REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
August 26, 2010
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, August 26, 2010 at the HCC Administration Building, Second Floor Auditorium,
3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Dr. Michael P. Williams, Chair
Neeta Sane, Vice Chair
Sandie Mullins, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Eva Loredo
Christopher W. Oliver
Mary Ann Perez
Richard Schechter
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Doretha Eason, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor
Renee Byas, General Counsel
William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Instruction
Diana Pino, Vice Chancellor, Student Services
Daniel Seymour, Vice Chancellor, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
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
Kelly Zuniga, Executive Director, Foundation
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Alan Ainsworth, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – August 26, 2010 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Dr. Williams, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:11 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
Ms. Mullins led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Academic Affairs/Student Services Committee Meeting of June
17, 2010, Audit Committee Meeting of June 17, 2010, Committee of the Whole Meeting of
June 17, 2010, Special Meeting of June 17, 2010, Board Governance Committee Meeting
of June 22, 2010, Strategic Planning Committee Meeting of June 22, 2010, and Regular
Meeting of June 29, 2010.
Motion – Ms. Mullins moved and Ms. Loredo seconded to approve the minutes. The
motion passed with a vote of 7-0.
(Mrs. Flores arrived at 4:13 p.m.)
HEARING OF CITIZENS
The following citizen(s) requested to speak before the Board:
1. Ms. Bessie Swindle
2. Mr. Joshua Murray (Closed Session)
(Mrs. Sane arrived at 4:18 p.m.)
(Mr. Oliver stepped out at 4:18 p.m.)
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
• Check presentation by Apache Corporation for $5,000 in support of the Opportunity
14 Endowed Scholarship
(Mr. Oliver returned at 4:19 p.m.)
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
• Dr. Williams announced that the Board of Trustees will hold a Board Retreat on
Friday, October 15, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the InterContinental
Hotel located at 2222 West Loop South in the Chairman’s Room.
•
Dr. Williams announced members of the Board of Trustees Minority Male Initiative
Committee will be hosting a concurrent session on the Minority Male Initiative
during the ACCT Annual Community College Leadership Congress scheduled
October 20-23, 2010 in Toronto, Canada.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – August 26, 2010 – Page 3
•
Dr. Williams will receive the ACCT 2010 Western Region Trustee Leadership
Award on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at the ACCT Congress in Toronto,
Canada. Additionally, as the Regional Award Recipient, he will be one of five
nominees for the prestigious M. Dale Ensign Trustee Leadership Award that will be
announced and presented at the Congress gala on Friday, October 22, 2010.
•
Mr. Oliver presented a resolution and eagle award to Dr. Charles H. Hebert, Jr. in
recognition of his retirement from HCC after 36 years of dedicated services.
(Mrs. Sane stepped out at 4:34 p.m./returned at 4:35 p.m.)
Mr. Oliver announced that Mrs. Oliver received a position as Senior Curator at the
Contemporary Arts Museum.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
•
Beginning September 1, 2010 and continuing throughout the month, HCC will be
celebrating “Trustee Appreciation Month”, the first time this initiative has been
instituted at HCC. The presidents at each of the regional colleges, along with their
staff and community have a variety of activities planned.
•
The HCC Foundation is moving forward in its $30 million campaign to fund the
Opportunity 14 Scholarship Endowment—raising in excess of $2.8 million to date.
•
Dr. Alan Ainsworth was elected as Faculty Senate President for the 2010-2011
Academic Year. Dr. Ainsworth has taught English at HCC for 22 years and has
served as the Chair of the English Department of HCC-Central for the last 12 years.
•
Recognition was granted to HCC students who participated the 2010-2011 Chevron
Energy Solutions Academic Scholars this summer in the 2010 Undergraduate
Science Research Experience. Various organizations, foundations and agencies
provided stipend and scholarship support. The following student recipients and
their sponsors were acknowledged for their achievement:
o Cecilia Guerra studied Purification and Crystallization of Human Hsp70 Escort
Protein was sponsored by Dr. Johnathan Siberg of the National Science
Foundation Alliance for Minority Participation
o Amanda Schlafer studied Polymer Solar Cells was sponsored by Dr. Rafael
Verduzco from Chevron Energy Solutions
o Amsale Derese studied the Deposition of Anti-Reflection Coating on Solar Cell
Materials was sponsored by Dr. Alex Freundlich from Texas Space Grant
Consortium
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – August 26, 2010 – Page 4
o Ima Moradi studied Reflectance Measurement of Anti-Reflective Coating on
Solar Cell Materials was sponsored by Dr. Alex Freundlich from Texas Space
Grant Consortium
•
The unduplicated enrollment for all students is up 35% compared to the same time
last year. Marketing efforts continue to be strong as more transfer students are
enrolling directly in community colleges.
•
Congratulations to HCC Early College High Schools; all five schools earned an
"exemplary" rating in the 2010 ratings by the Texas Education Agency:
o Southwest for Challenge ECHS, which is also a Silver Award Winner by US
News and Alief ECHS
o HCC Northeast College for the North ECHS
o HCC-Southeast for East ECHS
o Central for the Houston Academy for International Studies
•
Starting in the fall of 2010, the HCC Bookstores will begin offering a new multichannel textbook rental program that delivers maximum savings and convenience.
Students will be able to rent their books either in the store or from the store’s
website.
•
HCC Partners for Jobs campaign was successful with more than 69,000 people
visiting the website and fairs held at each of the colleges.
(Mr. Schechter stepped out at 4:44 p.m.)
•
HCC-NW has been selected as one of only two American community colleges to be
invited to present at the 2010 World Congress of the World Federation of Colleges
in England. HCC’s presentation will be on implementing three Centers for
Entrepreneurship and providing comprehensive business skills through diverse
training avenues and mentorship with local successful businesses. All are geared to
assist students and community members with developing their business ideas. Dr.
Maya Durnovo will be making the presentation. Trustee Bruce Austin led the charge
to bring the concept of BizConnect and job training to HCC.
•
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved
a Round II Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) Public Computer
Center grant in partnership with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
(TSLAC) to WeCAN and HCC. WeCAN and HCC submitted a joint grant to NTIA in
Spring 2010. Trustee Neeta Sane was instrumental in bringing the grant opportunity
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – August 26, 2010 – Page 5
to the college and special thanks to Larry Mers, Doug Rowlette, Angel Secrest,
Larry Markey, Georgia Carmichael and Bill Carter for their efforts on the grant.
•
Department Homeland Security (DHS) has approved HCC’s application for grant
funding under the 2009 DHS Scientific Leadership Bridge Award for Minority
Servicing Institutions Granting Associate Degrees
•
Innovation Fund Awards for 2010-11 were acknowledged as follows:
o Eagle Access Care - pilots a telemedicine-based health clinic for students and
employees. Dr. Michael Edwards is the Project Director.
o The Common Thread - creates learning communities to prepare students for
health careers. Mary G. Puccini is the Project Director.
o Biosciences Pathways for the Underserved - focuses on the application and
transfer of HCC students to UH College of Natural Sciences and Baylor College
of Medicine. Bart Sheinberg is the Project Principal.
o Integrating Mathematics and Science Curricula for STEM Students - which is
designed to improve students’ ability to apply mathematics in science courses.
Lifang Tien is the Project Director.
(Mr. Schechter returned at 4:50 p.m.)
Faculty Senate Report – Dr. Alan Ainsworth, President of the Faculty Senate for 2010
introduced the charge for the Faculty Senate.
The meeting was recessed at 4:53 p.m. and reconvened at 5:13 p.m.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Flores, Loredo, Oliver, Perez, Sane, Schechter, Oliver and
Williams)
(Mr. Oliver stepped out at 5:14 p.m.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mrs. Perez moved and Mr. Schechter seconded to approve the consent agenda
items with the exception of items B.3, B.4, and B.7. The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
The following items were approved:
•
Approve Adult Education Agreement
•
Approve Radiography Lab Equipment
•
Approve Extension of External Audit Services Contract
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – August 26, 2010 – Page 6
•
Approve Office Supplies Vendor
•
Approve Investment Report for the Month of May 2010
•
Approve Investment Report for the Month of June 2010
•
Approve Monthly Finance Report for June 2010
APPROVE OPERATING BUDGET (RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR 2010-2011)
Motion - Mr. Schechter moved and Mr. Austin seconded.
Mr. Schechter inquired about the $33 million in direct loans being reported for the first time
in the budget. Dr. Pino apprised that the direct loans are referencing the new process of
direct lending, which eliminates third parties.
Mr. Schechter inquired about state contribution and state match under the group
insurance heading. Dr. Tyler apprised that HCC employees are covered by the state
insurance policy and noted that the State of Texas pays a portion of employee health
insurance and retirement.
(Mr. Oliver returned at 5:21 p.m.)
Mr. Austin noted that he had a question relating to financial aid. He asked if the financial
aid provisions are reviewed by SACS. Dr. Tyler apprised that is correct.
Ms. Mullins inquired how much money is spent on developmental education. Dr. Cook
noted that 80% of students require some form of developmental education. Dr. Cook
noted that HCC received funds for teaching developmental education courses.
(Mr. Oliver stepped out at 5:30 p.m. and returned at 5:31 p.m.)
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 8-1 with Mrs. Flores opposing.
APPROVE INVESTMENT POLICY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011
Motion – Ms. Mullins moved and Mrs. Flores seconded
Ms. Mullins inquired about 6.4 policy regarding ethical standards and conflicts of interest.
Ms. Mullins inquired if there are any business relationships with administration. Dr. Tyler
apprised that under 6.4 first paragraph states that officers and staff should refrain from
personal business activities that could conflict with the proper execution of the investment
program and noted that disclosures should be filed.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 9-0.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – August 26, 2010 – Page 7
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Dr. Williams adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:40 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. Dr. Williams 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.
Dr. Williams reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 8:35 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Loredo, Mullins, Oliver, Sane, Schechter, and Williams)
APPROVE FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SERVICES (PROJECT #10-15)
Motion – Mrs. Sane moved and Mr. Schechter seconded.
(Mrs. Perez arrived at 8:36 p.m. / Mr. Oliver stepped out at 8:36 p.m.)
Ms. Mullins asked if the cost for the additional square footage is known. Dr. Tyler noted
that the Southeast Workforce Building and Alief build-out will add approximately 200,000250,000 square feet and the company is aware of the increased square footage.
Mr. Schechter noted that an extensive amount of time was spent at the Committee of the
Whole regarding the matter.
Mrs. Perez requested that the list of sub-contractors is provided.
Vote - Motion passed with vote 6-0-1 with Ms. Loredo abstaining.
PERSONNEL AGENDA FOR JULY AND AUGUST 2010
Motion – Mrs. Sane moved and Mrs. Perez seconded. The motion passed with vote of 7-0.
(Mr. Oliver returned at 8:38 p.m.)
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Manager, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: