May 2003
Board Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, May 21, 2003
World Trade Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Trustees Present: Mary Choate, Chair, Andrew Boss, Daniel Coborn, Cheryl Dickson, Ivan Dusek, Robert Hoffman, Vincent Ijioma, Jim Luoma, David Paskach, Michael Redlinger and Shaun Williams

Absent: Will Antell, Clarence Hightower, Lew Moran and Ann Curme Shaw

1. Call to Order
   Chair Mary Choate called the meeting to order at 12:48 p.m. and reported that a quorum was present. There were no changes to the agenda.
   

2. Chair's Report
   a. Minutes of Board of Trustees Meeting of April 16, 2003
   There was a correction to the minutes on page 2, Trustee Reports, third paragraph as follows: Trustee Michael Redlinger reported his attendance at the Student Academic Conference at Minnesota State University Moorhead on April 9. (Correction is italicized.)
   
   Trustee Redlinger moved approval of the corrected minutes. Trustee Vincent Ijioma seconded and the minutes were approved as corrected.
   
   b. Report of the Executive Committee of May 7, 2003
   Chair Choate reported that the Executive Committee met on May 7. No action was taken. Vice Chancellor Bill Tschida reported on the process and timeline for Chancellor McCormick's evaluation. The committee reviewed the Third Quarter FY 2003 Board Operating Budget and a draft of the Board Operating Budget for FY 2004. Staff was directed to prepare a FY 2004 operating budget showing an overall 10 percent reduction to be presented at the Executive Committee meeting on June 4.
   
   The committee received a legislative update from Chancellor McCormick, and a report from Presidents Wilson Bradshaw and Ken Peeders on the activities of the Leadership Council. The committee reviewed the May board meeting agenda and Frank Viggiano, Executive Director, Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA), reported that MSUSA has forwarded two candidates to the governor for consideration of the upcoming vacancy on the Board of Trustees.
   
   c. Timeline for Declarations of Candidacy for Office
   Chair Choate announced the timeline for declarations of candidacy for officers of the Board. The Board will elect officers at the annual meeting on July 16, 2003. Members wishing to run for a position as an officer shall submit his or her name in writing to the Board office thirty days prior to the date of the election. The Board office will mail each member a list of candidates on June 20, 2003. Nominations from the floor shall be received at the annual meeting.
   

3. Trustee Reports
   Chair Choate reported that she participated at the following commencements: Metropolitan State University on May 8, Winona State University on May 9, Minnesota State University Moorhead on May 16 and Hennepin Technical College on May 19. Chair Choate congratulated Trustees Vincent Ijioma and Michael Redlinger on their graduations from Hennepin Technical College and Minnesota State University Moorhead respectively. She also congratulated Internal Auditor John Asmussen on his graduation from Metropolitan State University.
   
   Chair Choate reported that she attended the Wheelock Whitney Hall dedication at Minneapolis Community and Technical College on May 2, and the dedication and naming of the Jodsaas Science Center at Normandale Community College on May 7.
   
   Chair Choate reported for Trustee Antell in his absence that he attended the North Hennepin Community College commencement on May 15.
   
   Trustee Ivan Dusek reported his attendance at the following: Ebony Night at Saint Cloud State University on April 25; campus visits to Hibbing Community and Technical College on May 1, and Century College on May 9; commencement participation for Ridgewater College in Hutchinson on May 15 and Willmar on May 16; and business meetings with Chancellor McCormick to Jennie-O Turkey in Willmar and the Sparboe Company in Litchfield on May 14. Trustee Dusek commended Chancellor McCormick for his work in connecting Minnesota State Colleges and Universities with the business community.
   
   Trustee Michael Redlinger reported his attendance at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College commencement on May 19.
   
   Trustee Shaun Williams reported that he attended commencements for Winona State University on May 9, Rochester Community and Technical College on May 13, and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College on May 15. He also attended the Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) Governing Council meeting May 16-17, at Mesabi Range Community and Technical College.
   
   Trustee Vincent Ijioma reported his attendance at the MSCSA General Assembly April 24-25, in Alexandria. He also attended the Wheelock Whitney Hall dedication at Minneapolis Community and Technical College on May 2; the Century College campus visit on May 9; the Inver Hills Community College commencement on May 14; the Saint Cloud State University groundbreaking ceremony for a multi-purpose stadium on May 16; and the MSCSA Governing Council meeting on May 16-17.
   
   Trustee Cheryl Dickson reported her attendance at the spring commencements for Bemidji State University on May 16 and Northwest Technical College also on May 16.
   

4. Chancellor's Comments
   Chancellor McCormick acknowledged and welcomed Dr. Terrence Leas and Mrs. Leas. Dr. Leas will be recommended by Chancellor McCormick to the Board of Trustees for the position of president of Riverland Community College during the report of the Human Resources Committee.
   
   Chancellor McCormick thanked the presidents for hosting the Trustees and the Office of the Chancellor Cabinet members at the commencements and campus visits. Chancellor McCormick also thanked the Trustees for their attendance at the commencements, adding that the Trustees and staff were represented at 21 campuses. He also recognized and congratulated Trustees Vincent Ijioma and Michael Redlinger on their commencements.
   
   Chancellor McCormick thanked Trustee Dusek for his attendance at the meetings with the business community representatives at the Jennie-O Turkey Store in Willmar and Sparboe Companies in Litchfield on May 14. Chancellor McCormick spoke of the adversity these companies have faced and how they strived and changed to become the success they are today.
   
   Chancellor McCormick thanked the Board of Trustees and the presidents for their participation in completing the evaluations of the cabinet members and the Chancellor. He also thanked the constituency leaders for their participation in the Chancellor evaluation.
   
   Chancellor McCormick stated that the 2004 Work Plan will be presented to the Board at the June meeting. He mentioned he has had continuing individual meetings with the Trustees for discussion and feedback on the Work Plan.
   
   Chancellor McCormick expressed his disappointment in the outcome of the capital budget, adding that a base cut of $189 million over the next two years will translate into fewer choices for students, reduced services, higher tuition, program closures and faculty and staff lay-offs. Chancellor McCormick added that the cut to the adjusted base budget takes Minnesota State Colleges and Universities back to less than the Fiscal Year 2000 funding level in actual dollars with 39,000 more students to serve. The Board will not vote on tuition until the July Board meeting, and increases in tuition will not cover the gap in the budget. Chancellor McCormick stated that the Legislature and the Governor have made decisions and that the focus now will be on moving forward to plan for and invest in the future.
   

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, State Chair, Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA).
   

6. Minnesota State Colleges and Universities' Bargaining Units
   The following representatives of the bargaining units addressed the Board of Trustees: Jeanne Cornish, President, Minnesota State University Association of Administrative and Service Faculty (MSUAAF), and Jim Pehler, President, Inter Faculty Organization (IFO).
   
   
7. Consent Agenda
   a. Southwest State University Request for a Name Change
   b. Anoka-Hennepin Technical College Request for a Name Change
   c. Minnesota State College Student Association Fee Proposal
   
   Trustee Ivan Dusek moved approval of the Consent Agenda. Trustee Robert Hoffman seconded and the Consent Agenda was approved unanimously.
   
   
8. Board Standing Committee Reports
   a. Advancement Committee, Robert Hoffman, Chair
   
   1. *Proposed Amendments to Board Policy 1A.1 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Organization and Administration (Second Reading)
      Committee Chair Robert Hoffman moved that the Board of Trustees adopts the amendments to Policy 1.A.1 Policy on Policies. Vice Chair Jim Luoma seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
   2. *Proposed Policy 1C.1 Board of Trustees Code of Conduct and Proposed Amendments to Policy 1A.2 System Organization and Administration (Second Reading)
      Committee Chair Hoffman moved that the Board of Trustees approves Policy 1.C.1 Code of Conduct as amended by the Advancement Committee, including the deletion of recodified language from policy 1.A.2, Part 7. Trustee Michael Redlinger seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
   3. Northwest Technical College/Fergus Falls Community College Request for a Name Change (First Reading)
      Committee Chair Hoffman reported that the committee reviewed a first reading of Northwest Technical College/Fergus Falls Community College request for a name change of the Detroit Lakes, Moorhead and Wadena campuses of Northwest Technical College and the Fergus Falls Community College to Minnesota State Community and Technical College. This will be an action item at the June meeting.
   4. Legislative Update
      Committee Chair Hoffman reported that the committee received an update on the legislative session from John Ostrem, Deputy to the Chancellor for Legislative Affairs.
   5. Development Update
      Committee Chair Hoffman reported that the committee is conducting a feasibility study to determine whether a systemwide fundraising effort would be successful. The study, financed by a private donor, is being conducted by a consultant with Bentz Whaley Flessner. There will be an update on the study at a future meeting.
      
   
   b. Audit Committee, Daniel Coborn, Chair
   1. Update on System-Level Accountability Framework
      Committee Chair Daniel Coborn reported that the committee had a discussion on the system-level accountability framework. This will be an action item at the June meeting.
      
   
   c. Finance/Facilities Policy Committee, Andrew Boss, Chair
   
   1. FY 2004-2009 Capital Budget Request (First Reading)
      Committee Chair Andrew Boss reported that the committee received a report from Vice Chancellor Laura King on the FY 2004-2009 Capital Budget Request. This will be an action item at the June meeting.
   2. Amendments to Board Policies in Chapter 5, Administration; Chapter 6, Facilities Management; and Chapter 7, General Financial Provisions (First Reading)
      Committee member Michael Redlinger reported that the committee had a discussion on the amendments to Board Policies in Chapter 5, Administration; Chapter 6, Facilities Management; and Chapter 7, General Financial Provisions. This will be an action item at the June meeting.
   3. Proposed Conceal and Carry Policies (First Reading)
      Committee member Redlinger reported that General Counsel Gail Olson presented to the committee a first reading of the Proposed Conceal and Carry Policies. This will be an action item at the June meeting.
      
   
   d. Joint Meeting of the Educational Policy and Technology Committees, Will Antell and Lew Moran, Co-Chairs
   
   1. Minnesota Online Update
      Committee Vice Chair Jim Luoma reported that the committee reviewed a presentation, and had a discussion on the Minnesota Online Update.
      
   
   e. Educational Policy Committee, Will Antell , Chair
   1. Futures Discussion
      Committee Vice Chair Jim Luoma reported that Linda Baer, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, facilitated a Futures discussion.
      
   
   f. Human Resources Policy Committee, Ivan Dusek, Chair
   
   1. Appointment of President of Riverland Community College
      With the departure of Gary Rhodes in October, 2002, Chancellor James H. McCormick appointed James Davis as interim president of Riverland Community College. A nationwide search was conducted with the assistance of Patrick Johns, President of Anoka-Ramsey Community College, who chaired the search committee. An executive search firm, The Pauley Group, was employed to assist in the search process. Chancellor McCormick, along with members of the Board of Trustees and Office of the Chancellor Cabinet members interviewed four finalists.
      
      Chancellor McCormick announced that he is pleased to recommend Dr. Terrence Leas for the presidency of Riverland Community College. Dr. Leas is currently serving as dean for student services of Yakima Valley Community College in Yakima, Washington, and dean for the college's Grandview campus. Dr. Leas received his doctorate in higher education administration from Florida State University and holds a master's degree in educational administration and supervision from Valdosta State College in Georgia and a bachelor's degree in social science education from Florida State University.
      
      Committee Chair Dusek moved that the Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of Chancellor McCormick, appoints Dr. Terrence Leas as President of Riverland Community College effective July 14, 2003, subject to the completion of an employment contract, which the Board authorizes the Chancellor to negotiate in consultation with the Chair of the Board and Chair of the Human Resources Policy Committee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Personnel Plan for MnSCU Administrators. Vice Chair Jim Luoma seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
      
      Dr. Leas thanked the Board of Trustees and Chancellor McCormick stating that he is honored to accept the position of president of Riverland Community College.
      
      
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 2:12 p.m.