MEETING OF THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
February 8, 2005
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Meeting of the
Board Operations Committee on Tuesday, February 8, 2005, at the System
Administration Building, Seminar Room A, Second Floor, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Diane Olmos Guzman, Chair
Jay K. Aiyer
Bruce A. Austin
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Interim Deputy to the Chancellor
Willie Williams, Interim Executive Director, Human Resources
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Patterson
Carolyn Hanahan, Policy Consultant, Feldman & Rogers
Other administrators, citizens and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Olmos Guzman called the meeting to order at 1:25 p.m. and declared the
Committee convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Community College
System as listed on the duly posted Meeting Notice.
REVISED HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES
The Trustees reviewed the proposed Human Resources policies. The Chancellor, Mr.
Williams and Ms. Hanahan answered questions from the Trustees in regard to specific
policies. Dr. Leslie stated that remaining policies to be reviewed included Student,
Instruction, Finance/Administration and Governance. Once the policies are approved, a
separate set of procedures will be developed.
Mr. Austin recommended that an alternative dispute resolution policy be added to the
section on Employment Complaints, and the Trustees concurred.
Dr. Leslie discussed two recommendations concerning interim positions. One would
authorize the waiver of HCCS Policy DI in order to allow persons presently serving in
interim positions to be eligible to apply for the position. There are currently 11
employees in interim positions.
The second recommendation would amend Personnel Policy DI (Local) to eliminate
restrictions of HCCS employees in interim positions from being considered as applicants
for the full-time position when posted. This action is deemed necessary to motivate
qualified employees to accept interim assignments without fear that they would be
ineligible to compete for the position when advertised.
Houston Community College System
Board Operations Committee – February 8, 2005 – Page 2
Recommendation: There was consensus to recommend approval of the revised Human
Resources Policies, with an amendment to include an alternative dispute resolution
policy, to the full Board at the next meeting of the Committee of the Whole. The
recommendations on interim assignments will also be placed on the agenda for that
meeting.
RECESS CALLED
Ms. Olmos Guzman called a recess at 2:30 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 2:35
p.m.
BOARD COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
The Trustees discussed the organization of committees to determine the most effective
process to conduct HCCS business. Mr. Hollingsworth reviewed the proposed bylaws on
operating as a Committee of the Whole, as standing committees, or as a combination of
both. There was further discussion on what constitutes final action by the Board.
Dr. Leslie cautioned against holding too many meetings, since it is difficult for staff to
prepare for meetings in such a short timeframe. He advocated maintaining the
Committee of the Whole as a workshop, while allowing certain committees to meet
separately.
Mr. Austin recommended changing the name of the Board Operations Committee to the
Governance Committee. Mr. Hollingsworth was asked to provide additional clarification
to the proposed Board bylaws to ensure open discussion and to strengthen the chairman’s
script as a preface for the meetings, and to review the role and duties of each committee
and the authority of committee chairs. There was consensus to request the Board
Chairman to appoint members to committees.
BOARD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
There was no discussion.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Board Retreat is scheduled for February 25-26, 2005 at The Houstonian
Conference Center.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 3:32 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Linda Gray, Board Services
Reviewed and Submitted by:
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
February 24, 2005