(REVISED)
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
May 19, 2005
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System met as a Committee
Of The Whole on Thursday, May 19, 2005, at the System Administration Building,
Seminar Room A, Second Floor, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Michael P. Williams, D.Min., Chairman
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Vice Chairman
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin, Deputy Secretary
Jay K. Aiyer
Abel Davila
Herman Litt
James R. Murphy
Christopher W. Oliver
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Irene Porcarello, Interim Vice Chancellor, Institutional Development
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Sue Cox, President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Rosie Barrera, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Willie Williams, Interim Director, Human Resources
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Mike Edwards, President, Faculty Association
Jose De La Isla, Citizens, Public Citizenss Committee
Other administrators, citizenss and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Williams called the meeting to order at 4:13 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.
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – May 19, 2005 – Page 2
Dr. Williams informed that the following items are being pulled from the Agenda:
D.
Facilities
1.
Approve Master Plan for 2004 CIP Projects – Missouri City
Campus (Administration needs to complete additional
information for the report)
E.
Finance
13. Approve Maintenance Engineering Services Project No. 0515 (Items recently come to Administration’s attention that will
affect the presentation to the Board)
ACADEMIC/STUDENT SERVICES
Mr. Austin called the Academic/Student Services Committee to order at 4:16 p.m.
MOU WITH MONTERREY TEC
Mrs. Olmos Guzman reiterated that the MOU with El Instituto de Estudios Superiores de
Monterrey is in relation to the partnership with Houston Community College and El Tec
de Monterrey. A team of officials and staff visited Monterrey, Mexico in March 2005 for
the participation of an educational conference, “Alliance of International Education”.
HCC had two booths at the conference in an effort to recruit students.
Mr. Villarreal also presented a synopsis of the meeting with El Tec and elaborated on
the MOUs recommended for approval with El Instituto de Estudios Superiores de
Monterrey for the exchange programs. Mr. Villarreal informed that the purpose of the
program is to benefit students from HCC to have access to resources available through
Monterrey Tec. There has been good reception of the project from businesses in the
Houston community as well as El Tec de Monterrey. The MOU is an umbrella that will
capture six different exchange programs, two of which are ready for implementation.
Recommendation: Authorize the Chancellor to sign Memorandum of Understandings
with El Tec to proceed with negotiation of six exchange program agreements.
Motioned: Mr. Aiyer motioned to approve the MOU with El Instituto de Estudios
Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM, El Tec). Motion was seconded by Mr. Murphy.
Motion passed 8-0.
Trustee Davila requested to see the numbers based on what is being done in Houston
in regards to the Hispanic population locally. The exchange program is a great
opportunity, but he would also like to see how the exchange programs will connect with
closing the gap for minority and students who have not had the opportunity to be
enriched in higher education.
Public Citizens Report on Recruitment and Retention
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – May 19, 2005 – Page 3
Mr. Davila, Chair of the Public Citizens Committee, provided an overview of the Public
Citizens Committee that was implemented by Mr. Litt (Chairman of the Board for 2004)
to provide recommendations as possible solutions for building relationships that would
satisfy the community and ensure that HCC is providing the best services to its students
and generate positive public relation within the community. Mr. Davila noted that the
Committee has been meeting on a monthly basis and consists of community leaders.
Ms. Irene Porcarello, Interim Vice Chancellor of Institutional Development presented Mr.
Jose De La Isla. Mr. De La Isla headed the Public Citizens Committee and has been
responsible for coordinating the Committee. Mr. De La Isla stated that the Committee is
comprised of prominent public citizens and that the first task of the Committee was to
devise a technical report in order to provide baseline data to begin discussion as well as
convening the group. Mr. De La Isla presented an overview of the Committee structure
and the results from the Committee collaboration. The Committee was charged by the
Board to recommend a course of action to (1) accelerate recruitment and retention, (2)
identify what inhibits good practices, and (3) how to identify “best practices”.
The Committee members included: Ed C. Apodaca, Richard Cantu, Gig Chan, Elda
Cisneros, Ovid Duncantell, Sal Esparza, Felix Fraga, Lupe Fraga, D.V. “Sonny” Flores,
Jewell McGowen, Joe Rubio, Rev. Tomas spath, Ron Stone, Cheryl Swensen, Brian
Stevens, Joe Zepeda, and Robert Vlasis.
The Committee collected data to review what the State mandate was as it relates to
community colleges.
The Committee members held discussions, compared
observations, conducted independent inquiries, and established a set of
recommendations.
The Committee encouraged HCCS to commit, compete, and win the Malcolm Baldrige
Quality Performance Award for community colleges. The outreach to the community
and neighborhoods should incorporate the following: (1) initiate neighborhood level
activities (2) initiate a public service campaign to educate the public about community
colleges (3) strategy conferences to form new community networks, apply distant
education, and (4) provide small grants to encourage innovation and new methods in a
non-traditional drill-down approach outreach.
(Mr. Oliver arrived at 4:37 p.m.)
Dr. Leslie noted that the College has been discussing the Baldrige Quality Performance
Award and appreciate the recommendation from the Committee.
Mr. Aiyer recommended conducting a survey in a more scientific format to make a
determination what the community knows and does not know about HCC.
He
recommends conducting a survey prior to implementing some of the recommendations
from the Public Citizens Committee.
Mr. Litt suggests that ways be identified to implement recommendations.
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – May 19, 2005 – Page 4
(Mr. Aiyer left at 4:58 p.m.)
Mr. Murphy recommended that the Public Citizens Committee develop more specific
recommendations, whether it means allocating dollars resources, outreach resources,
etc. by the next Board meeting.
The Committee should provide definitions of their
objectives…what are their wants, the budget, and policy issues.
Mrs. Olmos Guzman noted that each campus has a community outreach person who
could be working on the issues. The community outreach person needs to show, in
particularly the Hispanic community, a hands-on process as to how to utilize HCC
System.
Mrs. Flores noted that the recruitment is taking place but the problem is the retention.
Mr. Litt requested the Committee provide specific recommendations of what needs to
take place next and would like to see the group consist of persons such as Ron Stone
involved in the future.
Motioned – Mrs. Olmos Guzman motioned to accept the report from the Public Citizens
Committee. Motion was seconded by Mr. Litt. Motion passed: 8-0.
Motioned – Mr. Oliver motioned, if the life of the Committee is going to be extended, the
Committee should be reflective of the HCC community by expanding the ethnic
diversity.
Motioned – Mr. Murphy moved to charge the Committee Chair and the Public Citizens
Committee to provide an Action Agenda of what actions need to take place next in bullet
format to be presented to the Board. Motion was seconded by Mr. Davila. Motion
passed: 8-0.
Mr. Oliver’s motion was withdrawn.
ADJOURNMENT
The Academic/Student Affairs Committee was adjourned at 5:16 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION
Chairman Williams adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:16 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 a
subsequent Public Meeting. He reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 6:40 p.m.
and entertained motions on pending matters.
Present were Trustees Williams, Austin, Flores, Litt, Murphy, and Olmos Guzman.
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – May 19, 2005 – Page 5
BOARD OPERATIONS
Motioned – Mrs. Olmos Guzman motioned that the Committee Structure Report move to
the Consent Agenda. Motion was seconded by Mr. Litt. Motion passed: 6-0.
Mrs. Flores noted she had additional items she wanted to discuss. Mr. Murphy and Dr.
Williams also wanted to forward comments as well. The Board was asked to send their
comments to Mrs. Olmos Guzman and copy Jarvis Hollingsworth (System Counsel) and
Dr. Williams.
FINANCE
Recommendation – Approval of resolutions providing for additional penalty on
delinquent taxes – Section 33.07 of Texas Property Tax Code; resolutions providing for
additional penalty on delinquent taxes – Section 33.08 of Texas Property Tax Code; and
to authorization of waiver of penalty and interest based on Section 33.011 of the state
property tax code.
Motioned – Mr. Litt moved to approve:
Resolution providing for the imposition of an additional penalty on delinquent
taxes Section 33.07 of the Texas Property Tax Code
Resolution providing for the imposition of an additional penalty on delinquent
taxes Section 33.08 of the Texas Property Tax Code
Authorization of waiver of penalty and interest based on Section 33.011 of the
State Property Tax Code
The motion was seconded by Mrs. Flores. Motion passed: 6-0.
APPROVE VENDOR TO PURCHASE FURNITURE FOR HCCS/HISD EARLY
CHALLENGE COLLEGE
Recommendation – Authorize the Chancellor to approve a contract with Computer
Comforts, Inc. and added to HCC vendor list, to provide furniture for HCCS/HISD Early
Challenge College located at Southwest College West Loop Campus.
Motioned – Mr. Murphy motioned to approve vendor to purchase furniture for
HCCS/HISD Early Challenge College. Motion was seconded by Mr. Litt. Motion
passed: 6-0.
The Board questioned why a vendor who is not on the State list is being used to
purchase the furniture? Mrs. Gloria Walker informed that this vendor is the only one who
builds this particular piece of furniture.
PURCHASE OF DRENNAN PROPERTY
Motioned – Mr. Murphy motioned to give Chancellor and Administration the authority to
negotiate the purchase of the Drennan property from the City of the Houston subject to
Houston Community College System
Committee of the Whole – May 19, 2005 – Page 6
final approval by the Board according to the terms approved by the Board in Closed
Executive Session. Motion was seconded by Mr. Litt. Motion passed: 6-0.
COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY PLAN
Motioned – Mr. Austin motioned to approve the Comprehensive Safety Plan subject to
the inclusion of the disaster recovery plan. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Guzman.
Administration will need additional time to include the Disaster Recovery Plan;
therefore, the item will be pulled from the agenda and brought back at a later date.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Sharon Wright, Board Services
Reviewed and Submitted by:
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Board of Trustees
Minutes Approved as Submitted: