March 2000
Board Meeting Minutes

Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 22, 2000
World Trade Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Trustees Present: Andrew Boss, Mary Choate, David Erickson, Robert Erickson, Christine Fritsche, Jim A. Luoma, Joann Splonskowski, James Wafler, Michael Vekich, Chair

Trustees Absent: Nancy Brataas, Kathleen Caffey, Brent A. Calhoun, Daniel G. Coborn, Dennis Dotson

1. Call to Order
   Chair Vekich called the meeting to order at 2:40 p.m. and reported that a quorum was present. He announced several changes to the agenda. Items 7(a) "Amendment to Board Policy 1A.2," and 7 (b) "Amendment to FY 2000 Board Operating Budget, Including Approval of Chancellor Search Budget" will be moved from the Consent Agenda to the report of the Finance/Facilities Policy Committee for a formal vote. Also, the approval of the chair of the Search Advisory Committee will come under the Chair's Report.
   
   
2. Chair's Report

   a. Approval of Minutes of Board of Trustees Meeting of February 15, 2000
   Trustee Wafler moved approval of the minutes of February 15, 2000. Trustee Robert Erickson seconded and the minutes were approved without dissent.
   
   

   b. Report of the Executive Committee Meeting of March 1, 2000
   Chair Vekich reported that the Executive Committee met on March 1, 2000.

   c. Other
   Chair Vekich commented that there has been confusion about the charge of the ad hoc Board Development Committee. Effective today, the committee will be renamed as the Sub-Committee on Trustees and its charge is trustee education and governance issues.
   
   Chair Vekich highlighted several noteworthy events on Minnesota State Colleges and Universities campuses. Both the men and women's basketball teams at Anoka-Ramsey Community College went to their national tournaments in New York and the women came in second and the men came in third. Hibbing Community College unveiled its new Community Computer Center last week. Riverland Community College's choir has been invited to attend a choral festival at Carnegie Hall in New York City in May. The Staples campus of Central Lakes College will hold a grand opening of its new 15,500 square-foot heavy equipment classroom and laboratory building on Thursday, April 13. Minnesota State College Southeast Technical has a new diploma design that includes MnSCU's academic seal. Chair Vekich noted that the seal would eventually appear on all MnSCU institutions' diplomas and certificates.
   
   Dr. Ron Swanson, president, Northwest Technical College, reported that Pepsi-Cola Company sponsored a design competition for a logo to appear on cans of Mountain DewT. NWTC's commercial art students designed 51 pieces of artwork for the competition. The top four designs were submitted to Pepsi-Cola who selected the winner. Darline Sween, who already has a Bachelor of Science degree and is also in NWTC's commercial art program, designed the winning logo. Pepsi-Cola will reproduce the logo on 400,000 cans of Mountain DewT that will be distributed throughout Northwest Minnesota and western North Dakota.
   
   Trustee Choate reported that St. Cloud State University's hockey team is going to the national hockey tournament this week.
   
   President Rush reported that Minnesota State University, Mankato's wrestling team ranked number one in the country in grade point average, with the highest grade point average ever recorded in Division I.
   
   d. Chair of Search Advisory Committee for Chancellor
   Chair Vekich recommended Vance K. Opperman, president and chief executive officer, Key Investment Inc., and the former president of West Publishing Company, as the chair of Search Advisory Committee for Chancellor. Several Trustees spoke in favor of Mr. Opperman.
   
   Trustee Wafler moved that the Board of Trustees appoint Vance K. Opperman to serve as chair of the Search Advisory Committee for Chancellor. Trustee Fritsche seconded and the motion carried without dissent.
   
   

3. Trustee Reports
   Chair Vekich explained that Trustees Brataas, Caffey, and Calhoun were absent from today's meeting because their return flight from the Association of Governing Boards Annual Conference was canceled when a fiber optic cable was accidentally cut, severing the airline's communications. Trustee Splonskowski, who also attended the conference, returned on an earlier flight.
   
   a. Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Conference
   Trustees Brataas and Calhoun attended this conference and will report on it at the April Board meeting.
   
   b. Association of Governing Boards Annual Conference
   Trustee Splonskowski reported on the Association of Governing Boards Annual Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 18-21.
   
   
4. Chancellor's Report: Morris J. Anderson.
   Chancellor Anderson reported that he attended the Minnesota Certified Public Accountant Society dinner on March 21, which recognizes new entrants into the society. Every year, the society recognizes the top ten scores of the new inductees. Five of the top ten were from MnSCU institutions: three are from St. Cloud State University, one is from a combination of Riverland and Winona and the other one is from a combination of Metropolitan State University and the Minnesota School of Business.
   
   Chancellor Anderson announced that MnSCU received a gold Paragon Award from the National Council on Marketing and Public Relations for the Jesse Ventura public service announcements and the "did math" poster. The Metro Marketing Group also won a gold award for its consortium radio advertisement promoting the eleven metro MnSCU institutions. MnSCU also won a silver award for Real Impact, a booklet describing the economic impact of MnSCU institutions on the state's economy. Publications from Fergus Falls Community College and Minneapolis Community College also won awards.
   
   Chancellor Anderson distributed brochures from the Minnesota Technology, Inc., promoting the technology's link with MnSCU.
   
   
5. Joint Council of Student Associations
   The following representatives of student associations addressed the Board of Trustees: Ryan Kulikowski, state chair, and Elsbeth Howe, staff member, Minnesota State University Student Association; and Robin Melin, director, special projects, and Brent Glass, executive director, Minnesota State College Student Association.
   
   
6. MCCFA, IFO, and UTCE: Joint Opportunity to Address the Board
   There were no requests to address the Board of Trustees.
   
   
7. Consent Agenda
   a. Program Approval: AAS, Electronic Commerce Business Management and Certificate, Web Business Specialist, Alexandria Technical College
   
   b. Program Approval: AAS, Electronic Commerce Technical Specialist and Certificate, Web Business Integration Specialist, Alexandria Technical College
   
   Trustee Robert Erickson moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Trustee Boss seconded and the Consent Agenda was approved without dissent.
   
   
8. Board Standing Committee Reports
   
   a. Finance/Facilities Policy Committee
   Facilities:
   1. University Center Rochester Technology Project - Schematic Design Committee Chair Robert Erickson reported that the Committee reviewed this item as a first reading. It is slated for action at the April Board meeting.
   2. Fergus Falls Community College - Campus Master Plan Committee - Chair Robert Erickson reported that Fergus Falls Community College President Ken Peeders presented the campus master plan.
   3. FY 2002 - 2006 Capital Budget Work Plan - Committee Chair Robert Erickson reported that the Committee reviewed the Capital Budget Work Plan for FY 2002 - 2006.
      
      Finance:
   4. *Amendment to Board Policy 1A.2
      Board Operating Budget Procedures
      Committee Chair Robert Erickson moved that the Board of Trustees approves amending Board policy 1A.2 to provide for Executive Committee administration of the Board Office operating budget. Trustee Luoma seconded and the motion carried without dissent.
      
      
   5. *Amendment to FY 2000 Board Operating Budget, Including Approval of Chancellor Search Budget
      Committee Chair Robert Erickson moved that the Board of Trustees approves the increase of $19,500 to the Board office FY 2000 Operating Budget and the establishment of a budget of $271,500 for the chancellor search. Funds are to be provided from the Chancellor's system reserve. Trustee Wafler seconded and the motion carried without dissent.
      
      
   6. MnSCU Allocation Framework Committee
      Chair Robert Erickson reported that the Committee heard an update on the Allocation Framework.
      
      

   b. Audit Committee

   1. Draft Policy on Internal Auditing
      Committee Chair Boss reported that the committee reviewed a draft policy on internal auditing. The policy will have a first reading at the April Board meeting.
   2. Draft Policy Against Fraudulent or Other Dishonest Acts
      Committee Chair Boss reported that the committee reviewed a draft policy against fraudulent and other dishonest acts.
   3. Report on Laurentian District Financial Condition
      Committee Chair Boss reported that the committee heard a report on the financial condition of the Laurentian District.
      
      

   c. Personnel Policy Committee

   1. Approval of Interim President of Century College
      Committee Vice Chair Boss moved that the Board of Trustees approves the appointment of Dr. Larry Litecky as the interim president of Century College for a two-year period effective April 3, 2000. Anne Weyandt will continue to serve as acting president until the effective date of this appointment. Trustee Fritsche seconded and the motion carried without dissent.
      
      Dr. Litecky thanked everyone for their support and vowed to do his best to unite the campus.
      
      
   2. Approval of Search Advisory Committee Composition
      Committee Vice Chair Boss moved that the Board of Trustees approves the following composition of the Search Advisory Committee for Chancellor:
      
      Chair - Vance K. Opperman
      Faculty (3 representatives)
      Presidents (2 representatives)
      Students (2 representatives)
      Governor (1 representative)
      Minnesota State Senate (1 representative)
      Minnesota House of Representatives (1 representative)
      Business Community/Foundations (1 representative)
      MnSCU staff (1 representative)
      Other MnSCU Labor Unions (1 representative)
      Trustees (2 representatives)
      
      Trustee Luoma seconded.
      
      Responding to student association suggestions that there be three student representatives on the Search Advisory Committee, Trustee Luoma commented that MnSCU is one system, not three, and that the final decision will rest with the Board of Trustees, of which three members are students.
      
      Trustee Splonskowski moved to amend the motion to have three student representatives on the committee. The motion died for a lack of a second.
      
      Trustee Fritsche requested that a process for the selection of the Trustee representatives be prepared and distributed.
      
      Chair Vekich explained that if one of the constituencies wishes to forward just one name, that name will be accepted.
      
      The motion carried with one nay vote (Trustee Splonskowski).
      
      
   3. Demographic Report Committee
      Vice Chair Boss reported that the committee heard a report a demographic report of MnSCU personnel.
      
      

   d. Educational Policy Committee

   1. Academic and Student Affairs Update Committee
      Chair Wafler reported that Senior Vice Chancellor Baer gave an update on academic and student affairs.
      
      
   2. "E" Learning Authority, Ratification of Executive Committee Action of March 1, 2000
      Committee Chair Wafler moved that the Board of Trustees ratify the emergency action taken by the Executive Committee on March 1, 2000, authorizing Chancellor Anderson to propose to the Legislature draft legislation that would facilitate electronic education opportunities by expanding MnSCU's ability to participate in equity investments. Trustee Robert Erickson seconded and the motion carried without dissent.
      
      
   3. Program Suspensions: Minnesota State University, Mankato; Winona State University; and Central Lakes College
      Committee Chair Wafler reported that the committee reviewed program suspensions at Minnesota State University, Mankato; Winona State University; and Central Lakes College.
      
      
   4. Higher Education Summit Status Report
      Committee Chair Wafler reported that the committee heard plans for the Higher Education Summit that will be held at Winona State University, June 13-17, 2000.
      
      
9. Requests by Individuals to Address the Board
   There were no requests by individuals to address the Board.
   
   
10. Other Business
    Trustee Luoma announced that the Ad Hoc Legislative Committee will meet immediately following this meeting.
    
    
11. Adjournment
    Chair Vekich adjourned the meeting by consensus at 3:45 p.m.