REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
March 24, 2008
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular
Meeting on Monday, March 24, 2008 at the System Administration Building, Second
Floor Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Yolanda Navarro Flores, Chairman
Bruce A. Austin, Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Abel Davila
Neeta Sane
Richard M. Schechter
Dr. Michael P. Williams
Mills Worsham
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Charles Hebert for Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor for Instruction
William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Irene Porcarello, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Winston Dahse, Interim President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southeast College
Mike Edwarads for William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Marsal Stoll, President, Coleman College of Health Science
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Dan Seymour, Associate Vice Chancellor, CTCE
Dan Arguijo, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Mike Kyme, Executive Director, Purchasing and Procurement
Kelly Zuniga, Executive Director, HCC Foundation
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Dwight Boykins, Consultant, dBoykins
Hank Coleman, Bond Counsel, Vincent & Elkins
Linda Koffel, President, Faculty Senate Association
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – March 24, 2008 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Flores, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:17 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
Mrs. Guzman led the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from the Academic Affairs/Student Services Committee Meeting of
February 21, 2008, Athletics Committee Meeting of February 21, 2008, Board
Governance Committee Meeting of February 21, 2008, Chancellor’s Evaluation
Committee Meeting of February 21, 2008, Communications/Community Outreach
Committee Meeting of February 21, 2008, Information Technology Committee Meeting
of February 21, 2008, Committee of the Whole Meeting of February 21, 2008, and
Regular Board Meeting of February 28, 2008.
Corrections:
Mrs. Flores noted that there was a correction to the Congressman’s name in the
Regular meeting minutes for February 28, 2008 under the Chairman’s report.
Mrs. Guzman noted a correction to the Communications Committee meeting of
February 21, 2008 page two, last paragraph should read “…to include information about
the districts”.
Motion – Mr. Davila moved approval of the minutes as presented. Mr. Schechter
seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0.
Mrs. Flores announced that due to the number of individuals signed up to speak before
the Board, the agenda would be taken out of order slightly.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mrs. Flores provided the following reports:
•
Dr. Williams will host a luncheon and working dialogue with HISD Trustee
Paula Harris as well as principals, counselors, and various counterparts from
District IV to discuss dual credit, early college, etc. The purpose is to
develop a template that can be used by the trustees. The meeting is
scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., 3100
Main, 2nd Floor Auditorium
•
Trustee Sane announced the Alief Center Open House scheduled for
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 for the Alief Continuing Education Center
located at 13803 Bissonnet.
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – March 24, 2008 – Page 3
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler’s report consists of the following:
•
Enrollment has increased 9.5% between Spring ’07 and Spring ’08
•
HCC will host an exhibition in June 2008 titled “Exit Saigon Enter Little
Saigon” covering three decades of the Viennese American experiences in the
United States
•
HCC has switched to utilizing paper products as efforts from the Clean and
Green Committee
•
The reporting authority of Financial Aid Associates will be moving to the
colleges’ management and will be providing training for additional student
support on the front line. The back office work will remain at 3100 Main.
•
There has been a 100% percent in Texas grant allocations for financial aid
•
Congratulations to Irene Porcarello and Fena Garza who were recipients of
the National Women of Achievement Award presented that the Annual
Conference on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at a luncheon
•
Congratulations to Dr. Michael Edwards, Dean of Career and Technology
Education at Central who has been selected ACE Fellow for 2008-2009
(Dr. Williams arrived at 4:44 p.m.)
•
Acknowledgement to the Board and Dwight Boykins for legislative efforts
•
Acknowledgement to Trustee Sane for efforts in submitting an additional
request for $500,000 for the Stafford Campus in Drafting and Design
Engineering Technology
Trustee Sane expressed appreciation for the Board and administration in support her
efforts to submit the request.
•
Recognition to the 2008 Salzburg Seminar Awardees:
Faculty
Joseph Kent McGaughy – History, Honors, Northwest College
Deanna Teel – Business Administration, Northwest College
Linda Cook – Sociology & Global Studies, Southwest College
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – March 24, 2008 – Page 4
Students
Jacob Neves – Central College
Katherine A. Kennedy – Coleman College of Health Science
Larissa M. Gonzales – Northeast College
Carlton I.W. Johnson – Northwest College
Gonzalo A. Ramos – Southeast College
Richard T. Lonardo – Southwest College
TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
Motion - Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Worsham seconded to treat as consent agenda
with the exception of items A.1, A.2, and D.5. The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
The following items were approved:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Functional Effectiveness and Operations Audit
Community Councils
Andover Security System Upgrade
Payment to Bracewell & Giuliani LLP for Professional Services
Investment Report for the Month of January 2008
Personnel Agenda for March 2008
Memorandum of Understanding between HCC and HISD for Operation of an Early
College High School with Focus on STEM Fields at HCC Northeast College
Motion – Mr. Schechter motioned to approve and Dr. Williams seconded.
Mr. Schechter mentioned that this is a great program and asked Dr. Ford to provide an
overview on the program.
Mrs. Flores expressed appreciation to Trustee Austin and Dr. Ford for the vision with
Northeast College especially the early college.
Vote – Motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
HCC Honorary Degree
Motion – Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Schechter seconded the motion.
Dr. Williams asked when the item would be discussed for approval and what is the set
number of degrees that would be awarded. Dr. Spangler noted that it is a board
discussion item. Mrs. Flores informed that the number of degrees that should be
awarded would be an item to be discussed under the Board Governance Committee.
Mr. Austin informed that the information had been requested from the Trustees several
times. He noted that the submittals were discussed at the Academic Committee
Meeting held on March 20, 2008.
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – March 24, 2008 – Page 5
Dr. Williams noted that the number of degrees should be codified in the policy or
approved at some appropriate time.
Mrs. Flores recommended that the item be codified through the Board Governance
committee.
Vote – The motion passed with vote of 8-0.
Amendment to the Resolution Authorizing Preliminary Official Statement and
Issuance of Junior Lien Revenue and Refunding Bonds
Motion – Mr. Schechter moved and Mr. Davila seconded the motion.
Mr. Schechter asked if there is written notice from bond counsel approving the
recommendation. Dr. Tyler noted that bond counsel was present and asked him to
address the concern.
Mr. Hank Coleman apprised that the financial advisor for HCC suggested that it would
be wise to give Dr. Tyler the discretion to market the next series of revenue bonds as
junior lien bonds, which is how they were authorized on January 24, 2008 or senior lien
bonds. He noted that the credit market was stable in January; however, given that the
fact that the financial market is so chaotic, the financial advisors thought the best option
is to have the maximum flexibility. Mr. Coleman noted that the item would ask the
authority to give Dr. Tyler as the pricing officer, the authority, when it is time to sale the
bond, to determine (along with the financial advisor) which is in the best interest of the
college.
Mr. Schechter asked Mr. Coleman if he approved of the recommendation. Mr. Coleman
expressed that it is a good idea to have the flexibility based on the financial advice of
the experts. Dr. Williams asked if is possible to have the approval from Bond Counsel in
writing.
Mr. Schechter informed that a statement in writing from the Bond Counsel stating
agreement with the recommendation would suffice. Mr. Schechter also asked that the
financial advisors submit a written statement approving the recommendation.
Mr. Schechter stated that he agrees to approve the item as long as documentation is
provided from both Bond Counsel and Financial Advisors stating their approval.
Mr. Davila suggested that prior to submitting an item for approval relating to bonds that
a workshop be held to inform the Board of the recommendation with a checklist.
Amended Motion - Dr. Williams motioned to approve to adopt resolution contingent
upon receipt of letters on letterhead from bond counsel and financial advisors. Mrs.
Guzman seconded. The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
Vote on Main Motion – The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
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Regular Meeting – March 24, 2008 – Page 6
Mrs. Guzman asked Dr. Spangler to include the letter in the monthly board letter upon
receipt.
Mrs. Flores called for a recess at 5:22 p.m.
The Board reconvened at 5:32 p.m.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Davila, Flores, Guzman, Sane, Schechter, Williams, and
Worsham)
ANNOUNCEMENT
Mrs. Flores announced that Carmen Hernandez would be transferring from Board
Services to a new position effective April 1, 2008.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Mrs. Flores gave preface to the Hearing of Citizens and asked if there were any
registered speakers to come forward. The Chair announced that each individual will
have four minutes and apprised that there should be no reference to a specific person
or position. The following Citizens signed up to speak before the Board:
1. Trudy Aucoin
2. Joyce Hall
3. Sylvia Gonzalez – LULAC
4. Bettye Porter
5. Julian Duran
6. Joyce Hall
7. Chris Garza
8. Alix CaDavid
9. Aaron Sainz
10. Christine Castillo-Sainz
11. Georgianna Wilson
12. Dr. Norma Perez (requested to speak in closed session)
Mr. Davila thanked those individuals who expressed their concerns. He stated that he
would hope that the college has a process in place that is fair and requested an
investigation of the college based on ethnicity and a report be provided.
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mrs. Flores adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:11 p.m., notice having
previously been given and reiterated in accordance with Sections 551.071, 551.072,
and/or 551.074 of the Open Meetings Law. Mrs. Flores stated that any final action, vote
or decision on any item discussed in Executive Session would be taken up in Open
Session or in a subsequent Public Meeting.
Mrs. Flores reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 8:26 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – March 24, 2008 – Page 7
(Present: Trustees Austin, Davila, Flores, Guzman, Sane, Williams, and Worsham)
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:27 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: