June 1997 Special Board Meeting
Minutes
Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Monday, June 2, 1997
Radisson Inn
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Trustees Present: Nancy Brataas (via speaker phone), Dennis Dotson,
David Erickson, Robert Erickson, Christine Fritsche, Stephen L. Maxwell, Gary
Mohrenweiser William Smoley, Denise Stephens, Michael Vekich, William Ulland
Trustees Absent: Kathleen Caffey, Archie D. Chelseth, Randall Knudson
- Call to Order
Chair Ulland called the special meeting to order at 11:05 a.m. He announced
that there was a closed session at the May 21, 1997, Board of Trustees meeting,
and he asked Vice Chair Fritsche, who chaired the closed session in his absence,
to provide a report.
Vice Chair Fritsche reported that the closed session was for the purpose of
evaluating one of MnSCU's presidents. The Board reviewed a draft management
report and heard the president's response. The report will go forward under
normal procedures.
- College and University President Appointments
Chair Ulland announced that the agenda for the meeting is to select college
and university president appointments.
Chancellor Eaton explained that MnSCU began the process of presidential
searches for seven of its institutions in November, 1996. MnSCU received
406, 361 were men, 45 women, 36 minorities. From the 406 candidates, 28
finalists emerged. In order to identify finalists, each college or university
engaged in a presidential search put together a screening committee of faculty,
students, administrators and community members. Each search committee was
chaired by one of MnSCU's presidents. The committees reviewed all the applicants,
which were screened to a group of semifinalists and then finalists. The
finalists were brought to the campuses for interviews with the screening
community and various constituent groups at the institutions. The system
office engaged in extensive reference and background checking for each of
the finalists.
Chancellor Eaton thanked each of the presidents who chaired a search committee:
Ken Mills for St. Cloud Technical College; Dick Rush for Southwest State
University; Harold Erickson for Rochester Community and Technical College;
Donovan Schwichtenberg for Red Wing/Winona Technical College; Connie Burchill
for North Hennepin Community College; Mary Retterer for Lake Superior College;
and Ray Cross at Anoka Hennepin Technical College. Chancellor Eaton thanked
Dr, Michael Nugent, the deputy to the chancellor for system relations, who
provided the leadership in putting together the search process by working
with each of the presidents and the campus liaison for each of the committees
and reference checking.
Chancellor Eaton explained that the Board may want to review the Board's
role in the search process for future presidential searches. Chancellor
Eaton continued that the decision to carry out the responsibility for the
presidential searches, after she announced her resignation on April 1, 1997,
was made after consultation with the Chair Ulland, Vice Chair Fritsche,
and Chancellor-designate Anderson.
Chancellor Eaton announced that the Board of Trustees is asked to act on
five of the presidencies today. Two searches did not result in final recommendations.
MnSCU made an offer to the top candidate at North Hennepin Community College
who turned it down. Interim President Yvette Jackson agreed to remain until
at least September 1, 1997. The search committee will be reconvened and
outside assistance will be retained to help identify additional candidates.
The search for Rochester Community and Technical College did not result
in a recommendation, and consistent with Board policy, Chancellor Eaton
asked Don Supalla, currently vice president for student services and institutional
advancement, and the former president of Rochester Technical College, to
serve as interim president. He has agreed.
Chair Ulland reported that several trustees have raised questions about
the search process and he has asked Trustee Smoley, chair of the Board Operations
Committee to work with Trustee David Erickson, chair of the Personnel Policy
Committee to review MnSCU's search policies and procedures.
a. St. Cloud Technical College
Chancellor Eaton recommended Dr. Joan Barrett as president of St. Cloud
Technical College. Dr. Barrett is currently vice president for instruction
at Yosemite Community College District in California. Prior to that, Dr.
Barrett was assistant dean of instruction. She is the former director
of continuing education and the former coordinator of business and industry
programs. Dr. Barrett has taught for eleven years, has her doctorate in
education, is especially knowledgeable in technical education, and if
appointed today, will return to Minnesota, where she taught at the Waseca
Campus of the University of Minnesota in the past.
Trustee David Erickson moved to approve the appointment of Dr. Joan
Barrett as president of St. Cloud Technical College, effective July 1,
1997, under the terms and conditions of the Personnel Plan for Excluded
Administrators. Trustee Robert Erickson seconded and the motion carried.
b. Southwest State University
Chancellor Eaton explained that Vice Chair Fritsche will speak to the
Southwest State University president appointment.
Trustee Fritsche moved to appoint Dr. Douglas Sweetland as president
of Southwest State University, effective July 1, 1997, under the terms
and conditions of the Personnel Plan for Excluded Administrators. Trustee
Robert Erickson seconded and the motion carried with one abstention (Trustee
Maxwell).
c. Red Wing/Winona Technical College
Chancellor Eaton recommended Mr. James Johnson as the president of Red
Wing/Winona Technical College, effective July 1. She explained that Mr.
Johnson has served as the interim president of the college since 1995.
Prior to that, he was vice president and campus chief financial officer.
At Winona Technical College in the 1980s and early 1990s, Mr. Johnson
served at different times as vice president, associate director, adult
extension director, and trade and industry coordinator. Mr. Johnson has
a teaching background having been employed at Sparta High School in Sparta,
Wisconsin. He is a candidate for a Ph.D. in vocational education from
the University of Minnesota. Mr. Johnson understands the challenges of
technical education in the state and works well with the communities in
both the Red Wing and Winona areas.
Trustee Fritsche moved to approve the appointment of Mr. Jim Johnson
as president of Red Wing/Winona Technical College, effective July 1, 1997,
under the terms and conditions of the Personnel Plan for Excluded Administrators.
Trustee Stephens seconded and the motion carried.
For the benefit of the audience, Chair Ulland explained that MnSCU policy
states that an interim president cannot succeed themselves under normal
circumstances. The interim presidents who have been appointed today have
been grandfathered in because they were serving as interim presidents
at the time the Board of Trustees adopted the policy on July 17, 1996.
d. Lake Superior College
Chancellor Eaton recommended Dr. Kathleen Nelson as president of Lake
Superior College in Duluth. At present, Dr. Nelson is academic vice president
of Laurentian Community College district. Prior to that, she served as
executive dean and dean of the college at Vermilion Community College.
Dr. Nelson has been with MnSCU since 1981, and has degrees in English
and educational psychology and a Ph.D. in education. She also has a teaching
background at Vermilion Community College and various independent school
districts. Dr. Nelson is knowledgeable about community and technical college
education, knowledgeable about the area and a dynamic and strong leader.
Trustee Vekich moved to approve the appointment of Dr. Kathleen Nelson
as president of Lake Superior College, effective July 1, 1997, under the
terms and conditions of the Personnel Plan for Excluded Administrators.
Trustee Robert Erickson seconded and the motion carried.
e. Anoka Hennepin Technical College
Chancellor Eaton explained that the decision made at the May 21, 1997,
Board of Trustees meeting to delay action on presidential appointments
and the concerns with regard to Anoka Hennepin Technical College, resulted
in taking another look at the presidency of the college. For some time,
the Board has been seeking significant expansion of cooperative arrangements,
such as joint educational programming in certificate, diploma and degree
areas, as well as enhancement of support services to students between
Anoka Hennepin Technical College and the neighboring Anoka Ramsey Community
College. There have been preliminary discussions about consolidating these
two institutions. In addition, the Board has undertaken a major metropolitan
area planning initiative, currently led by Hazel Reinhardt Consultants
to determine how to best deploy all MnSCU resources in the metropolitan
area including Anoka Hennepin Technical College. Based on these considerations
and with the opportunity to reflect that MnSCU does not want to prejudge
the results of the metropolitan planning effort, Chancellor Eaton recommended
the appointment of Pat Johns, currently president of Anoka Ramsey Community
College as president of Anoka Hennepin Technical College, taking on this
responsibility in addition to his current duties, effective July 1, 1997.
Dr. Johns will be specifically charged with exploring programmatic and
service cooperation between the two institutions and providing leadership
in the metropolitan planning process.
The chancellor's recommended motion to appoint Dr. Pat Johns as president
of Anoka Hennepin Technical College was moved by Trustee Fritsche and
seconded by Trustee Stephens.
There was a discussion about the broad community support for Dr. Korkowksi,
the current interim president.
Replying to a question, Chancellor-designate Anderson commented that he
supports the Chancellor's recommendation because of Dr. Reinhardt's metropolitan
area planning process, because it allows all of the flexibility to come
back to the system. It will allow a comprehensive meld of vocational and
general education.
Trustee Smoley noted that for maximum stability of the future of the institution,
the best way to preserve MnSCU's flexibility while the Reinhardt study
is being done is to continue the current interim president.
Trustee Maxwell offered a substitute motion to continue the appointment
as Dr. Korkowski as the interim-president of Anoka Hennepin Technical
College. Trustee Mohrenweiser seconded.
Chair Ulland recessed the meeting in order to connect Trustee Brataas,
who was unable to be present today, to the meeting by speaker telephone.
Trustee Brataas was connected via speaker telephone.
There was a lengthy discussion. In the event that Anoka Hennepin Technical
College and Anoka Ramsey Community College would be merged, Chancellor
Eaton explained that the Board has a policy with respect to presidential
appointments to consolidated colleges. The policy provides for the chancellor
to review the situation and if he or she deems it appropriate to select
from either of the sitting presidents of the institutions that are to
be consolidated. The Board policy is silent however, if one of the presidents
is an interim.
Attorney General Liss explained that if the intent of the friendly amendment
is to remove the grandfather clause, then it would be better to make a
new interim appointment, effective July 1, 1997, subject to the terms
and conditions as of that date.
Trustee Vekich offered a friendly amendment to Trustee Maxwell's motion
to appoint Dr. Korkowksi as a new interim president of Anoka Hennepin
Technical College, who cannot succeed himself if there is going to be
a permanent search for the presidency of Anoka Hennepin Technical College,
and upon receipt and acceptance of the Reinhardt report the chancellor
will be directed to make a recommendation for the presidency. Trustee
Maxwell accepted the friendly amendment.
There was another lengthy discussion about why the Board of Trustees did
not want to appoint Dr. Korkowski, who was one of the finalists for the
position, as permanent president. Chair Ulland commented that he was a
strong supporter of the board policy that prohibits interim presidents
to succeed themselves.
Chancellor-designate Anderson listed the three options before the Board:
1) extend the interim appointment, 2) select on a permanent basis, and
3) the Dr. Johns' option. Mr. Anderson commented that he will support
the Board's decision, but reiterated that the Dr. Johns' option, recommended
by Chancellor Eaton, removes concerns about flexibility for the metropolitan
plan.
Chair Ulland called on audience members who addressed the Board on behalf
of Dr. Korkowski.
- Elliott Perovich, chair, Anoka Hennepin Technical College General
Advisory Board.
- Lonni McCauley, director, development and community outreach, Anoka
Hennepin Technical College.
- Representative Kathy Tingelstad, Minnesota House of Representatives,
also spoke on behalf of Representative Satveer Chaudry, who was present
earlier, but had to leave for another engagement. Anoka Hennepin Technical
College is in their districts.
- Senator Gen Olson, Minnesota State Senator. Senator Olson does not
represent district but shared historical perspective of Anoka Hennepin
Technical College's origin.
- Carol Abel, human resources director, Anoka Hennepin Technical College.
Trustee Smoley inquired about dividing the friendly amendment from the substitute
motion in order to take action on them separately.
Trustee Dotson offered a motion to table action on the presidency of
Anoka Hennepin Technical College, until either the current chancellor or
incoming chancellor has a recommendation. Trustee David Erickson seconded.
Responding to several questions, Assistant Attorney General Liss reported
that the motion to table is germane because the Board's authority is needed
to appoint a president or extend the appointment of an interim president.
Chair Ulland called the question on the motion to table.
The motion to table failed on a roll call vote of four to seven opposed
(Trustees Mohrenweiser, Stephens, Smoley, Maxwell, Fritsche, R. Erickson,
and D. Erickson) and four in favor (Trustees Vekich, Dotson, Brataas and
Ulland).
Chair Ulland called the question on the substitute motion.
Trustee Vekich withdrew his friendly amendment to Trustee Maxwell's
substitute motion. The motion maker, Trustee Maxwell, and seconder, Trustee
Mohrenweiser, accepted the withdrawal. The substitute motion to continue
the appointment of Dr. Korkowski as interim president of Anoka Hennepin
Technical College carried on a roll call vote of eight in favor (Trustees
Vekich, Mohrenweiser, Stephens, Smoley, Maxwell, Fritsche, R. Erickson and
D. Erickson) and three opposed (Trustees Dotson, Brataas and Ulland).
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Adjournment
Trustee Vekich moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:40 p.m. Trustee Mohrenweiser
seconded and the motion carried.
William Ulland, Chair Board of Trustees
Recorded by Inge Chapin
June 19, 1997 (9:37am)
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