MEETING OF THE LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
ON VALUES/ETHICS
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
July 25, 2005
Minutes
The Legal/Legislative Committee on Values/Ethics of the Board of Trustees of the Houston
Community College System held a Meeting on Monday, July 25, 2005, at the System
Administration Building, Chancellor’s Conference Room, 12th Floor, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Bruce Leslie
Iona Cha
Linda Comte
Winston Dahse
GiGi Do
Mike Edwards
Butch Herod
MEMBERS ABSENT
Jay K. Aiyer, Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman
Michael P. Williams, D.Min.
Crystal Bonner
Abe J. Bryant
Reynaldo Garay
Grace Koo
Michael Kyme
Joanne Lin
J. C. Reina
Connie Stone
Susan Goll
Ana Hnat
Thomas Urban
Jyoti Wagle
OTHERS PRESENT
Cindy Vanover, Project Director of Spiritual and Values Integration, the Methodist Hospital
Debbie Sharp Manager Employee. & Organizational Development
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
CALL TO ORDER
Dr. Leslie called the meeting to order at 1:15 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.
PRESENTATION ON CULTURE TRANSFORMATIONAL TOOL AND
METHODIST HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE
Debbie Sharp introduced Cindy Vanover who gave a presentation on The Methodist Hospital’s
experience using the CTT corporate culture assessment tool to align personal and organizational
values. The hospital board wanted to measure whether the hospital was actually integrating its
mission statement into the corporate culture. In 2001, TMH began a values assessment process,
which identified five basic values using the acronym ICARE (integrity, compassion,
accountability, respect and excellence). At this point, they began using the CTT values survey to
Houston Community College System
Legal/Legislative Committee on Values/Ethics – July 25, 2005 – Page 2
measure the organizational culture and determine whether it adhered to the values statement. The
survey pointed out gaps between personal, current and desired cultural values. Training programs
were implemented for all staff to further integrate the core values throughout the system. In 2003,
another survey was conducted focusing on smaller work groups. Using the Workgroup
Community Process (WCP) department leaders and staff were engaged to define specific
behaviors in their daily operations. Values were linked to performance evaluations by assessing
whether staff demonstrated the values they committed to in the WCP process. Violators were
counseled using management improvement techniques and appropriate Human Resource
processes.
Hospital employees are now able to articulate the values and their importance. In summary, the
process included creating values, marketing them and holding people accountable. TMH now
conducts the survey on an annual basis, drilling deeper into the institutional structure with each
survey. The benefits of the process include improved worker and patient health and safety,
happier staff, fewer errors, cost savings and greater efficiency.
DISCUSSION OF NEXT STEPS
Debbie Sharp asked the committee to consider endorsing the CTT product, approving funding and
customizing words. Subsequent steps in the process would include the following:
1. The Values/Ethics Committee, Chancellor’s Executive Team and the Transformation Team
would review and analyze survey results.
2. Use data to pick 3-5 core values for a System-wide dialogue.
3. At October All-College Conference do an appreciative inquiry to define behaviors.
4. Align System practices to values/behavior statements
5. Reassessment in 18 months – looking at the departmental level.
There was consensus for Dr. Leslie to make a recommendation to the Board to begin the process at
the macro level and make it a continuous process to determine values for System as a whole,
drilling down to determine how to bring about alignment at all levels.
Dr. Leslie asked if the committee thought we should review other tools. Ms. Vanover noted there
are other tools available, but she preferred the CTT product for ease of translation. There was
consensus to use the CTT assessment survey, however, Connie Stone and Debbie Sharp will
investigate other survey tools. Ms. Sharp distributed a pricing list for CTT. The cost will depend
upon the number of cuts to be made. Possible cuts included the six colleges and System, EEO
categories, gender and ethnicity. The vendor can be contacted at phil@valuecentre.com.
Linda Comte and J. C. Reina will work with Connie and Debbie in contacting vendors and other
colleges regarding outcomes, number of cuts, and costs.
NEXT MEETING
Dr. Leslie will contact the Trustees for their availability in order to schedule another meeting
within the next two weeks.
Houston Community College System
Legal/Legislative Committee on Values/Ethics – July 25, 2005 – Page 3
REPORT FROM SUBCOMMITTEE ON ETHICS PRINCIPLES
J. C. Reina presented a report from the Subcommittee on Ethics Principles. Their research of
several institutions of higher education, including HCC, did not present a clear list of principles.
The report recommended identifying broad principles and conducting a survey that would allow
community input on values. The report concluded with a list of proposed ethical principal and
values.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Minutes Prepared by:
Linda Gray, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
August 25, 2005