MEETING OF THE
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS/STUDENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
October 6, 2011
Minutes
The Academic Affairs/Student Services Committee of the Board of Trustees of Houston
Community College held a meeting on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at the HCC
Administration Building, 3100 Main, 2nd Floor, Seminar Room A, Houston, Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Eva Loredo, Committee Chair
Bruce A. Austin, Committee Member
Sandie Mullins
Christopher W. Oliver
Mary Ann Perez
Richard Schechter
ADMINISTRATION
Mary S. Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Shantay Grays, Interim Executive Assistant 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
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Virginia Parras for Zachary Hodges, President Northwest College
Irene Porcarello, President, Southeast College
Remmele Young, Executive Director, Government Relations and Sustainability
Willie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, System Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Thomas Urban, President, Faculty Senate
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Ms. Loredo called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. and declared the Committee
convened to consider matters pertaining to Houston Community College as listed on the
duly posted Meeting Notice.
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Academic Affairs/Student Services Committee – October 6, 2011 - Page 2
BACTERIAL MENINGITIS DOCUMENTATION PROCESSING FEE
Dr. Pino informed that the fee will impact students under thirty years old enrolling for the
spring semester. She noted that information was provided regarding the impact the
provision would have on the college and noted the constraints for students include the fee
and time since some students are non-traditional and often register at the last minute.
She apprised that there are some exceptions such as enrolling in distance education
courses and being over the age of thirty. Dr. Pino informed that other concerns are the
dual credit students as well as jail students. She noted that the final decision will be made
on October 27, 2011 and also apprised that many institutions are reviewing the possibility
of engaging third party providers to handle medical documentation submission.
Dr. Pino noted that constant review will be required and that documentation will need to
be submitted ten days before school begins.
Mr. Austin inquired of the educational program provided on the issue. Dr. Pino noted that
the information is available on the website and is included in the school catalog.
UPDATE ON ATHLETICS
Dr. Pino informed that participation has increased 210 percent. She noted that the teams
increased to sixteen and a mascot has been unveiled. She apprised that a cheer squad is
under review. Dr. Pino informed that procurement is working on putting out a Request for
Proposal (RFP) for a soccer field, a track and modest bleachers. She noted that Troy
Jefferson, Program Director is communicating with the City of Houston to utilize some of
their indoor facilities for intermural sports. Dr. Pino informed that the presidents discussed
to continue with the $60,000 allocation per college.
OVERVIEW OF CHANCELLOR’S INNOVATION FUND PROJECTS
Dr. David Joost introduced presenters to provide an overview of results of the 2010
Chancellor Innovation Fund Award (CIFA) projects as follows:
•
Biosciences Pathways (Yash Gad for Bart Sheinberg) - The purpose of this
program was to develop coursework pathways by which HCC students are
groomed for transfer to local four-year institutions, with the expectation that they
will be better prepared and more motivated to apply to medical school.
(Ms. Perez stepped out at 3:24 p.m.)
•
Integrating Math and Science Curricula (Dr. Lifang Tien) – The goal of this project
was to enhance STEM students’ ability to apply math knowledge in their science
classes using a Learning Communities model.
UPDATE ON QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN (QEP)
Dr. Charles Cook presented HCC INSPIRE, INSPIRE is an acronym which stands for
Innovative Science Program Initiatives to Reform Education. He noted that the purpose is
to change the way teaching is conducted in sciences, medicine, and research in order to
integrate real world active collaborative learning in the classroom. He apprised that it is
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designed to capture students when they come in the door and a new catalog with multiple
tools will be available soon.
Mr. Schechter asked Dr. Cook to also present next month so that the Board can review
HCC INSPIRE.
Dr. Cook noted that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) team will
be on campus November 7-10, 2011 and that they will be reviewing the QEP as well as
visiting campuses.
(Ms. Mullins arrived at 3:35 p.m.)
The meeting recessed at 3:37 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 4:10 p.m.
REPORT ON STEM DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Cook announced that HCC was awarded a $6 million STEM grant partnership with the
University of St. Thomas to buy science and lab equipment for each of the six colleges.
He noted that HCC was awarded a $294,000 a year grant to strengthen minority
participation in STEM related fields for the next three years.
Dr. Cook noted that the State of Texas is engaged in the “Tuning Texas” project, which
means efforts are being made to tune the articulation agreements between two and fouryear colleges to make transfers seamless. He apprised that the first program selected is
engineering, which has led to a partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler (UT
Tyler).
Dr. Spangler apprised that she along with Ms. Loredo, Ms. Perez attended an initiative on
Hispanic Educational Excellence at the White House on Wednesday, October 5, 2011
and apprised that the meeting focused on practices that need to be revised to advance
Hispanic education among community colleges in the country. Dr. Spangler noted that
she discussed what Texas is doing with the Lumina Foundation, tuning and engineering.
Dr. Spangler noted that UT Tyler has not engaged within the city of Houston on a college
campus like this, which targets students in engineering, statics, dynamics, hard sciences
and math.
Mr. Austin asked what we are doing to be more global with all of the underserved groups.
Dr. Spangler responded that she has a letter from Dr. Rodney Mabry, President of UT
Tyler who is looking at this as a pilot and noted that Dr. Mabry wants to entertain the idea
of broadening to other colleges to make the program wider.
Dr. Spangler spoke with Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor of the University of Houston (UH)
regarding concerns of outside involvement. She noted that Dr. Khator is open to UH
Downtown working with HCC and apprised that she is scheduled to meet with Dr. Bill
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Flores, President of UH Downtown to talk about UH Downtown coming to Northeast
Campus Learning Hub offering programs to meet the needs of the community.
Dr. Spangler apprised that Dr. Ford Fisher has been working with institutions in an effort
to enable students to obtain baccalaureate degrees and noted that Northeast has
established partnerships with Prairie View, UT and other four-year institutions for student
transfers. She noted that Dr. Ford Fisher would like to move forward with a multiinstitutional teaching center and set aside classroom space at the Northeast Learning
Hub for students to complete their baccalaureate degree on campus.
Mr. Austin noted there is a need to develop a more aggressive coordinated marketing
plan to advance students involvement in the STEM areas. Dr. Cook suggested working
with UH.
Mr. Austin inquired what mechanism is utilized to get information to the public domain.
Dr. Cook advised that information is currently being disseminated to the public regarding
the necessity of an education. Dr. Spangler noted that working with the four-year
institutions is a more effective way to make the Baccalaureate degree obtainable.
Mr. Schechter thanked Dr. Ford Fisher for her effort in this matter.
REPORT ON STUDENT TRANSFER SUCCESS RATE
Dr. Cook informed that an article in the Community Times addresses transfer rates. He
noted that transfer rates are dependent on how transfer is defined and which students are
included in the calculations.
(Ms. Perez stepped out at 4:36 p.m.)
Mr. Schechter stated he is interested in seeing how successful HCC students are after
they transfer to a four-year college.
Dr. Cook informed that it depends on how many hours they transfer with, the more hours
the higher the success rate. Dr. Cook informed that he will provide a report regarding the
transfer success rate; however, he apprised that there are many complex variables.
Mr. Schechter noted the information will be useful in helping the Board communicate to
the community.
(Trustee Oliver arrived at 4:41 p.m.)
REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FOR FACULTY MEMBERS
Dr. Spangler informed that the report is for information purposes to apprised the Board
that faculty members will be traveling abroad.
Mr. Austin noted that the report should be provided to the Board before travel occurs.
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ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.
Recorded, transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon R. Wright, Manager, Board Services
Minutes Approved: _________________________________