REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
August 27, 2009
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the HCC Administration Building, Second Floor
Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Abel Davila, Chair
Neeta Sane, Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Christopher Oliver, Deputy Secretary
Bruce A. Austin
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Dr. Michael P. Williams
Mills Worsham
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Doretha Eason, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor
William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Instruction
Cheryl Sterling, Interim Vice Chancellor, Student Services
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
Julian Fisher for Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Irene Porcarello, President, Southeast College
Betty Young, President, Coleman College
Willie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
State Representative Garnet F. Coleman
Bennie Ables, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
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Regular Meeting – August 27, 2009 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Davila, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:27 p.m. and declared the Board
convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as listed on the
duly posted Meeting Notice.
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mrs. Guzman led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Athletics Committee Meeting of May 21, 2009, Committee of
the Whole Meeting of May 21, 2009, Diversity Committee Meeting of May 21, 2009,
Special Meeting of May 21, 2009, Academics Committee Meeting of May 28, 2009,
Annexation Committee Meeting of May 28, 2009, Board Governance Committee
Meeting of May 28, 2009, and Regular Meeting of May 28, 2009.
Motion – Mr. Austin moved and Mr. Worsham seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 7-0.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
The following citizen was present to speak before the Board:
•
Richard Shaw
Mr. Hollingsworth apprised that the citizen has requested to speak before the Board in
Closed Session.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
• Mrs. Sane apprised presented a resolution to Representative Garnet F. Coleman
in appreciation of his commitment to the community and for securing millions of
dollars ($1.5 million for Houston Community College) in state reimbursements for
institutions that sustained facility damages from the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
•
Mr. Andres Alcantar of the Texas Workforce Commission presented checks in
the amount of $1.68 million in support of the Skills Development Fund Grant; the
grants will be used to train workers in 1, 152 new or upgraded jobs in nursing,
computer software engineering, accounting, auditing, database administrators,
machine tool setting, technician/assembling and calibration service technician
positions.
(Mrs. Sane stepped out at 4:50 p.m. and returned at 4:51 p.m.)
Mrs. Guzman requested that in the future a briefing on the benefit is provided to the
Board prior to the presentation in order to be aware of the funding usage. Dr. Cook
informed that an abstract will be provided for dissemination to the Board.
Mr. Davila requested information that informs of the selection process such as
geographic. Mrs. Flores asked for the process for getting the word out when seeking
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Regular Meeting – August 27, 2009 – Page 3
such funding. Mr. Cook advised that there is a group identified who shares the
information with various entities. Mr. Davila requested that the information provided to
the Board also include how assistance is made available to non-profits.
•
Wal-Mart presented a check in the amount of $40,000 in support of the HCC
Minority Male Initiative
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
• HCC hosted the “White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic
Americans” with Juan Sepulveda, Director of the Initiative on Friday, July 17,
2009. The forum “Community Conversations” was a dialogue with leaders,
elected officials, and educators. Trustees Austin, Flores, Guzman, Schechter,
and Davila attended. Houston was the last stop in Texas for the forum.
•
Mr. Davila and HCC Board of Trustees congratulated Dr. Mary Spangler on the
outstanding job she has done over the past two and a half years and for her
continued vision in leading HCC further into the 21st century as one of the most
relevant institutions in the country. He apprised that as a testament, the HCC
Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract of our Chancellor through March
4, 2012.
Mr. Davila recessed the meeting at 5:03 p.m.; in the absence of the Chair, Mrs. Sane,
Vice Chair reconvened the meeting at 5:31 p.m.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Flores, Guzman, Olive, Sane, Williams, and Worsham)
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
•
Refund Management System will take effect in Fall 2009 - a new service to
enhance student access to financial resources; students will receive an HCC
Eagle card starting September 1, 2009. The Eagle card, which is supported by
the Department of Education, it is a debit card, not a credit card.
•
ATD Leader College – HCC has achieved “Achieving the Dream Leader College”
status; HCC’s committed leadership, use of evidence to improve policies,
programs and services, board engagement, and systemic institutional
improvement were the basis for the competitive selection for the honor.
