are allowed. The Consent Agenda was approved unanimously.
Resolutions/Action Items
2. A. Mr. Hart withdrew the tabled motion regarding a change to the A-B Tech Board of Trustees Constitution from the November 5, 2012 Board meeting. He moved to replace the tabled motion with the following motion:
“In the event of the President’s serious disability, death, resignation, dismissal, or prolonged absence from the post for any other reason, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees are hereby authorized to consult with the Executive Committee members and name an Acting President until an Interim President can be named by the Board of Trustees. The authority of the Acting President is limited to issues necessary for the ongoing operations of the College only. Upon the succession of the Acting President, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees shall immediately call for a special called meeting of the Board of Trustees to name an Interim President. In the event that the President’s future absence or inability to serve is foreseeable (i.e. at least two days advance notice) the Chair will call for a special called meeting of the Board of Trustees to address the issue.”Ms. Peterson seconded the motion.
Discussion followed regarding the Executive Committee’s recommendation that Mr. Hart’s motion is accepted with the deletion of the last sentence. Mr. Hart maintained that the last sentence provides clarity to the current and future Board/s that when the President’s absence is foreseeable, there is time for a special called meeting of the full Board to vote on an Acting President. The motion was carried by a vote of five ayes to four nays.
2. B. Upon a motion by Mr. Spells, seconded by Mr. Alexander, the Board unanimously approved the Presidential Resolution of Appreciation brought forward to the Board by the Executive Committee.
2. C. Upon a motion by Ms. Peterson, seconded by Dr. Parham, the Board unanimously approved the Pharmacy Technology Program retroactive to February 6, 2012.
2. D. Upon a motion by Mr. Brumit, seconded by Mr. Alexander, the Board unanimously approved the ten 2013-2014 Strategic Priorities coming from the January 2013 Board Advance. Mr. Hart requested that Item E, Develop a Benchmark, be added to Strategic Priority 2. Mr. Brumit stated that in regard to Priority 5, the Board should reach out to the community for names of qualified potential Board members for the Entrepreneurial Foundation Board and the A-B Tech Foundation Board in order to have more race, gender, and age diversity in representation on the boards, but reminded the Board that it may be difficult. The College’s Strategic Planning/Institutional Effectiveness Committee will work to operationalize these ten priorities.
Trustee Business
3. A. Mr. Spells, Vice Chair, updated Trustees on issues discussed in monthly Executive Committee meetings, including careful monitoring of the SACSCOC reaccreditation efforts; policy changes and updates; evaluations of programs to ensure the College meets the workforce and training needs of the community; a possible collaboration on a performing arts center; the addition of workplace readiness certificates for students; and initiatives to provide an accelerated degree program option. He emphasized that the College continues to encourage a culture that embraces change, the second priority of the Strategic Plan Initiatives discussed earlier.
3. B. Mr. Brumit updated Trustees on activities of the Entrepreneurial Foundation Board, including the Adult Drug Treatment Board; EMS Training Center; a Technology center to help clients develop fundable and sustainable business models; Blazemark Lab (a 12-week accelerator); an Asheville Center for Professional Studies; Hacker Space; craft brewing; and a biofuels testing lab.
3. C. Mr. Wyatt also shared activities by the College Foundation Board, including the continuing search for an Executive Director of College Advancement; changes to the Board structure; the need for more scholarship dollars and opportunities to contribute to the Foundation; planned giving and estate planning tools; and naming opportunities for A-B Tech facilities.
3. D. Chair Hurley reviewed the recent Board Advance held on January 17 and 18. The Thursday night dinner that included the three College Boards was an excellent opportunity to get to know other Board members and understand the roles of the different Boards. The Friday meeting focused primarily on the College’s strategic planning for the upcoming year. Student testimonials during the luncheon were appreciated. The highlight of the day was the naming of Mona Cornwell, Director of Community Relations and Marketing, as the North Carolina Community College System staff person of the year out of the 58 state community colleges. Mr. Hart shared that he appreciated the structure of the Board Advance, and recommends using a similar structure going into the future. He also appreciated the interface on Friday with the College’s Executive Leadership Team.
President’s Report
4. Dr. Dunn updated Trustees during his report on the following:
- Spring enrollment is up, and is anticipated to be up by three to five percent at the end of the term when numbers are finalized.
- The College was invited to participate in the NC Completion by Design initiative and continues in the Achieving the Dream initiative, both focusing on curricular improvement, student success, and completion.
- Construction projects are moving forward, with some delays primarily due to project approvals and permits.
- Performance-based funding, approved by the state board, is still a possibility on the state agenda. The state system office has recommended eight priorities/metrics by which community colleges will be measured in order to receive funding. This measure, which will go to the state legislature, could have a significant impact on the College’s budget.
- A-B Tech South is up and running, with enrollment numbers low this first term.
- Kennon Briggs has retired from NCCCS; Jennifer Haygood’s and Sharon Morrisey’s duties have been widened to fill his functions.
- The College has received positive feedback on its beverage institute.
- The Board discussed a request for space at A-B Tech Enka.
Student Presentation – Andrew Marshall & George Johnson, Student Leadership Institute
Students Andrew Marshall and George Johnson shared their experiences with the student leadership program under the National Society of Leadership and Success. The program works with students to establish and meet personal goals, and to work in a collaborative fashion with other students in their respective group/s to keep goals realistic and achievable. Leadership skills are honed through practicing networking, discussions with other students regarding social skills, goal setting, formation of ideas and action steps to attain goals, and organizing and managing the process of innovation.
Staff Presentation – SACSCOC Reaccreditation Efforts: Dr. King, Ms. Quinley, and Dr. Loflin
Dr. King, Dr. Loflin, and Ms. Quinley updated Trustees on the intensive work being accomplished on the SACSCOC reaccreditation of A-B Tech. The report, due by March 15, 2013, has been read and reread by the Executive Team and other staff members, and is going through final revisions. The SACSCOC-appointed Off-Site review team will convene in May; the College should receive a review of the Compliance Report in late May or early June. The College will then have about two months to write a focus report to address any issues raised by the off-site review team. The On-Site team, which reviews specific areas, will be on campus in mid-September. Dr. Mark Smith, A-B Tech’s assigned SACSCOC representative, visited campus in mid-January. He met with a variety of groups and gave his feedback and input for completing the reaccreditation report.
The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), part of the reaccreditation process, will address distance learning, as approximately one-third of A-B Tech’s classes are offered online in some fashion. The report, due August 1, will focus on student learning outcomes in online courses as compared to face-to-face classes.
Reports And Information
A written report from each Vice President/Senior Executive Director on his/her respective division was sent to the Trustees prior to the meeting. Trustees found the reports very informative and had no questions. Chair Hurley thanked the Executive Leadership team for their work.
SGA Report
Ms. Orndorf, SGA President, shared SGA activities over the last quarter:
- SGA held a Christmas party and conducted a holiday abundance drive, collecting warm clothing, pet food, etc. from the three counties served by the College;
- SGA has a volunteer program with 23 volunteers to date;
- SGA members voted to match a donation of $18,000 from an outside donor to provide bus passes for students;
- SGA members supported an initiative to add a line item to student registration forms to allow the student to donate to student emergency funds, some potential scholarships, and sustainability initiatives on campus.
Adjourn
Upon a motion by Ms. Peterson, seconded by Mr. Hart, the Board unanimously voted to adjourn at 3:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha L. Shanks
Board Secretary