Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:10
p.m.
Roll Call
Present:
Creamer, Holden, Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Absent:
Canady
Additions/Deletions to the Agenda
The Board agreed to move item B 3 under
the President's report, Program Review Recommendations, after
public comment.
Limited Public Comment Regarding Agenda
Items
Sally Pierce, President of the Faculty
Association - Last Friday, I sent the Board and the President a
letter and I would like to give people the opportunity to ask me
questions. Tonight we
need to make sure that we're thinking of the impact on the
community and the students. Students
committed to taking majors at LCC, and whatever program cuts we
make the association is hopeful that students will be served and
allowed to finish their programs.
I want to encourage you to continue to listen to the
faculty involved in the programs to figure out the best ways to
solve the problems. I
think that as Aviation showed you, the faculty know where the
solutions lie. Thirdly,
I?d like to ask you to please take care of the faculty impacted
by any decisions you make tonight.
I have a concern with part-timers being used to replace
full timers. The
final thing I want to say to you is, I reviewed your board packet
with interest and looked at the predictions about state
appropriations. Last
year we received a little over 5% from the State, and this year
you're predicting 2.4%. I have slightly different numbers. I just got a document from the MEA. The governor recommended a 3.9% increase for LCC, so we have
every reason to expect that the number will not be 2.4; it will be
3.9 or maybe a little better.
I brought you a copy of that document.
Carol Thomas - (She distributed to the
Board a copy of her speech due to not being able to stay within
the three minute time limit.
It is on file with the official Board materials.)
There are seven major errors in the recommendation to you,
and I have outlined them for you in this packet.
You have the letter from the executive director of the NCRA
dated March 9 outlining what the proposed grant would cover and
also their commitment to partner with Lansing Community
College's Court Reporting program.
There is also a document of a little bit of interest, the
bill outlining the grant for the university of Mississippi and
they will be starting this grant program in the summer semester.
I have a proposal of my own and that is in the packet as
well.
Chair Jeffries asked Ms. Thomas to
address her proposal.
Carol Thomas - I know there was some
discussion about the elusive grant.
I spoke with several people at the NCRA today.
They are very positive along with our representative,
Michael Rogers, and our congressman and woman.
We even have a commitment from Mr. Rogers for pushing for
the acceptance of this legislation that would give schools a $1
million grant per year with five years renewable.
When I spoke with the NCRA who were up on the hill today,
they assured me that we had a very good chance of getting this,
that we're first in line, it's a shoe in for LCC. I appreciate the fact that that is elusive that's not money
in our pocket at this point.
But I feel that our program is important enough to the
College and to the community that given some more time, let?s
get the grant in line, we could do an experimental one semester
certificate, but students would not be trained.
I would ask the Board to consider this information and
leave the program for a little bit more time to put everything
into place.
Chair Jeffries asked Ms. Thomas what is
the amount time allotted for the currently enrolled students to
complete the program.
Ms. Thomas responded it would take most
students to complete the program until the Fall of 2003.
Chair Jeffries asked how the
recommendation would impact the grant.
Ms. Thomas responded the College would
no longer be eligible for the grant because the NCRA has stated
that the program must be a viable program.
If the program is placed on suspension, that tells the NCRA
that the College does not believe in the program unless we get a
$1 million grant. The
NCRA confirmed that if the program is not a viable, ongoing
program the College will not be eligible for the grant.
Trustee Pelleran asked if the NCRA has
established grant guidelines.
Ms. Thomas responded that NCRA is
working with the University of Mississippi to establish the
guidelines.
Trustee Pelleran stated that it is
possible that a guideline maybe established that would allow a
program that is on suspension to be eligible for the grant.
Ms. Thomas stated that was not her
understanding. The
guidelines that were discussed were in the areas of student
recruitment, scholarships, job placement, curriculum development
and distance learning. The
programs that are requesting the monies would have to be approved
programs, but viable, ongoing programs.
Trustee Pelleran asked if this was
stated in the proposed language.
Ms. Thomas responded that it was not.
Justin Brewer - Due to the lack of time
I have, I hope you will forgive my lack of formalities and excuse
my rhetorical questions. I
am here to persuade you, the Board of Trustees, of making a grave
mistake. The mistake
of repeating history. I'm
here on the behalf and in the hopes of keeping the dance program
as well as making universal points for the rest of the programs up
for dismissal. I was
walking through the TLC building today, and I saw the values
compact endorsed by this Board and the President's Cabinet. I
hope you all remember it. If not, I will refresh your memories. The first line states, ?Lansing Community College exists to
serve this community and all its members.?
A very bold statement.
To serve the community and all of its members.
So, I pose the question.
Are we serving every little ballerina that dreams to
someday to a big ballerina? Are
we serving the people who want to someday be in a Broadway
musical? Education is
not a one size fits all. My
shoes don't fit your shoes, and your shoes don't fit mine.
What happened with diversity in education?
We don't discriminate against individuals; we value every
individual according to the values compact hanging in the TLC.
Yet, you all sit here ready to judge these programs filled
with individuals. How
is that any different than discrimination?
It's not. You?re
basically telling that little girl that the dream of dancing when
she grows up doesn?t matter to you, and you're telling her to
go someplace else. As
the Board of Trustees, you stated that enrollment is low.
This is true. I agree, but could this problem stem from lack of proper
advertising and marketing? This
is a business after all, and just like any business that has no
marketing budget the dance program is doomed to fail.
Lansing Community College pushes their technical programs
all over the state. LCC's
automotive department because of GM and computer information
systems are advertised on the television.
When was the last commercial for the dance, court
reporting, or dental program?
It just so happens that the technical programs are doing
well with enrollment. Maybe
it's because people in the community see we have these programs.
I would bet that if you remove marketing budgets from all
the programs that have them currently, those programs would fall
in enrollment as well. So,
if you would market the dance program on TV and in high schools
before cutting the program, their enrollment would rise as well.
In 1987 according to the College for All Seasons:
A history of Lansing Community College 1957-1987, a
book that I found in the TLC today, Lansing Community College
offered 200 degree and certificate programs over 3,000 courses.
In 1987, the Fall enrollment was 21,153 students.
The second highest of fall enrollment ever.
Now according to publications, we offer only 160 degree
programs and only 2,500 courses.
Our enrollment in 2000 was a mere 16,011 students.
Do you not find my point yet?
It's this. You
cut programs, you cut enrollment, pure and simple.
I would hope you do not repeat the mistakes of the
College's past. If
you choose to keep these programs as they are because people do
dream and I hope LCC is here to help students with their dreams.
Please don't repeat history.
Julie Jasman - I wanted to say a
personal thank you in regards to your deliberations of the
Aviation Program in voting to retain that.
I would like once again to invite you to see what you kept,
see what we do. It's
a lot of fun. Charlie,
I wanted to say thank you also to you.
You spent a lot of time at the Flight Center and asking a
lot of questions. Also,
pulling information. President
Cunningham and Dr. Wimbish also spent quite a bit of time there in
meeting with us personally. I
did speak with almost everybody.
You did take the time to return my calls.
I hope with the remaining programs, I hope there is a lot
forethought in your decisions.
LCC is a great place and there is a lot people here and we
live in a very diverse community. I teach my children you have to be out there to be able to
compete. I have a
daughter who starts college in another year, and she?s thinking
of coming here. I
would like her to have that diverse education to be able to choose
from many different things. I
have two more to follow and I hope they will follow in her
footsteps as well. Again,
I hope there is a lot of forethought. There are people that are affected, they may be few, but they
are just as important as the rest.
Thank you.
Ms. Jolyan , resident of Lansing - I am
concerned in general about the cuts.
Tonight I?d like to address the dance program and just
appreciation as a Lansing resident to the wonderful, creative
performances that are put on several times a year by the
department of dance. Frankly,
I would much rather go to one of these vibrant, creative programs
than a program at the Wharton Center.
It really offers creativity, vitality, diversity of age,
gender, ethnicity that is not available through other resources.
I think it's wonderful that the dance program is
considering the internship program.
I wonder if it's possible that both might be considered
the merits of the internship program as well as keeping the
two-year degree program that would fulfill the needs of some
students that are caught in the gap.
There is value to this transferring to a four-year program
in a related field. I
wonder about the possibilities of creative funding, creative
taxation. As a
citizen, these performances are very valuable.
I pay several hundred dollars in school taxes. I would be readily willing to pay a proportionate share to
support some of the programs that are being cut. What about having an option in taxation?
On our federal taxes there was a dollar option for campaign
or financial support of presidential candidates.
What about having check boxes to support specific programs?
What about augmenting sponsorship programs?
What about soliciting funds from students at registration,
also on an optional basis? Volunteer
sponsorship. I really
urge you to consider many creative ways of soliciting additional
funds and financing before you cut any of the programs that you
are considering today.
President's Report, Program Review
Recommendations
President Cunningham gave a brief
history on program review. The
purpose of the program review process is a direct result of the
community having spoken about areas of need.
The community would like the college to reallocate dollars
into high growth areas. Some of those areas are as follows: Math and Science, financial assistance, developmental
courses, automotive related, health care and the entire area of
information technology. Other
areas needing additional financial resources include faculty
equity and the facilities master plan.
There is a systematic and methodical process.
The College's core business is teaching, learning and the
academic areas were reviewed first.
Support services will then be reviewed to enhance teaching
and learning.
She stated that students who are
currently enrolled in the programs would work with an LCC advisor
to establish timelines and to explore options for making certain
that they can successfully complete the program.
President Cunningham presented the Dance
Program recommendation, which is to eliminate the Dance associates
degree. Elimination
of all dance classes has never been recommended.
In 1999-2000 there was one student who graduated with an
Associates Degree in Dance, and four students within the last
three years that graduated with associates degrees.
The recommendation is that the College partner with
HappenDance and the Lansing Dance Chamber who have indicated their
willingness to offer top quality dance internships to LCC students
who want to continue their dance experience at the more advanced
levels.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Holden and
supported by Trustee Creamer to accept the President's
recommendation for the Dance Program.
Trustee Creamer asked staff to develop a
marketing plan for programs that have very specific
constituencies. He suggested that a formal evaluation be conducted relative
to the internships after the first internship is completed.
Trustee Rasmusson agreed with the
comments of Trustee Creamer.
The Dance program could have been saved if marketing would
have been improved for the program.
However, faculty equity is going to have a financial effect
on the college. He
said that the College should not use tax dollars for programs such
as Dance that, at the present time, show a very small enrollment.
He hopes marketing will help revive the Dance program and
he will support the motion.
Trustee Pelleran stated that the Dance
Program has a great impact on the community.
She complimented everyone that worked on this and agreed
with Trustee Rasmusson, but the Board needs to look at the
priorities. She asked
administration to be sensitive if the decision affects full time
faculty. She
appreciated the sensitivity the College has to performing arts.
Roll call vote:
Ayes:
Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson, Creamer, Holden
Nays:
None
Absent: Canady
Motion carried.
President Cunningham presented the
recommendation for the Court Reporting program.
The recommendation is to suspend the Court Reporting
Associate Degree program, and a one-year realtime reporting
certificate program will be explored.
This proposal has been supported by the NCRA (National
Court Reporters Association).
Three students graduated from this program last year.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and
supported by Trustee Patterson to accept the President's
recommendation regarding the Court Reporting program.
Trustee Pelleran asked that the
administration write a letter to the University of Mississippi
asking them to include in their guidelines sensitivity to programs
that have been in place, but have been suspended.
Roll call vote:
Ayes:
Rasmusson, Creamer, Holden, Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran
Nays:
None
Absent:
Canady
Motion carried.
President Cunningham presented the
Dental Assistant program review recommendation, which is to
discontinue enrolling students, but maintain its accreditation
status. The current
accreditation can be maintained for two years this will allow time
to work with the Central District Dental Association, which is at
their request, to determine how to establish a partnership in
refocusing the Dental Assistant program.
The College will continue to work with the currently
enrolled students in the program.
There were 14 students that graduated from this program
last year.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Patterson and
supported by Trustee Pelleran to accept the President's
recommendation regarding the Dental Assistant Program.
Trustee Creamer stated that with the
Dental Assistant program there were great opportunities for
revival. The information the Dental Advisory Committee provided was
extremely creative. He
suggested for the five community colleges in the region to offer a
regional program for dental assistants, and out-of-districts
students could be offered in-district tuition in order to take
advantage of the overall need in the regional area.
Time did not allow the College to look at this seriously,
but this could be a test for programs that are in the same
situation. He stated
that he would not be supporting this motion.
Roll call vote:
Ayes:
Pelleran, Rasmusson, Holden, Jeffries, Patterson
Nays:
Creamer
Absent:
Canady
Motion carried.
President Cunningham stated that the
recommendation for the Medical Assistant program is to suspend the
program and request that the Commission on Accreditation of Allied
Health Education place the current 5-year accreditation on
probationary status. There
are currently no students enrolled in the program and last year
eight students graduated.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Holden and supported by Trustee Patterson
to accept the President's recommendation regarding the Medical
Assistant program.
Roll call vote:
Ayes:
Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson, Creamer, Holden
Nays:
None
Absent:
Canady
Motion carried.
President Cunningham presented the
recommendation for the Quality Assurance associates degree
program, which is to discontinue the program and integrate current
credit quality courses and BCI training into certificates of
completion in quality. Students
will be eligible to complete quality certification by itself, or
within selected technical or business associate degree programs.
Last year five students received an associates degree in
Quality Assurance.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Creamer and
supported by Trustee Patterson to accept the President's program
review recommendation regarding the Quality Assurance program.
Trustee Rasmusson stated he contacted
someone in business and someone in labor and did not hear a
ringing endorsement for keeping the degree program.
Trustee Holden stated she spoke with
individuals in the manufacturing field and it was universal that
the integrated approach is absolutely needed.
Roll call vote:
Ayes:
Holden, Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson, Creamer
Nays:
None
Absent:
Canady
Motion carried.
President Cunningham stated she
appreciated the Board's support. This has been a very trying
time and stated that Trustee Canady did call in and is home ill
and asked that the record show he supported the program review
recommendations presented to the Board.
She thanked the community for their support and their
creative solutions. Over
$500,000 in partnerships with the community has resulted and the
allocation of resources to the high growth areas is still
possible. This would
not have been possible without the community stepping up such as
AeroGenesis, United Express, HappenDance, Lansing Dance Chamber,
and Chris Holman, at the Greater Lansing Business Monthly, for
advertising. She also
thanked the staff that sat down to develop creative solutions.
Trustee Patterson stated given the
volumes of information that have been provided to the Board he was
totally prepared tonight to vote as he felt was the right
decision. Trustee
Patterson stated that it is difficult for him to say that the
college will do more and more with the resources that are
available, and it is about taking care of the resources and
revenues that are available.
He thanked everyone for their input and their support and
stated that Program Review is not over yet.
The key is how do people react to the decisions and how
does the College get through it. These hard decisions need to be made.
Trustee Pelleran stated that these
decisions are not easy. She
appreciated the input the community has provided and everyone who
participated in the program review process.
Trustee Holden stated the program review
process contributes to obtaining quality courses which was part of
the strategic plan.
Chair Jeffries agreed with the comments
made by the other trustees. He
thanked the Board for the work they?ve done and standing behind
the strategic plan and standing behind the administration.
He appreciates the partnerships that have been created and
the work of the due diligence team.
The Board took a short recess at 7:05
p.m. and reconvened at 7:18 p.m.
Chairperson and Board Member Reports
Chairperson Report
There was not a report from Chairperson
Jeffries.
Board Member Reports
Trustee Patterson - He reported on the
College's activity and his participation with the Michigan
Community College Association (MCCA) and the Association for
Community College Trustees (ACCT).
MCCA is tracking legislation, which he provided information
to the Board through the staff. He invited the Board members to attend the MCCA summer
workshop.
He attended an ACCT conference in
Washington, DC, and met with Senator Stabenow and the State
Delegation. Trustee Patterson stated he sent the Board an article
regarding the socioeconomic model.
ACCT has funded the first phase of the socioeconomic model. He encouraged the College to continue to pursue researching
the socioeconomic model. ACCT
has conducted seven studies and as a result they have found that
developmental education is the most profitable area for community
colleges.
Trustee Pelleran - She reported on her
attendance at the annual meeting of Capitol Area Michigan Works!
They heard from Mr. McElroy who is now the president of the
Michigan Manufacturers Association.
Mr. McElroy indicated that he has a vested interest in
community colleges and sees the need and value of the community
colleges with regard to workforce development as well as career
patterns in manufacturing.
Trustee Pelleran attended the
legislative breakfast for the Ingham Intermediate School Officers
Association. Representatives Paul DeWeese, Virgel Bernero, and Michael
Murphy as well as Senator Diane Byrum discussed legislation that
is affecting them. There
was discussion regarding mental health children that are being
overlooked due to budgetary constraints.
President's Report
Negotiations
There was no information given related
to negotiations.
Budget
Update
Vice President Barbara Larson gave a
brief overview of the revenue picture for next year.
(Presentation is on file with the official Board
materials.) An approximate 3.3% increase is estimated and is low
compared to what had been received in previous years.
She presented percentage changes for the three revenue
sources, which are state appropriations, property taxes, and
tuition. These three
revenue sources make up 95% of the College's revenue.
Next year a 2.4% increase in state aid is projected.
She addressed Ms. Sally Pierce?s public comments earlier
regarding the 3.9% increase, which is based on the repeal of the
Michigan tuition tax credit, which is the extra 1.5% over the 2.4%
increase. The
Governor also proposed that last year and Congress denied it. She said that they are hearing from the State that it is
highly unlikely that the legislators will choose to vote down the
Michigan tuition tax credit.
In the administrative areas, reductions of $1 million to a
$1.2 million are projected in putting the budget together.
Trustee Patterson asked where does the
college seek additional revenue other than the ability to look at
service and program review.
Vice President Larson responded that
with the program review process it has developed partnerships and
scholarships. She
said that other options are being reviewed by the Funding Task
Force, which include operational millages, annexation, or
increasing tuition and fees.
President Cunningham stated that efforts
will continue to identify continuous revenue streams to make
certain that the College is prepared for what might be a shortage
in state appropriations.
Chair Jeffries stated that there was a
report distributed by the Department of Treasury regarding the
tuition tax credit. Over
7,000 LCC students a year take advantage of the tax credit and it
generates over $600,000 for them.
Student will be affected if the College considers getting
an increase in appropriations by eliminating the tuition tax
credit. The College
cannot do equity on the back of the students.
This Board has worked very hard to keep tuition increases
under the rate of inflation so students can take advantage of the
tuition tax credit.
Trustee Patterson reported that the MCCA
is involved in a movement regarding additional funding for
community colleges. There
are inequities in the state appropriations and people are starting
to pay attention.
Human Resources
Appointments
Administrative?
Denice
Beckwith, Director, Operations and Budget, Business Office
Administrative Services
