LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES
June 8, 2016

1.  Attendance

Board members present:  Susie Johnston, Gary LeClair, Tony McCown, Rosie Pryor, and Sharon Stiles.  Matt Keating and Phil Carrasco 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 Employee Federation Vice President Bob Baldwin; and Associated Students of Lane Community College President Bobby Kirkpatrick.

A.  Chair McCown called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 

B.  President’s Report

I’d like to welcome Kira Jones, our new editor-in-chief of The Torch, and say thank you to Andre for all of your work this year.

Summer term registrations after 5-weeks are down 21.2% compared to the same point last year. Fall enrollment is going better, with early registrations down just 9.7% at this time.

We were honored to recognize two outstanding faculty this spring term. Faculty Recognition Awards were presented to:

• Tom Madison, graphic design and mural instructor and artist; and
• Denise Miller, nursing instructor.

Congratulations to Kathy Calise who was honored with a Winter Term Employee Recognition Award, presented on May 18. She is a project coordinator in Continuing Education.

Be sure to give a high-five to Lane track and field high jump champion, Dakarai Hightower. He won the men’s high jump at the Northwest Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships with a height of 7 feet, one-quarter inch. But he didn’t stop there. In a personal best jump, he cleared 7-5. His jump was the fifth-best by an American athlete this season at any level, and he tied for the second best in the nation by a college athlete. He is now in a favorable position to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials. The Titans men’s team won their fourth consecutive NWAC title and the women’s team finished second. Congratulations to the Titans and to Coach Grady O’Connor.

Lane will participate in the M2C3 National Consortium on College Men of Color thanks to the work of Greg Evans. The consortium is closely aligned with the ATD movement and is the first such consortium in the country. You’ve probably heard the statistics for men of color—only 17% of African-American men and 15% of Latino men earn a college certificate or degree, or transfer from a community college to a four-year institution within six years. The consortium will work to turn that around.

I’d like to provide you with a brief report on the Chinuk WaWa program since the board meeting last month.  Yesterday, the college received a signed contract for the current year from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. It was signed and returned to them today, and we have begun negotiations on a contract for next year.  Susan Carkin, Dean of Language, Literature and Communication, has had a conversation with Oregon State University to see if we can initiate a process to develop an articulation agreement with OSU.  The American Indian Languages committee has been actively engaged in identifying ways to support the classes and has met every week for the past month.  The committee has initiated conversations with the Springfield School District regarding the possibility of College Now courses.  Total annual enrollment in the six Chinuk Wawa courses over the past eight years has varied between 34 and 65 students.  Individual classes sizes are most commonly between 2 and 8 students.  Immediately following last month’s board meeting, the American Indian Languages committee submitted a request to the Academic Program Review committee to engage in a program review.  And lastly, we are identifying what will need to be reduced or eliminated to fund this program and the number of students that will affect.  We will continue this work and bring you back a plan for your consideration.

I attended an editorial board meeting at the Register-Guard on Monday, arranged by Dave Hauser of the Eugene Chamber. This was to talk about the city’s urban renewal plans, including a proposal for our old Downtown Center. Besides myself and Dave, Angela Norman of the Lane County Farmer’s Market and Matt Sayre of the Southern Willamette Valley Technology Association attended. Brett Rowlett was also present.

Friday’s revenue forecast in Salem confirmed what we already know: Oregon has one of the strongest state economies in the country. Oregon’s unemployment rate (4.5 percent), job growth (5,000 per month for the past two years) and gains in wages and personal income (8.5 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, in the second quarter) all fared better than national averages, as well as the state’s own performance in recent years. Economists are expecting a $261 million ending balance to the general fund for the current 2015-17 biennium, and the outlook for revenue growth during the upcoming 2017-19 biennium has become somewhat stronger.

The Eugene City Council held a public hearing on May 23 to considering amending the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan. Tony McCown and I testified in support of the innovation hub project. Of the 62 people who testified, 55 spoke in support of the innovation hub and the other three proposed projects. At a May 25 work session, the Council voted 5-3 to direct staff to prepare materials for the extension of Urban Renewal. Final action is scheduled for the Council’s June 13 work session, 5:30 PM at Harris Hall.

In Washington, a Senate appropriations committee has begun markup of the FY 2017 funding bill. A major issue is what will become of the $7.8 billion surplus for the Pell Grant program. Community colleges are advocating that the surplus be utilized to reinstate Year-Round Pell, and that any remaining surplus funds are retained within the Pell Grant program. The bill has not yet been released, but news outlets are reporting that a Year-Round Pell restoration will be included in the bill, which would be good news for Lane students.

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission announced that over the last year, Oregon has seen the nation’s highest percent increase in high school seniors completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). As of the end of April 2016, approximately 8.8 percent more Oregon high school seniors had completed a FAFSA than at the same point last year. This increase is particularly notable given that the number of FAFSA completions dropped 3.2 percent nationally over this same period. Oregon is one of just four states to make improvements in FAFSA completion. While this is good news, the state’s overall completion rate remains slightly below the national average.  It could be that part of that increase is due to the Oregon Promise, which requires students to complete the FAFSA.  I understand that two weeks ago, 8700 students in the state were approved for the Oregon Promise grant.

Vice President Kelly is covering for me at a sustainability conference presenting a keynote address on our sustainability work.  Kelly has notified me that Lane Community College has been selected as a finalist for the 2016 climate leadership awards.  Kudos to everyone who works on sustainability at the college.

I attended UO President Michael Schill’s investiture on June 1. I also attended the College Promise Initiatives event at Princeton.  Promise initiatives are taking hold.   Next week board members, staff, and I will attend the next AACT session on campus safety and security in Portland.

Needless to say, June is a busy time at Lane. Our most special event is college commencement which is this Saturday at the Lane County Fairgrounds. Doors open to guests at 2:30 p.m. and the march begins at 3 p.m.

At your places, you have Denali, our student literary arts magazine and the League for Innovation Art Competition, and we have some great work by Lane artists in there.

There was a question asked last month about financial aid, and I am distributing information prepared by Lane staff for your budget discussion later in the meeting.

I want to close with a thank you to Tracy Simms for her many years of service to Lane and to me. She started out as executive assistant to the president and later became director of marketing and PR. She has done so much to help me, the college, and especially our students. She has always approached her work with optimism, enthusiasm and great spirit. This is Tracy’s last official board meeting. Please join me in giving her a round of applause.

1)  Personnel

The college’s current personnel appointments were presented.

C.  Board Agenda Review/Changes

LeClair moved to approve the agenda as presented.  Pryor seconded.

Motion passed unanimously.

D.  Statements from the Audience

Pat Albright, former board member, thanked the staff of Printing and Graphics for their excellent work printing “The Millers:  A History of Springfield High School.”

2.  Consent Agenda

LeClair moved, seconded by Pryor, to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of:

• Approval of the May 11, 2016, Minutes
• Resolution No. 607 Authorizing Budget Transfers for 2015-16
• Legal Services

Motion passed unanimously.

Discussion/Action Items

A.  Presidential Search – Presidential profile

McCown informed the board that the profile for Lane’s next president was developed through ten campus and community forums and a meeting of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.  Once the profile is approved by the board, the national search will begin and the position will be open until October 15.  The timeline and responsibilities of the subcommittee will be finalized at the July board meeting.

Stiles moved to approve the presidential search profile.  Pryor seconded.

Motion passed unanimously.

B.  Spotlight on Student Success:  Academic Program Review

Anne McGrail, English instructor, Christina Howard, Physical Therapist Assistant instructor, and Dennis Gilbert, Physics instructor, presented information on the Academic Program Review process.  The process is a collaboration between faculty, staff, and managers and is explicitly tied to the institutional effectiveness work.  The process is still in the formative stage and much has been learned this past year.

Academic Program Review offers an opportunity to enhance education at Lane by improving teaching, scholarship, and service to the community.  The process is a five-year continuous cycle, is faculty led, and is designed to be inquiry-based and discipline specific.  Successful program reviews assess performance, acknowledge accomplishments, improve quality, update programs, and foster self-study and renewal.  Lane’s process does all of these.

In 2015-16, program review was conducted on the following programs:  Academic Learning Skills, Computer Information Technology Networking, Computer Information Technology Programming, and Drafting.  More programs are scheduled for review in 2016-17.

A successful academic program review connects more knowledge with further reaching actions to create a better future.  The review consists of a self-study phase, external review, recommendations, and an in-depth study.  Implementation takes place as quickly as possible to prepare for the next cycle, inform annual planning, and identify barriers.

Program review gives programs the opportunity to explore what is happening in their program and plan for the future.  For faculty, it is an opportunity to have an audience that extends outside of your own program and share information with college leadership so that there is a better understanding of the program.

Phil Carrasco joined the meeting by telephone at 7:15 p.m.

BUDGET HEARING

A.  The board meeting recessed, and the Budget Hearing was called to order at 7:18 p.m.

B.  Statements from the Audience

Andrew Areola, student, urged board members to continue their previous support of a tuition freeze and vote down any increase for the 2016-2017 year.

Nikosi Oakley, student, urged board members to continue their previous support of a tuition freeze and vote down any increase for the 2016-2017 year.

Mariana Paredones, student, urged board members to continue their previous support of a tuition freeze and vote down any increase for the 2016-2017 year.

Teresa Vall, student, urged board members to continue their previous support of a tuition freeze and vote down any increase for the 2016-2017 year.

Bobby Kirkpatrick, newly elected ASLCC president, supported a tuition increase in the amount suggested by the Higher Education Price Index in order to keep the current program and course offerings.

Jim Salt, LCCEF President and Sociology instructor, spoke in support of a tuition increase to keep up with the rising costs of providing education.  He reminded the board that financial aid awards increase as tuition increases.

C.  Budget Committee Recommendation

Spilde reminded the board that the budget committee approved a motion to include a Higher Education Price Index increase to tuition for 2016-17.

McCown stated that this was his ninth budget cycle on the board.  He has always voted for a tuition increase despite having a deep understanding of the student debt situation we are facing in America.  He is proud of the work done at Lane to reduce the number of students taking out unsubsidized loans.  He expressed concerned that without a tuition increase, next year’s students may be burdened by a more dramatic increase or program and course reductions.

LeClair moved to accept the budget committee’s recommendation to support a HEPI allowance.  Keating seconded.

Pryor noted that she had made the motion at a previous meeting not to increase tuition based on the belief that community colleges should be affordable.  Enrollment continues to decline, and there is no data explaining if that will continue.  Lane may have reached a stage that is unsustainable.

LeClair stated that he had previously voted not to increase tuition without good information.  If a $3 increase is implemented, it will mean approximately $108 more per year per student.  There is evidence that enrollment declines when employment goes up.  He stated that he will change his vote.

Johnston acknowledged that it is a difficult decision.  If revenue from a tuition increase was guaranteed to benefit students directly, she would be tempted to change her vote.  An increase in revenue may ultimately benefit students, but they might not see the value of how they are affected.

LeClair clarified that his motion was to approve Resolution 605, 2016-17 Budget Adoption and Appropriation, including a HEPI increase.

Motion passed 4-3.  Stiles, Johnston, and Pryor dissented. 

E.  Resolution 606, Imposing and Categorizing Taxes for 2016-17

Keating moved to adopt Resolution 606, Imposing and Categorizing Taxes for 2016-17.  Pryor seconded.

Motion passed unanimously. 

The budget hearing adjourned, and the board meeting reconvened at 7:40 p.m.

C  Strategic Plan

Dawn DeWolf and Jen Steele presented a draft of the 2016-2021 Strategic Plan to the board.  The draft will go to College Council tomorrow for approval and will be on the July board meeting agenda for board approval.  The plan has gone through several committees for discussion and is reflective of Lane’s strategic directions.  Stiles asked how the communities will know that their input was used.  Steele responded that there will be a communication out to the Florence community with the planning document.  Pryor noted that critical issues should be included.  Steele noted that there has been a process to identify critical issues, including assessment and enrollment.  

5.  Accountability/Reports

A.  Facilities Update

An update on the status of bond and facilities projects was presented to the board.

C.  Student Services-Global Directions Monitoring Report

The Student Service Global Directions Monitoring Report was presented to the board.

D.  Treatment of Staff Monitoring Report

The Treatment of Staff Monitoring Report was presented to the board.

6.  Reports

ASLCC President Bobby Kirkpatrick reported that meeting dates are being scheduled for the new student senate.  The majority of the new senate agreed unofficially that Chinuk WaWa is an important program to maintain and offered their support to the board.  Kirkpatrick stated that he was looking forward to working with the board on behalf of the students in the coming year.

LCCEF President Bob Baldwin stated all of Lane’s expenses are connected to student success or are necessary legal functions of the college.  Anything that a future board may look at cutting will depend on personal political preferences.  The classified union is currently in contract negotiations.  The tone remains positive, but the board’s insistence on pay cuts for staff remains highly challenging.

LCCEA President Jim Salt reported that the association and the college nearly reached an agreement on contract negotiations last Friday afternoon, but the college did not agree to two non-economic issues: a contract reopening triggered by the successful passing of IP28 and a change to reassignment time for faculty to do union work.  Bargaining can’t resume until faculty are back in the fall.  He added his support for the program review process, but the fact that faculty haven’t had any involvement on the process of the MOA program is a contradiction.  Elections for LCCEA officers are taking place.

Dawn DeWolf thanked Kathy Thomas for her work in putting the ASA highlights together.  DeWolf recently attended the Lavender graduation and thanked Christina and ASLCC for supporting the LGTB students and their accomplishments this year.  DeWolf attended International Student Night.  There were several amazing performances.  More celebrations are happening as we approach the end of the school year.

Board Reports

Johnston wished Simms well in her retirement.  She thanked Albright for the book on the history of Springfield High School and his praise of the Printing and Graphics Department.  She thanked the budget committee for their productive work.  She appreciated the academic program review presentation.  If a future board is faced with budget reductions, the more information on programs will be very helpful.  She thanked everyone who worked on the strategic plan.

Keating reminded the board that decisions such as the one to increase tuition are meant to stave off program cuts.  He thanked the board and the budget committee for their participation in establishing a budget and everyone who has testified throughout the process.  He congratulated Simms in her retirement and thanked her for her work at the college.  He and Simms first started working together on the bond in 2008 on Facebook and the YouTube page.  He thanked Albright for his recognition of the Printing and Graphics staff and agreed that their work is stellar and that they go above and beyond.  He congratulated the ASLCC team on their newly elected positions.

Pryor welcomed Kirkpatrick and thanked Simms for her work at the college.  She reminded the board that the budget committee recommendation to include a HEPI increase was not a unanimous vote but passed 7 – 6.  She thanked everyone for the thoughtful, civil discussion on a challenging subject.  She shared that her son will be graduating with Lane’s students and she will have the opportunity to hand him his degree.  He begins work on Monday on “Graveyard Cars,” a show set in Springfield and watched in 40 countries around the world.

LeClair agreed that it has been a difficult budget process this year.  He has trouble with the model set at Lane; he operates on a business model.  If revenue went down 60%, there would be no raises for staff.  But everyone at Lane will make more money next year.  Of the last six arbitrations raised by the union, the college won four.  One way to save money is to look for better ways to cooperate.  On a recent vacation, LeClair was reminded that other countries do not have a college system such as we have in the United States and that we should remember what we have here is a really good thing.

Stiles wished Simms luck in her retirement and welcomed Kirkpatrick to the table.  Stiles will attend the Florence Scholarship Night.  She attended most of the community and open session for the presidential search.  She will be attending the ACCT Campus Safety Summit in Portland.  She is in her eighth year on the board, and this has been the most difficult time for making decisions.  She is ready to put it behind her but thinks we will be facing more difficult decisions in the next year.  She thanked everyone for their work.

McCown congratulated Kirkpatrick on his election as ASLCC President.  He congratulated Simms.  He attended Barb Delansky’s retirement party.  Delansky was one of the people who directed him when he was ASLCC President and gave advice behind the scenes.  When he was asked to chair the board last summer, he did not expect some of the things to be going on in his life at the time.  He thanked the board for their support.

7.  Date, Place, and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Regular Meeting

Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 6:30 pm, Boardroom, Building 3, Lane Community College.

8.  The board meeting unanimously adjourned at 8:32 p.m.

______________________________

Mary Spilde, President/District Clerk

_____________________________

Tony McCown, Board Chair

Prepared by: Donna Zmolek, Executive Assistant to the President/Board