December 1996
Board Meeting Minutes
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, December 18, 1996
World Trade Center
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Trustees Present: Morrie Anderson, Nancy Brataas, Kathleen Caffey, Dennis
Dotson, David Erickson, Robert Erickson, Christine Fritsche, Randall Knudson,
Stephen L. Maxwell, Gary Mohrenweiser, William Smoley, Denise Stephens, William
Ulland, Michael Vekich
Trustees Absent: Archie D. Chelseth
- Call to Order/Announcement
Chair Ulland called the December meeting of the Board of Trustees to order
at 12:05 p.m., on Wednesday, December 18, 1996, in the Minnesota World Trade
Center, World Trade Room, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Closed Session:
Trustee Maxwell moved closing the open session of the meeting to convene
in closed session to discuss labor negotiations pursuant to Minnesota Statute
' 471.705, subd. 1a (1994) (Minnesota Open Meeting Law). Trustee Mohrenweiser
seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Trustee Fritsche moved to continue the closed session of the meeting to discuss
dismissal of a faculty member pursuant to Minnesota Statute ' 471.705, subd.
1a (1994) (Minnesota Open Meeting Law). Trustee Maxwell seconded and the motion
passed unanimously.
Trustee Vekich moved adjournment of the closed session at 1:05 p.m. Trustee
Maxwell seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Open Session:
Chair Ulland reconvened the meeting of the Board of Trustees at 1:10 p.m.,
on Wednesday, December 18, 1996, in the Minnesota World Trade Center, International
Hall, Saint Paul.
Chair Ulland welcomed those who were viewing the proceedings via live broadcast
by Minnesota Satellite and Technology (MnSAT).
- Chair's Report
a. Approval of October 16, 1996, Board of Trustees meeting
minutes; November 20, 1996, meeting minutes; and December 4, 1996, meeting
minutes
Trustee Maxwell moved approval of the: October 16, 1996, Board of Trustees
meeting minutes; November 20, 1996, meeting minutes; and December 4, 1996,
meeting minutes. Trustee Mohrenweiser seconded.
Chancellor Eaton requested inserting the word "student" before
"consultative" in the motion relating to tuition strategy on page
four of the December 4, 1996, meeting minutes.
Trustee David Erickson moved to amend the December 4, 1996 meeting minutes
by inserting "student" before the word "consultative"
in the motion relating to tuition strategy on page four. The amendment was
accepted by Trustee Maxwell, and the amended motion passed unanimously.
b. Executive Committee Report, November 6, 1996, and December 4, 1996
Chair Ulland reported that the Executive Committee met on November 6, 1996,
and December 4, 1996. On November 6, 1996, the Executive Committee reviewed
the October 15-16, 1996, board and committee meeting agendas, the special
board meeting on the biennial budget hearing on November 20, 1996, televising
board meetings, and scheduling two board retreats with Richard T. Ingram,
president of the Association of Governing Boards. The committee also met
in closed session to discuss labor negotiations.
Chair Ulland reported that the Executive Committee met again on December
4, 1996, to review the December 17-18, 1996, board and committee meeting
agendas, and scheduling a tour of Motorola University (Schaumburg, Illinois)
for trustees interested in technological advances in electronic education.
- Trustee Reports
Chair Ulland reported that the board would meet in a retreat with Richard
T. Ingram, president of the Association of Governing Boards, on January 9-10,
1997. The Executive Committee will convene before the retreat begins on January
9, 1997, to approve the meeting agenda for the regularly scheduled January
14-15, 1997, board and committee meetings.
- Chancellor's Report
a. Pine Technical College Presentation
Chancellor Eaton introduced President Gene Biever, Pine Technical College.
President Biever presented an overview of Pine Technical College, whose
mission as an institution of higher education is to serve individuals and
society by providing occupational, educational and ethical expertise which
enhances personal development, increases economic opportunity for both employees
and employers and contributes to the community. Pine Technical College=s
vision is to be the leader in providing quality educational services through
collaboration and technology. Pine Technical College believes in and is
committed to three values:
- Students first
- Personal and professional development for staff
- Partnerships with business, industry, agriculture, agencies and educational
institutions.
Pine Technical College has 28 business and industry advisory boards with
448 members. The Employment and Training Center serves five counties and
has approximately 1,600 participants. Continuing education courses have
served 80 businesses. Secondary partnerships include 20 sites and five
colleges participating in the "School to Work Tech Prep" program,
"Work Link," and "Postsecondary Education Option"
for 200 students. Pine Technical College has 25 distance education sites.
Management programs served 355 businesses during 1995-1996.
President Biever explained that through a partnership with the Minnesota
Department of Corrections, Pine Technical College has had a working relationship
with Moose Lake Correctional Facility at Willow River since 1987, providing
hour-based courses, trade and technical programs, two agribusiness programs
and one management program currently serving approximately 250 inmates.
Discussions are under way with the Minnesota Department of Corrections
to determine the educational needs for inmates of a new correctional facility
between Pine City and Rush City that is to be completed by spring of 2000.
b. Legislative Update
John Kaul, Deputy to the Chancellor for Government Relations, distributed
the new legislative committee assignments for the 1997 Legislature. Mr.
Kaul noted that there have been many changes in the make-up of the legislature
recently. He also observed that the turnover in the last decade exceeded
71 percent in the House and 61 percent in the Senate.
Mr. Kaul summarized some of the more prominent issues before the Minnesota
Legislature this session. Issues competing with MnSCU's legislative agenda
include: welfare reform, property tax reform, juvenile crime, K-12 reform,
rainy day fund and the stadium. Higher education issues include: metro
area, allocations, HESO's role, emergency bonding, Rochester, and the
virtual university. Mr. Kaul reported that MnSCU has created an organization,
that will be composed of legislators, called "Friends of MnSCU,"
that would meet three to four times during the legislative session to
foster support for MnSCU's agenda.
c. Memo to Minnesota
Chancellor Eaton explained that "Memo to Minnesota" was distributed
to persons who attended the MnSCU town meetings in September and October,
1996. The document summarizes the strategic planning process, including
discussions at the town meetings and is a summary of the town meetings
MnSCU held across the state in September and October 1996.
d. Announcements
The Board of Trustees had approved a motion in July 1996 for MnSCU to
convene a meeting of leaders of higher education systems to discuss tenure.
Chancellor Eaton announced that she and Chair Ulland will attend the tenure
meeting hosted by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
in Washington, D.C., on January 17, 1997, and will report back to the
board at a future date.
Chancellor Eaton announced that she had spoken with Mark Yudof, incoming
president of the University of Minnesota, and looks forward to meeting
with him once he has settled into his new post.
- Chancellor's Consent Agenda
There were no items for the Chancellor's Consent Agenda.
- Board Standing Committee Reports
a. Educational Policy Committee
- Proposed Amendment to Policy 2.2 - State Residency Requirements
for On-Campus Students (second reading) Trustee Anderson moved approval
of the amendment to MnSCU policy 2.2 - State Residency Requirements
for On-Campus Students and repeals the following three carry-forward
policies: CC IV.01.02 (Resident Status), TC 4.1.1.1 (Resident Status)
and SU 5.2 (Resident and Non-resident Tuition Status). Trustee Fritsche
seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
- Proposed Policy 3.17 - Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates (second
reading)
Trustee Anderson noted a correction to the Technical College carry-forward
policy number in the motion on page 54. Trustee Anderson moved approval
of policy 3.17 - Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates and repeals Community
College carry-forward policy III.02.09, Technical College carry-forward
policy 2.1.4.0 & Standards for Awards Policy, and the State University
carry-forward policy 4.1. Trustee Vekich seconded and the motion passed
unanimously.
- New Program Approval: Master of Science in Engineering at Mankato
State University
Trustee Dotson moved approval of Mankato State University's request
to offer a new Master of Science Degree in Engineering. Trustee Robert
Erickson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
- Reports to the Legislature
Trustee Anderson announced that the Minnesota Legislature requires MnSCU
to submit summary reports on actions taken in a number of different
areas as part of its biennial budget submission. Reports in the following
nine subject areas were reviewed by the Education Policy Committee:
Semester Conversion; Career Information and Placement Data; Work Skills
Upgrade Program; Administrator Interaction with Students; Instructional
Technology Grants; Akita; Facilities Use; Joint Project for Distance
Learning; and Accountability.
Trustee Anderson reported that the committee amended the motion by requesting
additional information relating to the Akita report.
Trustee Anderson reported that the Educational Policy Committee moved
approval of an amended motion to accept the summary reports by requesting
staff to prepare an evaluation of the Akita Campus, due in six months,
focusing on: 1) current overhead and instructional operating costs covered
by Minnesota and identifying ways to reduce expenses; 2) the accreditation
process for recognition by the Japanese Ministry of Education (Monbusho);
and 3) potential impact of Minnesota's investment on trade or other
economic relationships with Japan.
Trustee Anderson moved approval of the amended motion to accept the
summary legislative reports and directs that they be included in the
biennial budget submission document. The motion was seconded by Trustee
Caffey and carried unanimously.
- Update on SCOPE
Trustee Anderson reported that the SCOPE report would be an agenda item
at the January meeting.
b. Fiscal Policy Committee
- Allocation Model
Trustee Vekich reported that the Fiscal Policy Committee recommended
approval of an amended motion relating the to the MnSCU Allocation Model.
Upon motion by Trustee Vekich and seconded by Trustee David Erickson,
the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the allocation model as recommended
by the chancellor and attached as Exhibit A. The Board further directs
that the chancellor will return to the Board in September 1997 with
a FY1999-2003 plan developed with the following principles: 1) the plan
will distribute state appropriation only; tuition revenues will remain
with the institutions; 2) the plan will calculate institutional costs
on the basis of dollars per weighted student credit hour calculated
with state appropriation only: 3) the plan will include provisions to
move all institutions offering more than 50,000 weighted student credit
hours within +/- 5 percent of the statewide average: 4) the plan will
include provisions to move all institutions with less than 50,000 weighted
student credit hours within +/- 10 percent of the statewide average;
5) benchmarking information will be collected which allows comparable
institutions to be compared on the basis of cost; 6) benchmarking information
will allow examination and annual adjustment of the weighting factors
used in the model based on actual experience; and finally 7) the plan
will provide for an increase in the performance-based and reallocation
pools from 3 percent to 6 percent in FY 1999. It is the Board's intention
to review the allocation model annually.
- MnSCU 1998-1999 Summary Budget
Vice Chancellor for Finance/Chief Financial Officer Laura King reviewed
the MnSCU 1998-1999 Summary Budget. In addition, as requested by the
Fiscal Policy Committee, she distributed a letter outlining remaining
board agenda items concerning the FY98 budget and legislative events
and target dates for the Implementation Plan.
Upon motion by Trustee Vekich, seconded by Trustee Knudson and carried
(with Trustee Anderson abstaining), the Board of Trustees approved the
MnSCU 1998-1999 Summary Budget.
Trustee Vekich commended the chancellor and staff for their commitment
and hard work in preparing MnSCU's first budget.
- Gift of Property to Minneapolis Community College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College president, Diann Schindler,
and vice president for administration and planning, Phil Davis, spoke
on behalf of the gift of property from the Minneapolis Community and
Technical College Foundation to MnSCU. Also speaking on behalf of the
gift was Tom Wells, president of the Minneapolis Community and Technical
College Foundation and a member of the Wells Family.
President Schindler reported that the property, valued at approximately
$350,000, is a mansion adjacent to the Minneapolis Community and Technical
College. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and was designed
by the same architect who designed the Governor=s mansion in Saint Paul.
Trustee Vekich moved approval to accept the gift of real property,
known as the Wells Family College Center, located at 1403 Harmon Place
in Minneapolis, from the Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Foundation, Inc. Trustee Fritsche seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
- Update on FY 1997 Budget
Chancellor Eaton reviewed the FY 1997 Institutional Update. Total estimated
revenues for FY 1997 are $996,801,320. Year-to-date expenditures are
$368,439,862, representing 37 percent of the total budget expended.
Faculty/staff headcount is 17,572.
Trustee David Erickson commended Vice Chancellor Laura King and staff
for all their hard work.
c. Board Operations Committee
- Update on Policy Development
Trustee Smoley reported that John Ostrem, Deputy to the Chancellor for
Legislative Affairs, presented an update on board policy development
to the Board Operations Committee. As of December 1996, the Board of
Trustees has adopted 53 policies and carried forward 63 former policies
from the community colleges, technical colleges and state universities.
The process of developing, adopting, and distributing policies is a
primary responsibility of the Board of Trustees, and requires extensive
attention by each of the standing committees of the board. Distribution
of policies to colleges and universities is through the MnSCU home page
on the Internet.
- Televising Board Meetings
Trustee Smoley reported that the committee heard a report from Chris
Roberts, Deputy to the Chancellor for Public Affairs, on televising
board meetings. There was a discussion about the costs of televising
board meetings, and issues such as openness and access. The cost of
a three-hour broadcast is $6,200, while a two-hour broadcast is $4,700,
exclusive of any MnSAT overhead or equipment expenses.
Trustee Smoley reported that this item would be on the agenda at the
next meeting.
d. Facilities Committee
- Facilities Committee 1997 Work Plan
Trustee Robert Erickson reported that the Facilities Committee 1997
Work Plan is focused on building the core informational and planning
foundation necessary to lead MnSCU=s future facilities planning and
management efforts. The 1997 work plan spans the calendar year and includes
joint meetings with the Fiscal Policy Committee (to develop the preliminary
1998 Capital Budget Guidelines, final 1998 Capital Budget Proposal and
Student Housing Development Policy), and Educational Policy Committee
(Space Utilization Survey Guidelines).
- Proposed Policy 5.6 - Board Policy on Resource Recovery & Environmentally
Responsible Practices (first reading)
Proposed Policy 5.6 - Board Policy on Resource Recovery and Environmentally
Responsible Practices requires the colleges and universities to maintain
recycling at or above FY 96 levels and continue to implement environmentally
responsible practices. The board agreed to change the word "shall",
page 150, paragraph 4, first sentence, to "may."
e. Audit Committee
- Status Report on 1996-1997 Audit Plan and Discussion of Audit Planning
Trustee Brataas reported that the Audit Committee briefly reviewed the
status report on the 1996-1997 audit plan and discussion of audit planning.
Detailed discussion will take place when Lee Kerschner, Executive Vice
Chancellor/Chief Operating Officer, is present.
Chancellor Eaton thanked Dr. Dennis Hefner (Vice Chancellor for Academic
and Student Affairs) for his service to the system and students and
congratulated him on his new position as president of Fredonia College
in New York state.
- Presidential Advisory Committee
The Presidential Advisory Committee did not have a report. Instead, they sang
a rousing holiday carol which brightened everyone's afternoon.
- Joint Council of Student Associations
T. J. Wenker, president, Minnesota Community College Student Association (MCCSA)
announced that he regretted to inform the chancellor and board that MCCSA
would be in court either the 2nd or 3rd week in January unless MTCSA comes
back to the table. Some outstanding issues remain and the memo of understanding
expired on December 15, 1996. Mr. Wenker thanked Steve Frantz (System Director
for Student Life/Disabilities) for his hard work on behalf of MCCSA.
Frank Viggiano, executive director, Minnesota State University Student Association
(MSUSA), reported that his organization will be following the federal student
aid reauthorization process. MSUSA is concerned about raising limits for student
loans and supports state and federal tax credits for tuition, including deducting
student loan interest. MSUSA supports a tuition freeze; recommends at least
three students on presidential search committees; unanimously passed a resolution
thanking Dennis Hefner, the outgoing Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student
Affairs, for his service to the system and students; has concerns about the
proposed merger between Metropolitan State University and Minneapolis Community
and Technical College; requests unspent state work study program funds be
returned to the program; appreciates the time and concern the Board of Trustees
spent on the Allocation Model and urges the board to take into consideration
the physical size of each campus (ranging from less than one acre to 800 or
900 acres) in the allocation model.
- MCCFA, IFO, and UTCE: Joint Opportunity to Address the Board
Larry Litecky, president of Minnesota Community College Faculty Association
(MCCFA); Dave Abel, president of Inter Faculty Association (IFO); and Bruce
Hemstad, president of United Technical College Educators (UTCE), highlighted
some of the principles listed in "Seven Principles for Good Practice
in Undergraduate Education."
- Requests by Individuals to Address the Board
No requests were made.
- Other Business
The following additional information was requested by trustees during the
board meeting:
- Staff was asked to provide a one-page summary of the average appropriation
FYE for Japanese students attending MnSCU schools showing taxpayer portion
on bottom.
- Adjournment
Trustee Vekich moved adjournment of the meeting at 2:55 p.m. Trustee Mohrenweiser
seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
William Ulland, Chair Board of Trustees
Recorded by Inge Chapin
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