REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
September 23, 2009
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Wednesday, September 23, 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
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
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
OTHERS PRESENT
Kim James, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
State Representative Carol Alvarado
Bennie Ables, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Sane, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:28 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
Mr. Austin led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – September 23, 2009 – Page 2
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Special Meeting of June 4, 2009, Economic Development
Committee Meeting of June 9, 2009, Academic/Student Services Committee Meeting of
June 18, 2009, Communications/Community Outreach Committee Meeting of June 18,
2009, Committee of the Whole Meeting of June 18, 2009, Legislative Committee
Meeting of June 18, 2009, Regular Meeting of June 25, 2009, Special Meeting of July 7,
2009, Academic/Student Services Committee Meeting of August 20, 2009,
Communications/Community Outreach Committee Meeting of August 20, 2009,
Committee of the Whole Meeting of August 20, 2009, Diversity Committee Meeting of
August 20, 2009, Economic Development Committee Meeting of August 20, 2009,
Special Meeting of August 20, 2009, and Regular Meeting of August 27, 2009.
Motion – Mr. Flores moved and Mr. Worsham seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 5-0.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
No citizens requested to speak before the Board.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
• State Representative Carol Alvarado presented a House Resolution to HCC
Southeast regarding efforts and dedication during Hurricane Ike. She expressed
appreciation to the Board of Trustees for their assistance as well, especially
Trustees Diane Olmos Guzman, Abel Davila and Yolanda Navarro Flores for
their participation in the relief efforts. Mrs. Irene Porcarello introduced the staff
and faculty who assisted in the efforts.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
• HCC Board of Trustees will hold Public Hearings regarding the proposed tax rate
for 2009 on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. and Thursday, October
1, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
•
Mrs. Guzman provided an overview of the Hispanic Education Leadership
Committee (HELC) and recognized the 2009 HELC Committee. The HELC
scholarship banquet will be held on Friday, October 2, 2009 featuring guest
speaker, Mr. Victor Villaseñor, author of Rain of Gold. Mrs. Guzman recited a
resolution from Congress designating September 20-26th as Hispanic Serving
Institute week in recognition of Hispanic Heritage month. The resolution honors
the many achievements of institutions that play a critical role in providing
opportunities for Hispanic students. Mr. Paul Negrete, HELC President,
introduced the committee and read resolutions from the US. House of
Representatives and US. Senate.
Mrs. Flores expressed recognition to Ms. Irene Porcarello as well as Elda
Cisneros who have been the instrumental with HELC.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – September 23, 2009 – Page 3
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
•
Student headcount (including Distance Ed and Dual Credit) on census day (Sept
3) shows a 12.9% increase over last year at 48,664. Dual credit is up 62% with
6,700 students.
•
All campuses are experiencing record enrollment, Division of Extended Learning,
Distance Education and Dual Credit. One of the most important statistics,
however, is that for the first time in a decade, the workforce programs (now called
CTE, for career and technical education) are experiencing the same level of
growth as our transfer programs (about 14% in both cases).
•
On October 16, the 2nd annual Chancellor’s Symposium will focus on careers
and education in Energy in Spring Branch. We will host 350 students from HCC,
Alief, Spring Branch and North Forest high school. John Hoffmeister, former
CEO of Shell Oil, will give the keynote address and Major General Bolden, the
new head of NASA, will deliver a video welcome. Chevron Energy Solutions and
Norris Conference Center are underwriting the event.
•
Austin High School was the first high school in the nation to pilot a mLearning
(mobile Learning) class through collaboration with HCC’s mLearning
Project. Chosen by Southeast College to pilot the first ever dual credit class,
Microsoft Office ’07 used the iPod Touch, with twenty dual credit students whom
received their lessons, took notes and scheduled assignments via the iPod
Touch. This project is an outgrowth of an mLearning course developed last
spring by two educators awarded a Chancellor's innovative projects grant to pilot
a class structure based on using iPhones as a platform for lesson distribution and
inter-student community building.
•
The HCCS Foundation raised $4.8 million in 2008-2009 well above the funding
goal. The Foundation is listed among the top 1% of community colleges in the
nation for its fundraising success.
•
The 10,000 square foot state-of-the-art teaching and learning space for the
Pharmacy Technician program at HCC Coleman Health Science is on schedule
to open in January 2010. This space will provide three separate labs for hospital
training, home health/I.V., and a retail lab with a new certificate program in
collaboration with Walgreen’s.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – September 23, 2009 – Page 4
•
A couple of personal thank you’s from Dr. Spangler:
o To the Board Chair on behalf of the HCC Board of Trustees for the
wonderful editorial in the Houston Chronicle about the work accomplished
at the college during the last 2 ½ years of this administration in partnership
with the Board and extending the Chancellor’s contract. I’ve received
some great communications from community members about the article.
o To the Vietnamese Culture & Science Association for the welcome as an
honorary member of their organization.
o To the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) for the opportunity to address
the President’s Council earlier today on how HCC is handling the
demands of our sector and what we are doing to prepare our institution to
tackle economic challenges. Trustees Austin and Worsham were in
attendance.
•
Faculty Senate – Bennie Ables, Faculty Senate introduced the officers for 20092010.
•
Financial Report for the Month of August 2009 - Dr. Tyler apprised that the books
have closed but have not been audited. He apprised that the audit should be
completed by November 2009. He noted that at the close of books, the college
reserve funds were at 11% and noted that the cash balance has increased as
well.
Mrs. Guzman asked if there is a way for the college to review or encumber
disbursement to parents. She also inquired if HCC is accepting parents plus loans. Dr.
Tyler noted that the loan program he alluded to was an extended payment plan and
noted that the parent loan program is not something the college does. He noted that Dr.
Sterling could provide more information.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mrs. Guzman seconded to approve the consent
agenda with the exception of items A.2 and B.3 and C.5. The motion passed with a
vote of 5-0.
APPROVE WAGE RATE POLICY STATEMENT
Motion – Mrs. Guzman moved and Mrs. Flores seconded.
Mrs. Guzman expressed appreciation to the staff on following through quickly by
providing a policy on standardized wage rate.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – September 23, 2009 – Page 5
Mrs. Sane noted for the record, that item A.1 to approve revisions of bylaws was pulled
from the agenda.
APPROVE LANDSCAPING AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mrs. Guzman seconded.
Mrs. Flores asked if the contract is a three-year flat-out contract or a one-year with
renewal options. Dr. Spangler responded that the contract is a three-year flat-out
contract with a thirty day right to terminate.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.
APPROVE TUITION AND FEES APPROVAL FOR NON-CREDIT CLASSES
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mr. Worsham seconded.
Mrs. Flores asked if the item included classes taken by remedial students. Dr. Spangler
noted that the item is for continuing education.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 5-0.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
PERSONNEL AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 2009
Motion – Mrs. Flores moved and Mr. Worsham seconded. The motion passed with a
vote of 5-0.
Mr. Austin asked if the personnel agenda requires Board approval. Dr. Spangler noted
that the faculty items do need Board approval.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Executive Administrative Assistant, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: