REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
May 28, 2009
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of the Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, May 28, 2009 at the HCC Administration Building, Second Floor Auditorium,
3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Neeta Sane, Vice Chair
Diane Olmos Guzman, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Richard Schechter
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
Daniel Seymour, Vice Chancellor, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
Cheryl Sterling, Interim 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
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Mary Page, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Sane, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:17 p.m. and declared the Board
convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as listed on the
duly posted Meeting Notice.
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Regular Meeting – May 28, 2009 – Page 2
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mrs. Flores led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Annexation Committee Meeting of February 19, 2009, Board
Governance Committee Meeting of February 19, 2009, Communications/Community
Outreach Committee Meeting of February 19, 2009, Legislative Committee Meeting of
February 19, 2009, Technology Committee Meeting of February 19, 2009, Special
Meeting of February 19, 2009, Committee of the Whole Meeting of February 19, 2009,
Academic/Student Services Committee Meeting of February 26, 2009, Diversity
Committee Meeting of February 26, 2009, Regular Meeting of February 26, 2009, and
Technology Committee Meeting of March 5, 2009.
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mrs. Guzman seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 6-0.
(Mrs. Flores stepped out at 4:21 p.m.)
HEARING OF CITIZENS
The following citizen was present to speak before the Board:
•
DeAndre Espree
Mr. Hollingsworth apprised that the citizen has advised that he will be arriving late and
request that the Board revisit the Hearing of Citizen later on the agenda.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
Mrs. Sane apprised that a presentation will be presented in recognition of Asian Heritage
month focusing on “Education Paves Way to Success for Asian Americans”.
(Mrs. Flores returned at 4:23 p.m.)
Mrs. Sane expressed appreciation to the Board and HCC family for recognition of Asian
Heritage month.
The following individuals presented information as follows:
•
Mr. Dinesh Shah provided information on India.
•
Ms. Parvin Bagherpour presented information on Iran; she presented a DVD and
companion book on the history of Iran for the HCC library.
•
Ms. Joanne Lin provided information on China.
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Regular Meeting – May 28, 2009 – Page 3
Mrs. Sane revisited the Hearing of Citizens and provided Mr. DeAndre Espree the
opportunity to speak before the Board.
(Mrs. Sane recessed the meeting at 4:55 p.m. and reconvened at 5:16 p.m.)
(Present: Trustees Austin, Flores, Guzman, Sane, Schechter, and Worsham)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
•
Trustee Sane announced that a Special Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June
4, 2009 beginning at 8:30 a.m., 3100 Main, 2nd Floor in Seminar Room A. She
noted that the Board will accept the valid signatures submitted for annexing North
Forest and Spring Branch at the Special Meeting. Mrs. Sane apprised that over
5,000 signatures for North Forest were received of which over 3,000 were valid
and almost 10,000 signatures were submitted for Spring Branch of which over
6,000 were valid
•
Mrs. Sane noted that a Board of Trustees retreat is also scheduled for Thursday,
June 4, 2009.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
•
HCC received notification from the United State Department of Education that
HCC will receive $200,000 for the Accelerated Nursing Proficiency Center
program. The award was pursued through the support of Senator Kay Bailey
Hutchison and the federal policy team and will be used for curriculum
development and equipment purchase
•
Cost Savings and Revenue Generating Report (Phase 2) has been disseminated
to the Board and college community. The college-wide efforts have enabled the
Board to approve the first property tax rate reduction in recent memory, correct
imbalances in the faculty salary schedule, approve a January 2009 salary
increase, and to maintain tuition rates without increases.
The savings of $1,561,012 represent 0.65% of the college's total expenses, and
the revenue of $10,719,369 represents 3.9% of total revenue. The 4.55% of the
total budget makes a different in allowing the redirection of resources to benefit
the students and the institution.
Phase 3 begins in the fall with more good ideas shared by employees in the
Suggestion Box.
•
HCC’s application to the US Dept of Education for "disaster assistance," from the
Hurricane Education Recovery program was funded at the requested amount of
$728,267.
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Regular Meeting – May 28, 2009 – Page 4
•
HCC is one of 15 institutions out of 82 college and university applicants selected
to receive a 2009 Kresge Fellowship Program Award; the fellowship provides a
senior member of the college community with capacity-building opportunities on
green building and sustainability in higher education, as well as peer-to-peer
networking opportunities. The goal of the fellowship program is to offer higher
education executives at under-resourced institutions the information and networks
requisite to become successful green building leaders on their campuses.
•
On Monday, May 18, community leaders from North Forest and Spring Branch
presented petitions (approximately 15,000) to the administration regarding the
annexation of their respective service areas.
Mr. Schechter noted that a lot of credit should be given to Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ford
Fisher for building a relationship with their communities over the past years and
commended administration on their efforts.
•
Faculty Senate - Mary Page, President, Faculty Senate, mentioned that HCC
Faculty participated in NISOD and twelve individuals received awards and were
recognized for their outstanding contribution to teaching and learning,
development, economic and workforce development, leadership and workforce
development.
The students surveyed through the CCSSE report that the following are concerns
of the students: mandatory orientation, advisor or counsel to assist with identifying
goals, and counsel or advisor assigned to them their first semester.
•
Representatives from the Assistant League of Houston contributed $10,000 to
establish the first-ever V.A.S.T. Scholarship Fund at the HCC Foundation to
support vocational and social skills training so that students with special needs
can fulfill their potential.
•
Report from Division of Extended Learning provided by Daniel Seymour, Vice
Chancellor, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness.
•
Financial Report for the month of April 2009 - Dr. Tyler provided an overview of
the financial report of April 2009. He apprised that the college is currently above
the 10% threshold established for the reserve.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mrs. Guzman seconded to approve the consent agenda
with the exception of item #1. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0. The following items
were approved:
•
Approve 2009-2010 English Literacy and Civics Grant (ELCV) Funding
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Regular Meeting – May 28, 2009 – Page 5
•
Approve 2009-2010 Adult Education and Temporary Assistance to Needy
Families (TANF) Grant Funding
•
Approve Commercial Truck Driving Program Change
•
Approve Investment Report for the Month of March 2009
•
Approve Purchase Noelle/Hal Simulation Manikins (Project #09-25)
APPROVE ORACLE/PEOPLESOFT APPLICATIONS AND MODULES
Motion – Mr. Austin moved and Mr. Schechter seconded to approve.
Mrs. Sane asked how will the modules be implemented. Mr. Carter noted that the full
deployment will be within a year and half.
Mrs. Guzman reiterated that the Board has requested a timeline previously to show what
will be implemented and the future recommendation.
Mr. Austin noted that once the software is purchased, there must be a review of the
functionality for each module.
Mr. Schechter asked if the purchase has been negotiated to save the college
approximately $20 million for the one purchase, which would be ten percent of the
college’s budget. He commended administration for the savings to the college.
Mr. Schechter noted that approval of the program will also provide other benefits to the
college such as the ability to track students. Dr. Cook apprised that the purchase will
allow for the full utilization of other software purchased for analytical tools. Dr. Seymour
re-enforced that the purchase will allow the college to have a business intelligence
function.
Mr. Schechter mentioned that it was discussed in the Academic/Student Services
Committee that the module will allow for the implementation of an academic dashboard,
which would benefit the college.
Mrs. Guzman noted that she is always in favor of voting for items that are beneficial to
the college; however, she would like to see the explanation of the cost savings. Dr. Tyler
mentioned that Oracle has stated that the finance and technology team of HCC is the
best that they have worked with in years. He asked that Dr. Sterling provide insight on
the benefits to student services. Dr. Sterling apprised that the modules will provide for
processing financial aid and increasing the student enrollment.
Mrs. Flores noted that although savings to the college are always appreciated, she has
some reservations regarding such a substantial savings.
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Regular Meeting – May 28, 2009 – Page 6
Mrs. Sane noted that a timeline needs to be provided so that a comparison could be
reviewed.
Mrs. Flores noted that she would also like to see the requested information and
recommended that the information be provided as a standard.
Mr. Schechter noted that the benefit of the program will not be measured on how much
money is saved but human capital by assisting students and working with other
institutions. He asked that Dr. Cook reiterate the discussion held in the committee
meeting on the item.
Dr. Cook apprised that the purchase will allow the ability to see what students are taking
and closing the gaps while the students are still in high school so that they will enroll and
not have to take developmental courses.
Mrs. Sane inquired about bullet #5 regarding providing applications and tools for
business intelligence and the development of the HCC data warehouse. Dr. Tyler noted
that Oracle recently purchased PeopleSoft, which greatly enhanced the ability to
integrate. He noted that there are a number of value added practices that will enhance
the system. He noted that there will still be a need to integrate the modules and if
delayed there will be additional costs. Dr. Tyler noted there were a number of modules
not implemented in PeopleSoft that can now be implemented due to the purchase and
assured that this is not just a bargain basement purchase but is one that is needed
immediately.
Mrs. Flores asked if additional training will be needed. Mr. Carter noted that the cost for
training is not included but should be a one-time cost of approximately $400,000.
Mrs. Sane asked that an update be provided in six months.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 6-0.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HCC AND SPRING BRANCH
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM
Motion – Mr. Schechter moved and Mr. Austin seconded to approve.
Dr. Spangler informed that the MOU is for an Early College Program for dual credit as
opposed to an Early College High School similar to HISD. She noted that Spring Branch
has approved the MOU and invited Dr. Hodges to comment on the item.
Dr. Hodges noted that a successful dual credit program has operated in Spring Branch
and noted that the program will select up to sixty students from the Spring Branch ISD to
attend classes at HCC. He noted that the school district will cover the cost of the out-ofdistrict fees for the students. He noted both college readiness and access needs will be
met.
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Regular Meeting – May 28, 2009 – Page 7
Dr. Hodges apprised that if the annexation passes in November, the fees will be a
realized savings for the school district and display a relationship with the community.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 6-0.
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mrs. Sane adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 6:24 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 7:31 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Flores, Sane, Schechter, and Worsham)
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: