REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
December 15, 2011
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the HCC Administration Building, Second Floor
Auditorium, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Richard Schechter, Chair
Mary Ann Perez, Vice Chair
Eva Loredo, Secretary
Bruce A. Austin
Sandie Mullins
Christopher Oliver
Neeta Sane
Dr. Michael P. Williams
ADMINISTRATION
Mary Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Shantay Grays, Interim Executive Officer to the Chancellor
Fheryl Prestage for William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Instruction
Diana Pino, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
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
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Thomas Urban, Faculty Senate President
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Schechter, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:19 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 – December 15, 2011 – Page 2
PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Austin led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
(Mr. Oliver joined the meeting at 4:22 p.m.)
AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS
Ms. Jennifer Hazelton, Mr. Dwight Boykins, and Ms. Bessie Ellison with the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo presented a leadership gift of $100,000 to help provide the
latest instructional equipment for the Public Safety Institute’s new Simulation Lab at
HCC Northeast College.
NAMING OPPORTUNITY
Motion – Dr. Williams moved and Ms. Loredo seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 8-0.
FAREWELL AND RETIREMENT RECOGNITION OF DR. MICHAEL P. WILLIAMS
The Board of Trustees, Chancellor, administrators, faculty, staff and students paused to
express appreciation to Dr. Michael P. Williams on his retirement from the Board of
Trustees.
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Schechter adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:35 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. Schechter 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. Schechter reconvened the meeting in Open Session at 5:37 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Loredo, Mullins, Perez, Sane, Oliver, Schechter and Dr.
Williams)
Mr. Schechter recessed the meeting at 5:38 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 6:03
p.m.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Loredo, Mullins, Perez, Sane, and Schechter)
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Budget Committee Meeting of November 7, 2011, Facilities
Committee Meeting of November 7, 2011, Audit Committee Meeting of November 10,
2011, Board Governance Committee Meeting of November 10, 2011, Committee of the
Whole Meeting of November 10, 2011, Regular Meeting of November 17, 2011 and
Special Meeting of November 17, 2011.
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Regular Meeting – December 15, 2011 – Page 3
Motion – Ms. Loredo moved and Mr. Austin seconded to approve the minutes. The
motion passed with a vote of 6-0.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mr. Austin moved and Mrs. Sane seconded to approve the consent agenda
with the exception of agenda items A.1, B.5 (approved earlier on the agenda), and C.6.
The motion passed with a vote of 6-0. The following consent agenda items were
passed:
•
Associate in Science in Engineering Science (ASES) Degree Program
•
Gender Identity and Gender Expression
•
System-wide Print Management Solution (Project No. 11-41)
MOU BETWEEN HCC AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-TYLER TO ESTABLISH AN
INSTRUCTIONAL SITE
Motion – Ms. Perez moved and Ms. Loredo seconded.
(Mr. Oliver joined the meeting at 6:08 p.m.)
Dr. Spangler apprised that the partnership with UT-Tyler is for the establishment of an
instructional site at Northwest College Alief Hayes Campus. The purpose of the MOU is
to:
1. Provide upper division engineering completion curricula leading to baccalaureate
engineering degrees in the greater Houston Area
2. Provide collaborations that are beneficial to both institutions
3. Support each other in regard to state-wide accountability measures for
institutions of higher education
Mr. Schechter provided an opportunity for Dr. Nelson with UT-Tyler to comment on the
partnership.
(Dr. Williams joined the meeting at 6:12 p.m.)
Mr. Austin apprised that engineering should be reviewed throughout the district. Dr.
Spangler apprised that this is the first step of more partnerships to come.
Vote – The motion passed with vote of 8-0.
ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES, SAN JACINTO BUILDING
RENOVATION, CENTRAL COLLEGE (PROJECT NO. 11-40)
Motion – Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Austin seconded.
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Regular Meeting – December 15, 2011 – Page 4
Ms. Mullins asked for a history of the project and inquired of the funding for the project.
Dr. Tyler apprised that the Board approved funding of the project through a Senior Lien
Bond and Maintenance Tax Notes approved earlier in the year.
Ms. Mullins inquired about the rotation of system architects. Dr. Tyler apprised that
special expertise is required because the facility is a historic building. Dr. Tyler
informed that the project was not deemed appropriate for the system architects;
however, the architects were given the opportunity to bid on the project.
Mr. Oliver inquired if the building is considered a historic landmark. Dr. Tyler apprised
that the building has been designated as an historic landmark. He noted that the project
must be handled with care as the college cannot afford a hit or miss situation regarding
the restoration of the building.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
Dow Promise Grant – the Dow Promise grant application has been approved in the
amount of $24,728. Dow Promise is an employee lead initiative of the Dow Chemical
Company with a mission to positively impact African American communities that face
education and economic challenges.
Executive Speaker Series – Jim Davis, CEO of Chevron Energy Solutions, spoke on
Leading Change for the Future.
International Trade Center – The International Trade Center awarded the 2011
Academia of the Year Award to HCC for its accomplishments of education in the
Houston community.
Community Forums – A series of 8 forums were held at various campuses throughout
the service area. The purpose of these forums was to continue and expand the
Chancellor’s quarterly campus visits and share an overview of the college’s impact on
students, the Houston region, and the local community.
(Dr. Williams stepped out at 6:24 p.m.)
FACULTY SENATE REPORT
Dr. Thomas Urban expressed gratitude to the Board Chair and the entire Board for their
diligent oversight of the institution.
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Regular Meeting – December 15, 2011 – Page 5
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT WITH KIMBERLY MASON FOR CIVIL ACTION NO.4:10CV-2356 MASON, KIMBERLY AND JONES, ALFREDA, V. HOUSTON COMMUNITY
COLLEGE SYSTEM, ET. AL; IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, HOUSTON DIVISION
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved and Mr. Austin seconded. The motion passed with a vote of
7-0.
SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS FROM GIGI DO
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved and Mrs. Sane seconded. The motion passed with a vote of
6-0.
(Mr. Oliver stepped out at 6:28 p.m.)
MONTHLY FINANCE REPORT FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2011;
INVESTMENT REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2011
Motion – Mrs. Sane moved and Mr. Austin seconded.
Dr. Tyler apprised that the college continues to have a healthy financial position. He
noted that a true picture of the finances will be more accurate around February or
March of 2012.
(Mr. Oliver returned at 6:29 p.m.)
Mr. Austin inquired if any indicators have been provided that the estimates on projected
growth and funds will be changed. Dr. Tyler apprised that there have not been
conversations or indications that there will be changes regarding the growth. He noted
that it is important to recognize that the circumstances will always be changing at the
state level.
Dr. Tyler informed that investments are continuing to outperform the market of other
institutions.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mr. Schechter provided a summary of the Board of Trustees retreat that was held on
Tuesday, December 13, 2011 and apprised that a portion of the summary was to
address the concerns raised by Mr. David Wilson regarding the purchase of property in
District VI. He noted that the Board decided to purchase the land in accordance to
process identified.
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Regular Meeting – December 15, 2011 – Page 6
HEARING OF CITIZENS
The following citizens signed up to speak before the Board:
•
Lou Weaver
(Dr. Williams returned at 6:37 p.m.)
•
Daniel Arp
•
Ray Martinez
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Manager, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: