MEETING OF THE ACADEMIC & STUDENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
October 13, 2005
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Meeting of the
Academic & Student Services Committee on Thursday, October 13, 2005, at the System
Administration Building, Seminar Room A, Second Floor, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Bruce A. Austin, Chair
Michael P. Williams, Ex-Officio
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Herman Litt
Yolanda Navarro Flores
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Diane Olmos Guzman
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Deputy to the Chancellor
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance & Administration
William Harmon, President, Central College
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Dwight Boykins, Federal Government Relations Consultant, Boykins & Schneider
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Austin called the meeting to order at 1:16 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.
Institute for Civic Engagement
Dr. Cook discussed materials provided by Trustee Austin on the Center for Civic
Engagement (CCE). Under this initiative students engage in mentoring and community
Houston Community College System
Academic & Student Services Committee – October 13, 2005 – Page 2
involvement, faculty live and volunteer in the community and community members are
active in various aspects of the college such as attending theater and music performances,
planning workshops, policy forums, athletic events, athletic events, the art museum and
more.
Mr. Austin recommended continuing the Speaker Series begun two years ago. This year
Harvard sociologist Robert Putnam has accepted an invitation to speak on his theory of
cultivating social capital and civic engagement. HCC will host Dr. Putnam in partnership
with the Greater Houston Partnership, Annenberg A+ Challenge, Rice University and the
Harris County Department of Education. On December 1, Dr. Putnam will speak at a
luncheon followed by a meeting with community-based organization leaders. The following
day he will meet with twenty civic leaders to discuss strategies to implement his theories in
Houston. Dr. Williams suggested that the American Leadership Forum might want to
become a partner in this initiative.
Mr. Austin noted that the CCE was piloted at Northeast College and recommended that the
other colleges develop similar programs. He explained that social capital develops the
concept of reciprocity and respect of others. Mr. Austin also recommended maintaining a
list of key leaders attending the event in order to keep the momentum of this initiative
building.
Due to the lack of a quorum by Committee members, the action item will be revisited at the
Committee meeting scheduled for October 20, 2005.
Partnership with Tecnologico de Monterrey (TEC)
Recommendation: Approve the expansion of the partnership between HCC and TEC that
will provide for the exchange of faculty, students and instructional programs.
The HCC Board approved a MOU with TEC on May 12, 2005. In Phase 1 we implemented
online continuing education, courses in Spanish from TEC for HCC students and continuing
education courses taught in Houston by TEC professors. Mr. Villarreal announced that we
are ready to launch Phase 2, which will include six additional programs including distance
education, student and faculty exchange programs, incubator partnership, and an Enhanced
Skills Certificate in International Business. Dr. Cook discussed the possibility of
submitting these courses for state funding under certain statutes in the Texas Education
Code. The future direction of the International Program was briefly discussed.
Due to the lack of a quorum by Committee members, the action item will be revisited at the
Committee meeting scheduled for October 20, 2005.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:32 p.m.
Minutes Recorded & Submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative
Assistant, Board Services
Houston Community College System
Academic & Student Services Committee – October 13, 2005 – Page 3
Minutes Transcribed by:
Linda Gray, Records Officer
Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
December 6, 2005