March 2002
Board Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, March 20, 2002
World Trade Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Trustees Present: Mary Choate, Chair, Will Antell, Andrew Boss, Nancy Brataas, Daniel Coborn, Ivan Dusek, Robert Erickson, Bob Hoffman, Jim A. Luoma, Lew Moran, Michael Redlinger, Joann Splonskowski, Joseph Swanson and Michael Vekich Trustees

Absent: Dennis Dotson

1. Call to Order
   Chair Mary Choate called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. and reported that a quorum was present. There were no changes to the agenda.
   

2. Chair's Report

   a. Minutes of the Board of Trustees Meeting of February 21, 2002
   As there were no corrections or additions to the minutes, Chair Choate announced that the minutes stand approved as written.
   b. Report of the Executive Committee Meeting of February 6, 2002
   Chair Choate reported that the Executive Committee met on February 6, 2002. No official action was taken at the meeting. The Chancellor updated the Trustees on his legislative presentations and campus visits. There was an extensive discussion about the multiple challenges facing the system including the budget cuts, freeze on entering contacts, and labor negotiations. There was discussion about the time line for the upcoming Citizen Advisory Commission report and the strategic plan.
   c. Other
   Chair Choate reported that a $500,000 Techer Preparation demonstration grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education on March 5, will be used to establish an Accelerated Career and Technical education program at Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, in partnership with the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Beginning this fall, 50 high school juniors and seniors will attend classes full time in the new Secondary Technical Education Program (STEP) facility under construction on the campus. The students will receive both high school and technical college credits. The program's business partners will work with the students in career exploration activities. This grant is one of 10 awarded nationwide and the only one awarded in Minnesota.
   
   Another national grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to Riverland Community College will be used to establish partnerships among arts organizations in that area. The emphasis will be on opportunities for local arts education, especially for immigrants and young people. The college will match the $10,000 grant with staff time and support for project activities.
   
   The 26th Pan African Student Leadership Conference at Minnesota State University, Mankato, brought together students, professionals and community members last month. South Central College hosted three big student gatherings last week during spring break. More than 500 college agriculture students participated in the National Convention for the Postsecondary Agricultural Student Organization. Earlier in the week, 700 fourth-graders attended seminars and activities during a daylong Water Festival to learn about water conservation and pollution of lakes and streams. In addition, nearly 800 students came to the Annual 8th Grade Futures Conference, where they learned about careers from veterinarians, lawyers, cosmetologists and many other volunteers. The Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations were partners in both of these events.
   
   At St. Cloud State University, a first-time women's leadership conference, to foster the growth of female leadership in corporate and non-corporate settings, will be held on March 22-23. Seven students organized this leadership conference along the lines of one they had attended in Washington, D.C. High school students and community women are invited to participate, along with those on campus. St. Cloud State also hosted its 40th Annual Economic Education Winter Institute on March 1, drawing more than 300 business and community leaders, students and faculty, to hear experts review the economy and housing.
   
   In Winona, low-income people can get free help with preparing income taxes from accounting students at Winona State University. The students, under the supervision of Professor Richard Schneider, all have completed their first tax course and passed the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program exam. The professor says the program helps the students, too, because they learn sensitivity and to value diversity and confidentiality. Also at Winona State, the new Maxwell Conference Center grand opening is happening today. It features state of the art audio and visual capabilities and meeting facilities for the campus and community.
   
   Rochester Community and Technical College has been recognized by the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities as the first employer to test a new directed employment system. In the successful pilot project, the college hired a developmentally disabled employee for a full-time maintenance job with structured supervision.
   
   Deji Sule, a student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, was one of 20 students named nationwide to the All-USA Academic First Team for Community and Junior Colleges. Mr. Sule is completing an associate in arts degree and hopes to transfer to the University of Minnesota to study computer science. He will receive $2,500 from USA TODAY at a ceremony April 22 at the American Association of Community Colleges convention in Seattle. His photo will appear in USA Today that day, too. This award program is sponsored by USA TODAY, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the American Association of Community Colleges. Mr. Sule also was named a New Century Scholar and will receive $2,000 from that related program.
   
   Lake Superior College will host the 3rd annual "Empty Bowl," a fund-raiser for area food shelves, on April 3. The event is sponsored by the college's Art and Ceramics Club that held a 30-hour "Throw-a-Thon" in January and made 843 pottery bowls by hand. The bowls may be purchased for a $10 donation. Last year, the event raised more than $6,000.
   
   The "Elite Eight" Division III National Junior College Athletic Association women's basketball national championship tournament was held last weekend in Corning, New York, and two of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities were among the eight. Congratulations to Northland Community and Technical College, which finished in second place, and to Ridgewater College, which finished sixth.
   
   Chair Choate announced that Trustee Andy Boss has received a prestigious award. The St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce honored him as the recipient of the Legacy of Leadership Award at the Chamber's Annual Meeting on Feb. 26. The award is given to an individual who exemplifies commitment to business and devotion to St. Paul. Previous recipients were Charles Schulz, Warren Burger and William McKnight.
   

3. Trustee Reports
   Vice Chair Luoma announced that he attended the open house for a partnership developed between Hibbing Community College Dental Assistant program, the University of Minnesota Dental program, and local dentists. Working under the supervision of practicing dentists in the area, and the educational supervision of the University of Minnesota, student technicians and hygienists are serving patients, referred from local practitioners, who are not covered by insurance, or who do not have the ability to pay for dental services. Vice Chair Luoma commented that this wonderful partnership between two institutions serves a needy population in a rural area.
   
   Trustee Dusek reported that he attended the Chancellor's visit to Ridgewater College, a Community and Technical College, in Hutchinson on February 25. During the visit, Trustee Dusek learned that Garrison Schaefer, a liberal arts student, submitted an essay entitled "Mashed Potatoes" to Phi Beta Kappa and it won the top award at a regional ceremony held at Anoka-Ramsey Community College.
   

4. Chancellor's Comments: James McCormick.
   Chancellor McCormick complimented the Trustees, Presidents, and staff for their good work in support of MnSCU's bonding bill. The next phase for the bonding bill is for the House and Senate bills to go to a conference committee comprising members of both bodies. Work is also progressing on federal legislative issues.
   
   Chancellor McCormick commented that he is very proud that MnSCU is responsive to the citizens of Minnesota. MnSCU has offered its services to a number of corporations and their employees who have been impacted by the economic downturn after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
   
   Chancellor McCormick announced that all 53 campus visits are completed. He continued that the Trustees spent a combined 86 full days on the campus visits with him. Chancellor McCormick commented that the campus visits went very well and he would like to continue them. One criticism of the visits is that not enough time was spent on each campus. With the Board's approval, Chancellor McCormick proposed a plan for the next two years that would divide the 34 institutions in half, and schedule 17 in-depth visits each year. Each campus visit would take an entire day and one topic that day would be the campus' work plan.
   
   Eighty percent of the legislator visits are completed and the remaining legislators will be scheduled at the close of the session.
   
   Chancellor McCormick announced that the third quarterly work plan report would be presented at the April Board meeting. The final report will be presented at the July meeting. The Citizens Advisory Commission will present its report to the Chancellor in April, and an event is being planned to honor the work of the commission.
   
   Chancellor McCormick commented that the business plan will be renamed as either the education plan or the strategic plan, and it is expected that the first draft will be presented to the Board in May. At least two public hearings will be scheduled on the plan after the May Board meeting, and Board approval of the plan will be sought after the hearings. This plan is different than the work plan for the Office of the Chancellor. This work plan will be presented at the July Board meeting. The Presidents also will have a plan that reflects what they are doing for their region that is unique, as well as accomplishing the Board's agenda. The whole Leadership Council will have had a voice in the planning process, and will be accountable for its success.
   
   Chancellor McCormick thanked Manuel López, Associate Vice Chancellor for Continuous Improvement, for research that yielded the characteristics of a successful team: 1) clear and elevating goals, 2) results-driven structure, 3) competent team members, 4) unified commitment, 5) collaborative and respectful environment, 6) standards of excellence, 7) external support and recognition, and 8) principled leadership and integrity. This is what the Leadership Council seeks to exhibit.
   
   Chancellor McCormick announced that President Joe Sertich, Northeast Higher Education District, has agreed to chair the search for a new president at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Linda Skallman, Associate Vice Chancellor, Personnel, is staffing the search. The committee is composed of twelve and their first meeting is April 5.
   
   Chancellor McCormick commented that he has been paying more attention to the Chambers of Commerce. He recently attended the Chamber meeting for the State of Minnesota. He also attended a meeting at the Capital City Partnership with Penny Harris Reynen, Executive Director/Board Secretary. Chancellor McCormick thanked everyone who worked to make the Friends of MnSCU on February 27 a success. St. Paul Technical College did a wonderful job of hosting the evening. Inver Hills Community College has a top level Cisco program, one of five in the world. The Chairman of Cisco Systems was at Inver Hills Community College for the entire day. Chancellor McCormick commented that he and Linda Baer, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, have met with the Minnesota Private College Council. Chancellor McCormick continued that he has also met with Mark Yudof, President, University of Minnesota, to support our work with the Board of Regents.
   

5. Joint Council of Student Associations
   Chair Choate requested that the representatives of the Student Association limit their comments to five minutes each.
   
   The following representatives of student associations addressed the Board of Trustees: Justin Klander, State Chair, Minnesota State University Student Association, Frank Viggiano, Executive Director, MSUSA, and Brent Glass, Executive Director, Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA).
   
   Trustees Antell and Splonskowski spoke in opposition to time limitations on the comments from the Student Association representatives. Chair Choate apologized, and explained that the time limitations were necessary to accommodate interviews with external auditors at the close of the Board meeting.
   
   There was a brief discussion relative the number of public hearings and dates of the hearings on the FY 2003 operating budget including tuition and fees. May 1, May 2 and May 3 were discussed as possible hearing dates. Trustee Redlinger requested that the Student Association Representatives, along with others, be polled for availability. Trustee Erickson proposed that the first hour of each hour be set aside for student testimony.
   

6. MnSCU Bargaining Units
   The following representatives of MnSCU bargaining units addressed the Board of Trustees: Jeanne Cornish, President, Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty, and Karen Foreman, President, AFSCME's Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Policy Committee.
   

7. Consent Agenda
   a. Program Approval: AAS, Sports Facilities Management; Certificate, Ice Arena Management; Certificate, Golf Course Management; and Certificate, Sport/Athletic Field Management; Century College, White Bear Lake
   b. Program Approval: Diploma and AAS, Exercise and Sport Science; Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount
   c. Program Approval: Certificate, E-Business; Minnesota State University Moorhead
   d. Mission Review: Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical
   
   Trustee Vekich moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Trustee Redlinger seconded and the Consent Agenda was approved unanimously.
   

8. Board Standing Committee Reports

   a. Finance/Facilities Policy Committee, Robert Erickson, Chair

   1. *FY 2003 Revenue Fund Fees and Spending Plan
      Committee Chair Erickson moved that the Board of Trustees approve the FY 2003 finance plans and associated maximum fees for residence hall/dining services and student union facilities of the Revenue Fund. The Board also approves an increase in the ceiling of the Student Union Facility Fee from $230 to $245. Trustee Luoma seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
      

   2. Winona State University Land Acquisition (First Reading)
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that the committee reviewed the Winona State University Land Acquisition as a first reading. This will be an action item at the March Board meeting.
      

   3. Southwest State University Update
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that the committee received an update on Southwest State University's progress following the fire that destroyed the Food Service Building in January.
      
      
   4. Post Occupancy Evaluation Program
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that the committee reviewed the Post Occupancy Evaluation Program.
      
      
   5. Minnesota State University, Mankato - Campus Master Plan
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that the committee reviewed Minnesota State University, Mankato's Campus Master Plan.
      
      
   6. Non-Instructional Facility Financing Options
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that the committee reviewed a report on the Non-Instructional Facility Financing Options.
      
      
   7. Rating Agency Presentation
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that the committee reviewed the Rating Agency Presentation.
      
      
   8. Allocation Framework Illustration
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that the committee reviewed an illustration of the application of the Allocation Framework. This discussion will continue in the following months.
      
      
   9. FY 2001 Instructional Cost Study
      Committee Chair Erickson reported that due to time constraints, this item was postponed to the April meeting.
      
      

   b. Educational Policy Committee, Robert Hoffman, Chair

   1. Academic and Student Affairs Update
      Linda Baer, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, stated that there were no updates.
      
      
   2. *Proposed Amendment to Policy 3.14 Program Approval (Second Reading)
      Committee Chair Hoffman moved that the Board of Trustees approves the amendment to Policy 3.14 Program Approval. Trustee Luoma seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
      
      Committee Chair Hoffman announced that the committee discussed and is recommending an additional amendment to Policy 3.14 that would delegate the program approval to the Chancellor or designee.
      
      Committee Chair Hoffman moved to suspend the rules to allow consideration of a policy change with one reading. Trustee Brataas seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
      
      Committee Chair Hoffman moved to amend Policy 3.14 by striking the word "Board" and inserting "Chancellor or designee" as underlined in the copy of the policy just distributed. Trustee Vekich seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
      
      
   3. Program Suspensions: Rochester Community and Technical College and St. Paul Technical College
      Committee Chair Hoffman reported that the committee received notice of program suspensions at Rochester Community and Technical College and St. Paul Technical College.
      
      
   4. Program Reinstatement: Dakota County Technical College
      Committee Chair Hoffman reported that the committee received notice of program reinstatement at Dakota County Technical College.
      
      

   c. Technology Committee, Ivan Dusek and Joseph Swanson, Co-Chairs

   1. Telecommunications Voice Planning Project
      Committee Co-Chair Swanson reported that the committee reviewed a report on the Telecommunications Voice Planning Project.
      
      
   2. Minnesota State University, Mankato - Wireless Initiative
      Committee Co-Chair Swanson reported that committee heard an overview of the Wireless Initiative at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
      
      

   d. Personnel Policy Committee, Nancy Brataas, Chair
   Committee Chair Brataas reported that the committee approved postponing the entire three-item agenda, until the April Board meeting.
   
   Upon further consideration, Committee Chair Brataas requested that the full Board consider reinstating agenda item one, which was originally slated for action.

   1. *Presidents Contracts Committee
      Chair Brataas moved that the Board of Trustees authorizes the Chancellor in consultation with the Chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Personnel Policy Committee, to negotiate employment contracts with presidents whose current contracts expire June 30, 2002. Trustee Luoma seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
      

   2. Revisions to Policy 4.2, Appointment of Presidents (First Reading)
      This item was postponed to the April Board meeting.
      

   3. Revision to Policy 1A.2, part 5, Subpart C. Personnel Policy Committee (First Reading)
      This item was postponed to the April Board meeting.

   e. Advancement Committee, Lew Moran, Chair

   1. Legislative Session 2002 Update
      Committee Chair Moran reported that the committee received an update on the Legislative Session.
      

   2. Report on Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Seminar
      Committee Chair Moran reported on the Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Seminar in Washington, D.C. on February 10-13.
      

   3. Marketing Update
      Committee Chair Moran reported that the committee received an update on marketing efforts.
      

   4. Diploma Policy Report
      Committee Chair Moran reported that the committee reviewed a report on who signs diplomas.
      

   5. Mentorship Training for New Trustees
      Committee Chair Moran reported that the committee discussed ideas for mentorship training for new Trustees.
      

   6. Development Update
      Committee Chair Moran reported that due to time constraints, this item was postponed until the April Board meeting.
      

9. Requests by Individuals to Address the Board
   There were no requests by individuals to address the Board.
   

10. Other Business
    Chair Choate thanked the Government Relations staff for their wonderful annual Friends of MnSCU event held at St. Paul Technical College.
    

11. Adjournment
    Chair Choate adjourned the meeting by consensus at 1:26 p.m.