REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
June 26, 1997
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular
Meeting on June 26, 1997, at the HCCS Administrative Center, Second Floor
Boardroom, 22 Waugh Drive, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
M. James Henderson, Chairman
John Fonteno, Jr., Secretary
Carol H. Smith, Deputy Secretary
Bruce A. Austin
Herlinda Garcia
A. J. Lynch
Francisco G. Medina
W. F. Russell
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Christopher W. Oliver, Vice-Chairman
ADMINISTRATION
Ruth Burgos-Sasscer, Chancellor
Diana Morales Taylor, Chief Operations Officer
Elaine Adams, Vice-Chancellor, Educational Development and Interim President, Central
College
Margaret Ford, Act. President, NE College
Charles Hebert, Acting Vice-Chancellor, Workforce Development
Zachary Hodges, President, NW College
Pat Williamson, Vice-Chancellor, Institutional Development
OTHERS PRESENT
Arturo Michel, Bracewell and Patterson
Other administrators, staff, representatives of the news media and interested citizens
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Henderson called the Meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. on June 26,1997, and declared
the Board convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College
System as listed on the duly-posted meeting notice.
MINUTES APPROVED AS PRESENTED
Motion No. 695 - Mr. Russell moved approval of the minutes from the May 22, 1997
Board Meeting. Mr. Fonteno seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0. (Trustees Austin
and Smith had not yet arrived)
APPROVAL OF CHANCELLOR'S AGENDA
Mr. Henderson called for consideration of the ChancellorÕs agenda.Motion No. 696 Mr. Lynch moved approval of the ChancellorÕs agenda with the exception of certain
items set aside for discussion or to be considered after executive session. Mr. Russell
seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
The following items were approved:
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Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with HISD regarding services to
implement the School-to-Work Opportunities Program at the eight (8) schools
within HISDÕs East District and HCCS-Northeast College;
Approved the offering of a new technical AAS degree program in Equine
Management and submission to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
for state funding;
Awarded a contract for the construction of a parking lot at Central College, 1207
Truxillo, to Fay Ferguson Interests, Inc.;
Awarded contract for the replacement of the auditorium ceiling at the San Jacinto
Building, Central College, to Drake Interiors;
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Regular Board Meeting - June 26, 1997 - Page 2
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Awarded a contract for the printing of the 1997-98 HCCS Student Handbook to
Phillips Brothers, Inc.;
Approved the purchase of mammography equipment, Northwest College, from
Quality Imaging System & Service;
Approved revised 1996-97 State Literacy-Funded Adult Literacy subcontract
agreement with Friends of Literacy-Gulf Meadows, Self Enhancing Literacy
Fundamentals (SELF), to include an additional amount to provide literacy
services under said state grant funding; and authorize the Chancellor to execute
same on behalf of the System;
Approved new affiliation agreements with Dr. Bret Dyer, DDS; Dr. John Novak;
Dr. Randy Metland, DDS; Houston Family Medicine; North Dallas Orthopedic
and Rehabilitation; and the University of Texas Health Science Center;
Approved and ratified Board expenditures for the third quarter 1996-97;
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Approved a policy for employee leave and for those part-time employees working
at least 20 hours or more for a period of 90 consecutive working days or 4 months
in a year;
Ratified acceptance of gifts and donations received to date;
Approved payment to Bracewell and Patterson for professional services rendered
for the periods March 16 - April 15, 1997;
Ratified a contract with the Chair Academy to provide system-wide leadership
training for department chairs; and
Approved the creation of position of Executive Director, International Initiatives.
REVISIONS TO NEPOTISM POLICY APPROVED
Motion No. 697 - Mr. Russell moved approval of the revisions to the Personnel Policy
DBE (Local), Nepotism, Employment of Members of Immediate Family or Household.
Mr. Lynch seconded the motion.
Mrs. Garcia raised concern over references to the term Òdistrict,Ó and felt policy should
clearly differentiate HCCS from the Houston Independent School District . Dr. BurgosSasscer pointed out that the terminology had been updated in the revision. Diana Morales
Taylor added that the policy revision clarified the nepotism policy for employees only.
Motion carried 7-0.
ITEM ON TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTIONS TABLED FOR
CONSIDERATION AFTER CLOSED SESSION
Motion No. 698 - Mr. Russell moved approval of the list of tuition and fee exemptions
and waivers for fiscal year 1997-98. Mr. Fonteno seconded the motion. Upon advice from
legal counsel, the motion was withdrawn and the item was tabled for consideration after
closed session.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Mr. Henderson gave preface to the Hearing of Citizens and asked if anyone had
registered to speak. No one came forward and the meeting continued.
PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS
a. Faculty Recognition Award - Mark Tiller, Department Chair, Government and
Economics, Northwest College, was recognized as the outstanding faculty
member for June. Besides his teaching duties, Mr. Tiller also supervises the
adjunct faculty and spends a great deal of time in developing teaching materials
and training new instructors. He has authored several articles and a book, "Big
Ideas: An Introduction to Ideologies in American Politics," which is currently
used at various colleges and universities including Berkeley, Georgetown and
Emory.
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Regular Board Meeting - June 26, 1997 - Page 3
Mr. Tiller advocates the critical thinking process as it applies to politics and
orients his classes around this concept. He believes that American students must
learn how to learn if they are to prosper in the global marketplace.
NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a. Motion No. 699 - Mr. Lynch moved approval of a cash advance for Trustee
Oliver to attend the ACCT Western Region Conference. Mr. Russell seconded the
motion. Motion carried 7-0.
b. Motion No. 700 - Mr. Russell moved approval of a request from Trustee Garcia to
attend the 1997 Association of Latino Community College Trustees (ALCCT)
National Conference. Mr. Medina seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0. The
Board agreed this organization should be added to the list of organizations
approved for Board participation.
CHANCELLOR'S REPORT
a. Financial Activity Report - Diana Morales Taylor reported that $874,000 over the
budgeted amount has been collected in ad valorem taxes. This is due to an
increase in assessed valuation, a small tax increase and aggressive collection of
past due amounts.
b. Reorganization Update - Dr. Burgos-Sasscer reported the reorganization was
proceeding on schedule. Information on lateral transfers was provided to the
Board as requested and employees have been advised of vacant positions. In
addition, the Board was furnished with information on acting positions and how
long persons had been in an acting capacity. Requests for lateral transfers to
vacant positions are being accepted and reviewed.
Mr. Lynch asked about policy regarding the length of time a person can remain in
an acting capacity. Mr. Henderson replied that this subject had been discussed by
the Board at the last retreat and was referred to the Chancellor for a
recommendation.
Legislative Activity Update - Dr. Burgos-Sasscer presented an update on legislation
enacted into law. She added that according to Bart Sheinberg, Acting Director of
Governmental Relations, the main issue for the next legislative session will be
annexation. (The update is included as an attachment to the minutes)
Grant from American Bar Association - Jennifer Daley, Student Development Specialist,
reported on a grant from the American Bar Association to train student leaders in the
areas of sexual harassment prevention, gender/race equity and ADA awareness and
compliance. HCCS is the first community college to receive this grant.
Ms. Daley explained that the ABA will provide a keynote speaker and $1,500 to assist
with workshops and seminars to be presented at the HCCS Student Leadership
Conference on October 4, 1997 at Central College. The workshops will be videotaped
and a teleconference will be set up for the other colleges
AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Legal - Mr. Medina will present a report in closed session
b. Naming of Buildings/Southeast - Mrs. Garcia is organizing a committee and will
present a resolution to the Board in August.
c. Naming of Buildings/Northeast - There was no report.
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Regular Board Meeting - June 26, 1997 - Page 4
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Henderson adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 4:35 p.m., notice having
been previously given, and reiterated by him in accordance with the Open Meetings Law.
He stated any final action, vote, or decision on any item discussed in Executive Session
would be taken up in Open Session or in a subsequent Public Meeting. Mr. Henderson
reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 7:23 p.m., and entertained motions on matters
pending.
PERSONNEL AGENDA APPROVED AS PRESENTED
Motion No. 701 - Mr. Lynch moved approval of the Personnel Agenda, including the
hiring of a Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development. Mr. Medina seconded the
motion. Motion carried 5-0. (Mr. Austin was present. Trustees Fonteno, Russell and
Smith left the meeting during closed session)
SETTLEMENT APPROVED IN LEGAL MATTER
Motion No. 702 - Mr. Medina moved approval of settlement in C.A. # H-95-5672 on the
terms recommended by the attorney in closed session. Mr. Austin seconded the motion.
Motion carried 5-0.
LIST OF TUITION AND FEE EXEMPTIONS AND WAIVERS APPROVED
WITH CAVEAT
Motion No. 703 - Mr. Austin moved approval of the list of tuition and fee exemptions
and waivers for fiscal year 1997-98, with the caveat that a plan of action be developed
immediately to improve and enhance the Department of Corrections and senior citizen
courses and program procedures. Mr. Lynch seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
ESTABLISHMENT OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 28, 1997, at 4:00
p.m., at the Westchester Campus. A Budget Workshop/Special Meeting is scheduled for
July 30, 1997.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW VICE CHANCELLOR
Dr. Burgos-Sasscer introduced Dr. Patricia Fairchild, newly-hired Vice Chancellor for
Workforce Development. Mr. Henderson welcomed Dr. Fairchild to the College System.
CHANCELLOR HONORED BY UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
The Board commended Dr. Burgos-Sasscer on having received an honorary doctorate in
education from the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Burgos-Sasscer was recognized "as a
model to be followed by Hispanic professionals in higher education, and in particular, by
our young women who may see in your accomplishments the motive to pursue higher
educational, moral and human standards." The honorary degree will be conferred at
commencement exercises on June 18. (The letter from the University of Puerto Rico is
included as an attachment to the minutes)
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Board, the Meeting was adjourned at 7:27
p.m.Minutes Prepared by:
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Linda Gray
Manager, Board Services
Reviewed, Finalized and Submitted by:
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John Fonteno, Jr., Secretary
HCCS Board of Trustees
Minutes Accepted as Presented:
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