HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Minutes of Open Meeting
September 10, 2013
The Board of Trustees of Harford Community College met on Tuesday, September 10, 2013, at
6:00 p.m. in the Chesapeake Center Board Room.
Trustees present: Mrs. Doris G. Carey; Mr. John F. Haggerty; Rev. Cordell E. Hunter, Sr.;
Mr. Bryan E. Kelly (excused at 7:15 p.m.); Mr. Richard D. Norling; Mrs. Jan P.
Stinchcomb, Mr. Bradley R. Stover; Dr. James J. Valdes; and, Dr. Dennis Golladay as
Secretary-Treasurer
Trustees absent: Mrs. April L. Fritts
Staff present: C. Allen, T. Biegas, D. Brett, H. Brown, D. Cruise, N. Dysard, S. Garey,
T. Guinivan, K. Hachmann, A. Haggray, K. Hathaway, C. Henderson, R. Johnson,
C. Karwowski, P. Labe, J. Madden, J. Mayhorne, S. McAtee, B. Morrison, B. Napfel,
L. Ovelman, Z. Parker, S. Phillips, L. Preston, D. Resides, C. Sherman, V. Swain,
L. Trusty, J. Walker, A. Ward, and D. Wrobel
Others: S. Rosa, Clifton Larson Allen; B. Sadusky, Maryland Association of Community
Colleges; and T. Hendricks, The Aegis
I.
CALL TO ORDER
J. Valdes called the meeting to order.
The following is noted for the record:
The business of the Harford Community College Board of Trustees, as
empowered by Maryland law, is to oversee all personnel, programs and
facilities. The Board employs its president to implement and to interpret
its policies. The Board directs the president to establish guidelines,
procedures, and practices that flow from and support the policies of the
Board of Trustees as contained in the Board Manual for By-laws and
Policies. The Board meets the second Tuesday each month (except July) to
consider and transact public business.
J. Valdes announced that at the Board of Trustees meeting on
August 13, 2013, motion was made, seconded and approved to move into
closed session to discuss personnel matters in accordance with
Article 10-508(a)(1)(i) and (ii) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, closed
sessions permitted.
II.
ROLL CALL
C. Sherman called the roll. Quorum was present.
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09/10/13
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III.
CONSENT AGENDA
By consensus the Board approved the consent agenda. Items included:
 Agenda of the 09/10/13 meeting
 Minutes of the 08/13/13 regular session
IV.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
V.
BOARD REPORTS
A.
Chair’s Report
J. Valdes announced upcoming events:
 September 12 – President’s Circle dinner
 October 2-5 – ACCT Leadership Congress – HCC is presenting a session
entitled “Tuition Increases and Adequate Reserves: A Road Map to Achieving
Affordability and Financial Solvency.”
 October 8 – Board of Trustees meeting
Dr. Valdes referred to the Darlington Hall groundbreaking and commented on the
well-planned event.
Dr. Valdes also commented on a recent conversation with Delegate Mary-Dulany
James regarding health care issues of the state. Current developments in the field
of health care are anticipating that biotechnology will change health care. The
focus will be on managing a person’s health rather than managing a patient’s
disease. The field is referred to as P4 medicine – personalized, predictive,
preventative, and participatory.
B.
Member Reports
R. Norling commented briefly on the Board’s audit committee meeting with the
auditors. Detailed report will be reviewed later in the meeting.
J. Haggerty suggested that formal protocol be developed to ensure that elected
officials attending College events are properly recognized and introduced.
D. Carey reported that she attended the August 20, 2013, nurse pinning ceremony.
The tradition of excellence continues despite a last minute change in the location
of the event. R. Johnson explained that the afternoon the day of the event, Harford
Technical High School notified the College that their facility had no water. Since
the pinning ceremony was to be held at the Amoss Center, College staff worked
quickly to relocate the event to the Chesapeake Center Theater and to simulcast it
in the dining rooms for the overflow crowd.
D. Carey, C. Hunter, and B. Kelly also complimented the staff on August 27
groundbreaking ceremony for Darlington Hall.
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09/10/13
VI.
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PRESIDENT’S REPORT
A.
Information Items
The Board information packet included a report on the President’s meetings and
activities over the last month. D. Golladay reported:
 Procedures are being formalized to ensure that the Board of Trustees Red
Flags Rule and Identity Theft Prevention Policy is implemented to protect
confidential and sensitive information assets and the resources that support
them.
 Report on the FY 2013 Strategic Plan accomplishments was distributed.
 Several Harford student athletes received All-American honors. Sara LeBrun,
a member of HCC's women's lacrosse team, was named to the 2013 Women's
Lacrosse All-Americans First Team. Three members of Harford's men's
lacrosse team were named 2013 Men's Lacrosse All-Americans. Richard
DeMicco and Matthew Ward were named to the first team; Thomas
Yancheski was named to the second team. J. Haggerty suggested that in the
future students receiving All-American honors be invited to the Board
meeting to be recognized.
 Enrollment is down 1.1% (headcount) and 2.5% FTE. Some of the loss may
be made up through noncredit. Projection for the year is that enrollment will
be flat. Marketing strategies and an enrollment management plan are being
developed.
A moment of silence was observed in memory of John Kirk, a member of the
facilities staff, who passed away last week.
B.
Remarks by Dr. Bernie Sadusky, Executive Director Maryland Association of
Community Colleges (MACC)
Dr. Sadusky provided an update on information from Annapolis and MACC
activities.
 Businesses report job openings, but need people with skills to fill the
positions. Community colleges can be the economic engine to prepare
individuals for openings.
 Student debt and college affordability is an issue. Statistics indicate national
student debt now exceeds $1T. In Maryland student borrowing is $118M;
average student debt is $24,000. Cost effectiveness of colleges is key and
potential cost saving opportunities must be explored, i.e., massive online open
courses (MOOCs) and open source textbooks.
 Performance-based funding models are being reviewed.
 A major goal of Senate Bill 740 was to integrate K-12, community colleges
and four-year institutions. There is interest in expanding the program as it
pertains to dual-enrolled students and career and transfer students.
 Revenue outlook at the State level is improved. However, there are factors
which could affect this positive outlook, i.e., sequestration, job loss,
affordable care act.
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09/10/13

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The annual MACC Trustees workshop and legislative reception will be held
on February 3, 2014. Presentation on the research on how future generations
will learn will be one of the featured workshop topics. Trustees are
encouraged to attend.
Brief discussion followed regarding skills needed to meet employer expectations,
i.e., writing, critical thinking
VII.
C.
Capital Projects Update
R. Johnson, vice president for finance and operations, provided an update on
capital projects and related facilities matters.
 Towson building should be under roof by Thanksgiving.
 Darlington Hall project is on schedule and part may be under roof by winter
break.
 Notification has been received from the state for funding to advertise and hire
architect for the renovation of Edgewood Hall in FY 2015.
D.
Program Presentation – Website Redesign Unveiling
In January 2012, Harford Community College contracted with Digital Wave
Technologies to provide website redesign services including a content
management system. Since that time, marketing and public relations, computing
and technology services, and a website redesign committee have worked to create
a new information architecture, train on the new content management system, and
revise the content of our existing website. Brenda Morrison, vice president for
marketing, development and community relations; and Nancy Dysard, director for
marketing and public relations; demonstrated the new website. Features include
mobile app, ease of navigation, and promotion of targeted campus events.
E.
Introduction of New Employees
New employees Tamara Biegas, assistant professor of geography; Dawn Brett,
psychology faculty; Harry Brown, sociology faculty; Thomas Guinivan, assistant
professor of chemistry; Kimberly Hachmann, interim coordinator for assessment
and institutional effectiveness; Jaclyn Madden, biology faculty; Stephanie
McAtee, coordinator for grants; and Lisa Ovelman, engineering faculty; were
introduced to the Board.
ACTION ITEMS
A.
FY 2013 Independent Audit
Maryland law requires all community colleges to complete an annual audit of its
accounts and accounting procedures. The Board of Trustees contracts with Clifton
Larson Allen to complete the audit and report a formal opinion on the fairness, in
all material respects, of the financial statements of the College. Audit work for the
fiscal year that ended June 30, 2013, is complete. Prior to presentation to the full
Board of Trustees, the auditor reviewed the report with the Board’s audit
committee which is chaired by the vice chair of the Board, Richard Norling.
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09/10/13
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Steve Rosa of Clifton Larson Allen provided an overview. The firm reported on
the college’s basic financial statements, college’s major federal program (Student
Financial Aid) and college’s Maryland Form CC-4 (statutory filing.) The audit
opinion on the College’s financial statements is unmodified. The following 2013
audit results were noted:
 No material weaknesses or significant deficiencies identified during the audit
of the financial statements.
 No material weaknesses or significant deficiencies identified during the audit
of the Student Financial Aid Cluster
 One finding – National Student Loan Data System enrollment reporting.
Colleges are required to report enrollment status changes within 30 days. One
out of sample tested was not reported timely. This delays the start of the sixmonth repayment grace period. With regard to the finding related to
enrollment reporting, D. Cruise advised that a different grading system is
being instituted that would distinguish between a student who stops attending
class versus a student who has withdrawn.
Mr. Rosa also provided a financial recap:
 Net position of the college has improved from 2012 to 2013 with growth of
assets and reduction of liabilities.
 Consistent with prior years, the operating loss is supplemented by nonoperating revenues and capital grants.
 Tuition and fees revenue increased 4% with an increase in rates and FTE’s
remaining relatively flat.
 State and county operating funding remained flat from 2012.
 State and county capital funding of $13.5 million for the Susquehanna Center
renovation, wastewater treatment facility and nursing and allied health
building (compared to $17.5 million in 2012).
R. Norling stated that the management discussion and analysis on Pages 12 and
13 of the report were included to make clear that the transfer-in from the fund
balance is to offset the operating deficit. The operating deficit has resulted due to
not increasing the rate of tuition quickly enough to offset the public funding
reductions in recent years.
Motion was made by B. Stover, seconded by C. Hunter:
The Board of Trustees of Harford Community College accepts the College
audit conducted by Clifton Larson Allen for FY 2013 as presented.
Vote: unanimously adopted.
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09/10/13
B.
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2013 Maryland Higher Education Commission Performance Accountability
Report
The Performance Accountability Report (PAR) is submitted annually in the fall to
the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). The 2013 reporting cycle
is the third year of a five-year reporting cycle for Maryland community colleges.
The report includes three sections. The first is a narrative section which describes
actions and initiatives undertaken by the college in the past year that support the
state’s goals for higher education, relate to community outreach and impact, and
strive for cost containment. The second section includes accountability indicators
which capture data on eight student characteristics and thirty-five benchmarked
measures. The third section provides four-year trends for each indicator.
V. Swain, interim director for institutional research, planning, and effectiveness,
provided an overview of the report noting benchmark measures with consistent
increases as well as those with inconsistent progress.
For this year, MHEC had one question of Harford Community College related to
Indicator 19, percent minorities of full-time faculty. In response to the question,
Harford academic leadership maintains that although the benchmark is high, it is
important to continue to strive for a level that mirrors the surrounding community;
therefore, the target of 18% will be retained.
Motion was made by D. Carey, seconded by B. Stover:
The Board of Trustees of Harford Community College approves the 2013
MHEC Performance Accountability Report.
Vote: unanimously adopted.
C.
Personnel Update
Staffing changes are reported to the Board as an information item. The Board
approves personnel activity related to administrators and tenure-track faculty. One
personnel item reported this month, the approval of an administrative contract,
requires Board action.
Motion was made by B. Stover, seconded by J. Stinchcomb:
The Board of Trustees of Harford Community College approves the
appointment of Thomas Franza, chief information technology officer,
effective September 30, 2013.
Vote: unanimously adopted.
Board of Trustees
09/10/13
VIII.
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BOARD REVIEW
A.
Policies – Rates, Initial Placement, and Evaluation of Part-Time Employees
The Board continues to review policies to reaffirm currency as written or to
identify changes/revisions that need to be made. At the August meeting, the
“Rates, Initial Placement, and Evaluation of Part-time Employees” policy was
considered. The Board agreed that the policy statement was unclear with regard to
part-time employees not subject to probationary and annual evaluations and rate
increases and the Board asked the President to review and recommend revised
wording.
The president proposed a revised policy as follows:
It is the policy of Harford Community College to hire part-time employees
at an hourly rate commensurate with the work to be performed with
periodic evaluations. Wage adjustments may occur as recommended by
the president through budget approval by the Board of Trustees.
A separate category of part-time workers may be hired to fill seasonal, asneeded, on-call, and temporary assignments. Because these assignments
are sporadic and very limited in nature, these employees are paid at a
fixed rate and are not subject to probationary and annual evaluations and
rate increases.
By consensus, the Board approved the revised policy as presented.
IX.
CLOSED SESSION
J. Valdes asked for a motion to go into closed session to discuss personnel matters.
In accordance with State Government Article of The Annotated Code of Maryland,
Article 10 508(a)(1)(i) and (ii) and (7) closed sessions permitted, motion was made by
J. Haggerty, seconded by C. Hunter to move into closed session to discuss personnel
matters. Seven voted in favor of the motion; no one opposed the motion; motion adopted.
At 7:40 p.m. the Board moved into closed session. The closed session adjourned at
7:50 p.m.
X.
ADJOURNMENT
The Board meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
____________________________________
Dennis Golladay
Secretary-Treasurer
____________________________________
James J. Valdes
Chair