REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
February 23, 2006
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, February 23, 2006 at the System Administration Building, Second Floor Auditorium,
3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Jay K. Aiyer, Chairman
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin, Deputy Secretary
Abel Davila
James R. Murphy
Christopher W. Oliver
Richard Schechter
Dr. Michael P. Williams
ADMINISTRATION
Bruce H. Leslie, Chancellor
Doretha Eason, Deputy to the Chancellor
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Educational Development
Irene Porcarello, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Jose Villarreal, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Winston Dahse, Interim President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Marsal Stoll, President, Coleman College
Patti Carlton, Interim Executive Director, HCC Foundation
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Carole Keeney, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
William Mack, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities and Construction
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
Mike Kyme, Executive Director, Purchasing
Becky Giot, Executive Director, Financial/Budgetary Control
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
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Regular Meeting – February 23, 2006 – Page 2
OTHERS PRESENT
Philip Fraissinet, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
David Wilcox, President, Faculty Association
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Jay Aiyer, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 4:26 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.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Oliver led the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Schechter apprised of a correction to Regular Board meeting Minutes of January 26, 2006.
The minutes list Trustee Litt as being present; however, it should list Trustee Schechter.
Motion – Mr. Davila moved approval of the Approval of Minutes from the Academic/Student
Success Committee meeting of January 11, 2006, Technology Committee meeting of January 11,
2006, Board Governance and Operations Committee meeting of January 19, 2006, Committee of
the Whole meeting of January 19, 2006, Special meeting of January 26, 2006, and Regular
meeting of January 26, 2006 with the correction to the January 26, 2006 Minutes. Mrs. Flores
seconded the motion. Motion carried 8-0 (Dr. Williams had not arrived).
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Mr. Aiyer gave preface to the Hearing of Citizens and asked if there were any registered
speakers to come forward. There were no citizens to come before the Board.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
• Trustee Flores recognized visitors in the audience who are members of Cohort Eleven
which is a doctoral group attending Sam Houston State University Educational
Leadership Program. Mrs. Flores welcomed Bill Dreese, Cynthia Griffith, Greg
Broadhust, Jimmy Adams, Anita Wright, and Andre Perez.
•
Mr. Aiyer acknowledged the presence of Honorable Peter H. Brown, newly elected City
Council Member At-Large Position One with City of Houston. Patti Carlton introduced
Councilmember Brown who is Trustee of the Robert and Lucile Joy Trust.
Councilmember Brown stated that in his opinion HCC is the bedrock institution in the
City of Houston and made a presentation to the HCC Foundation from the Robert and
Lucile Joy Charitable Trustee. It was the wishes of Lucile Joy who was a student of
creative writing at HCC Westside Campus. Councilmember Brown presented a check
for 14,521.05 to the HCC Foundation.
The meeting recessed at 4:35 p.m. and reconvened at 4:59 p.m. (All the Trustees were
present).
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Regular Meeting – February 23, 2006 – Page 3
• Dr. Leslie acknowledged that the Houston West Chamber honored HCC with the Pillar
Award at the 2006 Star Awards Program. The Pillar Award is very prestigious and is not
presented every year and there is not an application process for award. The judges
recognize the winners for their outstanding spirit in the community, accomplishments,
and exemplary performance. This is the highest honor the Chamber can bestow on an
entity. The Chamber expressed appreciation to Dr. Zachary Hodges, President of the
HCC Northwest Campus and HCC for effort in promoting West Houston.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
• Mr. Aiyer reminded the Board of the guidelines for awarding HCC Honorary degrees and
reiterated that nominees should be submitted within the next two weeks to be considered
at the next Board meeting.
• Mr. Aiyer announced that the Board Retreat is scheduled for Friday, March 10, 2006 and
Saturday, March 11, 2006 at Codwell Hall, Northeast College. Dr. Williams requested
that the focus for the retreat should be enrollment and recruitment/retention.
• Mr. Aiyer reminded the Trustees of the upcoming transition to Electronic Board Meeting
(EBM) and requested that Trustees contact the Board Services Staff to schedule EBM
Training
• Mr. Aiyer asked that each of the Board Committee Chairs work with the corresponding
Administrative person on policy issues.
Trustee Murphy left at 5:05 p.m.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
•
Dr. Leslie announced the Black History Gala Celebration scheduled for Saturday,
February 23, 2006 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in recognition and celebration of Black
History month. Dr. Williams provided insight on the gala and recognized Trustees
Austin and Oliver who are Co-Chairs.
•
John Gilmore announced the kickoff of the March of Dimes and yielded to this year’s
Chair, John Guess. Mr. Guess recognized the college teams and stated that the Challenge
Cup goes to the College who raises the most funds for the March of Dimes campaign. He
noted that Central Campus has won the Challenge Cup the last two years. If Central
Campus wins the cup this year it will be placed at the Campus permanently and a new
cup will be purchased. The Challenge from the March of Dimes was issued to get a $1
dollar contribution from each student, faculty, and administration for this year’s
contribution.
•
Alex Warren introduced Larry Payne with Habitat for Humanity. HCC has been working
with Habitat for Humanity for three years and there is a campus chapter at HCC. He
noted that the campus chapter has been involved in number of projects. Mr. Payne
provided an overview of Habitat for Humanity. It was announced that sixty-five homes
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are being built in-house with assistance from Oprah Winfrey. One of the houses was
dedicated on Saturday and aired on the Oprah Winfrey Show was built by HCC students.
He announced that Habitat wants to expand its relationship with HCC.
•
David Wilcox, President of the Faculty Senate provided progress report.
•
Financial Report - Gloria Walker presented the financial report for the month ending
January 31, 2006 and responded to questions from the Board. Mr. Aiyer requested that
Administration provide data on changes with Faculty and Staff over last five years. Mr.
Austin expressed concern that questions are data driven and asked if there is an entity in
the college with updated data such as, what people are experiencing in urban
communities. He apprised that the Administration may want to review the State of Texas
Comptroller’s information as a benchmark. Dr. Leslie informed that the requested data
will be presented at the retreat and will be presented on an on-going basis.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Dr. Williams moved approval of the Consent Agenda, with the exception of item B.1Approve Implementation of an Owner Controlled Insurance Program which was pulled for
further discussion. Mr. Davila seconded the motion. Motion carried 8-0.
The following items were approved:
1.
Authorize Administration to Proceed with Engaging General Contractors for 2004
CIP on six of the 2004 CIP projects – Central: Learning Hub, Northeast: Learning
Hub, Northeast: Science and Technology, Southwest: West Loop Southwest:
Stafford, and Southwest: Missouri City
2.
Approve Development and Installation of an Academic and Events Scheduling
Software Application
3.
Approve Resolution for Lease Transactions with HCC Public Facilities Corporation
for Hayes Rd (Alief) Property
4. Approve Emergency Medical Training Products – Project No. 06-09
APPROVE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OWNER CONTROLLED INSURANCE
PROGRAM
Recommendation - Approve the implementation of an Owner Control Insurance Program (OCIP)
for the 2004 CIP, and procure such services through the Request for Qualifications and Request
for Proposals processes.
The Board has considered the public purpose of the OCIP and finds that the District has the
potential of saving money on construction costs, has greater assurance of maintaining safety on
its property, and will have the greater control over the risk related to the construction projects.
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Motion – Dr. Williams motioned to approve the Implementation of an Owner Controlled
Insurance Program. Mr. Davila seconded the motion.
The Board discussed OCIP and posed questions to administration.
Mr. Schechter stated that he was not in opposition to an OCIP; however, he would like for the
parameters to be defined prior to the RFQ.
Ms. Walker apprise that the bid is a two phase process (1) send out an RFQ to engage the
Administer and (2) once the Board approves the Administer, then the OCIP will be setup and
RFP will go out for the insurance carrier.
The motion failed with a vote 4-4 (In Favor: Trustees Aiyer, Austin, Oliver and Dr. Williams;
Opposing: Davila, Flores, Guzman, and Schechter).
Mr. Aiyer recommended that the Administration provide the Board with the additional
information on the OCIP addressing the Trustees concerns.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved that the Topics for Discussion and/or Action be treated as a
Consent Agenda and move for approval except for C.1 – Report on State and Federal Legislative
Agenda. Mr. Davila seconded the motion. The motion carried with a vote 8-0.
The following items were approved:
1. Approve Appointment of Board Member and Chancellor to Police Advisory Committee
(PAC)
2. Approve Naming Rights Opportunities and Consider Recommendations for Pricing
Structure
3. Approve Payment to Bracewell & Giuliani for Professional Services
4. Approve Investment Report for the Month of January 2006
REPORT ON STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Remmele Young, Executive Director of Government Relations provided a report on the State
and Federal Legislative agendas. Mr. Young commented on the travel to Washington and
addressed the question presented by Trustee Schechter regarding low income grants. The
question was whether December 2005 Federal Deficit Reduction Bill House (Bill 609 and
companion bill Senate Bill 1932) which contains grant money for low income students is limited
to freshmen and sophomore students pursuing degrees in engineering and math. Mr. Young
noted that it is not limited to those students; however, the grant is predominantly limited to those
students. The grant will come under the academic competitive and smart grants under the
Department of Education.
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Mr. Young apprised the Board that he attended meetings this month in Washington DC with the
Federal Consultants, Trustee Oliver, and Dr. Leslie. Mr. Oliver interjected that he participated in
the meeting and commended Mr. Young and the Chancellor for their work on the Hill. He stated
they were efficient and prepared for the meeting. He was pleased with the reception that was
received.
Mr. Young apprised the Board that there are several committee chair reassignment on the State
level by the Governor which are included in the report updates presented.
PERSONNEL AGENDA APPROVED AS SUBMITTED
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved approval of the Personnel Agenda. Mr. Davila seconded the
motion, which carried 8-0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
DINNER
Following adjournment, the Board of Trustees met for dinner in the Chancellor’s Conference
Room on the 12th floor, where they may discuss System business but will not take action on
such business.
Minutes Recorded, Transcribed & Submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: March 29, 2006