October 1995
Board Meeting Minutes

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 18, 1995

The October 18, 1995 Board of Trustees meeting was convened at Central Lakes College, A Community and Technical College, Room 247, Brainerd, MN, by Vice Chair William Ulland at 9:40 a.m.

Trustees Present: Nancy Brataas, Archie D. Chelseth, David Erickson, Christine Fritsche, Nellie Stone Johnson, Scott Kile, Randall Knudson, Stephen L. Maxwell, John Mulder, William Smoley, Denise Stephens, and William Ulland

Trustees Absent: Robert Cahlander, Gary Mohrenweiser, Fannie Primm

1. Approval of September 12, September 20 and October 6, 1995 Board Meeting Minutes
   Trustee Chelseth moved approval of the September 12, and September 20 minutes as distributed. Trustee Maxwell seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. Trustee Chelseth moved approval of the October 6 minutes as revised. Trustee Erickson seconded. The revision is on page 18, paragraph 1, sentence 3, as follows: Dr. Retterer is being hired with the understanding that she will eventually serve as president of the consolidated community college and technical college. The motion was approved unanimously.
   
   
2. Chair's Report
   

   a. Standing Committees
   

   1. Current Committee Charges
      
   2. New Committee Charges
      (a) Audit Committee
      (b) Board Operations
      
      Committee Due to Chair Mohrenweiser's absence, Vice Chair Ulland postponed these issues until the November meeting.

   
   b. Initiation of Chancellor's Consent Agenda
   Beginning with the November 1995 Board meeting, the Chancellor's Consent Agenda will be a regular agenda item appearing under the Chancellor's Report. The Chancellor's Consent Agenda will include items of a routine, simple, and/or non-controversial nature. These items will be grouped as a single action item and voted on as such. Although minimal discussion is expected on these items, any additional information may be requested for further background information for discussion.
   
   c. Delegation of Signature Authority to the Chancellor
   This item will be revisited during a board meeting when the Attorney General's representative will be present. Trustee Maxwell moved to postpone this item. Trustee Johnson seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
   
   d. Executive Committee Report - October 9, 1995
   Trustee Ulland gave a general summary of the October 9, 1995 executive committee meeting. He noted that all trustees were welcome to attend executive committee meetings and that reports on executive committee meetings will be a regular part of the Chair's Report.
   

3. Chancellor's Report: Judith Eaton
   

   a. Overview of Central Lakes College: President Sally Ihne
   On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students of Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples campuses, President Sally Ihne extended a warm welcome to the Board of Trustees and MnSCU staff. She thanked them for the opportunity to host the October committee and Board meetings at the Brainerd campus. President Ihne gave an overview of current enrollment status and discussed future expectations for Central Lakes College.
   
   b. Kellogg Grant - Recommendation for Acceptance
   Trustee Chelseth moved acceptance of a grant from the Kellogg Foundation in the amount of $495,500. Trustee Erickson seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.
   
   The funds from the Kellogg Grant will provide the opportunity to educate campus and system office participants about the history, mission and operations of the various institutions encompassed within Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
   
   c. Fall 1995 Enrollment Update
   Chancellor Eaton reported preliminary fall enrollment headcount statistics at the colleges and universities. The report reflected a decline in enrollment at most of the campuses. She briefly discussed various factors which have impacted enrollment.
   
   d. Higher Education Issues - State and National
   Chancellor Eaton reported on several congressional proposals which could have a significant impact on postsecondary students and MnSCU institutions.
   
   At the state level, Chancellor Eaton noted increased legislative interest and potential support for efforts to reduce the level of regulations on MnSCU operations.
   
   e. Report on Presidency of Consolidated College - Northeast Metro Technical College and Lakewood Community College
   Chancellor Eaton presented her recommendation of Dr. James Meznek for the position of president at Northeast Metro Technical College and Lakewood Community College. Trustee Maxwell moved and Trustee Kile seconded a motion to suspend the rules to allow action on selection of the president for Northeast Metro Technical College and Lakewood Community College. Trustee Maxwell moved and Trustee Brataas seconded a motion to approve the recommendation. The motion was approved unanimously.

4. Board Standing Committee Reports
   

   a. Educational Policy Committee: Christine Fritsche, Chair
   

   1. Proposed Policy on Academic Program Improvement (Final Reading)
      Trustee Fritsche moved adoption of the proposed policy on Academic Program Improvement as presented. Trustee Kile seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously.
      
   2. Proposed Policy on Academic Program Accountability (Final Reading)
      Trustee Fritsche moved to amend the proposed policy on Academic Program Accountability. Trustee Maxwell seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The revision is on page 35, paragraph 1, sentence 1: 1. The Chancellor shall identify using accountability standards, measures and procedures established through the Academic Affairs Division of the System office, academic programs and departments that require further examination by a college or university president. Trustee Chelseth moved adoption of the amended policy on Academic Program Accountability. Trustee Maxwell seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously.
      
   3. Proposed Policy on Academic Program Suspension and Reinstatement (Final Reading)
      Trustee Smoley moved to amend the proposed policy on Academic Program Suspension and Reinstatement. Trustee Maxwell seconded. The motion was passed unanimously. The revision is on page 36, as follows: Rather than close a program pursuant to Board Policy 3.l3, upon notification to the Chancellor and the Board by the president, a college or university may (a) suspend a program for a period not to exceed three years if there is reason to believe that essentially the same program could be successfully reinstated within that time, and (b) reinstate a suspended program through notification to the Academic Affairs Division of the system office. The motion was adopted unanimously. Trustee Fritsche moved adoption of the amended proposed policy on academic Program Suspension and Reinstatement. Trustee Brataas seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously.
      
   4. Proposed Policy on Academic Program Closure (Final Reading)
      Trustee Fritsche moved adoption of the proposed policy on Academic Program Closure. Trustee Kile seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously.
      
   5. Proposed Amendment to Policy on Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education Opportunity (First Reading)
      The proposed amendment to the policy on Nondiscrimination in Employment and Education Opportunity received a first reading. Several members of the Board requested further analysis of this policy along with a detailed side-by-side comparison of the mandated federal and state laws versus board policy. It was also requested that the Human Resources Committee review the policy.
      
   6. Proposed Action on Student Application Fee
      The proposed Action on the Student Application Fee was reviewed and discussed by the Educational Policy Committee. Final action on this was scheduled for the Budget and Administration Committee.
   7. "Providing Accessible, High Quality Education to MnSCU Students" - Larry Litecky, President, Minnesota Community College Faculty Association
      Larry Litecky gave an overview of a publication he had written at the request of the MCCFA board entitled, "Providing Accessible, High Quality Education to MnSCU Students." It provides recommendations for improving teaching and learning for students within the integrated college system.
      

   
   b. Facilities Committee: John Mulder, Chair
   
   1. Proposed Action on Debt Service
      Trustee Mulder moved adoption of the proposed action on Debt Service. Trustee Maxwell seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously. This action requires that individual campuses receiving capital projects in the 1996 legislative session must pay 50 percent of the one-third debt service.
   2. Anoka-Hennepin Technical College-Proposed Plan for Environmental Air Quality Concerns
      Staff will be looking at long and short term plans for this problem and report accordingly.
   
   c. Budget and Administration Committee: Archie D. Chelseth, Chair
   
   1. Proposed Action on Allocation of Funds to Consolidated Campuses
      Trustee Chelseth moved allocation of $800,000 of nonrecurring funds to ten pairs of consolidated colleges for the 1996-97 biennium, to be dispersed half each year. Trustee Mulder seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously.
      
   2. Proposed Action on Student Application Fee
      Trustee Chelseth moved adoption of the Student Application Fee of $20, effective January 1, 1996 for fall 1996 applications. Trustee Fritsche seconded. The motion was adopted unanimously.
   3. Proposed Action on Debt Service
      The proposed action on Debt Service was reviewed and discussed by the Budget and Administration Committee. Final action on this item was scheduled for the Facility Committee.
      
   4. Proposed Action on FY 1995 Final Allocation Adjustment Based on Post Audit for State Universities
      Trustee Chelseth moved approval of the Final FY1995 post audit of the state university M&E allocations totaling $290,049,910 and that the adjustments be posted to the FY 1995 accounting records. Trustee Erickson seconded. The motion was passed unanimously. This action completes the former state university board's allocation process.
   5. Proposed Policy on Student Employees (Final Reading) (Also Reviewed by the Human Resources Committee)
      Trustee Chelseth moved approval of the Proposed Policy on Student Employees with the following amended wording: (line 32, last sentence) The president, and in the case of the system office, the chancellor, shall consult with the student senate and may consult with other student groups as appropriate prior to changing wage rates. Trustee Fritsche seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
   
   d. Human Resources Committee: Dave Erickson
   
   1. Memoranda of Understanding with Bargaining Units on the 1995 Early Retirement Incentive
      Elisabeth Murray, Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, presented three Memoranda of Understanding with the faculty bargaining units: UTCE, MCCFA, and IFO on the subject of the 1995 Early Retirement Incentive. Trustee Erickson moved approval of the three Memoranda of Understanding. Trustee Mulder seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
   2. Proposed Policy on Student Employees (Final Reading)
      The proposed policy on Student Employees was reviewed and discussed by the Human Resource Committee. Final action on this item was scheduled for the Budget and Administration Committee
   
   e. Joint Session: Human Resources and Budget and Administration Committees
   The scheduled joint session was cancelled.
   
   
5. Joint Council of Presidents
   Susan Cole, President of Metropolitan State University, welcomed Trustee Smoley as a new member on the Board of Trustees. On behalf of the joint council of presidents, she expressed their desire to have the opportunity to confer with the Board regarding general issues.
   
   
6. Joint Council of Student Associations
   Paul Hetlund, MSUSA Chair; Chris Lynch, MCCSA Chair; and John Aquillo, MTCSA Chair, expressed their appreciation for the efforts made by the Board, Chancellor Eaton, and MnSCU staff during the merger of the college systems. Each organization extended an invitation to attend their upcoming fall conferences.
   
   
7. MCCFA, IFO, and UTCE: Joint Opportunity to Address the Board
   No report was given.
   
   
8. Requests by Individuals to Address the Board
   No requests were made.
   
   
9. Other Business
   No other business was brought before the Board.
   
   
10. Closed Session Of Full Board:
    Trustee Maxwell moved to close the open session of the meeting to discuss labor negotiations pursuant to Minnesota Statute §471.05, subd. 1a (1994)(Minnesota Open Meeting Law). Trustee Johnson seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
    
    Trustee Kile moved adjourning the closed session of the meeting and to return to session. Trustee Brataas seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
    
    
11. Adjournment
    Trustee Maxwell moved adjournment of the October Board Meeting at 12:10 p.m. Trustee Chelseth seconded. The motion was passed unanimously.
    

Gary Mohrenweiser, Chair Board of Trustees
Cindy Hauser, Recording Secretary

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