•
New Innovation Grants – seven awards in the amount of $100,000 have been
granted for the Chancellor’s Innovation program in the following areas:
o
o
o
o
Instructional technology
Professional development of faculty leaders
Contextual reading in STEM disciplines
Retention strategies for underachievers
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Regular Meeting – August 27, 2009 – Page 4
o Support services for global initiatives
o Support for entrepreneurial efforts
•
Cost Savings Program Cycle III – To date the Cost Savings Program has saved
$2 million dollars and has generated about $14 million dollars in revenues.
Eleven ideas have been chosen from employee suggestions to begin next week
to include:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Staffing audit
Reorganization to eliminate duplication
Creation of personalized web portals
Implementation of on-line meeting software
Use of on-line of grade and attendance roster
Comprehensive recycling program
Common inventory of courses
•
HCC Health Career Academy - The academy will begin this fall at Northwest
College’s Katy Campus and Southeast College; the academy is a 16-hour, one
semester program preparing HCC students for entry-level positions at health care
providers within the Texas Medical Center as well as emerging health care
industry in West Houston.
•
Apprenticeship Training - A unique and successful partnership training
established in 1971, which provides training under the guidance of ATAT and
HCC in twelve areas ranging from plumbers to carpenters and sheet metal
workers.
•
Marketing Campaign – Presentation of two 30 second commercial videos in
Spanish and a 90 second video computation of the marketing campaign.
•
Faculty Senate – Bennie Ables, Faculty Senate President opened with greetings
from the faculty. She informed that classes have begun and that faculty is
excited and ready to motivate, inspire, teach and provide opportunity for all
students.
•
Financial Report for the Month of July 2009 - Dr. Tyler apprised that the financial
status is outstanding and noted that the college is up 29.3% in cash and will end
the year above the policy reserves. Dr. Tyler invited HCC Financial Advisors to
provide an overview rating status.
Mr. Jodie Jiles with RBC Capital Markets apprised that the college has received
an upgrade on its ratings from Standard and Poor’s. He noted that this is a direct
result of the leadership of the Board and strong fiscal management of the
administration. He noted that the ratings placed the college in high quality.
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Regular Meeting – August 27, 2009 – Page 5
The Board expressed appreciation to the financial advisory team, administration and
internal finance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved and Dr. Williams seconded to approve the consent agenda
with the exception of item A.2 and B.4. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0. The
following items were approved:
•
Approve Adult Education Grant Advance Payments to Members of the Houston
Literacy Consortium
•
Approve Memorandum of Understanding Between HCC and METRO
•
Approve Participation in Interlocal Agreement Creating the Texas Investment
Provider Selection Committee (TIPSC)
•
Approve Revision to HCC Finance and Operations Policy B:1.6.4 (Signature
Authority)
•
Approve Investment Report for the Month of May 2009
•
Approve Investment Report for the Month of June 2009
•
Approve Payment to Bracewell & Giuliani for Professional Services (June 2009)
REAFFIRM RESOLUTION ON CLUSTER INITIATIVES – COLLEGE AND CAREER
TRANSITION INITIATIVE (CCTI)
Motion – Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Oliver seconded to approve.
Mr. Austin mentioned that he presented the resolution for reaffirmation in order to
reiterate the college and career transition initiative (CCTI). He presented information on
the announcement in participation of the City of Houston, HCC, and HISD and
requested that the Chancellor provide an overview of the initiative. Dr. Spangler noted
that the programs mentioned are essential to the college.
Mr. Austin noted that it is time for the colleges to participate in the process and
requested that the Chancellor include the League of Innovation.
Vote – the motion passed with vote of 7-0.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
ADOPT BIZCONNECT AS A BOARD INITIATIVE
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mrs. Guzman seconded to approve.
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Regular Meeting – August 27, 2009 – Page 6
Mrs. Flores noted that the item was discussed in the Economic Development Committee
meeting and requested Mr. Austin provide an overview of BizConnect.
Mr. Austin noted that he would like for the Economic Development Committee to work
closely with administration to make certain the program is successful.
Vote - The motion passed with a vote of 7-0.
Approve Financial Collection Services (Project No. 09-11)
The item was discussed in closed session; no action was taken on the item,
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mrs. Sane adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:00 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. Sane 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. Sane reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 7:15 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Flores, Guzman, Sane and Worsham)
Personnel Agenda for July and August 2009
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mr. Worsham seconded to approve. The motion
passed with a vote of 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: