REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
May 22, 2008
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College System held a Regular
Meeting on Thursday, May 22, 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
Mills Worsham, Deputy Secretary
Neeta Sane
Dr. Michael P. Williams
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Doretha Eason, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor for Instructions
William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Irene Porcarello, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Winston Dahse, Interim President, Southwest College
Abe Bryant for Margaret Ford, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Willie Williams, Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources
Daniel Seymour, Associate Vice Chancellor, CTCE
Daniel Arguijo, Associate Vice Chancellor, Communications
Kelly Zuniga, Executive Director, HCC Foundation
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Linda Koffel, President, Faculty Senate Association
Sherry Howell, President, COPA
Dwight Boykins, Consultant, dBoykins
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – May 22, 2008 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Flores, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:24 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. Sane led the prayer and pledge of allegiance to the flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from the Academic Affairs/Student Success Committee Meeting of
April 17, 2008, Annexation Committee Meeting of April 17, 2008, Athletics Committee
Meeting of April 17, 2008, Audit Committee Meeting of April 17, 2008,
Communications/Community Outreach Committee Meeting of April 17, 2008,
Committee of the Whole Meeting of April 17, 2008, Special Meeting of April 18, 2008
and Regular Meeting of April 24, 2008.
Mrs. Sane noted that there was a correction to the minutes for the Regular Meeting of
April 24, 2008 on page 5.
Motion – Dr. Williams moved approval of the minutes as presented. Mr. Worsham
seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
AWARDS AND PRESENTATION
Mrs. Sane provided a brief history of the Asian Pacific Heritage Month celebration. She
noted that the purpose of presentation was to honor the culture and the diversity
through education cross culture celebration.
Mrs. Gigi Do informed that in recognition of Asian Heritage month celebration, four
students who learned an Asian language in courses taught at HCC would make a
statement representing the following languages: Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and
Chinese.
Mrs. Sane introduced Dr. Rathna Kumar, internationally renowned danseuse, teacher
and choreographer, and the Founding Director of ANJALI, Center for Performing. Dr.
Kumar performed an Indian classical dance in recognition of Asian Heritage Month.
(Dr. Williams stepped out at 4:45 p.m.)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mrs. Flores announced that several HCC students were awarded scholarships from the
Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association (HMPA) at the 2008 Career Enhancement
Symposium on April 19, 2008. The HCC winners were as follows:
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Resume/Entry Level – Terry Taylor (3rd Place)
Interview/Entry Level – Terry Taylor (2nd Place)
Interview/Office Experienced Level – Reina Reyes (1st Place)
Sweepstakes Drawing Scholarship – Vanessa Rodriguez (3rd Place)
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – May 22, 2008 – Page 3
(Dr. Williams returned at 4:47 p.m.)
(Mrs. Sane stepped out at 4:46 p.m.)
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
• Mr. Rick Jaramillo, Senior Vice President and Market Development Executive
with Bank of America presented a check for $50,000 to the HCC Foundation
for the Child Development Initiative at HCC Central for the Education and
Care of Young Children. Mr. Jaramillo was joined by Ms. Cecilia Hernandez,
Senior Vice President of Retail Mortgage Lending with Bank of America. Ms.
Hernandez also serves on the HCC Foundation Board.
(Mrs. Sane returned at 4:46 p.m.)
•
Faculty Senate Report – Ms. Linda Koffel provided a report from the Faculty
Senate and commended the faculty for participation in the boot camp for
BlackBoard. She also highlighted faculty members Weldon Elbert and
Fernando Romero-Borja.
•
March of Dimes Check Presentation – Dan Arguijo announced that HCC
March of Dimes 2008 Campaign fundraiser was the highest in the history of
the college fundraising. He announced that Mr. Mills Worsham was the
campaign spokesperson for the college this year. Mr. Arguijo announced
that HCC Central was the winning college raising over $12,000. HCC
employees, faculty, and students raised a total donation in the amount of
$41,000.
•
Petitions to annex Alief were received in the Board Services office on May
22, 2008. The petitions were delivered by Walter Rmerma with the Alief
Student Association and Chet Machen. A signature validation process will
begin on Tuesday, May 27, 2008.
•
Commencement Ceremony for 2008 was held on Saturday, May 17, 2008
where over four thousands students participated. Dr. Benjamin Carson,
Director of Pediatric Neosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital was the
commencement speaker.
•
HCCTV won two national awards for programs and videos at the Covenant
Telly Awards where there were more than 14,000 entries.
•
Channel 13 Viva Houston focused on HCC on one of their segments for May
11, 2008.
•
East Early College High School received Exemplary Honor for the second
year
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – May 22, 2008 – Page 4
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Financial Report – Dr. Tyler announced that the college is 10.5% above
budget in terms of revenue and 5.4% in terms of spending. He noted that
the year end is looking very healthy.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion - Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Worsham seconded to approve the consent
agenda. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0. The following items were approved:
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Emergency Communication System
Employee Assistance Program Services (Project #08-15)
Vending Machines Services (Project #08-08)
Investment Report for March 2008
Vote – Motion passed with a vote of 6-0.
TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
INTERLOCAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN FORT BEND COUNTY,
TEXAS (FORT BEND) AND HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (HCC) FOR THE
COLLECTION OF TAXES
Motion - Dr. Williams moved and Mrs. Guzman seconded.
(Mrs. Guzman stepped out at 5:04 p.m.)
Dr. Tyler apprised that the agreement is the same as previously presented. He noted
that there is a slight increase in the amount from last year.
Mrs. Sane asked for clarifications on why Harris County is not asked to collect HCC
taxes from the residents who live in Harris County. She noted that Missouri City is in
Harris County and Ft. Bend and Ft. Bend collect taxes from the residents who live in Ft.
Bend. Dr. Tyler apprised that there is an agreement between the two counties and the
process is conducted by zip codes.
Mrs. Sane noted that there is an additional fee for Ft. Bend to get the tax roll from Harris
County and asked if it was possible to have Harris County collect from their district. Dr.
Tyler apprised that it is his understanding that the option has been reviewed and it is not
possible to have Harris County collect the taxes from the residents in Missouri City.
Vote – Then motion passed with vote of 5-0.
FT. BEND COUNTY LOCAL OPTION EXEMPTIONS FOR TAX YEAR 2008
Dr. Williams moved to approved and Mrs. Sane seconded. The motion passed with a
vote of 5-0.
Houston Community College System
Regular Meeting – May 22, 2008 – Page 5
PAYMENT TO BRACEWELL & GIULIANI LLP FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
(APRIL 2008)
Motion - Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Worsham seconded. The motion passed with a
vote of 5-0.
(Mrs. Guzman returned at 5:08 p.m.)
PERSONNEL
Dr. Williams moved to approve and Mr. Worsham seconded. The motion passed with a
vote of 6-0.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
Mr. Lorenzo Walker signed up to speak before the Board in Closed Session
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mrs. Flores adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:08 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 5:51 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Flores, Sane, Williams and Worsham)
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 5:51 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: