REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
July 24, 2003
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular
Meeting on July 24, 2003, at the System Administration Building, Second Floor
Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
James R. Murphy, Chair
Herlinda Garcia, Vice Chairman
Christopher W. Oliver, Secretary
Herman Litt, Deputy Secretary
Jay K. Aiyer
Bruce A. Austin
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Abel Davila
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Michael P. Williams, D. Min.
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Irene Porcarello, Interim Vice Chancellor, Institutional Development, and
Deputy to the Chancellor
Rosie Barrera, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Diana Castillo, Interim President, Southeast College
Sue Cox, President, Southwest College
Robert Mulcahy, College Operations Officer, Northeast College
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
Karl Lundquist, Executive Director, Facilities
John Ramsey, Executive Director, Foundation
Willie Williams, Jr., Interim Executive Director, Human Resources
Maya Durnovo, Dean Workforce Development, Northwest College
OTHERS PRESENT
Arturo Michel, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson
Butch Herod, President, Faculty Association
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Regular Board Meeting – July 24, 2003 - Page 2
Other administrators, citizens and representatives
from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Murphy called the Meeting to order at 4:35 p.m. and declared the Board
convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College System as
listed on the duly posted meeting notice.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Oliver led the prayer and pledge of allegiance.
INTRODUCTIONS
Mr. Litt recognized his wife Marilyn who was present in the audience.
AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
Presentation of Chancellor’s Medallion - Chancellor Leslie recognized Dr. Charles
Hebert, Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development, and presented him with
the Chancellor’s Medallion. Dr. Hebert was honored for his outstanding service as
Chair of the HCCS Graduates/Completers Committee, working with the Registrar’s
office, Student Services deans, the transfer office, Continuing Education, and
counselors, to better advise and assist students in completing certificates and degrees.
Dr. Hebert’s wife Ruthie, sons Keith and Kevin, and five grandchildren stood with Dr.
Hebert.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gifts and Donations - Dr. Leslie recognized Patty Carlton, Executive Director, Contract
Training and Continuing Education, who presented a check for $418,000 to the Board of
Trustees. Ms. Carlton, along with Sterling Foote, Institute of Excellence Director,
worked with medical partners and hospitals to provide training to 300 individuals. This
is the 22nd grant received from the Texas Workforce Commission.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Information Technology Assessment Report – Irene Porcarello reported that an
Information Technology Internal Assessment was conducted to identify potential
efficiencies and cost savings with minimal impact on the planning, implementation, and
delivery of quality services. IT participated in the planning and implementation of three
sets of interviewing activities. The first set of interviews was conducted by the IT
Committee (consisting of HCCS faculty and managers and a group interview of System
wide end users). The group responded to questions such as technical and support
service needs, training, it’s role among end users, and views on outsourcing. The
second set of interviews, conducted by the Interim Vice Chancellor of Institutional
Development and the Internal Auditor, involved individual interviews with the
Applications Development (PeopleSoft Finance, HR Payroll, and Student
Administration), Telecommunications (Network, System Admin, Database Admin, and
Telephone), End-User Computing (Information Center and technical support), and
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Administration (Executive Director, budgetary tasks, monitoring, and supervision). The
second group responded to ten questions covering their roles and responsibilities at the
college and system level, the budgetary process, training, and views on outsourcing,
restructuring, and accomplishments. The third set of interviews, conducted by the
External User Group, (IT director, managers, and staff), covered budgets, contracts,
metrics, business teaming relationships, organizational charts, outsourcing
assignments, personnel, and field support. Ms. Porcarello presented the core values
and an analysis of the internal assessment findings and recommendations. The Internal
analysis provides suggestions to improve current IT operations and reduce costs. Ms.
Porcarello recommended that Administration begin developing a long-term IT strategic
plan to meet the expanding needs of HCC and the increasing complexity and infusion of
technology in operations, teaching and learning within the System. The Trustees made
several comments and recommendations.
Motion — Mr. Aiyer moved to recommend that administration move forward in
developing a strategic charge based on input from Board. Mr. Litt seconded the motion,
which carried 5-0. (Mr. Oliver was out of room; Mrs. Garcia arrived at 5:15)
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Chairman Murphy gave preface to the hearing of citizens and asked if anyone were
present to speak.
Dr. Reynaldo Garay, Counselor, Southeast College, addressed the Board on behalf
of the Houston Chapter of Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education
(TACHE) to voice his discontent with administration and Human Resources policies
and procedures.
Chairman Murphy assured Dr. Garay that his concerns would be addressed. Mrs.
Garcia requested a response from the administration on Dr. Garay’s concerns since this
issue has been raised several times. Mr. Litt recommended that the Trustees receive a
report on responses to citizens on a regular basis.
OTHER COMMENTS
Mr. Oliver recognized Rev. Gene Moore, Pastor of St. Agnes Baptist Church, and
previous recipient of an honorary degree, who was seated in the audience.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT CONTINUED
Texas Success Initiative Report – Dr. Cook reported on the proposed HCCS response
to new legislation regarding the Texas Success Initiative. The TASP State-mandated
test is administered to entry-level students and has been in existence since 1989. He
explained that the Texas Legislature replaced the TASP test with a new program called
the Texas Student State Initiative. The new program will enable the colleges to focus
on the diagnosis of individual students and help them move forward and accomplish
their goals. Mrs. Garcia requested an update with a timeline and procedures on the
Success Initiative approach.
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Board Calendar/Upcoming Events
A ribbon cutting and open house will be held at the new Willie Lee Gay Hall campus on
August 14, 2003, at 4:00 p.m. Chairman Murphy encouraged all Trustees to participate.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance Committee - Mr. Oliver asked Gloria Walker to give the report. She indicated
that the current projection would complete the year with a balanced budget. Expenses
and revenues are projected below the adjusted budget, although an adjusted revenue
projection includes the $4 increase in tuition for the summer and additional anticipated
receipts from ad valorem taxes. Revenues are below the adjusted budget due to the
Continuing Education and Contract Training area (Finance and Administration is
currently working on a remedy for this area). She answered questions from the Board.
Mrs. Garcia stated that no action should be taken until the August 21, 2003 meeting,
after more detailed information was received from administration.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion — Mr. Oliver moved approval of the minutes from the Meeting of the Committee
of the Whole of June 18, 2003; Special Meeting on Bond/Annexation of June 24, 2003;
and Regular Meeting of June 24, 2003. Mr. Austin seconded the motion, which carried
7 - 0. (Mr. Davila arrived at 5:35 p.m. Mrs. Navarro Flores arrived at 5:40 p.m., but was
out of the room)
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Motion — Mr. Oliver moved approval of the consent agenda with the exception of items
set aside for further discussion and/or consideration following closed session. Mr. Aiyer
seconded the motion, which carried 7-0. (Mrs. Navarro Flores was out of room)
Approved payment to Bracewell & Patterson for professional services rendered
for the period of June 1, 2003 through June 30, 2003, in the amount of
$57,518.20; and
Approved and ratified acceptance of gifts and donations received from Mark
Conway, Director of Academic Programs, PeopleSoft, Inc.
DATA SERVER PLATFORM UPGRADE
Motion — Mr. Aiyer moved approval of the purchase and financing of Sun Microsystems
server platform equipment through PSI Technology at a cost not to exceed $3 million.
Mr. Oliver seconded the motion, which carried 8-0.
Gloria Walker explained that the HCCS server platform had reached a critical point in
both performance and capacity required to support all student, finance and human
resources applications. The original prices submitted on the three RFP’s varied based
on established discounts from the manufacturer. The total RFP score was used on the
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sum of weighted scores from nine evaluation areas. Mr. Robert Pritchard addressed
the Board to answer and explain the different factors in the evaluation.
RENEWAL OF AGREEMENTS/CONTRACTS
Motion — Mr. Oliver moved approval of contracts and agreements for renewal over
$24,999 for the 2003-2004 fiscal year. Mr. Litt seconded the motion. No action was
taken.
The Board had concerns and comments on different contracts and recommended to
defer the item for further discussion at the Committee of the Whole meeting on August
21, 2003.
Amended Motion — Mr. Litt made a motion to renew the contracts and agreements for
the 2003-2004 fiscal year with the exception of the contract with Locke Liddell & Sapp,
LLP and Bracewell & Patterson, LLP. Mr. Oliver seconded the motion, which carried 80.
Substitute Motion — Mr. Oliver made a motion that administration develop better pricing
for contracts and agreements for renewal over $24,999 for the 2003-2004 fiscal year
and to defer the item to the next Committee of the Whole meeting on August 21, 2003.
Mr. Litt seconded the motion, which carried 8-0.
TSPR PERFORMANCE AUDIT
Motion – Mr. Oliver made a motion to approve Administration’s plan for implementation
of the TSPR Performance Audit. Mr. Litt seconded the motion. Motion was withdrawn.
Mrs. Garcia felt the plan required further consideration and additional input from
administration.
Motion – Mr. Aiyer moved to table the recommendation for further review, with a revised
recommendation summary to be presented in narrative form at the meeting of the
Committee of the Whole on August 21, 2003. Mr. Litt seconded the motion. Motion
carried 8-0.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chairman Murphy adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:55 p.m., notice
having previously been given, and reiterated by him, in accordance with Sections
551.071 of the Open Meetings Law. He stated that any final action, vote, or decision on
any item discussed in Executive Session would be taken up in Open Session or in
subsequent Public Meeting. He reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 7:55 p.m.
and entertained motions on pending matters.
PERSONNEL AGENDA APPROVED AS PRESENTED
Motion — Mr. Aiyer moved approval of the Personnel Agenda as presented. Mr. Austin
seconded the motion, which carried 8-0.
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ANNOUNCEMENTOF UPCOMING MEETINGS:
The Committee of the Whole will meet on Thursday, August 21, 2003, 4:00 p.m.,
System Administration Building - Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas;
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2003, 4:00
p.m., System Administration Building – Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
ADJOURNMENT
The Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
DINNER
Following adjournment, the Board of Trustees met for dinner in the Chancellor’s
Conference Room on the 12th floor, where they may generally discuss System
business, but will not take action on such business.
Minutes Prepared by:
Erica Carmen DelValle, Secretary
Board Services
Reviewed and Submitted by:
Christopher W. Oliver, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Approved as Submitted:
August 28, 2003
Reviewed & Edited
Linda Gray 8/18/03
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