MEETING OF THE
STRATEGIC PLANNING AD HOC COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
June 7, 2012
Minutes
The Strategic Planning Ad Hoc Committee of the Board of Trustees of Houston Community
College held a meeting on Thursday, June 7, 2012, at the HCC Administration Building,
3100 Main, 2nd Floor, Seminar Room A, Houston, Texas.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Richard Schechter, Committee Chair
Bruce Austin, Committee Member
Eva Loredo, Committee Member
Mary Ann Perez, Alternate Committee Member
Yolanda Navarro Flores
Sandie Mullins
Carroll G. Robinson
ADMINISTRATION
Mary S. Spangler, Chancellor
Art Tyler, Deputy Chancellor/COO
Renee Byas, General Counsel
Shantay Grays, Interim Executive Officer to the Chancellor
William Carter, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology
Charles Cook, Vice Chancellor, Instruction
Diana Pino, Vice Chancellor, Student Success
Margaret Ford Fisher, President, Northeast College
Fena Garza, President, Southwest College
William Harmon, President, Central College
Zachary Hodges, President, Northwest College
Willie Williams, Chief Human Resources Officer
OTHERS PRESENT
Jarvis Hollingsworth, Board Counsel, Bracewell & Giuliani
Clarence Grier, RBC Capital
Lisa Eason, President, COPA
Other administrators, citizens and representatives from the news media
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Schechter called the meeting to order at 3:08 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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Strategic Planning Committee – June 7, 2012 - Page 2
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2012-2015
Dr. Spangler provided an overview of the process undertaken regarding the development of
the Strategic Plan.
(Mr. Robinson stepped out at 3:10 p.m.)
Dr. Spangler noted that the Board requested more substance for the actions relating to the
seven initiatives.
(Mr. Robinson returned at 3:14 p.m.)
Mr. Austin informed that a strategic plan should identify where you are and where you want
to be. He referenced seven recommendations from AACC and ACE, which identifies
making people college and/or workforce ready to replace the large number of workforce
retiring. Mr. Austin requested to hear how HCC will transform the Houston population
based on the plan that has been presented.
(Mr. Robinson stepped out at 3:16 p.m.)
Dr. Spangler informed that the plan takes the student completion agenda and identifies it as
the primary initiative goals for year one. She informed that the strategic plan was
developed with the Chancellor’s Cabinet (Presidents and Vice Chancellors) and apprised
that this effort crosses paths with the AACC Reclaiming the Dream program.
Mr. Austin noted that the question is how do you transform those that are lost economically.
Dr. Spangler apprised that the initiative encourages individualized instruction and mastery
learning techniques to work with different types of students.
(Mr. Robinson returned at 3:33 p.m.)
Ms. Loredo apprised that the plan is a strategic plan and informed that the action steps
drive the budget and the facilities. She noted that everyone needs to buy-in into the plan
and that the bottom line should be to identify ways to help the students.
(Ms. Perez stepped out at 3:32 p.m.)
Mrs. Flores inquired what were the challenges and discussions that were driving the plan.
She informed that it would be good to see what others have identified as the challenges in
assisting the students in reaching their goals. Dr. Spangler responded that the driving force
was a continuation of the first plan to be relevant, to provide opportunity, and to be
essential to the community.
Dr. Tyler apprised that the Cabinet revisited the plan to determine what it would take to
accomplish the initiatives and noted that the initiatives were coordinated to integrate the
tasks to allow accomplishing the necessary tasks in year one actions. Dr. Tyler informed
that the goal is to manage the plan because administration recognizes that there is a need
to transform the means for teaching students.
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Strategic Planning Committee – June 7, 2012 - Page 3
Mrs. Flores noted that she is concerned in regards to what happened with the counselors
situation and inquired as to what resources will be utilized to provide more assistance to the
students.
Dr. Tyler apprised that software is being implemented to assist with tracking students. Dr.
Diana Pino informed that the students need to know that someone cares for them. She
noted that it has a lot to do with the relationship with the student and working with them to
obtain the tools to be self-sufficient.
Mr. Robinson inquired what HCC would look like in a pie chart format to include academics,
facilities and operations. He informed that when reviewing the strategic plan, he is
evaluating where resources are invested and what is the best use of resources in terms of
academic success. He apprised that the plan looks fine the way it is presented; however,
he is trying to grasp the direction from a larger point of view. He noted that the thought is
how to use workforce and enterprise partnerships and apprised that there will be some
areas where more resources are needed.
(Ms. Perez returned at 3:54 p.m.)
Dr. Tyler noted that 65% of resources are spent on academic and workforce; 25% is for
back office operations at the administration and campuses; and 10% is expended on
maintaining the buildings.
(Mrs. Flores left at 3:57 p.m.)
Mr. Robinson inquired as to how much land is owned by HCC, where it is and what are the
development opportunities. He noted that there may be a consideration to do joint
partnership efforts regarding revenue generating enterprises to acquire more unrestricted
dollars.
Ms. Mullins apprised that there was not a clear view of how the college will move students
to completion. Dr. Cook informed that a partnership effort is needed with the school
districts.
(Ms. Mullins stepped out at 4:05 p.m.)
Mr. Austin noted that academic preparation is still the core function of the college; however,
the primary function is to move people through the system by transferring students to fouryear institutions, career education, developmental education, continuing education,
industrial training, contracting training, and develop cooperative education program. He
noted that the information should provide a sense of what the college should be capturing,
which is encompassed in the plan presented.
(Ms. Mullins returned at 4:08 p.m.)
Mr. Robinson apprised that the discussion on developmental education is vital because it
costs too much to continue developmental education. He noted that the college should be
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Strategic Planning Committee – June 7, 2012 - Page 4
at the high schools at the early stages rather than waiting to do developmental education
and informed that the state allows for the operation of charter schools.
Dr. Cook recommended possibly holding conversations with HISD regarding sharing costs.
Dr. Hodges informed that Alief has taken a bold step and awarded the extra quality grade
point average to dual credit which equates with advanced placement classes.
Mr. Schechter provided the following plan needs from his perspective:
•
What will be done to make certain students are prepared for success?
Developmental education is not working; however, there is nothing addressing the
efforts to transform, there must be an alternative pathway for students with low test
scores.
•
Work with ISDs on facility sharing issues and testing or coaching students
•
Identify a clear and simple pathway to certificate and degree completion
•
Need an assessment of learning outcomes
•
Transform from culture of teaching to culture of learning
•
Academic advising from faculty
Dr. Tyler apprised that some of the items are more tactical as opposed to strategic.
(Ms. Perez stepped out at 4:30 p.m.)
Mr. Austin apprised that the question is “what is needed”, and then determine need what
needs to be done to accomplish it. He noted that the plan only requires minor tweaking and
apprised that the Washington State information should be reviewed.
Dr. Cook apprised that the main points could be brought up to a greater focus and revise
stylistically.
Mr. Schechter informed that there is no ability to measure the accomplishments.
Dr. Spangler noted that the stringent requests will take time and resources.
Ms. Mullins informed that the numbers should be established for measuring purposes, even
if the numbers are not favorable.
.
Mr. Robinson noted that he was of the impression that a summary plan would be
developed for dissemination and a more detailed plan would be developed for internal
usage. He informed that more data is needed for evaluating purposes.
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Strategic Planning Committee – June 7, 2012 - Page 5
Mr. Robinson agreed with Mr. Schechter in that there should be highlights regarding
continuing education and workforce, and noted that there is a separate methodology as a
Board regarding measurements and evaluations. He apprised that there needs to be a
document that the public can read to see what academic success looks like.
Mr. Robinson apprised that two months ago he was informed that students that passed the
compass test failed classes and the reason given was high school preparation and high
school exams. He recommended going beyond Achieving the Dream to determine what
message the data is providing and develop a plan to fix it.
.
Dr. Cook informed that is the goal of Achieving the Dream.
Mr. Robinson noted that a conversation regarding unrestricted funds that can be put into
those types of programs should be held.
Ms. Loredo noted that it should be understood that the plan is not etched in stone; therefore
it could be revised.
Motion - Mr. Schechter moved that administration revise the plan and develop a draft that
addresses the points provided by the Board and develop a separate document to include
the tasks that can be used by the Board for evaluating. Mr. Austin seconded. The motion
passed with a vote of 3-0.
Ms. Perez apprised that it is important to meet with the HISD Board. She asked Board
Services to poll the Board for a meeting in August.
Mr. Schechter recommended developing a document that outlines a three-year
measurement. Ms. Loredo recommended a year-to-year review for a comparison purposes.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
Recorded, transcribed and submitted by:
Sharon R. Wright, Manager, Board Services
Minutes Approved: