LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Minutes - May 10, 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 President Marie Matsen; Associate Vice President Patrick Lanning; Executive Assistant to the President Tracy Simms; College Counsel Meg Kieran; Lane Community College Employees Association President Jim Salt; Lane Community College Employees Federation President Bob Baldwin; and Associated Students of Lane Community College President Jeremy Riel.
A. Chair Hall called the meeting to order at 6:46 p.m.
B. President’s Report
Since we have just concluded a budget committee meeting where the budget was presented for FY2007, I will keep my remarks short. The budget committee did approve the budget reductions as recommended. This will allow us to incorporate the reductions into the budget and continue to work with staff affected by these decisions. I want to repeat that these are painful decisions and that behind every item on this spreadsheet there is a face and a family. We will be losing some stellar staff that have made a significant contribution to Lane.
Regarding tonight’s agenda, we have a couple of changes: we would like to pull the consent agenda item regarding the HP back-up system. We expect to bring back a proposal that includes the same hardware and services but has a different (and better) software component. Also, there has been a reduction in the cost of the sewer system upgrade, so I am distributing a new cover sheet.
Donna Koechig and I were pleased to attend the Oregon Outstanding Student Scholar celebration. Congressman David Wu, who is co-chair of the community college caucus in Washington, presented the recognition to our students, Julianna Hafemeister and Harmony Heartsun.
I was also delighted to notify one of our students that she had received the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship. This is the third year in a row that a Lane student has received this scholarship. We are one of only four colleges whose students have received the scholarship three times in a row. Congratulations to Morgan Ironplow.
The 4J budget committee approved $20,000 for students to participate in the RTEC program. That is in addition to $35,000 allocated for SB 300. We are very grateful to the school district for their willingness to partner with the college to benefit students.
Our alumni association, Club Lane, is gearing up. They will be conducting a telethon next week to recruit alumni.
We had an excellent Spring Conference last week with the author of one of our Reading Together books. Lucille Clifton is an internationally recognized poet. It is always difficult to decide whether to have these kinds of events when we are in the midst of budget reductions. However, the agreements were made many months ago. I do think it is important that as a learning institution we take time to come together and learn ourselves. Lucille did two sessions for students and the public on Thursday that were very well attended, especially by students. On Friday she was the keynote speaker for staff.
Tomorrow we will be having the culminating event of our year with our first Visiting Scholar, Dr. Janne Underrinner. We will hold a chinuk wawa lu-lu. There will be guests from the Grand Ronde tribe.
You might have noticed the large trees on the ground in the parking lot. These are the trees donated by the Coquille tribe for use in the Longhouse. It is exciting to think that we are getting closer to making that project a reality.
We were visited by dignitaries from Seitoku University in Japan last week. They require their students to complete a year abroad to learn English. They are interested in sending students to Lane.
Sonya and I attended the AACC national convention. The Oregon Institute for Leadership development which I have directed for a number of years received a model program award. Also, I was elected to the national board of the AACC.
You may have noticed that Sonya is not here this evening. She has been invited back to Washington, D.C., for the second time to participate in a session with the US Department of Education. One of Sonya’s colleagues, Dr. Beto Gonzalez, has been appointed as assistant secretary for Vocational Education. In fact, I attended a session at the convention where he was presenting. I had never met him before, and out of the blue he began to talk about Sonya and the work she did at Bakersfield and at Lane. I was very proud of Sonya!
Lane's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Zeta, has just returned from our regional conference. The Regional Conference was held in Portland, and it followed the International Conference, which was held in Seattle two weeks ago. Sigma Zeta won an amazing 13 awards at regional (in addition to the one at international):
Five Star
Pinnacle Platinum
Pinnacle Gold
Distinguished Leadership
Distinguished Service
Distinguished Chapter Officer: Elizabeth Rosso
Distinguished Chapter Advisor: Velda Arnaud
Chapter President Award: Stephanie Simon
International Honors Institute Scholarship
Chapter Yearbook Award
Participation Award
Travel Award
Literary Award: Morgan Moorehead
Finally, I would like to present a couple of awards. First is Food for Lane County. We are a member of the Campus Compact which is dedicated to service learning and civic engagement. Jennifer von Ammon from the Language, Literature & Communication division is our Service Learning coordinator. She has placed students with the Food for Lane County gardens. Let me read the letter I wrote to recognize Food for Lane County. Unfortunately, Merry Bradley and Jen Anonia were not able to attend the awards ceremony in Portland because it was opening day for the gardens and they had lots of volunteers lined up. I was happy to accept the award on their behalf and am pleased that they are here today. I would like to ask them to come forward to receive the award.
Last but certainly not least; this is Jeremy Riel’s last meeting as ASLCC president. I would like to ask him to come forward to receive this small token of our appreciation for all his hard work over the years on behalf of Lane students. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
1) April Highlights
April 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
Consent Agenda Item 2B, HP Virtual Tape Backup System, will be deferred until a future meeting. There was a modification to Item 2C, Waste Water Treatment System Upgrade. Item 4D, Athletics Report, will be moved to 4A.
The approval of the minutes, item 2A, was pulled from the consent agenda and moved to item 5C.
D. Statements from the Audience
Frank Merrill, retired coordinator of the Native American Program, thanked Lane for the opportunities he had as a student and as an employee. He is proud of the Native American Program. He attended the board meeting to help support the students.
Carol Demele, student, supported the Women in Transitions program. She felt the program should be expanded, not reduced. It has given her opportunities she could not find anywhere else.
Happi Mathews, ASLCC Senator, spoke on behalf of the Native American Longhouse student fee. He is proud of the commitment the college and the community have shown.
Maria Paladino, Director of Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) and 1992 graduate of the Women in Transitions program, was opposed to cuts to the program and especially of the elimination of the program coordinator. She has not forgotten how the program changed her life. It is a vital resource for the entire community. SASS refers clients to the program on a daily basis.
Sandon Riddle, President of the Native American Student Association, spoke in favor of the Longhouse and the student fee increase.
Margaret Bayless, instructor, addressed the reassurance that the Women in Transitions program will continue despite the cut to the program coordinator. She questioned the choices of the cuts and the process of how they were made. Cutting the most vulnerable positions and some of the lowest paid employees is a form of restructuring. She asked the board to consider other options, such as cutting back the director’s position.
Caryle Tylerkays, student, supported the Women in Transitions program. Without Patsy Raney, the program coordinator, she would not be at Lane. She would be stuck at a dead-end job and not able to pay her bills. If the program coordinator is eliminated, the heart of the program is removed. She asked that the program be marketed better instead.
2. Consent Agenda
Holman moved to approve the consent agenda as amended. Seconded by Riggs-Henson.
3. Policy Review
A. Second Reading
Riggs-Henson moved, seconded by Johnston, to approve the second reading of board policy D.080, Conflict of Interest.
Motion passed unanimously.
POLICY NUMBER: D.080
POLICY TYPE: MISCELLANEOUS
POLICY TITLE: CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Board Members and employees shall avoid actions as a public official or public employee that have the effect of being to the private, personal or financial benefit or avoidance of detriment of the person or the person’s relatives. Relatives include spouse, children of the person or spouse, or the brothers, sisters or parents of the person or the person’s spouse. The Government Standards and Practices Act set forth in ORS Chapter 244 is applicable to Board Members and employees. If questions arise, Board Members and employees are urged to contact Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission, 100 High Street SE, Suite 220, Salem, Oregon 97301-3607; Telephone Number 503-378-5105.
ADOPTED: November 9, 1998
REVISED: September 8, 2004
B. First Reading
No change was recommended to this policy; a second reading will be held in June.
POLICY NUMBER: D.090
POLICY TYPE: MISCELLANEOUS
POLICY TITLE: STUDENT ACTIVITIES FEES FOR STUDENT-INITIATED PROGRAMS
Students may be assessed a mandatory fee for the purpose of supporting a board approved student-initiated program. The board may approve those student-initiated programs that it determines provide educational value to the students consistent with the college mission and goals. After board approval, the fee initiative will be placed on the ballot for the student elections. The student election results, as they relate to the fee initiative, are advisory only. After the student elections, the fee initiative will come before the board for final approval or disapproval.
ADOPTED: November 9, 1998
REVISED: July 12, 2000
REVISED: December 2002 (former Policy Title: Tuition and Fees)
REVISED: July 27, 2004
4. Discussion/Action Items
A. Athletics Report.
Sean Mondragon, Athletics director, and Dean Hanson, community supporter and fundraiser, provided a funding update for baseball and soccer for 2005-06. The fundraising came about $20,000 short this year. The board asked about further fundraising efforts and the possibility of another sport for the women’s activity. Since soccer is in its first year, it will need some time to get established.
The board asked that President Spilde meet with Lanning, Mondragon and Hansen and give a recommendation next week.
4B. Priorities for Capital Construction
Spilde reminded the board that Lane has previously submitted the Health and Wellness Building as the highest capital construction priority. The Oregon Community Colleges and Workforce Development (OCCWD) has asked for second and third priorities. The board considered three options: the Downtown Center remodel, the Forum remodel, and a new Library/Commons Building. A discussion was held regarding the use of space, functionality, and the displacement of students and employees.
Bozievich moved to submit the Downtown Center Remodel as the second priority and the Forum Building remodel as the third capital construction priority to OCCWD. Riggs-Henson seconded.
Motion passed 6 – 1. Romine dissented.
4C. ASLCC Election/Student Fees
Rose moved that the board approve the May 2006 ASLCC election results, including the student fee increase of $3.00 a term for three years to provide funding for a Native American Longhouse at Lane Community College, with the stipulation that the committee continue in their fundraising efforts in order to end the student fee as soon as possible. Johnston seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
4D. LCCEA Contract
Riggs-Henson moved to approve the LCCEA contract. Seconded by Rose.
Motion passed unanimously.
The board took a ten-minute break at 8:20 p.m.
5. Accountability/Reports
A. Benchmarks
Craig Taylor, Institutional Research and Planning director, responded to questions and comments on the following Benchmarks:
• Percentage of Recent High School Graduate Attending
B. Financial Condition and Activities: Quarterly Report, A.050
Matsen responded to questions and concerns on the Financial Condition and Activities: Quarterly Report.
C. Approval of the April 12, 2006, minutes
Minor changes were made to the April 12, 2006, minutes.
Holman moved to approve minutes as amended. Bozievich seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
6. Reports
ASLCC President Riel stated that the student association has been encouraging students to vote. They have also been fighting to maintain the level of the Oregon Opportunity Grant. Riel acknowledged that this is his last board meeting as ASLCC president, and he has enjoyed working with everyone.
LCCEF President Baldwin reported that some classified staff were uncertain about the value of the Spring Conference. He voiced the union’s frustration with the governance system, saying that some of the money used for governance could have been used to keep jobs. There is definitely a need for discussion on how to deal with budget crises in the coming years. The classified unit is going to have casualties; let’s limit it to the extent possible with the hopes of rebuilding a better college.
LCCEA President Salt appreciated the board ratifying the faculty contract. The Oregon Education Association is collecting signatures that would call for corporations to account for their profits as well as their taxes. Salt reported that faculty are in the process of assessing overload pay and reassignment time for council work. Councils will assess themselves and their impact. Faculty do not believe that the appropriate way to assess governance is through the budget process. He also does not believe that the role of the faculty is solely to teach classes.
Bozievich acknowledged that several people spoke very passionately regarding the Women in Transitions program, stating that he also appreciates the program and understands its importance. He supports the program, but the impact of the budget reductions has to be shared. He stated that the faculty contract is a much better piece of language for the college and that both bargaining teams did the best they could in negotiations. He thanked Riel for a job well done.
Lanning informed the board of the Student Art Gallery show which began that evening. The Lane Dance Company starts their performance Thursday night and it runs through Saturday. Other highlights will be sent to the board.
Matsen introduced Greg Morgan, Lane’s new Associate Vice President of Finance, to the board.
Holman observed that the speakers addressing the Women’s program were very persuasive, stating that these voices need to be heard by legislators.
Riggs-Henson was glad that faculty contract negotiations have come to a close and appreciated both teams. She was moved by the comments regarding Women in Transitions, as the program is near and dear to her heart.
Johnston acknowledged that, as a recent graduate of the Women in Transitions program, the choice to cut the program coordinator was very difficult. And it’s not just one place—cuts are being made all the way through the college. She was impressed with the women who have spoken on behalf of the program. Johnston attended the Spring Conference, and it was wonderful. She has sent an e-mail to the other board members regarding the Tabor Initiative.
Romine appreciated the emotion showed in the public comments, but he would have liked to have a Cost per FTE report to refer to.
Rose announced that he and Spilde will be attending a governance workshop and the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) board meeting later this week. KLCC is taking over the Wings building. The Culinary Arts program did a wonderful reception at the Jacobs gallery. He appreciated Baldwin’s comments regarding the Spring Conference. Regarding governance, the college has invested a lot in that process, which he believed will eventually become more efficient.
Hall welcomed Riggs-Henson back, congratulated Patrick Lanning on his doctorate, and congratulated everyone on the ratification of the faculty contract.
7. Date, Place, and Proposed Agenda Items for the Next Regular Meeting
Wednesday, June 14, 2006, Boardroom, Building 3, Lane Community College
8. The board meeting adjourned at 9:25 pm.
| _____________________________ | _____________________________ | |
| Mary Spilde, President/District Clerk | Roger Hall, Chair |