September 2002
Board Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, September 18, 2002
World Trade Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Trustees Present: Mary Choate, Chair, Will Antell, Andrew Boss, Daniel Coborn, Cheryl Dickson, Ivan Dusek, Clarence Hightower, Vincent Ijioma, Jim Luoma, Lew Moran, David Paskach, Michael Redlinger, Ann Curme Shaw, and Shaun Williams

Absent: Robert Hoffman

1. Call to Order
   Chair Mary Choate called the meeting to order at 11:22 a.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 July 17, 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 September 4, 2002
   Vice Chair Jim Luoma reported that the Executive Committee met on September 4. There were two action items. The committee approved amending Board Policy 1A.2, Part 4, Officers of the Board in order to clarify the board secretary position. The amendment will be presented as a first reading following this report. The committee also reviewed the 2002 year-end Board Operating and Board Chair budgets.
   
   The committee compared facilitator services for the November Board of Trustees retreat that were available from the Association of Community College Trustees and the Association of Governing Boards. The committee approved the recommendation to contract with the Association of Community College Trustees for facilitator services.
   
   Chancellor McCormick presented a draft of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Work Plan. It will be presented as an action item during the Chancellor's report. The committee also heard an update on the Leadership Council activities from President Wilson Bradshaw, and reviewed the September Board meeting agenda.
   c. Amendment to Board Policy 1A.2, Part 4, Officers of the Board (First Reading)
   Chair Choate noted that the amendment to Board Policy 1A.2, Part 4, Officers of the Board is presented today as a first reading. The amendment clarifies that the board secretary position is not an elected officer. There was no discussion. Chair Choate commented that this will be an action item at the October Board meeting.
   d. Board of Trustees Retreat
   Trustee Cheryl Dickson provided an update on the planning for the Board of Trustees retreat on November 18-20. The retreat will begin with a dinner meeting on Monday, November 18 and conclude mid-afternoon on Wednesday, November 20. Chair Choate formed a working group that identified three objectives for the retreat: develop effective working relationships among members; gain consensus on board processes such as ground-rules for conducting board work, roles and responsibilities for the board, and how to conduct effective meetings; and gain consensus on how the board works with the Chancellor and his staff.
   
   Trustee Dickson continued that she met with John Asmussen, Executive Director, Office of Internal Auditing, and Inge Chapin, Board Secretary, to review potential facilitators and facilities. The Oak Ridge Conference Center in Chaska offered the most cost effective meeting package. After reviewing information from eight prospective facilitators, the group agreed to interview facilitators from the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) and the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). The interviews were conducted by telephone, and both organizations were asked the same questions. The group concluded that ACCT provided the best responses for meeting the objectives of this particular retreat. ACCT's consulting fee was also a favorable factor in the decision.
   
   Narcisa A. Polonio, Director for Board Leadership Services at ACCT, will attend the October board meeting as an observer and to meet with the Trustees, Chancellor and members of the Office of the Chancellor staff.
   e. Campus Good News Report
   Chair Choate announced the names of two Fulbright Scholarship winners from our faculty: Sue Fitzgerald of Metropolitan State University, who is an associate professor of information and computer sciences, will be at Barbados Community College; and . John Leopold, an art instructor at Northland Community and Technical College, will teach in Latvia at the Riga College of Applied Arts.
   
   Southwest State University has been ranked at the top of its division in America's Best Colleges, the guidebook published by U.S. News & World Report. The university ranked first in the Bachelor's Division for Best Public Comprehensive Colleges in the Midwest region.
   
   Upcoming events include the grand opening celebration for the new Science Center at North Hennepin Community College. A grand opening also is planned for the remodeled Anoka-Hennepin Technical College and the new Secondary Technical Education Program, which is known as STEP for short. Already this fall, about 560 high school juniors and seniors are participating in this career and college transition program. The STEP program is in partnership with the Anoka-Hennepin School District and is certain to be a national model.
   
   Northland Community and Technical College hosted a dedication August 29 to recognize the completion of the college's Phase 2 renovation project. Students now have three new science labs, a new Learning Resource Center, 10 new classrooms and many other important facilities.
   
   Southwest State University also is looking forward to an important milestone with presentation of the design for rebuilding the university's food service and student center complex for Board approval. A devastating fire ruined these facilities on January 2 of this year. The Finance/Facilities Policy Committee will hold its first public hearing on the biennial budget at Southwest State University on September 27.
   
   Chair Choate observed that the results of the remodeling of the board meeting room are beautiful and highly functional. The remodeling was carried out by the building management at virtually no cost to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
   

3. Trustee Reports
   Trustee Will Antell reported that he attended the World Futures Society Annual Conference in Philadelphia on July 20-21. The sessions highlighted major advancements in the areas of technology.
   
   Trustee Michael Redlinger thanked Linda Kohl, Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs, and her staff, for the great booth at the Minnesota State Fair. He also thanked Laura King, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, her staff, and the board office support staff for their work on the renovated meeting facility.
   
   Trustee Shaun Williams reported that he attended the Jack Briggs Memorial Scholarship benefit on behalf of the Board of Trustees on September 14.
   

4. Chancellor's Comments: James McCormick.
   Chancellor McCormick thanked the Board of Trustees for their time and commitment to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
   
   He also acknowledged the renovated meeting facility and commented that he hoped it will be viewed as a resource that is available to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities' family.
   
   a. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Annual Work Plan
   Chancellor McCormick indicated that attention to the Work Plan since July permitted additional consultation and refinement of the Work Plan. The presidential reviews also provided an opportunity for input. The Work Plan addresses a multi-year effort and will serve as a bridge to enhance communication between campuses and the Office of the Chancellor.
   
   The Work Plan begins with academic planning, and it is tied to measurable outcomes. Chancellor McCormick noted that the Work Plan may be a model of interest around the country because of the link to performance measures. The six priorities of the Work Plan are: increase access and opportunity; increase support; expand high quality learning programs and services; strengthen community development and economic vitality; fully integrate the system; and measurement.
   
   Vice Chair Luoma moved that the Board of Trustees approves the goals and objectives contained in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Annual Work Plan as presented. Trustee Redlinger seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
   
   

5. Joint Council of Student Associations
   The following representatives of student associations addressed the Board of Trustees: Missi McLaren, President, Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA); and Yorgun Marcel, Chair, Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA).
   

6. MnSCU Bargaining Units
   The following representatives of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities' bargaining units addressed the Board of Trustees: Karen Foreman, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees' (AFSCME) Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Policy Committee; Larry Oveson, Co-Chair, Minnesota State College Faculty (MSCF); and Jim Pehler, President, Inter Faculty Association (IFO).
   

7. Consent Agenda
   a. Winona State University Student Housing Program Lease Agreement
   b. Winona State University and Lake Superior College Land Acquisition
   c. Southwest State University Student Center Complex Schematic Design
   d. Program Closures: Century College and Fergus Falls College
   
   Trustee Moran moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Trustee Williams seconded and the Consent Agenda was approved unanimously.
   

8. Board Standing Committee Reports

   a. Finance/Facilities Policy Committee, Andrew Boss, Chair

   1. Capital Improvement Projects Quarterly Status Report
      Committee Chair Andrew Boss reported that the committee reviewed the Capital Improvement Projects Quarterly Status Report.

   2. FY 2004-2005 Biennial Budget Request (First Reading)
      Committee Chair Boss reported that the committee reviewed the FY 2004-2005 Biennial Budget request as a first reading. The Finance/Facilities Policy Committee is holding two public hearings on the budget request. The first one is September 27, at Southwest State University in Marshall, and the second hearing is on October 2, in St. Paul. This will be an action item at the October meeting.

   b. Advancement Committee, Robert Hoffman, Chair

   1. St. Paul Technical College Request for a Name Change (First Reading)
      Committee Vice Chair Cheryl Dickson reported that the committee discussed the request of St. Paul Technical College for a name change. The new name will be Saint Paul College - A Community and Technical College. This will be an action item at the October Board meeting.
   2. Marketing Update
      Committee Vice Chair Dickson reported that two representatives from Lipman Hearne, a marketing and communications firm specializing in not-for-profits and educational institutions, has been engaged to develop a program to raise the system's visibility and reputation.
   3. Tagline Procedure
      Committee Vice Chair Dickson reported that the committee reviewed the tagline procedure, which requires institutions to indicate that they are a member of the Minnesota State College and University system. Discussion regarding a system name change arose. Changing the name "Minnesota State Colleges and Universities" to the "Minnesota State College and University system" has been suggested as a result of a Leadership Council report. The committee did not take a position on the name change issue.
   4. Development Update
      Committee Vice Chair Dickson reported that due to time constraints the development update was postponed to the October meeting.
   5. Legislative Update
      Committee Vice Chair Dickson reported that the committee heard an update on legislative activities, including the textbook rental bill.

   
   c. Human Resources Policy Committee, Ivan Dusek, Chair

   1. Appointment of Interim President of Riverland Community College
      Committee Chair Dusek reported that Gary Rhodes, President of Riverland Community College, has accepted the presidency of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia.
      
      Committee Chair Dusek moved that the Board of Trustees approves the recommendation of Chancellor McCormick to appoint James R. Davis as Interim President of Riverland Community College, effective October 5, 2002, and authorizes the Chancellor to negotiate an employment contract to that effect, under the terms and conditions of the Personnel Plan for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities' Administrators. Vice Chair Luoma seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
      
      Chancellor McCormick introduced Dr. Davis and his wife, Shirley. Chancellor McCormick announced that Dr. Davis has served as a college president for over 31 years, most recently as the president of Lehigh Carbon Community College from 1992 through 2000.
      
      Dr. Davis thanked the Chancellor and the Board for the privilege to serve the students, faculty, staff and the community during the coming months.
      
   2. Presidential Evaluations Process
      Committee Chair Dusek reported that Bill Tschida, Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, reviewed the process used for the presidential evaluations.
      
   3. Update on Presidential Search at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
      Committee Chair Dusek reported that the committee heard an update on the president search at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College from Joe Sertich, President, Northeast Higher Education District, the chair of the search committee.

   
   d. Educational Policy Committee, Will Antell,Chair

   1. Academic and Student Affairs Update
      Committee Chair Antell reported that Linda Baer, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, provided an update on academic and student affairs.
   2. Minnesota Electronic Portfolio Update and Demonstration
      Committee Chair Antell reported that the committee reviewed a demonstration on the Minnesota Electronic Portfolio that was presented by Associate Vice Chancellor Gary Langer and Project Director Paul Wasko.
   3. Review of Academic and Student Affairs Work Plan Themes
      Committee Chair Antell reported that the committee reviewed the Academic and Student Affairs Work Plan themes that will serve as the foundation for the work of the Educational Policy Committee.
      
      Committee Chair Antell announced that the committee will hear an update on transfer at the October Board meeting.

   
   e. Technology Committee, Lew Moran,Chair

   1. Campus Technology Planning
      Committee Chair Moran reported that the committee received an update on campus technology planning from Ken Niemi, Associate Vice Chancellor - Chief Information Officer, and John O'Brien, Associate Vice Chancellor for Instructional Technology/Deputy Chief Information Officer.

   
   f. Audit Committee, Daniel Coborn,Chair

   1. Discussion on the Role of the Audit Committee
      Committee Chair Coborn reported that the committee had a discussion on the role of the Audit Committee that was led by John Asmussen, Executive Director, Office of Internal Auditing.
   2. Report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on Recent Financial Audits of Colleges, Universities and the Office of the Chancellor
      Committee Chair Coborn reported that the committee reviewed a report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on recent financial audits of Century College, Central Lakes College, Hennepin Technical College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range Community and Technical College, Vermilion Community College, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Northeast Service Unit, Normandale Community College and the Office of the Chancellor. The report showed dramatic improvement over prior years' audits.
   3. Internal Audit Annual Report FY 2002
      Committee Chair Coborn reported that the committee reviewed the Internal Audit Annual Report for fiscal year 2002 that highlighted system-wide studies such as the board-level indicators and the post-secondary enrollment options reports, assurance services, fraud inquiry and investigation support and professional advice.
   4. Update from Internal Auditing Study on Board-Level Indicators
      Committee Chair Coborn reported that the committee received a brief update on the Board-level indicators study, and that discussion will be continued at the December Board meeting.
      
      

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

10. Other Business
    There was no other business to come before the Board of Trustees.
    

11. Adjournment
    Chair Choate adjourned the meeting by consensus at 12:43 p.m.