Executive Council Minutes
July 22, 2008
Present: Alan Scheibmeir, Giles Brown, David Foster, Jeanie Hardin, and
Gary Paikowski.
Absent: Roy Renfro, Wendell Williams
Recorder: Shelle Cassell
Agenda Items
Anna High School Scholarship Foundation Request
Dr. Scheibmeir presented a request from the Anna HS Scholarship Foundation asking
GCC to waive the out of district tuition for all students earning a scholarship through
their foundation. Discussion included a desire to treat all similar entities fairly, and the
need to determine if state law allows this practice. If allowed, the need to establish
criteria. Members also asked if the college could award scholarships for the difference in
tuition rates.
Action/Motion: Dr. Scheibmeir will have Linda Blount check into state laws that relate
to this practice.
Dual Credit / Early Admission Question
Dr. Scheibmeir shared a question received from the president at Kilgore College
regarding the setting of special, discounted and/or waived tuition. Specifically, he was
looking for input on whether or not other institutions include in the reduced rate early
admission (GCC refers to them as concurrent enrollment) classes that are not earning
dual credit. And, if enrolling in dual credit and concurrent classes, do we charge the same
rate or differentiate for each class? Reference was made by the THECB staff to TEC
54.216.
Action/Motion: Dr. Scheibmeir will respond that, at the present time, GCC only offers
tuition incentives for dual credit courses.
Dual Credit Tuition Waiver Proposal for Students Eligible for Free and
Reduced Lunch
Council members continued their earlier discussion on the benefits and challenges of
offering a waiver for dual credit students who meet the ISD criteria for free or reduced
lunch. Many members believe this is most cost effective way to better integrate dual
credit into the high schools. The challenge is that once you begin an incentive program
like this, it is very difficult to discontinue the practice. If this incentive is allowed by law,
members expressed interest in implementing the benefit in stages (such as the first 100
1 of 2
eligible on a first-come, first-served basis) to better determine cost-benefit, and to better
manage the ripple effects on the budget. Members agreed that the ISD’s should be
responsible for providing a list of eligible students, and that incentives would be paid
through Auxiliary revenue fund sources. In order for this program to expand, it will be
necessary to include it in the college’s planning and actions.
Action/Motion: The Council unanimously supported the motion by Gary Paikowski,
second by Jeanie Hardin, that starting in the Fall 2008/09 academic year, GCC will offer
free tuition and fees for dual credit classes taken by high school students (in our service
area) who are eligible for free or reduced lunch. This recommendation will be presented
to the Board of Trustees at their August 9 meeting. Jeanie Hardin will work with GCC
representatives and high school personnel to finalize the logistics and processes
necessary for this to be implemented.
Property Adjacent to GCC
Dr. Scheibmeir shared information on approx. 20 acres of land that is near the college
that may soon be available for sale. He asked members to consider what, if any, uses the
college may foresee for the property.
Action/Motion: No action necessary.
SOSU – Meet the New President and Staff
GCC representatives attended a luncheon at SOSU to meet the new president and several
new members of the administrative team. Topics of discussion centered on reaffirming
the relationship and agreements between the two institutions. Ideas for new program
initiatives in Criminal Justice, Special Education, and Hospital Management Systems
were briefly addressed. It was agreed that the 2 + 2 agreements should be reviewed to
ensure that changes that have occurred within those programs are synchronized for a
smooth transition. It was also suggested that the two institutions should look for activities
and events that would build relationships between the professors at the colleges. A guest
speaker program was mentioned as a possible activity.
2 of 2