The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, October 7, 2013, at 3:30 p.m. in Magnolia Dining Room. Joe Brumit, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board were present: Troy Ball, Wayne Brigman, Chair Joe Brumit, Mary Ruth Fowler, Bill Hart, Richard Hurley, Don Locke, John Parham, Carol Peterson, Wilma Sherrill, Vice-Chair Ray Spells, Mandy Stone, and David Wyatt.
Others present for the meeting included: Hank Dunn, President, Brian Willis, Vice President for Information Technology/CIO, Lisa Evans, Interim Vice President Business & Finance, Dennis King, Special Assistant to the President for Accreditation, Kaye Waugh, Vice President Human Resources and Organizational Development, Shelley White, Senior Executive Director for Economic and Workforce Development/Continuing Education, Melissa Quinley, Vice President for Instructional Services, Terry Brasier, Vice President for Student Services, Kerri Glover, Director, Communications Relations and Marketing, Marlene Roden, President Faculty Association, Chris Campbell, College attorney, and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call To Order
Mr. Brumit read the ethics statement, and no conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called roll. A quorum was present.
Consent Agenda
Dr. Locke moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented: A. Minutes of September 9, 2013, Monthly Board Meeting, B. Continuing Education Internal Audit Policy & Plan Procedure. The motion was seconded by Ms. Stone and approved unanimously by the Board.
Resolutions/Action Items
2. A. On a motion by Dr. Locke, seconded by Ms. Stone, the Board unanimously approved the Entrepreneurship Program for Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women and Buncombe Correctional Center.
2. B On a motion by Mr. Hart, seconded by Dr. Locke, the Board unanimously approved the Continuing Education Internal Audit.
2. C. On a motion by Mr. Hurley, seconded by Ms. Peterson, the Board unanimously approved the Community Service Leave Policy. Dr. Locke questioned why community service leave is in half-day increments. Dr. Dunn explained that it is strictly for ease of payroll record keeping. The policy is for employees to perform community service for a community program of their choice. Ms. Stone asked if the College will be tracking volunteer hours. Dr. Dunn answered yes.
Trustee Business
3. A. Mr. Brumit and several Trustees had recently toured A-B Tech Enka Technology Commercialization Building and he asked the Trustees for their comments. Ms. Peterson stated that the tour was appreciated and thanked Joe Bace for setting it up. The Trustees saw utilized spaces and other spaces that may be utilized. Ms. Peterson doesn’t think many rooms are fit for occupancy and has real concerns about spending money on the building. Dr. Locke agreed with Ms. Peterson. Dr. Locke saw rooms that were currently occupied as being in good shape, but elsewhere it is a different story. Dr. Locke stated it would be a tough decision as to whether to invest in the current building or find equivalent space for the same money. Mr. Hart and Mr. Brumit agree they are both hesitant to put money into the building. Ms. Peterson requested that Joe Bace give a report to the Board regarding the usefulness of the buildings as well as other facilities located in A-B Tech Enka, classroom sizes, and a “mini-master” plan if possible.
Dr. Locke reiterated that the Board is in full support of the programs in place at A-B Tech Enka and is in support of new programs as well – the Board is not in support of the space the programs are currently being held in.
Mr. Brumit stated that presently there were no necessary actions to be taken by the Board regarding the A-B Tech Enka, and suggested that Trustees who had not been on the tour to call Marilyn McDonald if they wanted to tour the buildings at A-B Tech Enka.
3. B. Dr. Locke summarized highlights from the October 2-5, 2013 ACCT Annual Congress in Seattle, WA. The highlight of the conference was speaker Bill Gates and the discussion on adaptive learning and adaptive technology. Mr. Spells added that the conference was well attended and that “change” was the constant message. A code of conduct for the Board was another issue addressed at the conference – how the Board interacts with each other and the community. Mr. Spells suggested the Board work to develop a Board Code of Conduct for themselves.
The next ACCT Annual Congress will be held October 22-23, 2014 in Chicago, IL.
President's Report
The SACS report was very good. The College is working on a focused report on Student Learning Outcomes and will resubmit the report in mid-February 2014. The College’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Student Online Success was accepted without question. The College is conducting a mile-stone congratulations pizza party for the entire campus to celebrate the success of the SACSCOC visit and to thank all employees for all the work done in preparation for SACSCOC.
Fall enrollment headcount is slightly up, but the FTE is down. A major push is being made to increase enrollment and classes are being added to the instruction for the second eight-week fall term.
The College continues to look at new programs, and Logistics are being explored. Dr. Dunn stated that the College needs to look down the road at other factors in the marketplace, such as online classes and competency-based education, in considering how to be competitive in the future. Several competing schools are offering complete degrees online. This may affect the choices students make on how to pursue their education.
The rise of competency-based classes will be a disruptive influence on the future of education. Competency-based education is based on the demonstration of knowledge as opposed to meeting specific seat times. This is currently being done in the Kentucky system as a pilot. Since Kentucky is a SACSCOC region, it will be interesting to follow the results of a SACSCOC-approved school.
Dr. Dunn wanted to seek the Board’s input into discussions that were beginning to happen on campus. Due to rising federal aid receivables, and a rising default rate, the College is reviewing its participation in the federal student loan program. The review is necessary because due to Return to Title 4 Regulations, a student must repay federal funds received if they withdraw before 60% of a class is completed. Because students have typically received those funds, it is up to the College to reimburse the overage to the federal government and attempt to recoup the money from the student.
Participating in the student loan program helps many students stay in school. But the College is also aware of students who may be borrowing needlessly or frivolously. Many other community colleges in North Carolina have dropped their participation in the loan program. That may have affected enrollment in some schools, although other schools are reporting that the more serious students appear to be in school and they have noticed an increase in classroom success. There are pros and cons to staying in the program or getting out of the program.
Dr. Locke asked what percentage of A-B Tech students currently have federal loans and what percentage have direct loans versus financial aid. Ms. Peterson and Ms. Stone would like to look at all the figures as well as the loan information requested by Dr. Locke and have an in-depth discussion about loans prior to making any decisions.
Dr. Dunn told the Trustees about a pilot busing program the College is working with the Student Government Association to implement. Through a donation from the Student Government Association to pay for gas, the College will begin a regular bus shuttle from the campus to the main bus terminal downtown and back again - using the College’s bus and hiring a driver. The shuttle will run hourly and should result in decreased student transportation time and possibly an increase in enrollment if students know that it is easier to go back and forth to the College.
Dr. Dunn informed the Trustees that the College was phasing out drama classes over the next year as there has only been one drama graduate since 2000. Classes are typically not very full.
The College Foundation has resumed tours of campus facilities and Dr. Dunn encouraged the Trustees to visit different areas of the College if their schedules permit.
Dr. Dunn advised the Trustees of the difficulty of finding and keeping IT staff given today’s competitive marketplace. Kaye Waugh will do a special study on IT salaries to see if the College is competitive with other colleges and local businesses. Ms. Stone suggested reviewing outsourcing components of the IT department as well as just looking at salaries.
The United Way and Foundation fundraising campaigns at the College are both ongoing and going well. All employees have been encouraged to donate as our goal is 100% participation of all staff and faculty.
Lastly, Dr. Dunn reminded the Trustees that the 13thAnnual Scholarship Luncheon is on November 5th and to please attend if their schedules permit.
Informational Handouts
5.A.Mr. Brumit stated it was nice to have a workable strategic plan to be able to refer to and one that was more than just a planning document.
Closed Session
Dr. Locke moved to enter into a closed session at 4:40 p.m. pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a) (3) in order to discuss matters protected by the attorney-client privilege, and pursuant to subsection (a)(1) in order to discuss confidential personnel issues in accordance with G.S. 115D-27-29. Ms. Peterson seconded the motion.
On a motion properly made, Board returned to the open session at 5:05 p.m. to conduct the swearing-in of Trustee Dr. John Parham. Dr. Parham was sworn in by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Alan Thornburg.
At 5:12 p.m., Dr. Locke made a motion, seconded by Bill Hart, for the Board of Trustees to return to closed session for the reasons printed in the agenda. The motion passed unanimously and the Board entered into a closed session.
On a motion properly made, the Board returned to open session at 6:42 p.m. At 6:45 p.m., Dr. Locke made the motion, seconded by Mr. Hurley for the Board to recess their meeting until October 14, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. in the Magnolia Dining Room. The motion passed unanimously and the Board was in recess.”
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. by unanimous consent.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary