Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:08
p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Creamer, Holden, Jeffries,
Patterson, Pelleran
Absent: Canady, Rasmusson
Chairperson Jeffries welcomed and
congratulated the three new trustees, Mark Canady, KP Pelleran,
and Todd Heywood.
Additions/Deletions to the Agenda
The Board agreed to pull agenda item B 5
under the President's Report.
Limited Public Comment Regarding
Agenda Items
Sally Pierce - I appreciate the
opportunity to comment. The MAHE (Michigan Association of Higher
Education) Association as you know ran a ratification vote of a
tentative agreement; we do not have a quorum of people voting
today so we will do a revote. The vote will be tabulated by the
26th of July. Thank you.
Public Hearing
Public Hearing on proposed 2001-2002
Budget
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the
Board published a notice on June 20, 2001 of this public hearing
on the budget for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, which the college
proposed to levy 2.8926 mills. This millage rate is the amount of
millage to be levied to support the fiscal year 2001-2002 and the
approval of the budget by the Board will meet the requirements of
the truth in taxation statute for levy of the proposed mills.
Chairperson Jeffries opened the floor
for comments.
There were no comments from the public.
EPIC/MRA Presentation
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the
Board and the President appointed a task force in January to
review funding issues that were facing Lansing Community College
both in terms of equity issues and capital outlay issues. This
committee was charged to recommend to the Board with other funding
alternatives. As part of that work the committee retained the
services of EPIC/MRA to do a survey in support of a proposed
millage, an alternative to fund these issues. Chairperson Jeffries
stated that the survey had been completed and asked Mr. John
Cavanaugh, from EPIC/MRA, to present the results of the survey.
John Cavanaugh gave a verbal
presentation to the Board regarding the results of the survey
conducted in the LCC service area. (The complete survey and
results are on file with the official Board materials.)
Mr. Cavanaugh stated that the survey was
administered to 500 respondents with a margin of error of 4.4.
Among industry standards is considered a large survey, and it is a
comfortable margin of error. He felt that Lansing Community
College stands in very good stead with its constituency. A
question to the respondents that asked if LCC were to put a
millage on the ballot, the amount of one mill, would they vote yes
or No. A remarkable 66% responded yes. Of that 66% yes vote
climbed to 70% once some of the specifics of what that money would
be intended for were given to the respondents. The most, among the
most compelling reasons for voting yes was to increase faculty
pay.
Chairperson and Board Member Reports
Chairperson Report
Senate Bill 365 Correspondence
Chairperson Jeffries stated that he
received several letters from various senators regarding support
for the resolution and the letters expressed their opposition to
the senate bill. He also thanked Trustee Patterson for his work
with the Michigan Community College Association.
Trustee Pelleran asked Chairperson
Jeffries to clarify what Senate Bill 365 was for the audience.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that Senate
Bill 365 dealt with changing certain rules that would allow that
agency to create and be responsible for establishing community
college boundaries. It was something that would take some
authority away from community colleges and give it to agencies.
The resolution the Board passed was in opposition to this bill.
The Creamer Resolution
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the
Board has a resolution in front of them that will delegate power
to the President to employ, and select all personnel of the
college, with the exception of Vice President level positions
responsible to the President. The following four positions will
come before the Board for review and approval: Executive Director
of Human Resources, Vice President for Administrative Services,
Provost, and Chief Information Officer.
The Board will continue to receive human
resources information, but only as an informational item.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Holden and
supported by Trustee Creamer to accept the resolution delegating
authority to the President.
Ayes: Creamer, Jeffries, Holden,
Patterson, Pelleran
Nays: None
Absent: Canady, Rasmusson
Motion carried.
Chairperson Jeffries presented Trustee
Creamer a plaque in appreciation for his service to the College
and the Board.
President Cunningham also presented a
gift from the College to Trustee Creamer thanking him for his
service on the Board.
Board Member Reports
Trustee Creamer stated that the
committee is recommending that the Board revert to the past
practice of stability with leadership of the Board by returning to
2 year terms of offices beginning with the proposed slate of
officers. He stated that the committee?s recommendation is that
the current board officers remain for an additional two years.
They are:
Chair - Jeffries
Vice Chair - Patterson
Secretary/Treasurer - Mark Canady
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the
recommendation would be approved at the July 9th, organizational
meeting.
Trustee Pelleran - High School Awards.
Trustee Pelleran stated that she had the privilege and honor of
presenting several high school awards this year. She appreciated
the opportunity to deliver those on behalf of the President and
Board of Trustees and would gladly volunteer next year.
President's Report
Informational
M-TEC Update
President Cunningham stated that the
committee met with more than 36 different suppliers, manufacturers
and businesses throughout the community to receive one final tally
of the type of training that would be needed in the M-TEC. She
said that Mr. Bill Darr will be putting together, with the
architects, a design that will house high priority training needs
of this community based on what was heard. The primary emphasis is
to verify its flexibility and that it will stand the test of time.
The committee is still dealing with the areas of concern with
regards to the size of the property.
Trustee Jeffries asked Mr. Darr an
estimate of the full square footage.
Mr. Darr responded that M-TEC will house
four areas of discipline. The estimate is between 35 and 40
thousand square feet; however, the master plan will be taken into
consideration and integrated into the phase.
Enrollment Update
President Cunningham stated that
enrollment increased for summer 2001 compared to summer 2000.
Student count is up 7.6%, credits are up 10.4%, and seats are up
6.3%. She commended the faculty and staff that work to make sure
all the students get seats, courses and classes that they want.
President Cunningham applauded those who took advantage of the
virtual college training, which is an area continuing to grow.
Trustee Holden asked that when candidate
Heywood was interviewed by the MAHE group, he showed or expressed
concern about the attrition rate for virtual courses. She asked
President Cunningham to address this concern.
President Cunningham stated that it is
every faculty, staff and administrators intent to make certain
that students complete the courses and not just get them in the
door. Between virtual and traditional courses it is almost neck
and neck. It is approximately 68% with virtual and lecture is
approximately 71%.
She said that in regards to retention it
is one of the highest in the nation in terms of retention rate.
The College is continuing to improve the retention rate with both
traditional and virtual courses. The College is also reviewing
traditional courses that students don't retain. Some traditional
courses have a higher drop out rate than the virtual.
Regional and National Championships
President Cunningham stated that the
men?s cross country team finished as state champions and the
men?s track team finished as regional champions and qualified as
a team for the national championship meet. This is the first time
this has occurred in LCC's history. Men's golf team finished as
state champions. Women's softball team finished as state champions
and second in the nation. She said that currently there are LCC
student competing in Kansas City, Missouri who are competing
nationally in the Vocation Industrial Clubs of America. President
Cunningham recognized the coaches for each team. Coach Chuck Block
is the head coach for the track team. John Nagle is the golf
coach, and Bob Everett is the woman's softball coach.
Human Resources
Appointments
Administrative-
Keith E. Mino, Director,
Counseling Services, Counseling Department, Student and
Academic Support Division
Resignations
Faculty
Christopher Kibit,
Faculty Member, Travel and Tourism, Careers Division
John T. McAlear, Faculty Member,
Language Skills, Student and Academic Support Division
Administrative
Lynne Harned, Director, College
Academic Affairs, Provost?s Office, Executive Office
Division
Gayland Tennis, Director, Aviation
Technology, Aviation, Careers Division
Action Items
Approval of Minutes ? President
Cunningham presented the May 14 and June 7, 2001 meeting minutes.
Trustee Holden stated that there should
be a correction made on the bottom of page 2. She reported on the
Capital Area Works workforce development board and the word multi
should be omitted.
Human Resources
Appointments
Administrative
Glenn Cerny, Chief Information
Officer, Information Services and College Development
Fraternal Order of
Police - Tentative Agreement
President Cunningham stated that the
Fraternal Order of Police ratified their contract and with the
approval of her report the Board will also ratify it.
Funding Task Force Recommendation
This item was dealt with separately.
Michigan Association of Higher Education
- Tentative Agreement
The Michigan Association of Higher
Education (MAHE) Agreement has been tabled.
2001-2002 Proposed Budget
Vice President Barbara Larson presented
the 2001-2002 proposed budget to the Board. (The presentation is
on file with the official Board materials.) Vice President Larson
stated that the College will receive a 1.7% increase in state aid
which is a decrease from last year?s appropriations.
Approval of Bids
There was one bid presented to the Board
for their approval. The proposal presented was for the Arts and
Sciences building alarm renovations and Summitt Contractors, Inc.,
of Haslett was awarded the bid.
Trustee Creamer asked staff to provide
the minority contractor status of the bidders on all future
proposals.
Trustee Pelleran publicly thanked Dr.
Lynne Harned for her years of dedicated service. She said that Dr.
Harned gave 11 years to Lansing Community College and the College
was fortunate to have her here. Ms. Harned will be retiring
effective August of 2001.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Creamer and
supported by Trustee Patterson to approve the President's report
with exception of item four, Funding Task Force Recommendation,
and item five, Michigan Association of Higher Education tentative
agreement.
Ayes: Creamer, Jeffries, Holden,
Patterson, Pelleran
Nays: None
Absent: Canady, Rasmusson
Motion carried.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Patterson and
supported by Trustee Holden to accept the Funding Task Force
recommendation millage resolution.
Ayes: Creamer, Jeffries, Holden,
Patterson, Pelleran
Nays: None
Absent: Canady, Rasmusson
Motion carried.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that the
millage resolution in front of the Board states that Lansing
Community College requests a1 mill increase to be placed on the
November 6 general election ballot. The Board has had discussions
with MAHE regarding the millage election and the ratification of
the MAHE agreement. He said that the millage and the MAHE
agreement are linked because of the time we are in and the
reelection of the agreement that must occur with MAHE, they are
asking until July 26 to ratify the contract.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and
supported by Trustee Holden that the millage resolution be
effective upon the ratification of the MAHE contract on or before
July 26, 2001.
Ayes: Creamer, Jeffries, Holden,
Patterson, Pelleran
Nays: None
Absent: Canady, Rasmusson
Motion carried.
Public Comment
Tom Ferris - With regard to the millage,
especially addressing the faculty. MAHE intends to vigorously
support the millage, I also hold a position as secretary to the
Capital Area Political Action Counsel, which is the MEA's
political action in the area. And we are supporting this millage.
Trustee Patterson - Even though we let
Charlie roll on his motion, I won't let the evening go by without
acknowledging and welcoming to his new position Glenn Cerny, I
have been one that likes good information and I want to thank
Glenn and challenge him to continue to give us good information. I
see him smiling. I guess that means yes. It is good to have you in
that position.
Trustee Creamer - I just want to make a
couple of comments. About a year ago I did an interesting thing,
which is quit my job. Which I very much enjoyed and thought I was
fairly good at it, and started off on my own venture. I must have
had a testosterone shot or something that made me feel like I
could do everything all at once. One of which was to start this
company, and then also serve on the LCC board of trustees. I think
I told the board, my mother always told me if you can't do it
right, don't do it at all. It came a point where our company's
business has tripled in the last few months and I need to pay more
attention to those kinds of things. So with a 3 - year-old who is
finally potty trained and a 2 - year-old grandson who is not, it
makes it complicated and so something had to give. I enjoyed doing
this but apologize for not being able to fulfill the commitment
for running for re-election. But I have to say I am not really all
that sorry. But it has been a fascinating and worth while
experience even though a short one and if you look what has
happened over the last 10 months not just for me but everyone in
the room and for the trustees, there has been a calmness to the
college, we have put a very quality and great person as President.
All I have heard talked about since I have been here is faculty
equity and capital outlay and I see all that moving forward. We
have been able to do a lot of things in a very short period of
time. It has been very clear to me in the community, is that the
community has great support, that is very clearly evident with
Paula, and the people you surrounded yourself with. I have worked
with Dave and Barbara, there is a focus on this college to make
sure it works in a positive way. So that has been fun. Also I sit
and look at what has happened in the last ten months and what was
my favorite kind of things. I think my favorite event was the
graduation even though they made me wear that dork hat, and
passing out the diplomas for people who were so excited, and
feelings of honor and success in what they have done. The other
one was probably the most favorite was probably the aviation
program where we sat back and took a look at things, where things
that originally made sense, didn't make sense and we made some
adjustments. My favorite quote was Olga?s. With the M-TEC, she
said, with this piece of property we could put M-TEC on it there
will be a building that will be 9 stories high. Most favorite
social event was KP, at the Lugnut Supporting Community and
Families and good things. And the Christmas party meeting your
husband was a trip and a half. One of the great social events.
Dave, it has been fun getting to know you and having you bring the
numbers in and spending time with you on the phone and going over
stuff. I know I kid you about that, but not many people are
willing to do it and I have enjoyed it. And, Brian, I have enjoyed
running by your house and waving and say looking forward to seeing
you. I did say this when I applied for this but I have very much
enjoyed Brian and respected things you have done in the community
and one of the reasons I wanted to be on this board was to work
with you. And I hope you didn't take my not running as an
indication of you.
Trustee Pelleran - I just wanted to
mention to Charlie it has been a pleasure to work with you also,
and I would like to leave you with another quote to put side by
side with Olga's. It is from Thomas Jefferson: Eternal vigilance
is the price of liberty. And if you are truly eternally a vigilant
in your job and everything, your business won't just triple in 4
months it will make you free and wealthy.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
