Minnesota State Colleges and Universities logo
Information For
System Information
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Board of Trustees

December 17, 2003 Board Meeting
Meeting Summary

Wells Fargo Place
Saint Paul, Minnesota

THIS SUMMARY IS NOT THE OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING

Appointment of Interim President of Alexandria Technical College

The Board of Trustees approved the recommendation of Chancellor McCormick to appoint Janet Mahoney as interim president of Alexandria Technical College effective December 18, 2003, and authorizes the Chancellor to negotiate an employment contract to that effect, under the terms and conditions of the Personnel Plan for MnSCU Administrators.

Higher Education Funding and Financial Aid

The Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System supports revising the state financial aid program to provide access to affordable, high quality public higher education for all Minnesotans and to reduce the financial burden for lower-income and part-time students. The formula currently used to calculate state grant eligibility places an extra burden on independent students and part-time students.

The Board of Trustees believes that state financial aid grants should be directed to students with least financial means. The system supports changes to the current Minnesota state grant program that would provide better targeting of scarce funds toward the lowest income students.

The Board of Trustees believes that maintaining affordable tuition is the best approach to improving access to higher education for low income students.

The Board of Trustees believes the system’s primary legislative objective is to preserve the base level of legislative appropriations, to secure additional enhancements based on the Board-approved budget request, and to promote changes to the state grant formula to increase access to higher education to lower income, independent and part time students.

Chancellor’s Recommendation for Distinguished Fellow for Academic Affairs

The Board of Trustees approved the recommendation of Chancellor McCormick to appoint Dr. Anthony Kuznik as distinguished senior fellow for academic affairs effective January 5, 2004 through February 27, 2004.

Personnel Plan for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Administrators

The Board of Trustees approved the Personnel Plan for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Administrators for fiscal years 2004-2005, with the exception of the proposed salary ranges, and authorizes the Chancellor and his designee to take appropriate measures to secure legislative approval to implement the Plan. Upon approval by the Board chair and Chair of the Human Resources Policy Committee, the salary range changes presented to the Board may be proposed to the legislature or one of its committees before or during the 2004 legislative session.

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy 4.8, Emeritus Status

The Board of Trustees approved the amendments to Policy 4.8, Emeritus Status.

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy 2.6, Intercollegiate Athletics

The Board of Trustees approved the amendments to Policy 2.6, Intercollegiate Athletics.

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy 3.10 Academic Program Improvement; Deletion of Policy 3.11 Academic Program Accountability; and Deletion of Community College Policy III.02.06 Academic Standards; Section Titled Review and Evaluation of Academic Programs

The Board of Trustees approved the amendment to Policy 3.10 Academic Program Improvement; Deletion of Policy 3.11 Academic Program Accountability; and Deletion of Community College Policy III.02.06 Academic Standards; Section Titled Review and Evaluation of Academic Programs.

Proposed Amendment to Board Policy 8.3, College or University Related Foundations

The Board of Trustees approved the amendment to Policy 8.3, College or University-Related Foundations.

Plan to Contract with Certified Public Accounting Firms and the Legislative Auditor for Fiscal Year 2004 Audits

The Board of Trustees authorized the Executive Director of Internal Auditing and the Vice Chancellor – Chief Financial Officer to take the following steps to implement the fiscal year 2004 external audit plan:

  • Evaluate the strategy objectives, capacity and cost effectiveness of conducting additional institutional financial statement audits. Report the results of this evaluation and recommendations for future institutional audits to the Audit Committee in December 2004.
  • Initiate a competitive bidding process to contract with an external auditor to serve as the principal auditor for fiscal years 2004 to 2006.
  • Contract with the Legislative Auditor to test internal controls and finance-related legal compliance at eight two-year colleges, perform selected information technology audits, and conduct the assurance work on state systems that is necessary to support the external auditors responsible for the fiscal year 2004 financial statement audits.

Fiscal Year 2003 and Fiscal Year 2002 Audited Financial Statements

The Board of Trustees referred the Fiscal Year 2003 financial statement audit reports for the Minnesota State Colleges and University System and Revenue Fund, Bemidji State University, Century College, Hennepin Technical College, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Northwest Technical College, Rochester Community and Technical College, St. Cloud State University, Southwest Minnesota State University, and Winona State University to the Finance/Facilities Policy Committee for its information and review.

-

 spacer