LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Minutes - March 8, 2006

1)  Attendance
Board members present: Jay Bozievich, Roger Hall, Paul Holman, Susie Johnston, Pat Riggs-Henson, Larry Romine, and Michael Rose. Also present were: President Mary Spilde; Vice Presidents Marie Matsen and Sonya Christian; Executive Assistant to the President Tracy Simms; College Counsel Meg Kieran; Lane Community College Employees Association President Jim Salt; and Lane Community College Employees Federation President Bob Baldwin.

A. Chair Hall called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm.

B. President’s Report

We will be talking about the budget later in the agenda, so I will limit my remarks until later. However, I do want to mention that we will be sharing the data we presented to the board in the retreat regarding the gap between our revenues and expenditures with the college community beginning next week. If you remember these data show that our average revenue increase has been 3.7 percent and our expenses, mostly labor costs since that constitutes 82 percent of our budget, have averaged an increase of 5.2 percent. Other presidents in Oregon are using these same data to demonstrate that this model is not sustainable over time. While the Governor intends to carry out his promise to allocate additional funds for education, this alone will not balance our budget. Unless we do something to align increases in revenue with increases in costs we are not going to be able to keep the ship afloat. This may seem very obvious, but I think it is essential that we educate everyone to the realities of our long-term sustainability.

You may have read that the PERS board took a preliminary vote to change their reserves, which will result in a reduction in the PERS rate. This is likely to be finalized next month. We have not adjusted projections at this point until we are given new numbers.

You probably saw in the news that students are concerned about possible reductions in the hours of the Science Resource Center. They presented us with a petition, and I wanted to pass it on to you so that you are aware of the concerns. Obviously there will be more of this in the next few months as we develop budget reduction proposals. It is very clear that we will be making decisions that impact students. We will certainly try to recommend proposals that limit the impact, but it is not possible to reduce over $5 million from the budget, especially when 82 percent of our budget is personnel, without affecting the level of service to students.

The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) recently published a report entitled State Spending for Higher Education in the Coming Decade. I have the executive Summary for you. Basically, this report suggests that even if state and local governments close their current budget gaps with entirely recurring actions, most states will face continuing difficult financing current services with existing revenue structures and will not have resources for real increases in spending. Oregon is one of the 44 states that is expected to have less money than it needs to maintain services.

In spite of the budget challenges, some very good things have been happening.

The first annual Lane Preview Night for high school students was held last week. This is the first time Lane has done this event on campus. We were hoping that we would have at least 300 people; planned pizza for 500, and had over 1,000 students and their families show up. It was wonderful to see so many faculty and classified staff staffing booths and interacting with prospective students. There are many people to thank, but I specifically want to mention Tracy Simms for being the initiator of doing the event in a different way, Karen Edmonds and the team for organizing the event, and all of the students who participated and shared their experiences at Lane. I talked to a mother from John Day whose daughter plans to attend our Music program.

Today we received a $1 million check from the Staton family. They gave us $500,000 last year to create a scholarship endowment and added to the endowment today. One of the Staton family is planning to write us a check for $100,000 so that we can continue to award twenty $5,000 scholarships each year until the endowment reaches $2 million.

Also, I received a call today from a former colleague who is now sitting on a private foundation. The foundation wants to provide a challenge grant to Lane. This is for scholarships for students transferring to the university for the last two years of their education. If we raise $50,000 within two years, they will give us $100,000, with the opportunity to apply for a second round of funding.

Last week, I attended for the first time a meeting of the steering group for a new program – Lane County Teacher Pathways Program. The superintendents of Bethel, Eugene, Springfield, ESD, representatives of UO and Pacific have been meeting to develop a bi-lingual/bi-cultural teacher training program, focusing on providing opportunity for educational assistants to become teachers. Students would begin their programs at Lane and then transfer to one of the universities. This is “grow your own” program. The members of the steering committee are providing funds to hire a coordinator and they want that person to be housed at Lane because students would start here. This is another example of how we can partner with K-12 and the universities.

Two weeks ago we had a very productive meeting with staff from Sacred Heart. We had representatives from Family and Health Careers, Nursing, Continuing Education and Employee Training, as well as Sonya Christian, Patrick Lanning, and Tim Craig. We identified many opportunities where we can work together.

Yesterday, I attended an event at Country Coach with the governor. Lane is part of the RV Consortium which is made up of Monaco, Marathon, Country Coach, Lane Workforce Partnership, and Lane. For the first time, the private sector is collaborating around training needs. We are providing the training. The governor invested $525,000 of his strategic workforce funds into this project. Again, the beginnings of an excellent partnership.

Still on the partnership theme, we are working with Chemeketa Community College to offer a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program. You will recall at the K-12 strategic conversation that one of the needs was a program for speech pathologists. We do not have such a program and obviously it is difficult to add programs at this point. However, Chemeketa has a distance education program so we will be recruiting students to Lane to complete their general education requirements, a couple of classes and their practicum at Lane, and complete the rest of the program via distance education at Chemeketa, which means they will not have to leave the community to acquire this degree.

Tomorrow, I will be hosting OSU President Ray as we sign a Degree Partnership Program agreement. So lots of opportunity to work with others for the good of the community and students.

We hosted the Oregon Presidents’ Council here a couple of weeks ago. We shared some of the things we are doing regarding Learning Communities, First Year Experience, Reading Together and Sustainability. They expressed interest in Lane hosting some events on these topics for faculty and staff at their colleges.

Sonya Christian and I attended an NWCCU accreditation meeting last week. There were a couple of people there representing educational interests in D.C. who mentioned the ongoing disinvestment in higher education and the discussion that is going on regarding requiring standardized tests for all college students. This is being discussed in the Secretary of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education. Certainly, assessment is a focus of our work here at Lane, but this is just another reminder that if we don’t do the work ourselves, it will be done to us.

Bonnie Simoa, Dance Instructor, was featured in a widely published dance magazine, recognizing her for the work she is doing integrating Continuum Movement into the Dance curriculum. This put Lane and Bonnie on the map for cutting edge integration of Somatics and dance. Also, the Martha Graham Dance Company taught a master class while they were in Eugene for our students.

A national ceramics conference is being held in Portland later this week. Lane faculty organized a pre-conference workshop here at Lane earlier this week. Several renowned ceramicists were at the college sharing their knowledge with artists and our students. We were aiming for an enrollment of 100, and 125 people registered. Thanks particularly to Thomas Rohr, a second-year faculty member and Andy Salzman, also a second year, who put a lot of effort into making this event a success.

Women's basketball head coach Greg Sheley was named the Coach of the Year for the NWAACC southern division. He helped the women Titans win their second straight division championship last week. The team also set a college record. Players Lisa Fernandez and Dominique King were named to the All-Southern Region team for this week's NWAACC tournament. Named to the men's NWAACC Southern Region basketball team were Josh Akwenuke, first team; and Mike Marek and Nick Keith, All Freshman Team. Both the men's and women's teams will head to the NWAACC competition.

1) February Highlights
February 2006 Highlights at Lane Community College as offered in the board mailing were presented.

2) Personnel
The college’s current personnel appointments were presented.

C. Board Agenda Review/Changes
No changes were made to the agenda.

D. Statements from Audience
Claire Syrett, member of LCCEA bargaining team and former flight technology instructor, raised concerns about the compensation of part-time flight instructors.

Stan Taylor, LCCEA bargaining chair and political science instructor, addressed unresolved issues in faculty bargaining.

Daniel Potts, Air Traffic Controller at Eugene Tower, expressed appreciation for Lane’s part-time flight instructors and asked that they be considered appropriately in regards to salary and working conditions.

2. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of the February 15, 2006, minutes
Riggs-Henson moved, seconded by Holman, to approve the Consent Agenda consisting of:

• The approval of the February 15, 2006 Minutes
• Selection of Auditors

Motion passed unanimously.

3. Policy Review
A. Second Reading
Romine moved, seconded by Riggs-Henson, to approve the second reading of board policy D.050, Use of Intoxicants and Controlled Substances.

Motion passed unanimously.

POLICY NUMBER: D.050
POLICY TYPE: MISCELLANEOUS
POLICY TITLE: USE OF INTOXICANTS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

No person may bring onto college property or into any college-owned facility or to any college-sponsored class or activity any intoxicating beverage, controlled substances, volatile inhalants, for the purpose of mind or mood alteration, except in the situations specified in this policy. No person may appear on college property or in any college-owned facility or in any college-sponsored class or activity under the influence of any of the above mentioned substances. Under no circumstances shall alcohol be served at college-sponsored activities to underage minors as defined by state law.

Exceptions to this policy are as follows:

1. Alcoholic Beverages may be used/served:
   
   a. for cooking and/or instructional purposes in food preparation labs or classes and in labs or classes related to the science and/or service of alcoholic beverages;or
   b. at college-sponsored or on-campus activities catered by legally licensed and insured businesses or agencies with prior approval using procedures specified in college administrative rules. or
   c. at college activities catered by legally licensed and insured businesses or agencies, using procedures specified in administrative rules (ex.: http://www.lanecc.edu/cops/foodalc.htm) or Under no circumstances shall alcohol be served at college-sponsored activities to underage minors as defined by state law.
2. With appropriate documentation, medical marijuana, prescription opiates, or other psychoactive medications, may be used as legally prescribed by a licensed practitioner. However, according to statute, marijuana may not cannot be ingested on campus even with a medical marijuana card.
3. Glue and thinners may be used only in class-related lab environments and in facilities construction and maintenance for non-intoxicating purposes.

ADOPTED: November 9, 1998
REVISED: June 9, 2004
REVISED: March 8, 2006

B. First Reading
1) Proposed Board Policy for Expanded Options (SB 300)
Andrea Newton provided context for the board’s consideration. If established, this policy would be Lane’s first step in establishing participation in the SB 300 legislature. The SB 300 bill concerns 11th and 12th graders who would like to complete their education in a college setting.

POLICY NUMBER: __________________
POLICY TYPE: MISCELLANEOUS
POLICY TITLE: EXPANDED OPTIONS PROGRAM FOR LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Consistent with Senate Bill 300 (2005 Oregon Laws, Chapter 674, Sections 1-21), the Board is committed to providing additional options to students enrolled in grades 11 and 12 to continue or complete their education, to earn concurrent high school and college credits and to gain early entry into post-secondary education.

Eligible students may apply to take courses at Lane Community College through the Expanded Options Program. A student is eligible if he or she is in grade 11 or 12 or is 16 years of age or older, has developed an education learning plan and has not completed four years of high school. A student who has graduated from high school may not participate; however, a student who has completed course requirements for graduation, but who has not received a diploma, may participate in the Expanded Options Program.

Lane Community College will provide written notice to the student’s school district and the State Department of Education and shall enter into a financial agreement with the student’s district such that each district will be responsible for their students’ tuition, fees or other required instructional costs associated with the student’s enrollment.

The College does not intend to provide special education and related services to the student.

4. Discussion/Action Items
A. Local Option
The board discussed the possibility of putting a local tax option on the November ballot. Annette Spickard, Lane County Deputy Assessor, was present to offer some background and answer questions about a possible levy. If approved, the option would raise property taxes by 6.5 cents per thousand dollars. Spickard maintained that the impact on local K-12 school districts would not be significant in terms of their budgets. Bozievich was concerned about voter fatigue, especially if Lane plans to go out for a construction bond in 2008. Holman wanted to be sure Lane has done all it can to balance the budget before going to the voters. Other board members felt that it was appropriate to put a tax option on the ballot; given the fiscal situation of the college, a tax levy is a reasonable request of the public. The community is supportive, and this is the time funds are most needed to ensure that classes and quality education is available.

Romine moved, seconded by Riggs-Henson, to pursue the local option.

Motion passed 5 – 2. Bozievich and Holman dissented.

B. Retail Management Certificate
Mark Williams, Computer Information Technology Division Chair, Velda Arnaud and Bruce Voyce, Business Instructors, asked for support and approval for the Retail Management Less-Than-One-Year Certificate of Completion. The retail industry initiated the certificate, which has a connection to the Associate of Science Oregon Transfer Business degree if students wish to continue their education.

Rose moved, second by Romine, to approve the curriculum and Certificate of Completion for the Retail Management program.

Motion passed unanimously.

The board took a ten-minute break at 7:37 p.m.

C. Budget Development
Spilde updated the board on the status of the budget process. Employees are doing everything possible to curtail expenses in the current year. Scheduling of part-time administrative staff has been reduced, as well as limiting classified staff that directly support instruction. This can not be done without impacting students. Regarding the 2006-07 budget, most of the governance councils have discussed the budget and offered ideas and suggestions. The college has moved forward on some of the suggestions—for instance, changing work processes to alleviate some of the workload. Banner tools and functionality have been addressed; there is now a prioritized list of banner projects and programmers will start working to get some of these programs running. Vacant faculty positions are being held, and we are looking at consolidating some of the classified support. Departments and divisions are reviewing the data elements and submitting proposals for reductions. The Executive Team will develop proposals and submit those to College Council. No decisions have been made at this point. Spilde has been sending out almost weekly updates and holding an open hour once a week to hear concerns.

The board is going to have to make decisions soon and should plan on having additional meetings around the end of April.

5. Accountability/Reports
A. Benchmarks
Craig Taylor, Institutional Research and Planning director, responded to questions and comments on the following Benchmarks:

• Change in Employee Headcount: Number of Employees by Group—Fall Term

7. Reports
LCCEF President Bob Baldwin responded to the benchmarks Taylor presented, stating that there has simply not been tremendous growth in numbers; in fact, there has been a significant decrease. He also made it clear that, throughout the budget reductions, he is not in favor of symbolic cuts to administration for purely political reasons. Baldwin stated that, while increasing tuition for higher-cost programs isn’t necessarily in keeping with the college’s mission, it may be necessary. An expensive program is better than one that was eliminated. It’s also time to review Lane’s lengthy decision-making process by committees and councils.

LCCEA President Jim Salt responded to Baldwin’s report. He agrees that the numbers reflecting the size of employee units are somewhat in question. He is concerned about the beliefs that the college is spending funds on the governance system at the same time that budget reductions are being proposed. He doesn’t think the two are closely related. Regarding faculty bargaining, Salt stated that the LCCEA would like to move forward and believes that can happen with the LCCEA proposal. The basis of part-time faculty needs to be kept in mind by the administration and the board. The union remains committed to a collaborative approach.

Vice President Sonya Christian announced that the Learning Plan was approved by College Council on March 3. The Strategic Learning Initiative (SLI), under its new leadership, is moving forward in supporting new innovative projects. The first year experience project (FYRED UP!) has been progressing effectively. A team from Lane visited Portland State University for ideas from its Freshman Inquiry program to incorporate into the first year experience at Lane. Christian acknowledged the Instructional and Student Services managers who are keeping student learning and College Council priorities in the forefront while proposing budget reductions. The Office of Instruction and Student Services has redirected 1.0 of the staff FTE to work on enrollment growth.

Board Reports
Rose reported that Eugene’s City Club upcoming programs will be highlighting gubernatorial candidates. He also mentioned that Bill Bradbury will be discussing changes in election law on May 5th.

Johnston had attended Lane Preview Night and hopes that Lane will offer it again. She gave an update on the February LCOG meeting.

Riggs-Henson will attend the CentroLatino Americano board meeting next week. Her granddaughter attended Lane Preview Night and came away inspired.

Romine reported that he has been talking with Budget Committee member Dennis Shine about the financial aid process.

8. Date, Place, and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Regular Meeting
Wednesday, April 12, 2006, Boardroom, Building 3, Lane Community College

9. The board meeting unanimously adjourned at 8:32 pm.

_____________________________		_____________________________
Mary Spilde, President/District Clerk		Roger Hall, Chair