October 1996
Board Meeting Minutes

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, October 16, 1996
World Trade Center
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Trustees Present: Morrie Anderson, Kathleen Caffey, Archie D. Chelseth, 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: Nancy Brataas

1. Call to Order/Announcement
   Chair Ulland called the October meeting of the Board of Trustees to order at 12:05 p.m., on Wednesday, October 16, 1996, in the World Trade Center, Executive Board Room, Saint Paul, Minnesota.
   
   Closed Session:
   Trustee Maxwell moved closing the open session of the meeting to convene in closed session to discuss labor relations pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 471.705, subd. 1a (1994)(Minnesota Open Meeting Law). Trustee Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
   
   Trustee Vekich moved adjournment of the closed session at 1:05 p.m. Trustee Knudson 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, October 16, 1996, in the World Trade Center, International Hall, Saint Paul.
   
   Chair Ulland announced that, as a pilot project, Minnesota Satellite and Technology (MNSAT) will broadcast the board meeting live to all of the MnSCU campuses. He welcomed those who were watching. Future broadcasts will be determined by cost and viewer interest.
   
   
2. Chair's Report
   a. Approval of September 18, 1996, Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
   Trustee Vekich moved approval of the September 18, 1996, Board of Trustees meeting minutes. Trustee Fritsche seconded.
   
   The fourth paragraph on page two was revised as follows: Trustee Dotson Brataas moved for a unanimous ballot. Trustee Brataas Dotson seconded.
   
   The motion passed unanimously.
   
   b. Executive Committee Report, October 3, 1996
   Chair Ulland reported that the Executive Committee met on October 3, 1996. The committee heard updates on the presidential searches and searches for Vice Chancellor of Policy and Planning and Vice Chancellor for Labor Relations. Other items included a review of draft agendas for the October 16, 1996, board and committee meetings, and an update on the MnSCU town meetings. The draft 1998-1999 biennial budget document will be distributed at the November 6, 1996, Executive Committee meeting. Special meetings will be convened on November 20, 1996, for a public hearing to receive comments on the draft budget document, and on December 4, 1996, to take action on the 1998-1999 biennial budget.
   
   c. Presentation on Board Ethics
   Steve Liss, Assistant Attorney General, presented an overview of board ethics as prescribed in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 10A, Ethics in Government Act, with an emphasis on helping the trustees identify, and avoid, potential conflicts of interest.
   
   
3. Trustee Reports
   Chair Ulland reported that committee appointments were completed. Committee chairs and vice chairs have been named and a roster was distributed to all trustees.
   
   Chair Ulland presented Trustee Mohrenweiser with a plaque in recognition of his tenure as chair of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees.
   
   
4. Chancellor's Report
   a. Wireless Education Consortium
   Chancellor Eaton introduced Presidents Richard Rush, Mankato State University, and Kenneth Mills, South Central College, who gave a joint presentation on the National Consortium for Wireless Education. President Rush reported that the consortium is a partnership between community, private enterprise and education that will make Mankato State University (MSU) the "alpha site" for wireless education in the United States. MSU offers a bachelor's degree and is seeking approval of a master's degree and South Central College (SCTC) offers technical diplomas. President Mills reported on the high level of trust, respect, and commitment to wireless education among the members of the consortium.
   
   b. Report on MnSCU - Akita
   Chancellor Eaton reported on her visit to the MnSCU-Akita campus from June 24-29, 1996. She met with local dignitaries; students; faculty members; and John Norris, provost of Akita; and U.S. Ambassador Walter Mondale.
   
   Chancellor Eaton recommended continuing the Akita campus because it represents an investment in an international education opportunity for MnSCU students and Minnesota's growing economic relationship with Japan.
   
   Chancellor Eaton complimented Akita's provost, John Norris, for building a sense of importance and presence of the campus to the community at large.
   
   Trustee Fritsche moved adoption of Chancellor Eaton's report and approved the recommendation on the MnSCU - Akita campus. Trustee Knudson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
   
   c. 1997 Legislative Agenda
   Chancellor Eaton summarized MnSCU's 1997 legislative agenda. The agenda is an investment in Minnesota's future because it responds to the needs of the citizens of the State of Minnesota. While MnSCU's first year agenda was dominated by organizational and administrative issues, the 1997 agenda is long range, focusing on putting students first, and is based on performance results. Chancellor Eaton explained that the initiatives are: enhancing student access, improving institutional performance, and managing MnSCU effectively. The initiative to improve institutional performance seeks support for a commitment to campus innovation and change which would make MnSCU less cumbersome and more innovative. Other items highlighted were: management information systems development, educational program preservation, and executive compensation.
   
   The fiscal note tied to MnSCU's legislative agenda is as follows:
   
   

   Enhancing Student Access (Minnesota Lottery)	$10,500,000
   Improving Institutional Performance	$57,900,000
   Managing MnSCU Effectively	$66,400,000
   Grand Total:	$134,800,000

   
   Trustee David Erickson moved to authorize staff to proceed within this legislative framework to build support for future MnSCU initiatives. The 1997 legislative agenda will be brought back to the board as part of a detailed review of the biennial budget request. Trustee Chelseth seconded. The motion passed with one abstention (Trustee Anderson).
   
   A joint meeting of the Educational Policy and Fiscal Policy Committees will be scheduled to further review MnSCU's 1997 legislative agenda.
   
   d. Recommendation for the Presidency of Itasca Community College
   Trustee Vekich moved to approve Chancellor Eaton's recommendation to appoint Dr. Joseph Sertich to the position of president of Itasca Community College. Trustee Fritsche seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
   
   Chancellor Eaton thanked the executive dean, Dr. James Clarke, for his service as chief executive officer at Itasca Community College.
   
   e. North Central Accreditation
   Visits Chancellor Eaton reported that the North Central accreditation visit to the MnSCU system office is scheduled for October 17-18, 1996. The purpose of the visit is to assure compliance with systemwide accreditation requirements. Trustees Ulland, Fritsche and Mohrenweiser will meet with the team at the system office on October 17.
   
   f. Announcements
   Chancellor Eaton reported that 12 town meetings have been held throughout Minnesota since September. Nearly 1600 people have attended, including 33 state legislators. Chancellor Eaton thanked the trustees who attended the meetings. She also thanked the campus presidents and credited them for the large turn out. Responses to the meetings have been favorable and a summary will be presented at the December Board of Trustees meeting.
   
   Itasca Community College's executive dean, Dr. James Clarke, announced that on October 10, 1996, Aaron Wenger, professor of physics, astronomy, and pre-engineering at Itasca Community College, was named the 1996 MINNESOTA PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
   
   
5. Chancellor's Consent Agenda
   a. Land Transfer to Willmar School
   Board Trustee Maxwell moved approval of the recommended action item on the Chancellor's Consent Agenda. Trustee David Erickson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
   
   Chancellor Eaton noted an additional item for the consent agenda. Riverland Community College requests authorization to serve alcohol on campus for a "Dessert Extravaganza" following a production of "Grease" on Sunday, November 10, 1996.
   
   Trustee Mohrenweiser moved to suspend the board rules for action on this item. Trustee David Erickson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
   
   Trustee Maxwell moved approval of the amended Chancellor's Consent Agenda. Trustee Fritsche seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
   
   
6. Board Standing Committee Reports
   a. Personnel Policy Committee
   Proposed Policy 4.4 - Weather/Emergency Closings (second reading)
   Trustee David Erickson, Chair, Personnel Policy Committee, reported that the committee reviewed and amended Policy 4.4-Weather/Emergency Closings. Language in the first line of the policy was amended to include "or other emergencies" after the word "conditions."
   
   Trustee David Erickson moved approval of Policy 4.4 - Weather/Emergency Closings, as amended. Trustee Caffey seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
   
   A copy of the written procedures shall be filed with the chancellor on or before Friday, October 18, 1996. Date of implementation is October 16, 1996.
   
   b. Educational Policy Committee
   
   1. Proposed Policy 3.18 - Honorary Degree (Final Reading)
      Trustee Anderson moved approval of policy 3.18 - Honorary Degree and repeal of State University carry -forward policy 4.5, Honorary Degree Policies. Trustee David Erickson seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
      
   2. Proposed Policy 3.17 - Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates (first reading)
      Proposed Policy 3.17 Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates relates to moving away from focusing exclusively on credit as the means for satisfying transfer and degree requirements. Additional policies and procedures regarding skill-based approaches will be developed as part of the work plan associated with the strategic themes and staff will continue to review credit limits for degrees.
   3. Proposed Amendment Policy 2.2 - State Residency Requirements for On-Campus Students (first reading)
      Proposed Amendment to Policy 2.2 - State Residency Requirements for On-Campus Students establishes parameters for determining state residency for resident and nonresident tuition purposes. There are seven exemptions to the policy and current students would not be affected.
   4. Naming of Multi-college District for the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College and Vermilion Community College
      Trustee Robert Erickson moved approval of the chancellor's recommendation to establish the name Laurentian Community and Technical College District for the multi-college district of Mesabi Range Community and Technical College and Vermilion Community College. Trustee Fritsche seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
   5. Update on Rochester Planning
      Trustee Anderson reported that the collaboration among three public higher education institutions in the Rochester area (Rochester Community and Technical College, Winona State University and the University of Minnesota) is continuing and the name of the institution will be University Center Rochester. Consistent with policy at the University of Minnesota and the Akita Campus, the executive in charge will be a provost. A job description has been developed and a screening committee will review applicants.
   6. Update on SCOPE
      A final report will be presented at the end of the year.
      
      
   (c) Fiscal Policy Committee
   
   1. Update on Biennial Budget
      Trustee Chelseth reported that the Fiscal Policy Committee heard an overview of MnSCU's 1998-1999 biennial state budget, as prepared by staff. The presentation included an overview of a proposed allocation model. A special meeting has been scheduled on November 20, 1996, to allow for public input. On December 4, 1996, the Board of Trustees will convene a special meeting to take action on MnSCU's 1998-1999 biennial budget.
      
      
7. Presidential Advisory Committee
   No report was given.
   
   Chancellor Eaton congratulated Ray Cross, president, Northwest Technical College, which was the only two-year college selected as a charter member of the IBM Global Campus Network. This will be a collaborative partnership that stresses the key role of technology in instruction and in meeting the needs of students in a changing world.
   
   

8. Joint Council of Student Associations
   Brent Glass, president, Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA), announced that its fall conference will be held November 1-3, 1996. On November 1, 1996, MSUSA will host its annual fund raising banquet for the Penny Fellowship Scholarship Program. In November 1994, former congressman Tim Penny established a challenge match requiring MSUSA to raise $25,000 by November 19, 1996. MSUSA is hoping to reach this goal before the fund raising banquet on November 1.
   
   T.J. Wenker, president, Minnesota Community College Student Association (MCCSA) announced MCCSA's upcoming annual conference. Agenda items include educating students on state grants, MnSCU's allocation model, lobbying efforts, and a cultural diversity training workshop.
   
   Dawn Hilliard, legislative manager, Minnesota Technical College Student Association (MTCSA) reported on the consolidation with MCCSA. A joint conference of MTCSA and MCCSA will be held at Arrowhead Resort from October 23-25, 1996.
   
   Chancellor Eaton congratulated the student associations for their extraordinary job in sponsoring the "get out the vote" campaign.
   
   

9. MCCFA, IFO and UTCE: Joint Opportunity to Address the Board
   Larry Litecky, president of Minnesota Community College Faculty Association (MCCFA), noted that his remarks were relative to MnSCU's budget and the proposed allocation model. He reported that MCCFA's Government Relations Committee proposed $10 million be allocated to fund 250 faculty positions at colleges identifying a need for additional faculty.
   
   Bruce Hemstad, president of United Technical College Educators (UTCE), reported on contract negotiations.
   
   
10. Requests by Individuals to Address the Board
    No requests were made.
    
    
11. Other Business
    Trustee Robert Erickson proposed that a list of the additional information requested by the board be added to the meeting minutes. Specifically, the list should identify the information and who is responsible for it. Trustee Vekich requested that staff inform the board of the level of effort required to obtain the information.
    
    The following information was requested by trustees during the board meeting:
    
    
    • Chancellor Eaton was asked to provide facts describing how Minnesota is benefiting from the MnSCU-Akita Campus.
    • Staff was asked to provide a timetable for the development of University Center Rochester.
      
      

12. Adjournment
    Trustee Smoley moved adjournment of the meeting at 3:20 p.m. Trustee Dotson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
    

William Ulland, Chair Board of Trustees
Recorded by Inge Chapin

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