LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES
December 9, 2015
1. Attendance
Board members present: Philip Carrasco, Susie Johnston, Matt Keating, Gary LeClair, Tony McCown, Rosie Pryor. Sharon Stiles participated by telephone. Also present were: President Mary Spilde; Vice President Brian Kelly, Interim Vice President Dawn DeWolf; Lane Community College Education Association President Jim Salt, Lane Community College Employees Federation President Bob Baldwin, and Associated Students of Lane Community College President Ashley Jackson.
A. Chair Tony McCown called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m.
(Pryor and McCown left the meeting.)
B. President’s Report
Brian probably will have more details for you but I just wanted to start my report with a big thank you to our Warming Center volunteers, including Brian, Jace Smith, Mike O’Neal, Clive Wanstall, and Dawn Rupp. Our homeless students did need shelter during the recent freezing weather.
I’m also thankful to our volunteers who work every year to provide the Whiteaker Community Thanksgiving dinner, including Clive, Brian, Bev Farfan, Chefs Tim and Adam, and so many others.
It is rewarding to be able to do some good in the wake of heartbreaking events like UCC, Paris, Syria and San Bernardino. Here at home we have too much homelessness, hunger and lack of support for mental health care, and I am grateful for and proud of the compassion and goodwill shown by our faculty and staff.
I went back to Umpqua Community College on Friday to attend the visit by Dr. Jill Biden. As you know, she has taught at community colleges for more than 20 years. UCC continues to move forward, and they continue to need support. Thanks again to everyone from Lane who has reached out.
All of us could do more to make our campuses safer and more secure. On November 18, I went to the state capitol at the Governor’s invitation along with other Oregon community college and university presidents, to talk about campus safety. We discussed current policies, protocols, system-wide assets and resources, and how to make improvements. Governor Brown has directed the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and Oregon State Police to work together in supporting this effort.
The Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) has contracted with a firm that has done a lot of work around campus safety. We’ll be attending a meeting in January with a small team, and we will be engaging in a self-assessment of what we have in place, and where we think we have gaps in meeting best practices in safety and security. We will have the opportunity to meet with these consultants to talk about what investments we should make in order to make the campus safer. Our goal is to have a price tag on that and go to the February short session to ask the legislature to help us with those investments.
I participated in an invitational White House summit on global climate change to advocate for higher education’s role in making a difference. I later interviewed about that experience on KLCC. As you know, Lane made a commitment to sustainability long before it was hip to be green. This month we were among 200 colleges who renewed our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to become more resilient in the face of climate change.
I attended a project with our Dental faculty that was convened by the Kellogg Foundation. I’ve been working on this for a couple of years, and the intent is to create a midlevel position in the dental field called a Dental Therapist that will have some advanced and expanded functions. There are so many people, particularly in rural areas and on tribal lands, that have no dental care. So we are trying to develop this program, and our faculty are very interested in it. There are some hurdles; some dentists feel that it may take some work away from them. In the states where they have done this that does not seem to be the case, but it increases access for some of our poorest citizens. We covered racial equity and how the Commission on Dental Accreditation impacts the work, and they have come up with standards and the economic impact of dental therapists in the workforce. We are part of a large coalition and the only community college in the state involved in this work. We can build on the great dental clinic that we have if we work on the legislation to allow this midlevel professional to exist. We are also working with the tribes; because they are sovereign nations, they can do this outside of state legislation.
We have recently held two forums on Lane’s new Core Themes and had robust conversations. This is a requirement for accreditation and a useful framework to measure our effectiveness as an institution.
There has been much discussion in Washington, D.C., about Guided Pathways. Copies of the book “Redesigning America's Community Colleges” are available in my office for anyone interested. One of the authors will join us and colleagues from other Oregon colleges on February 19.
I would like to congratulate our fall Faculty Recognition Awards winners. First is the indomitable Sandy Brown Jensen, our creative digital story telling genius. The other is Bob Estil, popular math instructor at LCC Florence and an outstanding youth volunteer. Congratulations, Sandy and Bob.
I am happy to report that Donna Koechig continues to recover but it’s still unclear when she will be able to return. Meanwhile Lynn Nakamura has stepped up to manage some Professional and Organizational Development projects for this academic year such as launching a two-day orientation workshop for new employees. Over time, we will also offer it to seasoned employees. We’re also going to get “train the trainer” assistance from Suzanne Rotundo and Lizza Robb to continue our Emotional Intelligence work. Lynn has been working in grants administration and strategic enrollment management, and I appreciate her taking on this extra assignment.
We are carefully proceeding toward filling our Chief Diversity Officer opening (temporary position). We have accepted applications from internal faculty and staff to lead this work through June 2016 and will make an announcement as soon as the process is complete. Interviews will take place after the first of the year.
The latest enrollment reports show fall term down 9.8 percent, so that gap has narrowed. Winter term registrations are down 15.6 percent, which is no surprise this early in the process. Hopefully that gap will close as well.
(At 6:47 p.m. Pryor and McCown returned to the meeting.)
We’ve been interested and excited to hear about plans for Avago Technologies and Winnebago to locate in our community. Hopefully this will stimulate the economy and help create jobs. We are connecting with these companies to see about training opportunities for our students and find out how we can help them meet their workforce needs.
Oregon’s December revenue forecast was released last Wednesday. The report was generally positive. General Fund revenues are growing strongly; personal income taxes, lottery sales, and corporate taxes grew at double-digit rates compared to last year. Corporate taxes and lottery funds outpaced what was called for in the September forecast. As a result, total available resources – General Fund and Lottery – are now expected to be $56 million higher than what was expected when budgets were drafted during the summer. The Corporate income tax collections for 2015-17 are expected to be 3.2 percent higher than what was expected in the Close of Session forecast. If current projections hold, it would generate a corporate kicker in the amount of $34.7 million to be allocated to K-12 education during the 2017-19 budget.
On Friday, ACCT released a new report on food and housing insecurity at community colleges titled, “Hungry to Learn.” Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab, who spoke at last month’s OCCA conference, was one of the authors and was featured in an op-ed in Friday’s New York Times.
Last month Congress passed a bipartisan deal to revise budgetary caps and suspend the debt limit.
Among other conferences, I attended a briefing from the Community College Consortium on Immigrant Education, which is recommending ways to support undocumented students.
I also spent some time with our students at the Oregon Students of Color Coalition annual conference. As you know, Lane's students are leaders in this effort.
Yesterday, Vice President Dawn DeWolf, International Programs Director Jennifer Falzerano, and I welcomed D.K. Wu and his associate from the Chinese Association of Community Colleges.
We will be celebrating the grand opening of the Center Building on January 27.
The college will be closed to the public for the holidays from December 21 through 28.
I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. That concludes my report.
1) Personnel
The college’s current personnel appointments were presented.
E. Board Agenda Review/Changes
No changes were made to the board agenda.
F. Statements from Audience
Dean Bergen, Auto Body instructor, stated that if the college works with Winnebago as President Spilde previously mentioned, Electronic Technology and Auto Body students will be needed, yet the college has cut those programs. The allegations that Auto Body curriculum was outdated and enrollment was declining were false, and the phase out of the program has been a disaster.
Mike Coivula, community member, cited the number of injuries and deaths related to guns in the United States and asked that the board continue the current gun and weapon policy and not allow increased guns on campus.
Sandy West, student, requested that Lane students be allowed access to computers at the University of Oregon. She also requested that online students be given the option to purchase a bus pass as currently they do not pay the transportation fee and do not receive one.
Dale Green, Mathematics instructor, noted the problem that the board refers issues to the administration, but how does that work when the problem is the administration? He noted that the enrollment decline may be happening because programs are being cut. The Medical Office Assistant (MOA) program was spared, but the program review process is highly dysfunctional and the administration has alienated staff and faculty through professional and ethical failures that should not be ignored.
Steve McQuiddy, Academic Learning Skills instructor and Co-chair of Faculty Council, read a statement including that the administration should immediately halt the process of the MOA program review until contractual obligations are met and followed. The Faculty Council strongly condemns the action to bypass the faculty role in designing and reviewing curriculum as with the treatment of MOA program. The process must be led by faculty. He invited board members to attend Faculty Council to find out more.
Jessica Alvarado, Counselor, stated that new curriculum for the MOA program does not seem likely for the 2016-17 academic year. She requested that the basic certificate requirements be honored and to plan for the current curriculum to remain in place for the 2016-17 academic year. To do otherwise would be detrimental to schedules and loans.
Adrienne Mitchell, Academic Learning Skills Instructor, envisioned a future to build a bridge together last spring. The college is still broken, but she has hope. She asked again for the administration to work with staff and faculty to build a bridge to return Lane to what it once was.
Carl Knoch, student and fencing club member, stated that he was discriminated against when he interviewed as chief of staff for ASLCC. He has filed a student complaint and will continue to work with the school in the hopes that the student government can learn accountability and how governing works.
Ebenezer Yemoh, international student, addressed increasing tuition for international students. This will make it more difficult for students from other countries to attend Lane and will have a negative impact on future students.
Benedictus Puntadewa, international student, asked the board not to increase international tuition.
Oliver Kirby, international student, asked the board not to increase international tuition.
Gina Thardomrong, international student, asked the board not to increase international tuition.
Joshua Purvis, Bijou Manager and proud alum of Lane, represented the Technology Association of Oregon who has led efforts in Lane Country to highlight and promote technology. He stated that the old Downtown Center would be a perfect location for a steam hub art incubator space to be developed in collaboration with several institutions in Lane County.
Francisco Gomez, student, stated that student government has been a big part of his life but that recently viewpoints have become partisan. He hoped that the students can take part in a conversation regarding the future.
Sean Goddard, student, stated that students can feel the animosity and see the dissent and infighting happening with employees at Lane. The school has changed; for instance, it used to be predominately white. We need to work on making things better and do our jobs the best that we can. Students will feel it and the community will prosper.
2A. Consent Agenda
Pryor moved, and seconded by LeClair, to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of:
- Approval of the November 3, 2015, Minutes
- RFP for Building 18
- Computer Information Systems Options
- Policy Review
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- Unappropriated Ending Fund Balance, BP 295
- Delegation to the President, BP 245
Motion passed unanimously.
3. Discussion/Action Items
A. Auditor’s Report
Greg Holmes, Chief Financial Officer, and Scott Mueller, auditor from Kenneth Kuhns & Co., answered questions and responded to comments regarding the audit report.
B. Spotlight on Student Success: Recruitment
Rosa Maria Banuelos, Student Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator, presented information on Lane’s recruitment efforts. In 2014-15, there were 1755 high school, middle school and elementary school students who visited campus, and from July 1 to December 1, we had 1422 visitors. The goal is to triple last year’s numbers by June. The goal is to have as many people visit as possible. Besides leading campus tours, Banuelos is out in the community a lot and is exposed to many students.
Banuelos presented many of the different services and resources we have for prospective students and their families, most of which can be found on Lane’s website. Lane hosts a once-a-month campus visit day called Explore Lane. Banuelos distributed the newly redesigned viewbook, which is student centered with friendly content and demonstrates what Lane is all about. At Lane, we treat prospective students and parents like family and get them excited about attending Lane.
Banuelos read some sample letters from 8th graders who have visited Lane thanking her for the tour and expressing their hopes of attending Lane. She introduced Ebenezer, a student ambassador who works with her on showing students what is good about Lane, not just facts and figures.
C. LCCEF Contract
Pryor moved to ratify the contract agreement between the College and LCCEF. Keating seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
D. President’s Evaluation
The board has conducted the annual performance evaluation of President Mary Spilde. Spilde received an outstanding performance evaluation for the fourteenth consecutive year.
Chair Tony McCown read the following statement:
“On behalf of the Lane Community College Board of Education, I am pleased to announce that the board has conducted its annual performance review of President Mary Spilde. For the 14th consecutive year, Dr. Spilde has earned our highest commendation, and our deepest respect, for her leadership in extremely difficult times.
We evaluated the president in seven areas including: leadership and strategic direction; educational outcomes; board relations; financial management; staff management and supervision; communication; and decision-making and governance.
The Board of Education praised President Spilde’s leadership and partnership with the Board of Education on budget management and planning, citing work to identify options for addressing the impact of declining enrollment in the face of an improved economy. The Board also called out President Spilde’s work on remodeling of the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) project, which has resulted in consolidation of numerous services that students seek to assist them in completing their goals, such as library, tutoring, academic technology center, and the center for student engagement. Finally, Board members complimented President Spilde for development of a cultural competency policy and program on campus.
We recommend that the president consider focusing attention going forward on continued fiscal sustainability, continued communication and transparency efforts, and long range planning with strong staff engagement.
This board unanimously strongly supports Dr. Mary Spilde. Her integrity, leadership, and ability to inspire are assets to Lane Community College.
We have discussed goals for the president for the coming year and asked her to bring back annual goals in January with a review and update in June.
We congratulate Dr. Spilde on her unmatched record of community college leadership.”
LeClair moved to approve the evaluation of President Spilde. Pryor seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
(The board took a ten minute break at 8:05 p.m. Gary LeClair left the meeting.)
E. Budget Update
Vice President Brian Kelly provided an update on the budget and provided options for one-time expenditures with the excess in the ending fund budget. The options are as follows:
- Re-establish the financial stabilization reserve fund up to $2.5 million
- Fund the strategic enrollment management (SEM) plan with the following resources
- Implementation of an online pre-orientation system
- Fund a programmer/report writer to develop SEM data elements and key performance indicators
- Deploy a retention support team
- Fund deferred maintenance up to $1 million
- Other options up to $2.5 million
Kelly noted several ongoing factors in the college budget. Lane’s allocation from the state will be reduced from $31 to $27 million. Academic and Student Affairs is currently reviewing position requests. The college is entering negotiations with both employee groups. An analysis is being done on Fund IX activities. PERS rates will be affected FY18.
4. Accountability/Reports
A. Facilities Update
An update on the status of bond and facility projects was presented.
6. Reports
ASLCC President Ashley Jackson reported that working with Kerry Levett through student government and the student affairs council has been great. Ashley noted that she has come to like math so much that she is taking math winter term for fun. Ashley was moved by the public comment. Students are ready to build bridges, too. Students see the dedication that instructors make for them; it doesn’t go unnoticed. Ashley congratulated Lane on the audit and the contract ratification, and President Spilde on the evaluation.
LCCEF President Bob Baldwin reported that the classified union had ratified the contract and reelected the leadership team with no contested races. This would assume that members of the classified bargaining unit have a high level of expertise in the functions of the college, a high level of understanding of how they are being treated by management, and know who Baldwin is and what he does for the union. It stands to reason that it is a deliberate choice of staff to have him as their president and representative to management. It further stands to reason that when someone who isn’t a member of the bargaining unit choses to denigrate how Baldwin does the job, it is an insult to them and disrespect for the classified staff collectively. Baldwin noted a racial term used by one of the board members at the last meeting that none of the other board members called attention to. He noted that since the time that the cultural competency policy was approved by the board, there has not been an event or training that met the criteria of what was promised. At the time the board passed its policy and for the foreseeable future, the college does not have the staff or financial resources to implement the trainings as envisioned by the initial proposers.
LCCEA President Jim Salt recently met with an OEA officer who asserted that the “A Better Oregon” campaign is the most important thing in politics that has happened in the last 40 years. A lot of problems we face will be improved if we can make it happen. 80,000 signatures are needed, which faculty are gathering. After the UCC shooting, OEA supported many financial needs, one of which is to establish a scholarship in the name of the writing instructor who was killed. We need to raise $10,000; OEA will give $5,000, and they have raised almost half of the remaining amount. Salt commented on the MOA program and the administration’s actions. It is the worst he has seen academically. He encouraged the board to think about how to resolve issues, and not just this one. He brought up the survey conducted last spring in which faculty were critical of the president and board of education. Given that, it is difficult to understand how the board continues to give the president the highest possible evaluation. He encouraged the board to review and reflect on the consent order which the college signed admitting that they violated collective bargaining law.
Interim Vice President Dawn DeWolf reported that the discussion on Lane’s Core Themes were engaging and supportive. As part of the International Program’s recruitment team, she traveled to Thailand and other countries and met with students, parents, and consulate representatives. She congratulated Lynn Nakamura, who received the 2015 Oregon American Association for Women in Community Colleges’ Excellence Award for her leadership and commitment to students.
Vice President Brian Kelly reported that he recently participated with the college community and discussed future bond ideas. He recognized the work of the Institutional Effectiveness Committee to move the Core Theme work forward. Kelly noted some startling statistics from a student done at ten community colleges in eight states which showed that 1 in 5 of students said they had difficulty having enough money for food. He recognized things Lane is doing for our economically disadvantaged students such as the clothing stash, food pantry, warming center, and Lane’s participation in the Whiteaker Dinner. It’s nice to be a part of the solution. Kelly recognized John Stark and his team for partnering with Café Yumm and Food for Lane County.
Board Reports
Stiles reported that she and Keating attended the OCCA conference. She congratulated Florence instructor Bob Estill for his Faculty Recognition Award. A student in the nursing program was named the Florence Rotary Student of the Quarter. Florence Director Russ Pierson is representing Lane with the Siuslaw school, library and ambulance district strategic plans.
Johnston congratulated Lynn Nakamura for her Excellence Award and Sandy Brown Jensen for her Faculty Recognition Award. She applauded Lane’s work in developing a Dental Therapist program. She congratulated Spilde on her outstanding evaluation.
Keating thanked all who testified at the meeting. It was powerful testimony and doesn’t fall on deaf ears. He appreciated Baldwin’s comments, and he does not feel it is politically appropriate to attack any one or entity on this campus. He attended LCCEF’s Executive Committee meeting where there were some great conversations and suggestions in regards to Public Safety. He congratulated Spilde on her evaluation. He attended the OCCA conference with Stiles where they heard from Representative Peter Buckley and State Senator Arnie Roblan, and the conversation revolved heavily around the Our Oregon ballot measure. Keating is a staunch supporter and hopes that all members of the campus community can get behind such a critical measure that will significantly change the way the state is funded. He congratulated Dr. Rick Williams, Arts Division Dean, who is retiring. Williams began his position at the same time that Keating began his theatrical career at Lane. Keating and Spilde attended the Student Production Association’s dark and disturbing presentation of the Tony Award Winning production of The Pillow Man. Anyone who did not see it really missed out. He attended the Public Safety awards dinner with Pryor and LeClair. He thanked Public Safety for all that they do. Keating continues to advocate for a common sense gun tax that would directly put monies toward vital mental health services, victim’s relief funds, and campus safety and security. Keating thanked all of the volunteers that kept Lane’s Egan Warming Center functioning while the rest of the warming centers throughout Lane County sadly were understaffed.
Pryor reported that she would raise the idea of a UCC scholarship with the Foundation Board. She attended the Public Safety recognition dinner and shared that the Public Safety newsletter is a terrific publication. She noted the passion in the room and how lucky we are as an institution to have so much dedication and passion among those of us who are committed to Lane. She noted Salt’s observation about the president’s evaluation and invited him to learn more about the role of the president and the board’s expectations as elected officials and taxpayers. She was reminded that her husband tells here there are always several versions. There is value to come to understand on how versions are different and why.
Carrasco reported that he attended Posada in the Longhouse, and it was a successful event. He attended the Egan Warming Center training where 272 volunteers attended. He commended the passion in the room and was reminded that the board members need to do their job and set an example to the students. As city of Eugene Human Rights Commissioner he participated in the transgender day of remembrance. The International Human Rights Day will be held soon and he invited all to attend. City of Eugene is welcoming nominees for the Martin Luther King, Jr., award. In pursuing diversity, he is happy to see students of color with so much passion that it has spilled over into other places in Eugene and Springfield. Thurston High School is starting a MECHA chapter and one is in the plans for Springfield High School, which will empower Latinos to provide even more student success.
McCown noted that the steam hub is an interesting concept, and he would like to see where Lane fits in. Next Friday the Downtown Campus is hosting “Coding Dojo for Youth.” It focused on females but is open to everyone. He echoed the comments about the passion that had been expressed all night. McCown noted that he had developed into a community leader through Lane and has spent a greater part of his life with connection to Lane. He expressed gratitude for Spilde, who brought him up as a leader and now calls him for advice. The board’s decisions are not done in isolation. There are seven opinions at the table, the members have been through twenty elections and have spoken with countless citizens. They have spent countless hours on this campus working with staff on a number of issues. McCown is engaged in the most active campaign he has ever engaged in, and one of the highlights is that he is chair of Lane’s Board of Education. There are things that can be better, but we need to be proud of what we have accomplished.
7. Date, Place, and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Regular Meeting
Wednesday, December 9, Boardroom, Building 3, Lane Community College
8. The board meeting unanimously adjourned at 9:36 p.m.
______________________________
Mary Spilde, President/District Clerk
_____________________________
Tony McCown, Board Chair
Prepared by:
Donna Zmolek, Executive Assistant to the President/Board