Athens Technical College
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Athens, GA
September 21, 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
MEMBERS ABSENT
Mr. Stephen Felker, Jr.
Ms. Pet Williams
GUESTS
Ms. Erin Pew, Coordinator of International Student Services
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOME
Chair Don Fortson called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. welcoming everyone
to the September Board Meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Chair Fortson informed board members that Terry Chandler, new board member,
would be sworn in by Patricia Barron. Mr. Chandler is replacing Kenny Beck on
the board and will represent Madison County. Judge Barron swore in Mr.
Chandler and a photo was taken of the swearing in.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Mr. Fortson asked Ms. Andrea Daniel to introduce the guest for the September
meeting. Topic: “An Introduction to the International Student Office, Ms. Erin Pew,
Coordinator of International Student Services.
Ms. Pew discussed the International Student Office and her job as Coordinator of
International Student Services. The International Student Office serves as the
resource center for international students who want to attend Athens Technical
College. It is her job to make sure international students are meeting their
requirements including keeping a full academic work load, attending classes,
keeping personal information up to date, etc.
At the International Student Office, international students can obtain information
concerning admissions, visas, orientation, and student organizations. International
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September 21, 2010
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students attend Athens Technical College for many different reasons including
improving career opportunities, increasing cultural exposure, gaining new
experiences, and taking classes to transfer to another college or university.
International students have to meet certain admissions requirements including
submitting an application, paying an application fee, providing official transcripts,
submitting their Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL), and submitting
official entrance exam scores. They also must meet certain requirements in order
to obtain a student VISA and come to the U.S. It is mandatory that all international
students report to the International Student Office within ten days of arriving in
Athens.
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a U.S.
Government computerized process that collects and maintains data about foreign
students during their stay in the U.S. SEVIS requires international students to
provide official documentation that they have enough money to pay all educational
and living expenses for at least one academic year.
Athens Technical College expects to be SEVIS approved by January 2011 and
begin taking international students.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Fortson called for approval of the May minutes for the Local Board. After
reviewing, there were no changes. Carol Williams made a motion to approve the
minutes and Ed Geddings seconded the motion with the remainder of the board in
agreement. The minutes were approved.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Dr. Sansing introduced Dr. Scott Martin, the new Dean for Life Sciences Division.
Dr. Martin was the Chair of the Physician Assistant Program at the Medical
College of Georgia.
Dr. Sansing asked the board to approve three new full degree and diploma
programs for the Walton County Campus. These programs include Culinary,
Criminal Justice, and Marketing Management. All of these programs are already
at the Athens Campus. Patricia Barron made a motion to approve the programs
at the Walton County Campus and Bill Cabaniss seconded the motion with the
remainder of the board in agreement. The above programs were approved for the
Walton County Campus.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Mr. Jerry Barrow gave the board an update on Economic Development Services.
Jimmy Hogg is the new Director at the Walton County Campus. The high school
has completely moved out of the building and our staff is expanding to other areas
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September 21, 2010
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of the building.
Campus.
There are approximately 400 students at the Walton County
Yancey Gulley has been doing a great job recruiting new students at the Greene
County Campus which now has approximately 100 students. He has also been
doing a great job at handling some operational issues with the shuttle bus.
The state has launched a new job search system called Work Ready Connect. It
is a new system to help businesses looking to hire and to help people looking to
get hired.
Madison and Oglethorpe Counties just became certified Work Ready counties and
will each receive a $10,000 grant to continue their Work Ready certification
process.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Ms. Kathryn Thomas presented the 2010 Student Write-Offs which have to be
submitted to the state so her books can be cleared out at the end of the fiscal
year. The state requires three letters, including one certified letter, be sent to each
student who has an unpaid balance, and then the expenses can be written off.
Ms. Thomas presented the 2010 Year End Summary which is a review of how we
finished the fiscal year. This is the first year we were able to roll over tuition funds.
Ms. Thomas presented the 2011 Initial Budget. A new category, “Miscellaneous
Student Fees” has been added. Locally generated funds are at $10,152,050. Ms.
Thomas asked for the board to approve the 2011 Initial Budget. Patricia Barron
made a motion to approve the 2011 Initial Budget and Carol Williams seconded
the motion with the remainder of the board in agreement. The 2011 Initial Budget
was approved.
Ms. Thomas presented the 2011 Local Budgets which is a breakdown of local and
state funds. Requests for budgets are now automated on the computer. Ms.
Thomas thanked Dan Smith and his staff for making this possible.
Ms. Thomas presented the Financial Report as of August 31, 2010. We have
generated $4,479,025 to date.
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Dr. Larry Siefferman updated the board on the Institutional Advancement office.
He introduced Pat Reagan who is the new Director for the Institutional
Advancement office.
Dr. Siefferman informed the board that Carol Williams retired as president of the
Foundation and Ed Graham is the new president. Frank Christa joined the
Foundation board.
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There is a Foundation strategic planning session next week.
Dr. Siefferman updated the board on donations received since his last report to the
board:
 Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded an $18,175 grant to the Adult
Education Program.
 Chipman Union Foundation donated $15,000 in support of the Greene
County Campus shuttle operation.
 Newland Family Foundation made their final pledge payment of $8,500.
 Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant for GED
scholarships.
 Grainger awarded $4,000 in Tools for Tomorrow scholarships.
 Walton County Foundation donated $2,375 for GED scholarships.
 Follett Higher Education donated $1,000 to the Foundation general fund.
 Wal-Mart Retail Store in Monroe donated $500 to the Walton County GED
program.
Dr. Siefferman updated the board on the donor brick campaign. To date seventyeight bricks have been sold. They are going to be put in place so people can see
them.
Sixty-seven auditorium seats for the new Elbert Technical and Industrial Building
have been sold to date. The new building is near completion.
The Athens Technical College Alumni Association is hosting its first annual classic
car show on October 30th. Dr. Siefferman handed out a flyer and invited the board
members to attend. Admittance is free and there will be food and music.
INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Dr. Dan Smith presented the 2011–2012 academic calendar to the board which
includes the semester system conversion. The Summer transition quarter will
begin on July 6th and end on August 16th. Dr. Smith asked for approval of the
calendar. Carol Williams made a motion to approve the calendar and Patricia
Barron seconded the motion with the remainder of the board in agreement. The
2011-2012 academic calendar was approved.
Dr. Smith provided board members with a copy of the 2010 county profiles book
and CD. Next year it will be transitioned to CD form only.
We received word back from the Commission on Colleges about our five year
report. Everything was fine except one additional item that needed to be
submitted. We are beginning to work on the ten year report.
There is new signage on campus to help students find their way around.
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Dr. Smith presented our new website to the board. He thanked Dennis Ashworth
and his staff for all of their hard work on it.
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Ms. Andrea Daniel gave the board an update on the Student Affairs Division.
Online orientation is now available to students. She thanked Dennis Ashworth and
his staff, Caroline Angelo, and Dr. Joyce Sansing for all their hard work. So far
1,492 students have completed the online orientation process. Students have to
obtain 80% or better to pass the online orientation. So far, the pass rate is 98%.
Enrollment is up for Fall Quarter with 5,711 students enrolled as of today. Last
year there were 5,300 students enrolled Fall Quarter. Approximately 900 students
registered on Monday during late registration. Enrollment is up on every campus.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Dr. Tydings presented the President’s Report. She handed out information on
HOPE remodeling that was provided at President’s Council last week. HOPE
revenues have not kept up with the demand and HOPE funds are running out.
The state has dipped into the reserve fund. Changes are being made to remodel
the HOPE program.
Dr. Tydings handed out a motion to the board members. The motion was voted on
at President’s Council to uphold and protect the registered trademark of Georgia
Quick Start. We are in litigation with Louisiana who is trying to use the Quick Start
name. Georgia Quick Start has been #1 in the nation since 1999.
Dr. Tydings handed out a Local Board Member Emeritus to the board members. It
was approved at President’s Council to have a local board member emeritus to
recognize an outgoing or former local board member for their outstanding
contributions to the college. The state board will vote on this at their next meeting
in October.
The state has informed us that we will have to implement a 4% cut. We had to
present two plans to the state including a plan with 4%, 6%, and 8% cuts and a
plan with 6%, 8%, and 10% cuts. State revenues over all are up.
She presented her capital outlay project which ended up number ten on the list.
However, this year both lists will be presented to the legislators.
Dr. Tydings handed out information about the TCDA-TCFA Conference in October
in Macon.
At the request of the chairman of the state board, we have been participating in
strategic planning. He has asked all the colleges to answer two questions: what
would we do if there were no state funding, and what would we do if money were
no object.
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Athens Regional Medical Center is moving forward with purchasing the property
next to our facilities building which is currently being used by Compass. Once
they have purchased the property we are going to swap them our property across
the street for this property. Athens Regional is going to build an outpatient facility
on the property across the street.
ADJOURNMENT
Being no further business, Chair Fortson adjourned the meeting with appropriate
motion and second at 12:30 p.m. Lunch was served immediately afterwards.
_______________________________________
Flora W. Tydings, President
Rebecca Allen
Administrative Assistant
9/22/10
Next scheduled Board Meeting: October 19, 2010.
* Denotes action items that require a vote for approval by the local board.