LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 9, 2002
1) Attendance
Chair Roger Hall called the meeting of the Lane Community College Board of Education to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were: Board Members Robert Ackerman, Roger Hall, Larry Romine, Mike Rose, Lucille Salmony, Kathleen Shelley, and Dennis Shine. Also present were President Mary Spilde; Vice Presidents Marie Matsen and Cheryl Roberts; Assistant to the President Tracy Simms; College Counsel Meg Kieran; Lane Community College Education Association President Jim Salt; Lane Community College Employees Federation President Bob Baldwin; and Associated Students of Lane Community College President Greg Dunkin.
2) Resolution 476, Honoring George Alvergue
Former board member, George Alvergue, and his wife Flo, were present to witness Resolution 476, honoring Alvergue for his service on the board from 1999-2002 and for 27 years as an instructor at Lane teaching history and political science. Many heartfelt accolades were heard from colleagues in instruction, the president, and the board. He was saluted as an uncommon advocate for the college, a distinguished instructor who inspired thousands of students, a strong spokesperson for the Center fourth floor remodel, and other contributions.
Romine moved, seconded by Shelley, to adopt Resolution 476. Resolution 476 will be filed with the original minutes.
Motion passed unanimously.
3) President’s Report
- Recent budget information has been communicated to all staff by email and to students via a letter in the Torch. In addition, a student forum was conducted last week and another is planned soon.
- Fall term began with an all staff gathering on September 17. A speech by Spilde discussed the reality Lane is facing and the vision the college is trying to achieve. Staff was introduced to the accreditation process, which continues for the next two years.
- Enrollment is down slightly in the credit and non-credit programs due, in part, to budget reductions made last year and a downturn in the economy. Fewer sections are being offered.
- A new parking process began smoothly this fall thanks to Public Safety staff and interim director Sandy Ing-Weise. Parking will continue to be evaluated, especially due to a scarcity of spaces.
- A new smoking policy has been implemented and allows smoking in designated areas only. Bus shelters, purchased from the Lane Transit District, will be erected in some designated areas for smokers. For now, gentle enforcement is being conducted.
- About 113 fewer international students have enrolled at Lane this year. Whether this is due to the tuition increase, new visa requirements, or a combination of both is unknown.
- Spilde attended a meeting at the invitation of the Assistant Secretary of Education at the U.S. Department of Education. Eighteen presidents from across the country were invited to participate in a working group to advise on accountability issues, transitions to and from high schools to colleges, and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
- When League for Innovation board colleges change presidents, they must conduct a self study and apply for continuing membership. Thanks to Anne McGrail, English instructor, and Tamara Pinkas, Lane’s League Representative, for their outstanding work done on the Institutional Self Evaluation. The Self Evaluation has been submitted to the League for review.
- The Feasibility Study for the Foundation’s capital campaign will be presented at the November meeting.
- Two new student ambassadors were introduced, Wendell Freeman and Traci Treadwell, will assist in student recruitment activities, campus tours, and high school and community outreach. Freeman is studying for a degree in political science and law, and Traci is pursuing a degree in political science and ethnic studies.
Bond Report
Bob Mention thanked the board, staff, trades people, and voters, for all their work and support involved in the bond projects. The projects have greatly improved Lane’s campus environment.
LASR Report
Linda DeWitt noted that Banner implementation for Human Resources will “Go Live” in three months. A series of training on the use of ExpressLane for a variety of employee services will be held the last two weeks of October and the first two weeks of November.
4) Statements from the Audience
The following people advocated for the Adults with Special Needs program: Michael Cunningham, Jeanna Stubblefield, Stacy Adair, and Steve Carter, instructor of the ASN program.
The following speakers opposed the mandatory long-term tuition increase policy: Greg Dunkin,hal McCollough Tracy Treadwell, Selena Chavez, Alisa Simmons, Jennifer Fox, and Chal McCollough.
Bill Burrows commented on the Higher Education Price Index.
5) Consent Agenda
Rose moved, seconded by Shelley, to approve the Consent Agenda, consisting of the following:
- Minutes of the September 11, 2002, board meeting.
- Personnel
- Association of Community College Trustees – Diversity Committee Appointment
- Fourth Floor, Center Building Remodel (distributed at the meeting and filed with the original board mailing document)
Motion passed unanimously.
Discussion/Action Items
6) 2002-03 Budget Reduction Recommendations
A discussion of how to rebalance this year’s budget in light of another state funding shortfall led to agreement to take action at a special meeting on Monday, October 21, at 5:30 p.m., to provide more time for reviewing options, obtaining feedback, and providing additional information to the board. The administration distributed an updated list of options, including an additional option, Plan E. Board members requested that the administration look to non-FTE producing areas of the college, such as the Foundation, Enterprise Zone, KLCC, Institutional Research, Assessment, Planning, and the Strategic Learning Initiative for further savings to avoid section cuts or tuition increases. Spilde emphasized that the proposals for 2002-03 budget reductions do not improve the condition of the college for 2003-04.
The board took a ten-minute break at 9:20 p.m.
7) Second Reading: Tuition Policy
Marie Matsen distributed the recommended changes to the proposed Tuition Policy. After discussion, a majority of the board agreed to the concept, but directed the administration to come back with language changes.
Board member Lucille Salmony left the meeting at 10:20 p.m.
8) Tuition Based Report
The board heard reports on the success and limits of tuition-based classes piloted this summer.
9) Budget Committee Appointment for Zone 4
Rose moved, seconded by Shine, to approve Kathleen Shelley’s nomination of Sandy Hitchcock for the Lane Community College Budget Committee.
Motion passed 6-0.
10) Benchmarks
Craig Taylor reviewed the following Benchmarks:
- Unduplicated Student Headcount
- Number of FTE by Reimbursement Category
- Percent of FTE by Reimbursement Category
11) Reports
ASLCC President
Greg Dunkin assured the board that students were working hard to become educated and involved in Lane’s budget issues. He said the tuition policy should be a yearly discussion, not a mandated policy.
LCCEF President
Bob Baldwin said negotiations continue regarding a joint health insurance plan. One concern is that many classified staff cannot afford the health insurance they are being offered.
LCCEA President
Jim Salt reported that faculty continue to work hard on the joint college-wide health insurance plan. He encouraged the board not to respond to budget reduction issues in a bureaucratic fashion, but as activists, working together with statewide organizations in maximizing the chances of passing the income tax surcharge measure. He suggested the board, administration, faculty, classified, and students work together to educate voters. Salt expressed the need for an open, transparent budget that staff have faith in.
Vice Presidents
Even though the college is experiencing trying times, Cheryl Roberts acknowledged that staff are very focused on student learning. She pointed out the new main campus weather station and the Library’s new electronic classroom with 32 stations.
Marie Matsen spoke about the need to educate taxpayers and legislators to ensure they vote intelligently. She described the reductions in expenditures that College Operations has experienced the last seven out of eight years and said, although everyone continues to try to save money, it is not without cost to the students.
Board Members
Kathleen Shelley was very impressed with the new Centralized Tutoring Center. Shelley represented the board at a recent American Community College Trustees convention in Philadelphia. She attended a significant session on disaster planning and handed out information from other sessions.
Dennis Shine thanked the board for giving him the opportunity to serve on ACCT’s Diversity Committee for the next two years. Shine was heartened by Jim Salt and Greg Dunkin’s comments on working politically to educate voters. He encouraged those interested in reading “The Socioeconomic Benefits Generated by Lane Community College” to contact the President’s Office.
Mike Rose plans to attend the October 17 Oregon Community College Association board meeting and encouraged board members to attend the OCCA February convention. Rose criticized the lack of funding for education and urged voters to look at the record of legislators to determine if they stand by their actions. He recommended sending letters to the editor and the board creating an op ed/editorial article on the importance of community colleges to education.
12) Date, Place, and Proposed Agenda Items for Next Regular Meeting
Wednesday, November 13
beginning at 7:30 p.m., in the Boardroom of the Administration Building, Lane Community College.
13) Adjournment
The board meeting unanimously adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
______________________________
Roger Hall, Chair
Board of Education
______________________________
Mary Spilde, President/District Clerk
Lane Community College
Prepared by:
Laura Tamura, Board Secretary