Athens Technical College
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Athens, GA
November 16, 2010
10:30 A.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Ms. Patricia Barron
Mr. Fred Boatwright
Mr. Bill Cabaniss
Mr. Terry Chandler
Mr. Vince Dooley
Mr. Don Fortson, Chair
Mr. Ed Geddings
Mr. Scott Hardigree
Dr. Mixon Robinson
Ms. Carol Williams
Ms. Pet Williams
MEMBERS ABSENT
Mr. Stephen Felker, Jr.
GUESTS
Ms. Caroline Angelo, Director of Registration and Records
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chair Don Fortson called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. welcoming everyone
to the November Board Meeting.
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Ms. Andrea Daniel gave the board an update on the Student Affairs Division. The
college has been working diligently on the Q2S conversion. There will be a
Leadership Summit after Thanksgiving to provide more detailed information on the
Q2S conversion.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Ms. Daniel introduced the guest for the November meeting. Topic: “On-line New
Student Orientation, Caroline Angelo, Director of Registration and Records.” The
college has set up a new online orientation for students, which is unique to Athens
Technical College.
Ms. Daniel thanked Dr. Tydings for allowing them to create the online orientation.
Due to the huge growth in enrollment, the college was going to have to provide
thirty-six orientation sessions for the incoming students for Fall Quarter.
Ms. Angelo demonstrated the new online orientation which began Fall Quarter and
is mandatory for all new students to complete. However, it is not only available to
new students but to all students and may be accessed at any time. New students
may take the online orientation as soon as they receive their acceptance letters.
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November 16, 2010
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Students may complete the online orientation on their own or at the college where
help is available.
The online orientation provides much needed information and forms for students
as well as a campus map where each individual building can be viewed inside and
outside. This helps students locate their classes more easily.
Throughout the orientation students have to answer questions concerning
registration, tuition, classes, etc. Students have to score 80% or better to pass the
online orientation and must bring proof of completion with them in order to register
for classes.
Every student who completes the online orientation is automatically entered to win
a laptop computer which will be given away Spring Quarter. The funds for the
laptop computer were donated by an anonymous faculty member and the Athens
Tech Foundation.
Ms. Angelo thanked Dennis Ashworth and Lee Pilgrim for all of their help in getting
this set up.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Fortson called for approval of the October minutes for the Local Board. After
reviewing, there were no changes. Ed Geddings made a motion to approve the
minutes and Pet Williams seconded the motion with the remainder of the board in
agreement. The minutes were approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Dr. Joyce Sansing presented five new program requests for the Elbert County
Campus. The five requests are for Technical Certificates of Credit (TCCs) and
include Early Childhood Care and Education - Basics, Diesel Drivability
Performance Specialist, Diesel Electrical and Electronic Systems Technician,
Diesel Engine Service Technician, and Diesel Truck Maintenance Technician. All
of the TCCs follow state standards and are imbedded in existing diploma and
degree programs so their approval may be expedited at the state level. The
programs will begin in January 2011.
Dr. Sansing asked the board for approval of the new programs. Patricia Barron
made a motion to approve the programs and Vince Dooley seconded the motion
with the remainder of the board in agreement. The new program requests for
Early Childhood Care and Education - Basics, Diesel Drivability Performance
Specialist, Diesel Electrical and Electronic Systems Technician, Diesel Engine
Service Technician, and Diesel Truck Maintenance Technician were approved.
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November 16, 2010
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FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Ms. Thomas informed the board that she did not have any budget amendments
this month.
Ms. Thomas presented the Financial Report as of October 31, 2010. Local
revenue generated to date is $5,039,410 which is 62% of our anticipated revenue.
The two renovation and repair contracts for the 600 building and 300 building are
encumbered. We are where we should be for the year.
INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Dr. Dan Smith presented a Power Point presentation on Achieving the Dream.
There are two national initiatives, Competition by Design and Achieving the Dream
in which we have become involved with. Competition by Design is an initiative
involving a $35 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The
grant is limited to nine states including Georgia and will be awarded to five of the
nine states participating.
Achieving the Dream is a bold national effort to help community college students
succeed. There is a critical national and state need to focus on community
colleges and foster students’ success. Achieving the Dream looks at community
colleges to see where they are failing, where they are succeeding, and how they
can make changes. More than 1.6 million students in over 130 institutions in
twenty-four states and the District of Columbia are participating in Achieving the
Dream.
Athens Technical College has been chosen to pilot the program in Georgia. The
program focuses on student groups with the most significant barriers to success
including low income students and students of color. Athens Technical College
was chosen because of the high percentage of these students that enroll and the
outstanding leadership at the college.
Achieving the Dream is a five step process including commit to improving student
outcomes, identify and prioritize problems, engage stakeholders in developing
strategies, implement, evaluate, and improve strategies.
Investment in the program would be $75,000 per year for four years plus travel
expenses to two annual events.
Dr. Smith asked for approval from the board for the college to participate in
Achieving the Dream. Scott Hardigree made a motion to approve and Carol
Williams seconded the motion with the remainder of the board in agreement.
College participation in Achieving the Dream was approved by the board.
OFF-CAMPUS OPERATIONS
Dr. Larry Siefferman gave the board an update on the Institutional Advancement
Office. On October 30th, the Alumni Association sponsored its First Annual Classic
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Car Show. Dr. Siefferman passed around photos from the car show. Over fifty
classic cars were available for viewing. The culinary students sold bar-b-que
plates, and several student organizations had a bake sale and promoted their
programs. A silent auction was held which benefited the Alumni Association. The
Alumni Association signed up several new members at the show.
The Foundation trustees approved the purchase of a donor keas. Dr. Siefferman
passed out a handout of what the new keas will look like. The keas will complete
the donor recognition system for the Athens Campus and will recognize donors at
the silver level ($500 - $4,999) and the gold level ($5,000 - $9,999). It will also
include college’s mission statement, and a list of the local board members. There
will be a donor wall placed in the Yeargin Building on the Elbert County Campus.
On Thursday, Grainger will present two $2,000 “Tools for Tomorrow” scholarships.
Grainger has donated a total of $10,000 in scholarships as well as donated $5,000
for auditorium seats in the new Coggins Center.
Dr. Siefferman gave the board an update on the Elbert County Campus. A new
industry, Moeller Tech, is locating to Elberton. Moeller Tech manufactures plastic
parts for the automotive industry. While awaiting renovation of an existing building
in the industry park, Athens Technical College provided three office spaces on the
Elbert County Campus for some of Moeller Tech’s executives. In return, Moeller
Tech established a $500 merit scholarship to be awarded each year to a student in
the Industrial Systems Technology Program.
Dr. Siefferman announced that the ribbon cutting for the new Coggins Center on
the Elbert County Campus will be January 13th at 10:30 a.m. He invited the board
members to attend.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Dr. Tydings presented the President’s Report. She thanked Dr. Dan Smith for his
work on Competition by Design and Achieving the Dream. The college found out
two weeks ago that it would be able to participate in Competition by Design. The
state system is only supporting four colleges to participate in the initiative.
The Student Affairs office is working on creating a list of students who were once
enrolled at the college but never completed a program. They will be contacting the
students and helping them complete their programs before the semester system
begins.
Dr. Tydings gave board members an invitation to the Legislative Luncheon on
December 9th at the Walton County Campus. She passed out a list of the
legislators and the counties where they reside. She asked each board member to
contact the legislators in their counties and encourage them to attend the
luncheon. The culinary arts students will be preparing lunch.
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She passed out an article on the Community College System in Washington State.
They have created an online version of their textbooks for students to use. A
committee was elected at President’s Council to begin working on creating a
similar system for our students.
Dr. Tydings informed board members that our January board meeting will be held
at the H.T. Edwards Building where our Adult Literacy Program is now located.
She passed out directions to the facility.
The Adult Education Conference was held in Atlanta. We have one of two
students in the state that scored a perfect score on the GED. One of our GED
examiners, Carol Harrison, was selected as GED Examiner of the Year and
honored at the Adult Education Luncheon.
She passed out the 2011 board meeting dates. She highlighted the March board
meeting which will be held at Noramco. She thanked Mr. Jerry Barrow for
arranging this with Noramco who graciously agreed to host the board meeting and
provide us with a presentation and industry tour.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Fortson congratulated Ms. Carol Williams on her election to the Clarke
County School Board. Being no further business, Chair Fortson adjourned the
meeting with appropriate motion and second at 12:00 p.m. Lunch was served
immediately afterwards.
_______________________________________
Flora W. Tydings, President
Rebecca Allen
Administrative Assistant
11/17/10
Next scheduled Board Meeting: January 18th, 2011.
* Denotes action items that require a vote for approval by the local board.