BOARD SEARCH COMMITTEE MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
October 9, 2006
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Board Search Committee on
Monday, October 9, 2006 at the System Administration Building, Second Floor Seminar Room A,
3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Bruce A. Austin, Committee Chair
Abel Davila, Committee Member
James R. Murphy, Committee Member
ADMINISTRATION
Norm Nielsen, Interim Chancellor
Miles LeBlanc, General Counsel
Gloria Walker, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Mike Kyme, Executive Director, Procurement
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, Bracewell & Giuliani, System Counsel
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Bruce Austin, Committee Chair called the meeting to order at 1:08 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.
A.
DISCUSS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE PERMANENT
CHANCELLOR SEARCH INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO JOB DESCRIPTION,
PROFILE, SEARCH PROCESS, AND TIMELINES; AND ANY OTHER RELATED
AUTHORIZATIONS NECESSARY FOR FURTHER ACTION
Mr. Austin asked the Committee to review the information presented which included job description,
timelines, search process, and profile.
Job Description:
Mr. Austin informed the Committee that the new job description includes the language that a
doctorate is preferred. Mr. Willie Williams informed the Committee that the current Chancellor’s job
description requires a master’s degree.
Houston Community College System
Board Search Committee Meeting – October 9, 2006 – Page 2
The Committee recommended that the job description for the Chancellor should be revised to include
the language that a doctorate degree is highly preferred. The Committee also noted that the salary
range should not be included in any of the publications.
Timeline:
Mr. Murphy recommended that the Board is informed of the interview schedule in advance for
December to give sufficient time for schedule adjustments if necessary.
Mr. Austin informed that the Board Search Committee will conduct interviews to select the semifinalist and noted that the Board would determine the final two candidates. Mr. Austin apprised that
timeline presented have the interviews by the Board Search Committee scheduled to be conducted
December 4 – 6, 2006 and the timeline targeted to have narrowed the selection to the two finalists is
December 6, 2006.
Mr. Murphy recommended scheduling the community forum and home institution visits closer
together. He further apprised that the Blue Ribbon Committee could also meet with the finalists for
lunch as opposed to an evening function.
Dr. Nielsen informed that if the visit to the home institutions is not completed prior to the third week
of December, the campuses may be vacant due to the Christmas holiday. Mr. Murphy recommended
conducting visits to the home institutions the Monday after December 6, 2006. The Committee
concluded that the visit to the home institutions for the finalists would be scheduled for December 12,
2006 and December 13, 2006. The Committee also noted that the visit to the home institutions for the
two finalists should be extended to the entire Board.
Blue Ribbon Committee:
Mr. Austin presented information on the Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee and noted that the role of
the Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee must be determined immediately.
Mr. Austin presented two options of either a twenty-five or a thirty member for the Blue Ribbon
committee. He informed that the purpose of the Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee is to involve the
community from an advisory viewpoint. The Board Search Committee concluded to utilize the
twenty-five member committee.
Mr. Hollingsworth requested clarification as to who would be the fourth person to serve on the Blue
Ribbon Advisory Committee representing the Board. Mr. Murphy suggested that the Board Chair
should be responsible for making the appointment, and he also noted that the Board Search
Committee could serve as ex-officio on the Blue Ribbon Committee since they are already serving as
the search committee.
The Committee discussed the issue of the Board serving on the Blue Ribbon Committee and
concluded that no Board representation would be necessary on the Blue Ribbon Committee since the
Board will have already interviewed the finalists; however, the Committee recommended that the
Board members attend at least one of the two community forums scheduled.
Houston Community College System
Board Search Committee Meeting – October 9, 2006 – Page 3
Mr. Murphy suggested that the Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee is informed of their role as
members on the committee and the charge to the Blue Ribbon Committee should be discussed.
The Board Search Committee noted that the four community-at-large representatives would come as a
recommendation from the Presidents from Coleman, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast Colleges and
noted that Central and Southwest College would not have representation on the Blue Ribbon
Committee since the two community forums would be held at Central and Southwest West Loop
campuses.
The Board recommended that the state legislature representatives should receive a letter informing
them of the selection process and timeline.
The Blue Ribbon Committee for the permanent Chancellor search will consist of 25 representatives as
follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Representative
HCC Students (appointed by Student Government Organization)
HCCS Faculty (appointed by Faculty Senate)
HCCS Administration (appointed by Executive Team)
HCCS Staff (appointed by Administration)
HCCS Foundation Board Member (President or Designee)
Alumni Representation (appointed by Alumni Association)
Asian Chamber of Commerce Representative
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Representative
African American Chamber of Commerce Representative
Greater Houston Partnership Representative
Fort Bend Independent School District (Board President or Designee)
Houston Independent School District (Board President or Designee)
Stafford Municipal School District (Board President or Designee)
Katy Independent School District (Board President or Designee)
Alief Independent School District (Board President or Designee)
North Forest Independent School District (Board President or Designee)
Spring Branch Independent School District (Board President or Designee)
Community-at-Large Representatives
(Appointed by the Presidents of Coleman, NE, NW, and SE Colleges)**
Total Representatives for Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
25
The Community forums will be held at Central College and Southwest College West Loop location.
Profile:
Dr. Nielsen informed that the profile is too lengthy and advised that a brief video presentation is
developed. He stated that he would contact Brad Deutser to discuss the video presentation. Mr.
Austin recommended that a script book is prepared so that everyone is informed and on one accord.
Dr. Nielsen asked the Committee to review the profile and provide any recommended changes.
Dr. Nielsen recommended that Gloria Walker provide the language for the CIP information to be
included in the profile.
Houston Community College System
Board Search Committee Meeting – October 9, 2006 – Page 4
Process:
Mr. Hollingsworth asked if there will be a defined list of questions for the candidates during the
interviews.
Mr. Austin and Dr. Nielsen will meet to discuss the action plan for the task relating to the Chancellor
search.
Mr. Austin noted that this is the only activity that is specifically a Board activity and asked that any
concerns or changes should be channeled through the Board Search Committee.
Motion – Mr. Murphy moved and Mr. Davila seconded that the information discussed should be
revised and presented to the Board at the Special meeting scheduled for October 9, 2006 as
recommendations for approval from the Board Search Committee. The motion carried 3-0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further actions coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 2:19 pm.
Recorded, transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Admin. Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: ___________________________________