REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
January 20, 2011
Minutes
The Board of Trustees of Houston Community College held a Regular Meeting on
Thursday, January 20, 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 W. Oliver
Neeta Sane
Dr. Michael P. Williams
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
Kenneth Holden for Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Maya Durnovo for Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Irene Porcarello, President, Southeast College
Willie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations
Kelly Zuniga, Executive Director, HCC Foundation
OTHERS PRESENT
Kimberly James, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Alan Ainsworth, President, Faculty Senate
Laura Garcia, President, COPA
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – January 20, 2011 – Page 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Schechter Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:08 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.
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mr. Schechter introduced the Board Officers for 2011 as follows:
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
–
–
–
Trustee Richard Schechter
Trustee Mary Ann Perez
Trustee Eva Loredo
Mr. Schechter invited the Board to express appreciation to Dr. Williams for his
leadership as the Board Chair for 2010 as part of the recognition of the outgoing Chair.
Mr. Schechter expressed appreciation to Dr. Williams for his leadership as the Board
Chair for 2010 and provided an overview of the accomplishments of Dr. Williams for the
year.
Dr. Williams express gratitude to the members for their acknowledgements and noted
that the Board has worked together as a team to accomplish the work that has been set
forth. He expressed thanks to the Chancellor, every member of the Board, Board
Services, Board Counsel, Presidents, Vice Chancellors, students and even down to
those individuals who to keep the facilities in shape.
Mr. Schechter recessed the meeting at 4:28 p.m.
Mr. Schechter reconvened the meeting at 4:50 p.m.
Mr. Schechter took a point of personal privilege to outline goals for the year as the
college will be asked to do more with less funding. He apprised that four sub-ad hoc
committees were appointed to include:
•
•
•
•
Budget Committee – Chaired by Mr. Schechter
Facilities Committee – Chaired by Dr. Williams
Bond Committee – Chaired by Mrs. Perez
Redistricting Committee – Chaired by Mr. Oliver
Mr. Schechter noted that the purpose of these committees is to provide reports to the
Board regarding critical areas that the college will be facing in the near future.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – January 20, 2011 – Page 3
Mr. Schechter provided the following goals for the year:
•
•
•
Endorsement of completion – academic committee to carefully review the
completion status
Quality of education – specially, to report if the college is adding value to the
students
Alignment with employment – to make certain the employee alignment and
workforce training is provided as needed to the community
Mr. Schechter noted that the efforts will be jointly accomplished as a Board along with
the Chancellor and administration and pledged to work hard to assist in making certain
everyone is provided the resources necessary to accomplish the before mentioned
goals.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approval of Minutes from Board Governance Committee Meeting of November 2, 2010,
Special Meeting of November 9, 2010, Academic Affairs/Student Services Committee
Meeting of November 16, 2010, Audit Committee Meeting of November 16, 2010,
Committee of the Whole Meeting of November 16, 2010, External Relations Committee
Meeting of November 16, 2010, Academic Affairs/Student Services Committee Meeting
of November 22, 2010, Board Governance Committee Meeting of December 1, 2010,
and Regular Meeting of December 2, 2010.
Motion – Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Oliver seconded to approve the minutes. The
motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
HEARING OF CITIZENS
The following citizens requested to speak before the Board:
•
•
•
Linda Murray
Joshua Murray
Belinda Puntanen
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
•
Check presentation from the Education Committee of the Houston Livestock
Show & Rodeo on behalf of the HLSR’s support of the students and programs of
HCC Northeast Public Safety Institute
(Dr. Williams stepped out at 5:18 p.m.)
CHANCELLOR’S REPORT
Dr. Spangler provided the following information and recognitions:
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – January 20, 2011 – Page 4
•
Tom Anderson with the HR Department was named to serve a three-year term
on the Society for Human Resource Management Employee Relations Special
Expertise Panel. The panel identifies emerging trends in specific topic areas and
provides expert advice on matters of professional significance and guidance on
matters of public policy. Members are selected based upon their specialized
knowledge and demonstrated contribution to a particular aspect of human
resource management. Tom has been a member of the Society for over 30 years
and was re-appointed by the Governor as Chair of the Texas Commission on
Human Rights.
•
Angela Seacrest has been selected as one of the six Outstanding Open
Textbook Advocate/Trainers from more than 50 advocates/trainers.
•
Welcome to Patricia Jackson, the new Director for Student Information Services.
Ms. Jackson has served most recently as director of the customer service
communications center with Cuyahoga Community College.
•
Houston READ 2011 Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee will be held on January 27
and Dr. Spangler is the Honorary Chair.
•
Google Analytics reports HCC received 1 million hits on the homepage at a peak
time in August; however, the same amount of hits have been received in the
short period from November 18th through December 16th.
•
Fall 2010 enrollment is expected at a 9% increase over the Fall 2009. The
unduplicated headcount exceeded 74,000, which is another new enrollment
record for the college. Efforts have been focused on maximizing enrollment in
Regular Term classes (16-week classes that begin January 18) through higher
retention, strong marketing, better financial aid processes, and a delayed
opening of Second Start (12-week classes that begin on February 12). The same
efforts pushed Spring enrollment up 29% compared to the same time last year.
•
The Office of Communications has been notified that entries in the Radio
Advertisement/PSA, Series and Television Advertisement/PSA categories will
receive gold, silver or bronze awards at the annual national conference. Over
1,850 entries in the annual competition were reviewed by more than 80 judges
from around the country to recognize excellence in communications exclusively
among two-year colleges.
•
Houston Community College is a finalist (1 in a field of 10 selected from among
90 nominations) for the prestigious Bellwether Award sponsored by the Institute
of Higher Education at the University of Florida. It focuses on cutting-edge,
trendsetting programs that other colleges might find worthy of replicating and is
competitively judged by other community colleges, HCC’s entry in the category of
Workforce Development, “Exporting Houston Community College,” will be
presented at the 2011 Community College Futures Assembly on January 31,
2011 in Orlando, Florida.
(Mr. Oliver stepped out at 5:20 p.m.)
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – January 20, 2011 – Page 5
•
Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Community College of Qatar in Doha was held on
January 17, 2011 and was a success. The event was attended by Her Highness
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, His Excellency Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, HCC
faculty and staff, and AACC retired CEO George Boggs.
(Mr. Oliver returned at 5:23 p.m.)
(Dr. Williams returned at 5:23 p.m.)
FACULTY SENATE
Dr. Alan Ainsworth, President, Faculty Senate, expressed congratulations to the new
Board officers and expressed appreciation to Trustees Loredo and Perez for meeting
with the Faculty Senate. He noted that the faculty is working with the Budget Task
Force as well as the HCC Foundation.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion – Mr. Austin moved and Dr. Williams seconded to approve the following consent
agenda items:
•
Approve Revisions to Instruction Policies
•
Approve MOU with HCC Foundation
•
Approve 3200 Main Street Parking Garage Build-out
•
Approve 2ME Multi-Definition Production Switcher (Project #11-14)
•
Approve Power Generation-Photovoltaic Wind and Hydraulics Equipment
•
Approve Payment to Bracewell & Giuliani for Professional Services
•
Approve Investment Report for October 2010
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
APPROVE MONTHLY FINANCE REPORT FOR DECEMBER 2010
Motion – Dr. Williams moved and Mr. Oliver seconded.
Dr. Tyler apprised that the financial condition of the college continues to be optimistic
despite state reductions. He noted that in terms of net revenues the college is 13%
above last year. At the end of December 2010, the reserve is at 12% which is above
the new requirements.
Vote - The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
APPROVE RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE COLLEGE COMPLETION CHALLENGE
(A CALL TO ACTION)
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved and Mrs. Perez seconded to approve.
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – January 20, 2011 – Page 6
Mr. Austin congratulated the Chancellor on recommending approval of the resolution.
He requested that consideration be given to adoption of The Single Stop USA program,
which has been in partnership with ACCT regarding the completion initiative. Mr. Austin
provided an overview of the program and requested that the effort be made to
incorporate Single Stop USA program in all the colleges.
Dr. Spangler apprised that she would be elated to work with Dr. Pino to review the effort
on behalf of the college.
Mr. Schechter requested that the item be placed on the Academic Affairs committee as
a report item.
Dr. Williams apprised that the concept tells the story and reiterated that efforts should
be identified for implementation of the program.
Vote – The motion passed with a vote of 8-0.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION
RESOLUTION FOR ISSUANCE OF MAINTENANCE TAX NOTES, SERIES 2011 AND
SET PARAMETERS AND PRICING COMMITTEE FOR NOTES
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved and Dr. Williams seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 8-0.
RESOLUTION FOR ISSUANCE OF JUNIOR LIEN STUDENT FEE REVENUE
REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2011 AND SET PARAMETERS AND PRICING
COMMITTEE FOR BONDS AND REDEMPTION PRIOR TO MATURITY OF CERTAIN
OUTSTANDING BONDS
Motion – Mr. Oliver moved and Dr. Williams seconded. The motion passed with a vote
of 8-0.
Dr. Williams noted that as the public views the video of the meeting, it should be noted
that the items approved by the Board have been reviewed and vetted during committee
meetings held prior to the Regular meeting.
ADJOURNED TO CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Schechter adjourned the meeting to Executive Session at 5:52 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 6:48 p.m. and entertained
motions on pending matters.
(Present: Trustees Austin, Loredo, Mullins, Oliver, Perez, Schechter, and Williams)
Houston Community College
Regular Meeting – January 20, 2011 – Page 7
PERSONNEL AGENDA FOR JANUARY 2011
Motion – Dr. Williams moved and Mrs. Perez seconded. The motion passed with vote of
7-0.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business coming before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Minutes recorded, transcribed & submitted by:
Sharon Wright, Manager, Board Services
Minutes Approved as Submitted: