MEETING OF THE
COMMUNICATIONS/COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
August 21, 2008
Minutes
The Communications/Community Outreach Committee of the Board of Trustees of the
Houston Community College System held a meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2008, at
the System Administration Building, 3100 Main, 2nd Floor Seminar Room A, Houston,
Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Diane Olmos Guzman, Committee Chair
Mills Worsham, Committee Member
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Board Chairwoman
Neeta Sane
Bruce Austin
Dr. Michael P. Williams
ADMINISTRATION
Mary S. Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Doretha Eason, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor
Bill Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Daniel Seymour, Interim Vice Chancellor, Planning and Institution Effectiveness
Margaret Ford-Fisher, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southeast College
Irene Porcarello, Interim President, Southeast College
Daniel Arguijo, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Brad Deutser, Consultant, Yaffee|Deutser
Catherine Campbell, Consultant, Yaffee|Deutser
Mary Page, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens, and representatives of the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Guzman called the meeting to order at 2:52 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.
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Communications & Community Outreach Committee – August 21, 2008 - Page 2
REPORT ON TRUSTEE COMMUNITY COUNCIL STRUCTURE AND OUTREACH
ACTIVITIES
Mrs. Guzman mentioned that there are several Trustees with activities engaged in their
communities.
Mrs. Guzman provided a report on the community outreach initiative for District III. She
apprised that the initial meeting for the advisory council was held on July 31, 2008 to
provide an introduction of community councils and they relate to the development of
trustees’ connectivity to their districts. The meeting entailed and introduction of the
Chancellor and an overview of the statics of the district (enrollment, dual credit, and
early college). She noted that the council would serve as a way of new governance and
involvement of the community for input as recommendations to be presented at the
educational summit scheduled for January 2009.
Mrs. Guzman noted that the recommendations emerging from the educational summit
would be presented to the Board for adoption in alignment with the strategic plan. She
noted that the effort is gearing towards a service plan of workforce programs that would
be emerging from the community with the input of industry and community stakeholders.
Mrs. Guzman mentioned that a second council meeting for District III was held on
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and apprised that there
were four committees with chairs developed at the meeting. Mrs. Guzman also noted
that other issues were discussed such as soft skills of graduating students noting that
they enter the workforce without employable skills.
(Dr. Williams arrived at 3:06 p.m.)
Mrs. Guzman noted that the committees consist of transportation, community
development, academics, and governance/policy. She provide an overview of the
committee focus and the makeup.
Mrs. Sane mentioned that the community outreach initiated in District VII consist of
approximately ten individuals that consist of teachers, community leaders, HCC
representatives, council members. She noted that the vision is to assist at-risk students
in area high schools in getting a diploma and possibly enroll in HCC for vocational or
training courses. She noted that the anticipation is to build mutually beneficial
partnership with area schools, businesses, and community organizations. Mrs. Sane
noted that a meeting was held with Thurgood Marshall High School and that
approximately forty students have been identified who may need assistance in the
areas of PSAT, SAT, career goals and Opportunity 14. She apprised that one of the
goals is to link HCC students as role models with the students at Thurgood Marshall.
Mrs. Sane noted that the Women Club of Missouri is interested in participating and
noted that she submitted a proposal to them for funding that will help at risk students in
the area. Mrs. Sane noted that Dr. Eason would assist with her community outreach
initiative. She stated that she want to focus on assisting students in her district who
would otherwise dropout of school.
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Communications & Community Outreach Committee – August 21, 2008 - Page 3
(Mrs. Flores stepped out at 3:15 p.m.)
Mr. Worsham noted he has a unique situation in that he does not have a campus in his
district but noted that he has been involved with the two advisory groups at Katy and
Town & Country campuses that meet on a monthly base. He informed that he would
incorporate with the two groups in his council. He noted that he has two HISD
counterparts and will hold an educational summit with both.
(Mr. Austin arrived at 3:20 p.m.)
He noted that the current focus is to maintain the two groups already meeting and then
form one consolidated group to include community leaders throughout District VI. Mr.
Worsham noted that the group would probably meet on a quarterly base to allow for
input on issues that are important to the area.
Mrs. Guzman commended the efforts and noted that they seem to be best practice
items.
(Mrs. Flores returned at 3:24 p.m.)
REPORT ON TRUSTEE COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMMING WITH SCHEDULES
Mr. Dan Arguijo presented information on the Trustee Communications Tool Box, which
is a recommendation to assist with the Trustees’ communications piece for
consideration. He also provided a master calendar that contained all the possible key
events that the Trustees have traditionally support such as parades, luncheons, awards,
etc. He noted that this would be a supplement.
Mrs. Sane asked if the calendar and the one that Dr. Eason has could be consolidated
into one calendar. Dr. Williams mentioned that Trustee Sane’s is inquiring the
calendars could be merged into one on the Trustee website.
Dr. Spangler noted that a monthly calendar is sent each month with the Board letter
regarding the campus activity.
Dr. Eason asked that if the Trustee decides to attend an activity that the Trustee would
notify Board Services to make certain that the trustees are accommodated as needed in
attending the activity.
Mrs. Guzman asked if there is a template that could be used to notify the Trustees of
events that they have confirmed to attend. Dr. Eason apprised that Board Services
could work on a method that would provide a notification to the Trustees.
Dr. Williams asked if there is staff available to assist with the newsletter or submission
to community papers. He noted that he does not have the time to develop information
regarding the college. Mr. Arguijo informed that most of the local papers provide space
because of the media buys. Dr. Williams noted that he is looking for something that
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Communications & Community Outreach Committee – August 21, 2008 - Page 4
may be on a rotating bases where the article maybe prepared by the college that could
possibly be used for all Trustees.
Mrs. Guzman expressed appreciation for the information presented.
Motion - Mr. Worsham motioned to move items D, E, and F to the agenda for the
Committee of the Whole as a report from the Communications/Community Outreach
Committee.
Mr. Hollingsworth recommended that the committee could recess as oppose to
adjourning.
Motion Withdrawn – Mr. Worsham withdrew his motion and Mrs. Sane seconded the
motion.
Mrs. Guzman recessed the committee meeting at 3:27 p.m.
Mrs. Guzman reconvened the meeting at 5:21 p.m.
The committee table discussion of the remaining items:
•
Communications Budget Regarding Media Buys, Specialty Items, and Other
Programming for General and Special Projects
•
Communications Protocol
•
Bridging Reporting about Annexation Communications with the Communications
Committee
•
Electronic Board Meeting Update
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m.
Recorded by:
Sharon R. Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved: