LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES
March 13, 2013
1. Attendance
Board members present: Bob Ackerman, Pat Albright, Susie Johnston, Gary LeClair, Tony McCown, and Rosie Pryor. Sharon Stiles participated by telephone. Also present were: President Mary Spilde; Executive Dean Andrea Newton; Chief Financial Officer Greg Morgan; Lane Community College Education Association President Jim Salt; and Lane Community College Employees Federation President Bob Baldwin; and Associated Students of Lane Community College President Merriam Weatherhead.
A. Vice Chair Pryor called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
B. President's Report
On February 15, the most recent state revenue forecast was released. State economists noted that the ending balance for the current biennium will be up about $162 million, thanks to changes in federal tax law which spurred a sell-off of assets, providing a boost to Oregon tax receipts. The sell-off will also result in a slight decrease in the revenue forecast for the coming biennium. Even with the decrease in revenues related to federal tax changes, the ending balance for the next biennium is projected to be up slightly because of the additional carryover available from this biennium, providing lawmakers with a small increase of $87 million. While this is good news, state economists cautioned that the additional revenue for this biennium brings the state closer to triggering refund checks due to Oregon's kicker law. The next forecast will be released in May.
Last Monday, the Legislature's budget leaders released the co-chairs' budget, what they are calling, "Oregon's Turning Point Budget." The budget, aided by last month's forecast showing additional revenue, provided a $600 million increase over the Governor's Budget to the K-12 school fund. The Community College Support Fund remained unchanged from the Governor's Budget at $428 million; however, the co-chairs indicated that budgets would be subject to a 2 percent hold back over the first year of the biennium. Assuming that revenues follow the May forecast, budgets would receive the "held back" funds in the February 2014 session.
The co-chairs' budget also proposes revisions to the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS), not as many revisions as the governor has suggested, but they are looking at some sort of COLA cap the first year and then a tiered COLA proposal going forward. So their budget would be $400 million in savings, whereas the governor's is about $800 million.
I've mentioned before about the possible changes to our funding distribution formula. The impetus for this was that the Funding Team appointed by the Governor made recommendations to him about outcomes based funding, aka performance based funding. The Governor's budget gave direction to examine balancing access with success, again outcomes or performance based funding. A subcommittee of the Presidents Council has been working with Commissioner Preus and NCHEMS, the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, to develop a model. I personally don't agree with the proposal. I made those concerns known at the Presidents Council meeting last month, as did some other presidents. That feedback was taken by the subcommittee, and it's continuing to do its work, hopefully taking into consideration some of the concerns we raised. In the meantime, Commissioner Preus shared some information with the state board about this last week, and has developed a set of principles around this model. I think it's fair to say that the model is not complete; they haven't really figured out what the final product would be. But I think it's also fair to say that they're suggesting that 30 percent of our funding be tied to certain performance outcomes. I talked with the Commissioner yesterday, and I've asked her to provide the principles and some background information that I can share with the board in April, and we can start a conversation about this and the impacts on the college and the fundamentals that undergird the proposals.
Now on to some better news. First, I'd like to congratulate Head Women's Basketball Coach Greg Sheley and ask him to stand. Last month, Coach Sheley won his 500th game. He is one of only 12 active coaches in the National Junior College Athletic Association to achieve this and he did it in just 15 years; for others it took 22-35 years to accomplish this incredible feat. In addition, Greg has coached the Women Titans to four NWAACC Championships, including this year. That, too, is a remarkable record.
We're very proud to have Greg on our team. Also, what speaks to Greg and Division Dean Chris Hawken's dedication is the attention they pay to student success. Greg's student athletes are remarkable in their own right. Collectively, this fall, they took 229 credits, passing all but four courses with an average GPA of 3.473. Their cumulative GPA over their college careers is 3.379; this is significantly higher than the average student and demonstrates how student athletes contribute to Lane's progression and completions goals. Our student athletes committed themselves to more than 600 hours of basketball, held down jobs to help pay their way, and maintained high academic standards. Let's give a hand to Coach Greg Sheley and the Women Titans Basketball Team.
I'd also like to welcome Dawn DeWolf to her first board meeting in her new role as Executive Dean of Career and Technical Education.
Congratulations to former Lane student Eric Richardson. Eric is the new president of the NAACP of Lane County and formerly served on Lane's student government. Eric's new position was announced at the association's annual Freedom Fund dinner. Also at the dinner, Lane received the 2012 Corporate Diversity Leadership Award for our efforts to strive for an inclusive and diverse work force. The association also acknowledged our own Bob Ackerman for his years of civil rights work.
Congratulations to The Torch for winning Second Place for General Excellence in the 2013 Associated Collegiate Press Midwinter Convention Best in Show Awards.
Thanks to board members Susie Johnston and Pat Albright for joining me and hundreds of others at the Dr. Arun Gandhi lecture, and to Donna Koechig and our Diversity Strategic Directions Committee for making this event possible. Donna and her team also arranged for the special performances of the play, "Paul Robeson," performed by our own speech faculty member, Dr. Stanley Coleman. It's wonderful to be able to enrich the lives of students and the community with events like these.
I would like to congratulate Cam Preus who has been named the new president for Blue Mountain Community College. Cam served Oregon's community colleges for many years and her move will be a loss for us but a gain for Blue Mountain. I look forward to working with her in her new role.
The Comcast Newsmakers interview that I taped in January is now available on their YouTube site. If you haven't seen it, Joan will provide the web address.
Some of you saw my op ed advocating for better community college funding—I hope our elected officials in Salem saw it as well.
I'd like to thank Pat O'Connor and Deron Fort for their joint letter to the editor reminding readers that we not only still have vocational training roots, but the tree has branched out quite a bit over the last five decades.
We continue to work on the Building 4 indoor environmental quality issues. We are going to be upgrading the fresh air intake hood and duct work for the HVAC system and relocating some exhaust pipes. We are finding alternate spaces for students, faculty and staff, including the dental clinic and the MOA clinic. It's our intention to find that space over the course of the next academic year and to figure out what is going on with the building and what we are going to do with it in the long run.
Thanks to Sharon Stiles for attending the League for Innovation CEO/Board Trustee retreat in February.
Thanks to board members for representing Lane at the annual LCOG Appreciation Dinner. Although I couldn't be there, it was wonderful to share the Intergovernmental Team Award with City Manager Jon Ruiz. This is the kind of partnership we need to promote a healthy economy.
Commendations are due to Advanced Technologies Division Dean Pat O'Connor, Aviation Academy Director Steve Boulton, and their staff and students. They successfully completed an FAA audit of our Aviation Maintenance and Flight Technology programs. The FAA had no recommendations and noted many positives inside and outside the hangar.
On February 6, the President's Office and the Downtown Neighbors' Association sponsored a Safety Perception Workshop at the Downtown Campus Center for Meeting and Learning. The study will be available later this year and used by the Downtown Neighbors Association and Eugene Police Department to help improve downtown safety.
Thanks to board members for attending the National Legislative Summit and the OCCA Summit.
Bills Report
Brett Rowlett distributed a handout of legislative bills he is tracking.
2) Personnel
The college's current personnel appointments were presented.
C. Board Agenda Review
No changes were made to the board agenda.
D. Statements from the Audience
Justin Blakely, former student, expressed dissatisfaction with the Disability Resources department.
Jim Salt, Sociology Instructor, distributed a handout showing the proposed performance funding model's effects.
Byron Hughey, Torch Editor in Chief, informed the board that he had filed a complaint about the recent ASLCC election regarding viewpoint neutrality, and the results of the election were invalidated.
Anna Jensen and Kaimi Zahlen, Titan Track and Field athletes, provided an update to the board on the team events and invited them to the Titan Twilight on April 25 and the championship on May 11.
Matt Keating, budget committee member and board candidate, thanked everyone who is supporting his candidacy for the Zone 4 position on the board and asked others to support him.
PUBLIC HEARING
- The meeting was recessed at 7:11 pm for a public hearing on the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) method for the CENTER for Student Success and the Central Plant.
- No statements from the audience were offered.
- The public hearing was closed at 7:12 pm, and the board meeting was called back to order.
2. CM/GC Decision
McCown moved to approve the use of the CM/GC method for the Central Plant and CENTER for Student Success, Plaza and Titan Store Complex. Albright seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
3. Consent agenda
Johnston moved, seconded by LeClair, to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of:
- Approval of the February 6, 2013, minutes
- Engineering Services for Central Plant Upgrade
Motion passed unanimously.
3. Policy Review
A. Second Reading
1. Financial Reporting, E.110
McCown moved, seconded by LeClair, to approve the second reading of board policy E.110, Financial Reporting.
Motion passed unanimously.
POLICY NUMBER: E.110
POLICY TYPE: BUDGET AND FINANCIAL
POLICY TITLE: FINANCIAL REPORTING
Lane's annual audited financial statements shall conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Applicable professional accounting standards and guidance shall be incorporated into Lane's financial statements.
ADOPTED: March 9, 2005
REVIEWED: June 28, 2007
REVIEWED: January 10, 2010
REVIEWED: March 13, 2013
B. First Reading
1. Tuition Mitigation Fund
Board member Bob Ackerman proposed a policy for a tuition mitigation fund but requested that it be moved to a second reading in order to gather more information. He believed that such a policy would be a good way to complement Lane's commitment to providing greater student access. Board members required clarification on how the fund would be established and the rationale for implementing the fund. Tuition rates are decided each year, and opportunities for making decreases are already available. Some board members felt that establishing a fund such as this would be more appropriate during good economic times for the college rather than poor ones.
It was agreed that the item would be placed on the April meeting agenda and moved to discussion/action items.
4. Discussion/Action Items
A. Board Role in Student Success
Spilde reminded the board that at the September retreat and again at the November meeting, the board discussed changing the agenda to focus more on student success. Stiles and Pryor recently attended a workshop at Achieving the Dream where suggestions were given on creating a spotlight on student success at each board meeting.
The board discussed the value of adding such an agenda item. Information on student success is currently provided by Academic and Student Affairs and Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning. One concern was that student success should not be reduced solely to quantitative data and outcomes. Stiles and Pryor assured the board that the intent was to have the board spend more purposeful time on student success, including programs and services that help students be successful. Best practices are emerging on community college campuses all over the country, and the board may benefit in learning how Lane is implementing some of those practices. The board agreed to add the item to the next few agendas and see if those discussions are beneficial.
B. Budget Committee Appointment
McCown moved, seconded by Johnston, to approve the appointment of Jennifer Harris, Zone 3, to the Lane Community College Budget Committee to complete a three-year term effective immediately and ending June 30, 2015.
Motion passed unanimously.
C. Downtown Center – Willamette Street
Community and Governmental Relations Director Brett Rowlett and Chief Financial Officer Greg Morgan informed the board that they have prepared a Request for Proposal to solicit ideas for redevelopment of the Willamette Street property. If issued, it will call for proposals to be returned in May to be evaluated and provided to the board at the July meeting.
Ackerman moved that the board approve issue of an RFP to explore redevelopment options for the Willamette Street building. Stiles seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
D. ASLCC Special Election Results
Spilde informed the board that the ASLCC special election was held, but after a complaint was filed, the elections committee decided to invalidate the results. There was much to be learned from the process. The ASLCC elections committee should be commended for reviewing the process.
Another election will be held April 15 – 18, 2013, and the board was asked to approve the following ballot measures:
- A $0.10 increase for the Oregon Student Association. OSA currently receives $2.44 of the student fee and has not requested an increase since 2001.
- A $0.65 increase in the fee for the Asian/Pacific Island Student Union (APISU).
McCown moved to approve the proposed ASLCC ballot measure language for the April 2013 election. Ackerman seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
5. Accountability/Reports
A. Benchmarks
The following mission fulfillment indicators were presented to the board:
- 1.1: Transfer Students Passing Program-level Math and Writing (in first year)
- 1.1: Transfer Student Passing Program-level Math and Writing (in three years)
- 1.12: Percent of New Students Awarded Financial Aid
B. Facilities Update
An update on the status of bond and facility projects was presented to the board.
C. Financial Condition & Activities, A.050
The Financial Condition and Activities, A.050, monitoring report was presented to the board.
D. Asset Protection, A.070
The Asset Protection, A.070, quarterly report was presented to the board.
6. Reports
ASLCC President Mary Weatherhead reported that students have been at the Capitol in legislative sessions, lobbying, and attending hearings. The tuition equity bill finally passed the house, and the students are very excited. They will be at the hearing with the senate committee, and hopefully it will pass there as well. They will continue to fight for the Oregon Opportunity Grant initiative. Thirty-six students from Lane attended the Northwest Student Leadership Conference, which was one of largest delegations in the Pacific Northwest. Weatherhead thanked Spilde for attending and for donating funds to help students attend. ASLCC conducted a special election in March, and although there was a large turnout of student voters, the results were invalidated. ASLCC is regrouping and deciding how to move forward. ASLCC sees the need for a more accountable and transparent activity fee and will work with other student groups to gain wider support. The March election was a good experience and will help mitigate future mistakes.
LCCEF President Bob Baldwin mentioned that in the last board meeting, he made reference to a grievance that had to do with a discipline in just cause. Human Resources has since acknowledged that they failed to take the contract into account and had mishandled the case. The employee has been reinstated, and the case has been resolved. This has been a problem that the union has had with HR in that action is taken first and communication second. Things are moving forward with the Kevin Boyle facilitated conversations with the hope that it will help smooth out labor relations on both sides and bring more stability and positive interactions. LCCEF has endorsed Matt Keating and Rich Cunningham as board candidates and will be taking further actions in other races and other issues as election day approaches.
LCCEA President Jim Salt reported that the performance based funding proposal is the product of attempts to try to operationalize success and tie money to it and inevitably the results will be ones that were not foreseen. Salt opposed performance funding conceptually, as the Learning Council has, the OEA Community College council has, and all but one member of the College Council has, and the model itself has been developed with no participation of faculty groups, student groups, the public, or anyone outside the few folks that came out of the LearnWorks group. It seems to be driven more by NCHEMS, an organization that in theory is just a group providing some support and data, but in reality is advising groups who are trying to move this forward. If funding is based on outcomes, there will be threats to the quality of instruction, such as grade and certificate inflation, completion inflation, and reduction of standards. Salt hoped the board will take a strong position against this. It is an end run around the governance restructuring that's going on in the state. Salt was very disappointed to see the positions of LCC and OCCA of opposition to HB 2154, which calls for a committee to be established on achievement compacts at community colleges that don't already have one. Salt asked the board to please change their position to one of support. Salt was disappointed to see the level of financial support from the co-chairs budget. Community colleges have gotten less support than K-12 for the last few sessions. We need to do what we can to raise that number up. OEA has a lobby day on March 27. The health effects of Building 4 have reared their ugly head once again. He appreciated that the administration has taken steps to mitigate the effects and have removed everyone from the building, but that needs to be permanent.
Executive Dean Andrea Newton congratulated Sheley on his 500 wins. It's hard to believe the end of Spring term is here, and we are preparing for a spring conference. The TRIO Stem program received an award from Symantec to provide mentoring and coaching for women going into information technology careers. She echoed Salt's appreciation for the work around the Building 4 issues. Regarding quality and measuring student success, Newton stated that many of the students in Health Informatics go on to full time jobs before they complete their program which makes it difficult to take classes. They are looking at ways to make that happen.
Chief Financial Officer Greg Morgan reported that Facilities Management and Planning is currently undergoing a program review. It is the goal for every program in College Operations to undergo a review to try to improve efficiency.
Board Reports
Albright attended the Arun Gandhi presentation and was impressed with his talk; he was articulate and compassionate. He attended the LCOG dinner, where Spilde and City Manager Jon Ruiz were recognized for their collaboration. He attended the Lane Economic Committee meeting where the former Creswell City Manager made a presentation. Albright commented on Lane's progress, from losing a levy when he first came on the board, to passing an $83 million bond, to securing funding from the city and state to build a state of the art facility, the new Downtown Campus, and developing a housing facility.
LeClair reported that he attended Lane's Collaborations Dance, and it was an incredible performance. LeClair has been really impressed with Lane's Theatre, Dance & Music programs.
Pryor acknowledged Bob Ackerman and paid special tribute to him for his recognition at the NAACP dinner and for all of his years of service in the community and to Lane.
Ackerman attended the NAACP and LCOG dinners, and the common thread at both was that either Spilde or Lane received a substantial award. Keeping Lane's name out there in a positive light puts us in a good position for our next capital foundation campaign.
Johnston congratulated Sheley and welcomed DeWolf to her new position. She congratulated Spilde and City Manager Jon Ruiz for the receiving LCOG's outstanding intergovernmental award. She attended the ACCT and OCCA Legislative Summits. Johnston also attended the talk by Arun Gandhi and appreciated the opportunity to hear him speak and meet him.
McCown reported that it was open education week. Open education is a growing movement at Lane, and to McCown it is an economic, environmental, and moral issue. It is essential in looking at how to mitigate textbook costs. There is evidence from schools saving hundreds of thousands by offering free and open textbooks. McCown promised to report more over the next few months on those types of solutions, and hopes to hear from the administration on what is going on at Lane. He congratulated Sheley and the Women's Basketball Team.
7. Date, Place, and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Regular Meeting
Wednesday, April 10, 6:30 pm, Lane Community College Downtown Campus
8. The board meeting unanimously adjourned at 8:47 p.m.
______________________________ _____________________________
Mary Spilde, President/District Clerk Rosie Pryor, Chair