MEETING OF THE ACADEMIC & STUDENT SUCCESS COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
January 11, 2006
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Meeting of the
Academic & Student Success Committee on Wednesday, January 11, 2006, at the System
Administration Building, Seminar Room A, Second Floor, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Bruce A. Austin, Chair
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Diane Olmos Guzman, Alternate
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Herman Litt
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce Leslie, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Deputy to the Chancellor
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Irene Porcarello, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance & Administration
Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Linda Gibbs, Director of Institutional Research
Remmele Young, Director of Government Relations
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
David Wilcox, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Austin called the meeting to order at 12:43 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.
MOU WITH PEARLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Recommendation: Approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HCC and the
Pearland Economic Development Corporation, committing the parties to engage in conversation
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Academic & Student Success Committee – January 11, 2006 – Page 2
about potential partnership opportunities for workforce training in biotechnology and/or
nanotechnology.
Motion – Mrs. Navarro Flores made a motion to recommend approval to the full Board. Mr.
Austin seconded the motion.
Dr. Leslie explained that the Pearland Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) is
developing land for a research park near the HCC Willie Lee Gay Hall. The MOU would
authorize HCC and the PEDC to explore partnership opportunities for a training facility for
technicians in the fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology. Any agreements involving a
commitment of HCC resources would require Board approval. He added that although Northeast
College has the biotechnology program, other colleges could participate in a cluster model. Mr.
Austin requested a report on the Texas Biotechnology and Life Sciences Industry Cluster from
the Texas Workforce Commission.
Motion carried 2-0. Ms. Olmos Guzman had not arrived.
MOU BETWEEN HCC AND AAMA/GEORGE I. SANCHEZ
CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
Recommendation: Approve an MOU between HCC and the Association for the Advancement of
Mexican-Americans (AAMA) and its George I. Sanchez Charter High School (GIS) for
partnership operation of an Early College High School (ECHS).
Dr. Cook stated that AAMA received a grant from La Raza to create an early college high school
at the Sanchez Charter School. Unlike other early high school models, the ECHS would be
housed at the high school, with HCC offering college-level courses. He pointed out that Sanchez
is an open enrollment charter high school. Last year the Texas Legislature extended dual credit
opportunities to charter high schools, but failed to define the different types of charter schools.
HCCS’ legal counsel advised that the Sanchez Charter High School could be considered a school
district. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will seek to clarify the language in the next
legislative session.
(Trustee Olmos Guzman arrived at 12:55 p.m.)
Mr. Hollingsworth advised adding a proviso that the agreement would be effective subject to the
charter school receiving the required TEA approval. Mr. Austin recommended adding an
attesting signature by the TEA.
Motion - Mrs. Navarro Flores moved to recommend approval to the full Board, subject to the
above-mentioned provisos. Ms. Olmos Guzman seconded the motion, which carried
3-0.
ENROLLMENT REPORT
Mr. Austin emphasized his desire to focus on strategies to enhance recruitment and retention. He
expressed particular concern over proprietary schools and alternative degree programs that are
capturing the market share of students. Dr. Leslie reported an improvement in retention rates and
growth in numbers of Hispanic and African American students, although Anglo enrollment has
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Academic & Student Success Committee – January 11, 2006 – Page 3
declined. He reported growth in Dual Credit and Distance Education enrollment, which has
offset a decline in other areas.
Margaret Drain, Research Associate, reviewed the participation rate of the service area, which is
the number of adults 18 and over in the service area who are enrolled in higher education. The
Coordinating Board increased the goal from 5.0 to 5.7% to achieve the desired results of the
Closing the Gaps initiative. HCC has a 3.1 participation rate within the total service area and
3.3% within the tax district. According to Ms. Drain, a 1% increase in the participation rate
would result in a 35% increase in enrollment, which translates into approximately 18,000
students and $6 million in additional revenue. Dr. Leslie stated there are capacity issues that
must be addressed. He mentioned the College Connections project, in which high school seniors
will be admitted by spring, so that a large number can attend HCC next year. The Trustees
suggested that creative scheduling could help alleviate the space problem.
Ms. Drain pointed out that participation rates declined in the Northwest College service area
during 2000-2005. Contributing factors include competition with North Harris Montgomery
Community College District, capacity issues, the construction on I-10, and out-of-district fees.
Participation rates for Northeast and Southeast Colleges increased, indicating that enhanced
recruitment efforts have been successful. Spring 2006 enrollment is up 7.5% over last year in
credit hours, 3.9% overall, and 17.28% for Distance Education.
Based on mid-term data marks, Ms. Drain anticipated enrollment would be down approximately
5.2% overall and 4.3% for credit hour. Seat count vs. head count data indicated that Central
College students are taking fewer credit courses, while Southeast College has experienced an
upward trend. Mr. Austin recommended using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
technology to view and analyze data from a geographic perspective. In a comparison of peer
college enrollment Alvin was up 4.6% and Wharton down 4.3% as of the official date for fall,
comparing 2004 and 2005. She pointed out that higher enrollment figures for San Jacinto and
North Harris were somewhat misleading since they report as separate colleges instead of one
system.
Calculations for Fall 2001-2003 indicated that dual credit made up 3.9% of credit enrollment. In
fall 2004 it rose to 5.9%, and 6.3% in 2005. This amounts to a 66% increase over a five-year
period. Dual credit enrollment for African American increased 220% and 128% for Hispanics,
due to aggressive recruitment efforts by HCC and HISD.
A review of enrollment by gender and age group reflected a decrease in enrollment of students
over 22 years of age and a significant downward trend of male students in the 31 - 50 age
bracket. System wide trends pointed to an increase in students under age 18, due to heightened
emphasis on dual credit enrollment.
HCC rose from #3 to #1 in the nation in international student enrollment. A slight downward
trend was seen in contact hours between Fall 2003 and Fall 2004, which Ms. Drain attributed to
the economy and recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami.
Biology and chemistry were the top performing programs by size and number in contact hour
programs, and Associate Degree Nursing in workforce programs. The retention success rate for
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Academic & Student Success Committee – January 11, 2006 – Page 4
Fall-to-Fall 2004-2005 was 43.5% and 67% for fall to Spring 2004-2005. The goal is 80% and
55% respectively. Dr. Leslie stated that this measures favorably against national norms.
Mr. Austin asked administration to provide a copy of the report in color to the Trustees. He also
asked for information on population demands for workforce readiness. At his direction, the
enrollment report will be presented to the Committee of the Whole on January 19 in a tightened
format using graphical data. Administration will report on strategies to increase recruitment and
retention.
HCC CLUSTER PROGRAM
The presentation was moved to the January 19 meeting of the Committee of the Whole.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:51 p.m.
Recorded and Submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative
Assistant, Board Services
Transcribed by:
Linda Gray, Records Officer
Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted:
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