REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
December 10, 2009
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, December 10, 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
Richard Schechter
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
Diana Pino, Vice Chancellor, Student Services
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
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
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Bennie Ables, President, Faculty Senate
Eva Loredo, Trustee Elect, District VIII
Sandie Meyers, Trustee Elect, District VI
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – December 10, 2009 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Davila, Chair, called the meeting to order at 5:59 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
Dr. Williams led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Special Meeting of October 1, 2009, Academic/ Student
Services Committee Meeting of October 15, 2009, Board Governance Committee
Meeting of October 15, 2009, Committee of the Whole Meeting of October 15, 2009,
Diversity Committee Meeting of October 15, 2009, Special Meeting of October 15, 2009,
and Regular Board Meeting of October 22, 2009.
Motion – Mr. Worsham moved and Mrs. Sane seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 9-0.
Mr. Davila recognized Trustees Elect Eva Loredo, Sandie Meyers, and Mary Ann Perez.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
The following citizens requested to speak before the Board:
1. Arthur Ellis
2. Howard J. Middleton (Closed Session)
3. Heather Perry (Closed Session)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mr. Davila provided the following information and recognitions:
•
Dr. Spangler along with Kay King, Faculty member in the Fashion Design
Department, were acknowledged by Houston Woman Magazine as two of
“Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2009”, which will be published in a
special December issue.
•
Dr. Spangler was named Educator of the Year by the Arab American Cultural and
Community Center.
•
Recognition of birthday celebrations in the month of December: Dr. Michael P.
Williams on December 18th; Trustee Christopher Oliver on December 31st; and
Dr. Spangler on December 16th.
•
Recognition of Trustee Davila, Trustee Diane Olmos Guzman, and Trustee Mills
Worsham as outgoing members of the Board of Trustee and a special recognition
of Trustee Davila as Board Chair 2009.
(Mrs. Flores stepped out at 6:35 p.m./returned at 6:38 p.m.)
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – December 10, 2009 – Page 3
(Mr. Oliver stepped out at 6:48 p.m./returned at 6:49 p.m.)
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
•
HCC is doing its part: Segment on KHOU (Channel 11) on “Where the Jobs Are”
in Houston featuring HCC Coleman College. HCC also held a very successful job
fair in November receiving over 1,000 applicants for adjunct teaching positions.
Thanks to HR for their support and assistance.
•
Inside Higher Ed and Chronicle of Higher Ed carried a story on American
institutions enrolling the greatest number of foreign students (all research
universities); among non-research universities, HCC led all community colleges
with 5,580 for 2008 and currently more than 6,200 foreign students are enrolled.
•
Enrollment is up almost 42% over the same time last year; 14,500 students
registered compared to 10,200 at the same time last year and dual credit
enrollment is up 560% with 2,440 high school students compared to only 370 at
this time last year.
•
Houston Community College’s Mobile Go Center program has been selected as
one of the 10 Bellwether Award Finalists in the Instructional Programs and
Services category. This program has been competitively selected to compete for
the prestigious Bellwether Award at the upcoming Community College Futures
Assembly.
•
On December 7, HCC was awarded the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence grant to
host an academic scholar from King Saud University/Riyadh Community College
to spend one academic year from 2010-2011 at HCC to work with our faculty,
students, and administration to promote greater understanding between the
American citizens and the Middle East. The grant amount exceeds $100,000 and
covers the cost of the scholar and dependents’ move to Houston for 12 months,
including monthly stipends, living costs, and insurance. HCC will provide work
assignments for the scholar.
•
We had a beautiful event at Coleman College several weeks ago…The manikin,
Noelle delivered her first child--Chloe--with the assistance of the Nurse Midwife
and Nursing faculty. It was a girl! Both mother and Child are doing great. The
new birthing simulator is a great start to high fidelity simulation at Coleman
College necessary for nursing and other health career education programs in the
21st Century.
•
Chancellor’s Holiday celebration will be held on Friday, December 11, 2009 from
11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. at the West Loop campus; the theme this year is diversity.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – December 10, 2009 – Page 4
•
A celebration with the Board of Trustees will be held on Sunday, December 13,
2009 at the Four Seasons to celebrate our great accomplishments for 2009.
•
Congratulations to Dr. Irene Porcarello, president of SE College, for completing
her hard-earned doctoral degree. This is a great accomplishment and we
applaud and welcome you to the ranks of those contributing to the knowledge of
our field.
