January 1996 Board Meeting Minutes
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 17, 1996
The January 17, 1996 Board of Trustees meeting was convened at the Judicial
Building, Room 230; St. Paul, MN, by Chair Gary Mohrenweiser at 1:00 p.m.
Trustees Present: Nancy Brataas, Robert Cahlander, David Erickson, Nellie
Stone Johnson, Scott Kile, Randall Knudson, Stephen L. Maxwell, Fannie Primm,
William Smoley, William Ulland, and Denise Stephens.
Trustees Absent: Christine Fritsche and Archie D. Chelseth
- Call to Order
Chair Gary Mohrenweiser called the January 17, 1996 board meeting to
order at 1:00 p.m. He announced that due to the poor weather conditions, the
agenda items would be addressed by priority.
- Approval of Minutes
Motion by Trustee Maxwell, seconded by Trustee Ulland for approval of the
December 20, 1995 meeting minutes as distributed. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Trustee Ulland, seconded by Trustee Maxwell for approval of the
January 3, 1996 special meeting minutes as distributed. The motion passed
unanimously.
- Chair's Report: Gary Mohrenweiser
a. Executive Committee Report, January 3, 1996
Trustee Mohrenweiser noted the Executive Committee met as scheduled. The following
topics were discussed.
- Review of the January board and committee meeting agenda for January.
- Initial activities of the Audit Committee workplan.
- Initial activities of the Board Operations Committee workplan.
- The possibility of scheduling a campus visit in February or March.
- Principles of reorganization
There was no further discussion regarding the report.
- Chancellor's Report: Judith Eaton
a. Proposed Policy on Alcohol On Campus
Motion by Trustee Maxwell, seconded by Trustee Erickson for approval of policy
1A.9 - Use or Possession of Alcoholic Beverages at MnSCU Institutions. Further,
the board approves the repealing of state university carry-forward policies
8.3 and 8.4.
After discussion, it was decided to postpone action of this item until the
next meeting to further examine the policy application concerning off-campus
functions sponsored by a MnSCU college or university. Trustee Maxwell withdrew
his original motion for further clarification and revision of the proposed
policy.
b. Proposed Action to Approve Names for Consolidating Colleges
- Hibbing Community College and Range Technical College
Motion by Trustee Maxwell, seconded by Trustee Cahlander to establish
the name "Hibbing Community College, A Technical and Community College"
for the consolidated Range Technical College - Hibbing Campus and Hibbing
Community College effective July 1, 1996. The motion passed unanimously.
- Willmar Community College and Both Campuses of the Hutchinson-Willmar
Regional Technical College
Motion by Trustee Maxwell, seconded by Trustee Kile, to establish the
name "Ridgewater College, a Community and Technical College" for the consolidated
Willmar Community College and Hutchinson-Willmar Regional Technical College
effective July 1, 1996.
Trustee Ulland indicated an opposition to the name based on the criteria
in Policy 1A.5 Naming Consolidated Two-Year Colleges. He did not feel
the name reflected the location of the college, community, or unique area
of the state. Additional documentation was distributed outlining the process
used for the proposed name of the college. President Retterer was present
to address any concerns.
As this issue had been addressed in the past, Chancellor Eaton indicated
that review and/or revision of the policy will be brought to the board
for consideration at the next meeting. The motion passed with one nay
vote by Trustee Ulland.
- Rochester Community College and Minnesota Riverland Technical College
Motion by Trustee Maxwell, seconded by Trustee Ulland to establish the
name "Rochester Community and Technical College" for the consolidated
Rochester Community College and Minnesota Riverland Technical College
effective July 1, 1996. The motion passed unanimously.
c. System Office Organization and Staffing
Chancellor Eaton gave a presentation on her request for endorsement of the
four responsibilities for the system office. Four major areas were: policy
development, political liaison and advocacy with state and federal governmental
agencies, strategic direction for systemwide educational, fiscal, and facilities
planning, and budget development and management for allocation of resources,
budget development and accountability.
Three requests to address the board regarding this presentation were acknowledged.
MCCFA President Larry Litecky expressed faculty desire to become part of the
final decision concerning resource allocation, specifically personnel. Also
present: MnSCU employee AFSCME representative Alice Smith and MAPE representative
Dana Wheeler. They addressed the issues of involvement in final decision making
about the MnSCU reorganization.
In closing Chancellor Eaton indicated that approval of this item was only
to endorse her intentions for the four responsibilities of the system office.
She advised that several small group meetings would be scheduled to discuss
individual concerns and specific issues prior to any further action.
Motion by Trustee Ulland, seconded by Trustee Mulder for endorsement of the
four responsibilities for the system office as principles upon which reorganization
of the office should take place. The chancellor is directed to make those
changes in system office structure and staffing that are needed to ensure
that these responsibilities are carried out in a manner that will provide
for systemwide educational leadership and meet the service needs of MnSCU
colleges and universities. The chancellor is also directed to report to the
Board of Trustees on staff relocation and reduction at the February 1996 meeting.
The motion passed unanimously.
d. System Statement of Purpose
Chancellor Eaton presented the revised MnSCU Statement of Purpose for information
and review. A final draft will be presented at the February board meeting
for action.
e. 1996 Legislative Agenda
The 1996 Legislative Agenda was distributed. Governmental Relations and Policy
Development staff, John Ostrem and John Kaul, gave a brief report about the
legislative hearings. In summary, MnSCU has defined a three part strategy:
1) new accountability model with institutions, 2) review of MnSCU policies,
and 3) legislative and state agency relief from laws and procedures. The bill
to remove mandates was a detailed (32 pages, 59 sections) bill composed of
four parts: 1) administrative and finance, 2) academic affairs, 3) employee
relations, and 4) the board's authority. The hearings began Thursday, January
18, 1996. Regular newsletters outlining the daily events will be distributed.
A telephone tree has been established with campus presidents. For further
updates you may access MnSCU's world wide web site: http://www.mnscu.edu.
- Chancellor's Consent Agenda:
a. Alliss Educational Foundation Grant to MnSCU
Motion by Trustee Maxwell, seconded by Trustee Stephens to accept on behalf
of the state universities, $490,230 from the Charles and Ellora Alliss Educational
Foundation. The motion passed unanimously.
- Board Standing Committee Reports
a. Audit Committee: Nancy Brataas, Chair
- Discussion of Initial Activities and Workplan
The Audit Committee held its first meeting January 16, 1996 and discussed
the charge of the committee and the initial workplan and activities.
b. Board Operations Committee: Stephen L. Maxwell, Chair
- Discussion Of The Initial Activities And Workplan
The Board Operations Committee held its first meeting January 17, 1996
and discussed the charge of the committee and the initial workplan and
activities.
c. Educational Policy Committee: Christine Fritsche, Chair
- Proposed Policy On Local Advisory Committees
Motion by Trustee Stephens, seconded by Trustee Maxwell for approval of
policy 8.5 - Local Advisory Committees, with the following amendment to
the first sentence in paragraph 1, lines 3-5: The president of a college
or university may appoint a local advisory committee to advise the president
and to promote the programs and activities of the college/university.
The motion passed unanimously.
- Report On SCOPE Advisory Committee
Senior Vice Chancellor Dennis Hefner gave a presentation on the progress
of the SCOPE Advisory Committee. He summarized the three measures the
committee had developed as well as the composition of the committee.
- Update on Metropolitan Area Plan
Senior Vice Chancellor Dennis Hefner gave a presentation of the planning
objectives and strategic initiatives developed by the Metropolitan Area
Planning Committee. A full draft report will be submitted to Chancellor
Eaton in late January or early February. The report will be widely distributed
for review and consultation prior to submission for board action.
- Report on Interpretive and Translation Service for Submission to
the Legislature
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities were required by the 1995 Legislature
to develop a model for their review of an Interpreting and Translating
Program. The report was presented for board action; however, no action
was taken for lack of a quorum. For MnSCU to meet the required submission
deadline, the chair authorized staff to forward the draft report subject
to approval at the February board meeting, based on the recommendation
for approval by the Educational Policy Committee on January 16, 1996.
- Proposed Committee Work Plan
A tentative work plan for the Educational Policy Committee was presented
for review. The plan included the anticipated committee charge and an
activity report covering a six month period.
d. Personnel Policy Committee: Robert Cahlander, Chair
- Review of Committee Charge
The Personnel Policy Committee reviewed its charge which includes the
oversight of all system personnel policies for excluded administrators,
student employees, and collective bargaining agreements throughout MnSCU.
- Proposed Committee Work Plan
A tentative work plan for the Personnel Policy Committee was presented
for review. Vice Chancellor of Human Resources Elisabeth Murray indicated
that staff is assembling all carry-forward policies from the three former
systems. Updates and deletions will be proposed and submitted for future
action.
- Excluded Administrators Plan - Initial Review
The Excluded Administrators Plan was presented to the Personnel Policy
Committee at their January meeting. The board received the plan for review.
Further review and discussion will take place and the revisions presented
at the February board meeting. Board action on the plan will be requested
at the March meeting.
- Review of Layoff Process for Technical College Faculty
Because the UTCE contract is still in negotiation, provisions of the existing
local school board contracts with the technical college faculty will be
followed. Staff outlined the procedures to follow in the event of faculty
layoffs.
e. Fiscal Policy Committee: Archie D. Chelseth, Chair
- Amendment and Consolidation of Board Policy 8.1 - Annual Report of
Gifts and 8.2 - Gift and Grant Acceptance
Motion by Trustee Ulland, seconded by Trustee Johnson for approval of
the amendment and consolidation of board policy 8.1 - Annual Report of
Gifts and 8.2 - Gift and Grant acceptance with the recommended amendment
by the Fiscal Policy Committee. Amendment to Part 6: The chancellor
shall report annually to the Board on the nature and the amount of all
gifts and grants in excess of $5,000 accepted by the colleges,
the universities, and the system. The motion passed unanimously.
- Winona State University Pilot Site Proposal (First Reading)
President Darrell Krueger presented the proposal requesting that Winona
State University be designated as a pilot site. As provided by the 1995
legislative, a designated pilot site will be used to measure the effects
of removing some state mandates. The Winona State University Pilot Site
Proposal received first reading. The proposal will be presented at a later
date after further discussion takes place.
- Proposed Fiscal Policy Committee Work Plan
Interim Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Tom Triplett presented
the proposed Fiscal Policy Committee workplan covering from the present
through January 21, 1997.
- Update on Finance Reform Plan
Interim Vice Chancellor Tom Triplett gave a detailed presentation on for
reform; demands from the public sector; the effect of state and federal
fiscal crises; future trends for higher education; and the principles
for reform. The entire reform plan would be implemented in 1997.
- Joint Council of Presidents
No report was given.
- Joint Council of Student Associations
Representatives from MSUSA and MCCSA reported their concerns about the proposed
reorganization of the system office and gave an update on the legislative
sessions.
- MCCFA, IFO and UTCE: Joint Opportunity to Address the Board
No report was given.
- Requests by Individuals to Address the Board
No individuals addressed the board.
- Other Business
No other business was brought before the board.
- Closed Session of Full Board
-
Adjournment
Motion by Trustee Johnson, seconded by Trustee Erickson for adjournment
of the January board meeting at 3:40 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Gary Mohrenweiser, Chair Board of Trustees
Cindy Hauser, Recording Secretary
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