LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES
April 8, 2015

1. Attendance
Board members present: Bob Ackerman, Pat Albright, Matt Keating, Gary LeClair, Tony McCown, Rosie Pryor, and Sharon Stiles. Also present were: President Mary Spilde; Vice President Brian Kelly, Interim Vice President Dawn DeWolf; Lane Community College Education Association President Jim Salt; LCCEF President Bob Baldwin; and ASLCC President Malissa Ratthasing.

A. Chair Albright called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.

B. President's Report
I am very sorry to report that we recently lost two members of our college family.

Bert Dotson passed away on March 29. He was 91. As many of you know, Bert was a prominent citizen of Lane County. He helped create Lane Community College as executive secretary of a community college study committee which prepared the ballot measure that would create LCC. He ran the PR campaign that convinced local citizens of the importance and need for a community college. Bert also became Lane's first administrative assistant and served through four administrations from 1964 until his retirement in 1982. Bert worked to create the college's first budget, find classroom space, hire staff and faculty, and select the college's first president, Dale Parnell. A private family service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in memory of Bert Dotson to the Lane Community College Foundation or the Alzheimer's Association of Eugene.

Jack Powell passed away on March 29 at age 78. Jack devoted 33 years to Lane, beginning in 1968 when he taught English. He headed up Financial Aid from 1969 to 1977 and then returned to the English Department as chair until his retirement in 1998. He gained a certain amount of fame as the MC for many graduation ceremonies, and in retirement he was active in the Very Little Theater including serving on its board. He was instrumental in starting the Lane retirement group. Outside of Lane, Jack was active in the US Coast Guard. A private family service was held.

I'm sure you're impressed with the tremendous progress made on our Center for Learning and Student Success project right outside of this room—and by the way, remember to avoid the back stairs–they're gone. I'd like to give a shout out to Facilities, Food Services and the Titan Store who really stepped up to work out a few bugs and make sure we all find our way around campus and that we all find something to eat. There are five different eateries now. Maps have been distributed and can be downloaded from the facilities website at lanecc.edu/facilities. The maps will be updated every time there's a route change. I have a couple of samples of the Construction Café map to pass around so you can see an example. We recognize the huge inconvenience for students and staff, but the payoff will be an amazing building that will transform the campus.

I am very pleased to report that we have received notice from the Education Department that our Loan Servicing Appeal for FY2011 was reviewed, and our default rate was revised down to 27.4 percent. What this means is that we are in good standing. Our staff submitted 42 accounts for review, and the ED admitted that 37 of those lacked evidence for default. So our three-year rates for 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively, are 19.5 percent, 30.6 percent, and 27.4 percent. Kudos to Kerry Levett, Helen Faith and to all the staff in Financial Aid for their exhaustive work and commitment in setting the record straight, with a special shout out to Luna Lacey who did most of the legwork for the loan servicing appeal,.

It is time once again to recognize outstanding scholars at Oregon's community colleges. The Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) organizes this annual event to bring two students from each college to the capital in Salem for a special recognition event. This year that will be on April 30. Our scholars are Minette Roberts and Ellen Klowden. Minette is 26 and has a 3.67 GPA. She plans to transfer to Oregon State University and earn a double degree in early childhood education and either art or sociology, and then a doctorate, towards a future career in social justice. Ellen is a returning student with a 4.0 GPA. She is seeking a degree in health informatics and plans to transfer either to OHSU or OIT. This will build on her earlier career in health records.

Congratulations to our Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Program which was awarded the Best Presentation & Hospitality Award at last night's Chef's Night Out event at the Hult Center. Ticket sales for this event went to Food for Lane County. Also, the West Family graciously selected two Lane students to each receive a $2,000 Future Culinarian Award. The students were Britany Clingenpeel and Jackson Kelsay, both dual-degree students. The award was named in memory of Mike West who passed away in 2011 and was a big supporter of Lane's programs.

For spring term, on the second week of classes, total registrations for all classes are down 15.4% compared to the same point last year.

There was another case of meningitis in a UO student, this time at the Capstone 13th & Olive apartments where LCC students also live. Vice President Brian Kelly led a response team which mobilized in partnership with Lane County Public Health on very short notice to offer a vaccination clinic for our students at the building. We are ready to take action again, but we certainly hope this outbreak is over.

• Next week at Lane, we will host an Achieving the Dream site visit on April 14 and 15.
• On April 22 we'll celebrate Earth Day. Our Sustainability Committee encourages students and staff to walk, ride their bike or take the bus together to main campus. If you want to participate, contact Brian or Mike Sims in our Sustainability office. And speaking of sustainability, kudos to the Turn It Off campaign at Lane which has been encouraging those of us who work here to conserve energy. The staff in Building 1, Student Services, has achieved the lowest energy use for that building in 10 years!
• The Peace Center's 8th Annual Symposium on April 30 will feature Suzan Harjo. She is a Native American poet, writer, lecturer, curator, and policy advocate. She recently received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
• Finally, remember that the college will be closed for our annual Spring Conference on Friday, May 1.

So, here's what's been going on in Salem, and Brett may have some further updates.
• The community college budget has been much of the attention lately in Salem. I had the opportunity to kick-off testimony before the Ways and Means Education Subcommittee last Wednesday, speaking about the role of community colleges in Oregon. On Friday, UO Interim President Scott Coltraine spoke alongside recent Lane graduate and transfer student Kevin Loder. It was the first time in recent memory that a UO president lobbied the legislature in such a public way for community college funding. And on Monday numerous Lane students, including ASLCC Vice President Ashley Jackson and LCCEA President Jim Salt, spoke to the committee. So Lane has been very visible in the Capitol, and we continue to advocate for a minimum of $550 million for the Community College Support Fund.
• The Ways and Means Committee has announced it will travel the state again this year to accept public comment on the budget. The budget committee members will be in Springfield on the evening on Thursday, April 23. Brett will have more information, including location, available soon.
• I attended the HECC Funding and Achievement Subcommittee's meeting last week. I've been working with OCCA and OEA and have met a couple of times with our new governor's staff with a request at minimum to slow down the process and have a different conversation going forward. It appears that we are there with that decision. We don't expect a big pronouncement, but do expect to the see the HECC announce this work going forward. Want to make sure it's not just slowing down to pick up the work later, but slowing down to talk about different work.

In Washington, the House and Senate passed their respective budget resolutions last week, establishing high-level targets for government spending in FY 16 and beyond. Both documents lay out a plan to balance the federal budget within 10 years. The budgets hew to the so-called "sequester level" discretionary spending caps set forth in the Budget Control Act of 2012, but would allow for increased defense spending that is not subject to those caps. Each budget also calls for non-defense discretionary spending well below sequester caps for the remainder of the 10-year budget window. The House budget resolution recommends a number of desultory changes to the Pell Grant and student loan programs, most of which have been featured in recent years' budgets as well.

Albright noted the impact Bert Dotson had on Lane Community College. He was instrumental in the establishment and opening of the college, working behind the scenes to ensure that a community college in Lane County would come to fruition.

Ackerman talked about working with Dotson in the early days of Lane. Dotson was an astute and capable administrator and, in Ackerman's opinion, a co-founder of the college.

1) Personnel
The college's current personnel appointments were presented.

C. Board Agenda Review/Changes
Keating moved that the time for public statements be extended so that the board can hear from every community member. Pryor seconded.

Motion passed unanimously.

D. Statements from Audience
Kristina Holton, Math Resource Center Director and Co-Advisor of Phi Theta Kappa, Diane Pasquinelli, Phi Theta Kappa President, and Lida Herburger, Cottage Grove Director, expressed their gratitude to President Spilde for her commitment to the students. Phi Theta Kappa has recognized Spilde nationally for the opportunities students are provided at Lane.

Charles Stewart, student, showed a video where he advocated for community college funding at the state capitol.

Jim Salt, LCCEF President, stated that the programs listed for reduction more than pay for themselves, and that it will hurt the college budget to cut them.

Doug Weiss, Electronics Instructor, advocated for maintaining the Electronics program, stating that there are several openings in the area for Electronics Technology graduates.

Terry Dale, Electronics Instructor, spoke in support of the Electronics program, stating that the program keeps up with the changing technology of the industry.

Dean Bergen, Auto Body Instructor, spoke in support of the Auto Body program, stating that the graduates go into a variety of positions in Lane County.

Ken Jordan, Auto Body Instructor and graduate of the program, spoke in support of the Auto Body program. He found employment immediately after graduation, eventually opening his own business and then returning to teach at Lane. He invited board members to come to the shop for a personal tour.

Kelly Collins, Medical Office Assistant (MOA) instructor, stated that the community needs the MOA program and urged the boar not to suspend it. It is already a great program, and everyone can work together to improve it.

Marti Pittman, MOA Program Coordinator, spoke in support of the MOA program. There have been 158 grads in the last five years, and 95% of graduates pass the state exam. 80 to 90% of graduates find employment in the first 6 months.

Adrienne Mitchell, Academic Learning Skills instructor, stated that the faculty and administration have worked together in the past, and the results have been remarkable. She advocated for doing that now with the budget in order to keep all programs intact. Cutting programs would further decrease enrollment.

Manuel Mejia, student and ASLCC Multicultural Coordinator, urged the board not to cut programs.

Veronica Collins, student, stated that she has been taking prerequisites for the MOA program and asked the board not to cut the program.

Kimberley Taintor, student, stated that she has been taking prerequisites for the MOA program and asked the board not to cut the program.

Mariana Perdones, ASLCC Community Director and Co Chair of the Students of Color Coalition, urged the board not to cut programs.

Jim O'Brien, Adult Basic and Secondary Education instructor, stated that the administration repeatedly fails to compromise on proposals. With the latest list of reductions, he has lost all confidence in Lane's administration.

Andrew Moser, Electronic Technology graduate, stated that he is now employed because of the skills he learned here in the program. It would be a huge mistake to cut that program. Graduates are needed.

Mark Carney, Electronic Technology graduate, also urged the board not to cut the program.

Milton Stahmer, USNR Production Manager, spoke in support of retaining the Electronic Technology program. He has personally hired ten of Lane's graduates. The program provides living wage jobs, and he was shocked to hear that someone thought the program was substandard.

Jake Kolinsiski, Custodian and Auto Body graduate and part-time instructor, acknowledged that it is a tough time. He spoke in support of the Auto Body program and urged the college to talk to those in the industry.

Christina Howard, Physical Therapy Assistant Coordinator, spoke about the collaborative process that is happening for program review. She asked that those programs under consideration for reduction be allowed to move forward through the program review process.

Marie Sagaberd, Custodian, asked that programs not be reduced.

Dennis Gilbert, Physics instructor, stated that he is working with a grassroots campaign to raise revenue for the State of Oregon. The Program Review process has been created and launched. He was opposed to unnecessarily reckless and destructive decision making.

Eric Scofield, President of Scofield Electric, stated that he was interviewed for the survey regarding Electronic Technology and that his comments may have been taken out of context or misconstrued. The program is using and teaching the technology his company is using on a daily basis.

Thomas Potter, Eugene Pediatrics Project Manager, stated that he was also surveyed and wanted to clarify that Eugene Pediatrics does not want the MOA program to be suspended. There is need for more certified MOAs in the industry.

Pat Boleyn, Biology and Watershed instructor, spoke against the elimination of the three programs. She would like to see more transparency in decision making. The faculty are the public face of the college, and it is difficult to stay positive with such low morale.

Elllen Klowden, student, asked the board not to cut programs.

Julie Chenosky graduated from the MOA program in 2003 and has been employed ever since. She stated that the program is needed in the community.

The board took a five minute break at 8:10 pm.

Ackerman left the meeting.

2A. Consent Agenda
Keating moved, seconded by Pryor, to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of:

• Approval of the March 11, 2015, minutes
• Advisory Committee Membership List
• Review of Board Policies:
o Meetings and Executive Sessions, BP 365
o New Board Member Orientation, BP 375
o Officers on the Board of Education, BP 380

Motion passed unanimously.

Rosie moved to move board agenda item 4.B., Budget Update, to item 4.A. Keating seconded.

Motion failed. Albright, Stiles, and LeClair dissented.

3. Discussion/Action Items
A. Spotlight on Student Success: Athletics
Chris Hawken, Health and Physical Education Division Dean, and Greg Sheley, Athletics Director, updated the board on Athletics activities. Lane's Athletics have won 19 NWAC Championships and 72 Southern Region Championships.

Lane currently offers eight intercollegiate sports: Cross Country, Track & Field, and Basketball for men and women, Baseball, and Women's Soccer. Lane also sponsors club teams through the recreation department including volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

Lane's athletes achieve academic success with an average GPA of 3.0 and above and a 91% completion rate. Lane's athletes are diverse; 26% of the students in athletics declared as under-represented status.

The Athletics program recently implemented a study hall, where students spent 8,000 hours last year with 370 tutoring hours.

In 2014, Lane won the NWAC Director's Cup and was included in the top 20 of the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators State Association Division.

Several students have had athletic success after leaving Lane, such as Olympic athletes, world champions, and Major League Baseball draftees.

Sheley introduced Lynette Minthorn, Lane graduate and former basketball player, spoke about her successes at Lane. She recently completed her Bachelor's degree and was just accepted into a Master's program at Portland State University.

Partnerships with the community included the Olympic trials in 2012, the LAAF World Junior Championships, USA Olympic Track and Field Trials in 2016, OSAA State Cross Country and Volleyball Championships, and the Eugene Timbers Futbol Club.
Olympic trials 2012

In the future, Hawken and Sheley would like to see the addition of women's volleyball and men's soccer, the completion of the track and soccer facilities, and the creation of a new multi-purpose facility.

B. Budget Update
Spilde summarized that the budget process began last August. In November, the board began receiving budget updates at each board meeting. When the board discussed tuition, it was originally tabled, and when a tuition increase was approved, the board had directed administration to look at the expense side of the budget.

Spilde addressed the report on the career technical programs being proposed for reduction. It was not intended to be sociologically significant. Local interviews were conducted with employers to determine whether or not our students were being hired. In order to identify employers, Andrea Newton reached out to the Employment Department, which is the only major database we have in Oregon. She reached out to division deans, to some advisory committee members, and the Cooperative Education faculty to identify individuals. There was nothing secret about this. People were involved in identifying employers. Once criteria were applied, the FTE and number of students affected were reviewed. Reductions were considered with regard to the larger budget balancing that needs to be done. This element is one piece of many variables that will need to be decided upon, and it is coming up now particularly for contractual obligations since affected faculty need to be notified by May 1. The budget situation has been discussed outside public board meetings; Vice President Brian Kelly has consistently sent out communications to all staff. Per the faculty contract, the administration did inform LCCEA of faculty layoffs and specific programs and requested confidentiality until the review was completed. The administration had meetings with the union and did not hear any alternatives. We are in the process of sending communications to students. There would be an obligation for students in the programs to have the opportunity to complete. Advisory committee members have also been contacted.

Kelly stated that a Budget and Finance Subcommittee meeting was held last week where members looked at the projections as of March 11. Earlier this year, the board was asked to let the administration balance this year's budget. This year, we were able to get through the $12.6 million deficit without affecting full-time employees; ho wever, part-time faculty and staff were seriously affected. Next year's budget is based on the assumption of $535 million in the community college support fund. A 7% decrease in enrollment is estimated, and the budget deficit is estimated at $4.6 million.

The board questioned the $700,000 increase in capital outlay. Kelly noted that capital outlay has consistently been held back for years. That means that the divisions that need purchases can't spend to provide instructional services for students. The administration is advocating strongly to reinstate capital outlay to its previous level.

Kelly explained the levers used to balance the budget, including a tuition increase, enrollment decrease, the vacancy and retirement factor, M&S reductions, and program and service reductions. For wage increases, insurance and step increases and a COLA are being considered.

The board requested a list of what was done to balance this year's budget, a crosswalk of the budget from last year to this year, and an evaluation of the former program cuts and savings. The board also wanted to consider not restoring the capital outlay funding to its previous amount.

C. ASLCC Ballot Measures
McCown moved, seconded by Pryor, to approve the proposed ASLCC ballot measure language as a non-binding recommendation for inclusion in the Spring 2015 election.

Motion passed unanimously

D. Board Evaluation Process
A self-evaluation of the board is conducted annually. Board members will each complete their self-evaluation and results will be distributed for the June meeting.

5. Accountability/Reports
A. Facilities Update
An update on the status of bond and facilities projects was presented.

6. Reports
ASLCC President Malissa Ratthasing stated that she and others will attend the Online Education Resources conference on April 24. She is proud of the students who are part of this process. ASLCC took action at the last budget hearing in Salem to ask for $560 million for community colleges. Things got a little heated, and she was worried that they would be escorted out of the room. She looked forward to the Ways and Means Roadshow.

LCCEF President Bob Baldwin stated that respect doesn't cost money. Every week he has members come to him to say that they have been harassed or intimidated or bullied by their managers. He has brought this to the attention of the administration to no avail. He has brought this to the board and has been told that's not civil.

LCCEA President Jim Salt thanked the board for the extended timeline to allow everyone time to speak. The college does not need to make these cuts to save money. He would like to see groups work together to figure out alternatives. We should be looking at the issues honestly. The fight against performance based funding is working because everyone worked together.

Vice President Dawn DeWolf attended accreditation training in Seattle for the Year One report. She commended the collaboration on program review to produce a process that will be continuous improvement. Regarding the proposed reductions, there isn't a college that isn't looking at labor market needs as it relates to career technical to be sure there are jobs out there as students are going into debt.

Vice President Brian Kelly introduced Jennifer Hayward as the new interim assistant director of Facilities Management and Planning. Her previous position has been Sustainability Coordinator. The work on program review has been amazing, and Jennifer Steele has been instrumental. The core themes should be finalized by the end of the year. The Budget and Finance committee meetings began last week. The administration and the classified union have been working together with a facilitator, Kevin Boyle. He recognized the work of Food Services, the Titan Store, and Facilities for continuing to provide food options during the construction of the cafeteria.

Board Reports
Pryor appreciated the opportunity to participate in the emotional intelligence training. She thanked everyone who came out to speak tonight.

Stiles agreed that in the six years she has been on the board, this is probably the toughest year. We will come through it and make it. Enrollment has remained steady in Florence. She has been participating in a Continuing Education class that has full enrollment and has been a success. The last two classes were on the Dead Sea scrolls and Broadway musicals. She and Director Russ Pierson participated in the economic development summit.

LeClair stated that it is a difficult time, and no matter what someone is going to lose. Both of his parents were educators, and he remembers them being frustrated about education budgets as well.

Keating stated that he sees the altruistic spirit in volunteers every day. He encouraged everyone to attend the Ways and Means Hearing in Springfield on April 23.

McCown applauded the work that has gone into the college from everyone up to this point. Without all of that work, the deficit we are facing would be even larger. He attended the Pow Wow, and it was a great event. He encouraged everyone to attend next year.

Albright stated that he only has two board meetings left, and he wished all that remained on the board the best. He will be attending the Community Conversation in Oakridge next week. He stated that the passing of Bert Dotson is a milestone for Lane since he has had such a big impact on the college.

7. Date, Place, and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Regular Meeting
Wednesday, May 13, 2015, Lane Community College Main Campus, Boardroom

8. The board meeting unanimously adjourned at 10:20 p.m.

______________________________ _____________________________
Mary Spilde, President/District Clerk Pat Albright, Board Chair

Prepared by:
Donna Zmolek, Assistant to the Board