•
I also want to appreciate and acknowledge the leadership and work of Dr. Cheryl
Sterling during the last year as Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Success. Dr.
Sterling has stepped in and stepped up to supervise changes in Financial Aid to
include the reorganization of registration and recruitment, upgrading of
PeopleSoft and the introduction of Pay as You Go. She has led in the hard work
of improving student services and strengthening their integration with the
instructional program. Thank you for your contribution and your team work, Dr.
Sterling.
•
Dr. Diana Pino was named Vice Chancellor Student Services for HCC. Dr. Pino
was formerly with Lone Star College and CyFair where she has served as the
founding Dean of Student Services. She has extensive experience as Director of
Advising Services for Northwest Vista College, one of the colleges within the
Alamo Community College District in San Antonio, and as a recruiter and advisor
at Our Lady of the Lake University. Dr. Pino’s experience includes strategic
planning in enrollment management and retention, facilities planning and design,
fundraising, budget management, and program development and assessment.
•
Faculty Senate Report – Ms. Ables introduced faculty member and geographer,
Mr. Brian Evans.
•
Finance Report - Dr. Tyler apprised that the revenues were slightly down due to
the stimulus funding that was included in this year’s budget but has not been
received.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mr. Austin moved and Dr. Williams seconded to approve the consent agenda
with the exception of item B.2 and D.5. The motion passed with a vote of 9-0. The
following items were approved:
•
Purchase EMS Department Simulation Manikins
•
Revisions to Board Bylaws
•
Monitoring Report Schedule
•
Solid Waste Collection & Disposal Services (Project #09-57)
•
Investment Policy for the Fiscal Year 2009-2010
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – December 10, 2009 – Page 5
•
Investment Report for the Month of September 2009
APPROVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 2009
Motion – Mr. Schechter moved and Mr. Oliver seconded. The motion passed with a
vote of 9-0.
Ms. Leslie Berardo with Gainer Donnelly & Desroches informed that HCC received a
clean audit.
Mr. Austin inquired if there was any evidence of fraud and/or waste. Ms. Berardo
apprised that there were no findings of fraud.
APPROVE TEMPORARY HCC-NORTH FOREST VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL
CAMPUS ON NFISD SCHOOL SITE
Motion – Mr. Austin moved and Mr. Davila seconded. The motion passed with a vote of
9-0.
Mr. Austin congratulated the Board and Administration for moving expeditiously on this
item.
CORRECTION OF MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 22, 2009
Dr. Williams noted a correction to the October 22, 2009 Regular Board Meeting minutes
on page 4 paragraph 5. He apprised that the correct name of the honor society should
be Phi Theta Kappa.
Motion - Mr. Schechter moved and Mrs. Sane seconded to amend the minutes for
October 22, 2009 as noted. The motion passed with a vote of 9-0.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
Mr. Davila apprised that the agenda item regarding the Naming Policy was pulled by the
Chair of the Board Governance Committee and will not be considered for approval.
Motion – Dr. Williams moved to approve the remaining items as a consent agenda. Mr.
Oliver seconded. The motioned passed with a vote of 9-0 with the exception of item A.1
and D.5. The following items were approved:
•
Parking License Agreement CenterPoint Energy
•
Amended Resolution Providing for Imposition of an Additional Penalty on
Delinquent Taxes Sections 33.07 and 33.08 of Texas Property Tax Code and
Early Turnover of Business Personal Property Section 33.11
•
Resolution Expressing Intent To Finance Expenditures to be Incurred for
Construction of Early College Center and Parking Garage at Alief Campus
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – December 10, 2009 – Page 6
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Davila adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 7:18 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. Mr. Davila 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.
Mr. Davila reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 9:08 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Davila, Flores, Guzman, Oliver, Sane, Schechter, Dr.
Williams and Worsham)
PERSONNEL AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2009
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mrs. Sane seconded to accept the resignations and
new hires but not the terminations.
Motion Withdrawn - Mrs. Flores withdrew her motion and Mrs. Sane withdrew the
second.
Motion - Mrs. Flores moved to approve the new hires and resignations only. Mrs.
Guzman seconded.
Board Counsel advised that no action is required on the personnel report under
Appendix B.
Motion Withdrawn - Mrs. Flores withdrew her motion and Mrs. Guzman withdrew the
second.
Motion - Mr. Oliver moved that administration act accordingly as discussed in Closed
Session regarding two of the three terminations. Mrs. Flores seconded. The motion
passed with vote of 8-1 with Mr. Schechter opposing.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: