Call to Order
The meeting was called to
order at 6:05 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Canady, Creamer,
Holden, Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Absent: None.
Additions/Deletions to the
Agenda
There were no additions or
deletions to the agenda.
Limited Public Comment
Regarding Agenda Items
Mayor David Hollister: I am
here because I understand you have before you the consideration of
making the temporary interim appointment to Paula Cunningham a
permanent decision and I am here to support that. I have worked
with Ms. Cunningham in many capacities over the years. Most
recently in the legislature we worked on the new student service
high-tech facilities (Abel Sykes Technology & Learning Center)
on the corner where she represented the college. As I transferred
over to mayor, she was the liaison. We have worked together on
career education, and Path Ways working on data collection. She
was appointed, and served with distinction, on the Blue Ribbon
Committee to keep GM throughout the last couple years, and I don't
think a national search would find a finer candidate. I am here to
enthusiastically support her and I hope you confirm that.
Tony Benavides: Mr.
Chairman, my name is Tony Benavides, I live at 3337 South
Catherine. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of your public
comment this evening. Earlier in the week I submitted a letter of
support for Paula Cunningham being confirmed as the President for
Lansing Community College and wanted to be here to give additional
support. Knowing your agenda tonight is long my comments will be
brief. Later on in this meeting you will be making some very
important decisions regarding the future of Lansing Community
College. I have come tonight to express my support for Paula
Cunningham as our permanent Lansing Community College President
and urge you for unanimous vote. I have known Paula's family for
30 years and I know she has a commitment to this community. She
knows your dreams, she knows your needs. Her 19 years of service
to this college and her almost six months as interim President has
demonstrated she is also a strong leader and the one that can
continue the fine reputation that Lansing Community College has
and can take it to the highest levels. Lansing Community College
and this community will be well served with Paula Cunningham.
Thank you.
Carol Wood: Good evening,
my name is Carol Wood. I live at 1018 West LaPeer in Lansing. I
would like to address this body. Mr. Chairperson and members of
the Board, I have a letter that I will be handing out, after my
comments, for each of you. My purpose this evening for being here
is to explain to you the commitment that we as a community have
seen from Paula. I want to talk to you from the community's
aspect. Having worked with Paula with the downtown master plan and
the hours that were put into that plan and the amount of
commitment on Paula's behalf, working with us as a community with
the loyalty for the College and the desires of what was best for
both. Having Paula step forward along with this Board and a recent
decision to adopt a pilot program for our community, which is
again, a step showing this college's commitment to the local
level, to the community, to the neighborhood you embrace. Also, as
I look at this position and I think of the qualifications of Paula
Cunningham, I think of a decision that our mayor made just
recently for our chief of police. As he looked at that position he
realized of the African Americans that applied there were several
that were home grown. Home, people that had stayed in the
community, people who had given years of loyal service and when
that decision was made he looked at those years of service. I
would like you to do that similar look as you look at the
selection of a president for this community college. Paula is a
person who is more than qualified, but also brings a loyalty to
the College and community because of her number of years of
service to LCC. To understand the American dream of hard work,
tireless effort and loyalty will be judged in advancement gives
each one of us hope today. I believe it is time for this Board and
the community to look for a new and brighter future and Paula
Cunningham makes that possible. I urge you as a community person,
a tax paying resident of Lansing, and a member of Lansing City
Council to look no further, but appoint Paula Cunningham as the
President of Lansing Community College. Thank you.
Frank Garrison: I likewise
come tonight to support the idea of Paula becoming permanent. I
have spent my entire life representing the interest of workmen and
women, and a community college plays such an important role in the
education process of working people. You could do a national
search, you could probably find a longer pedigree than Paula's,
but one of my political heroes once said experts are on tap. They
don't necessarily have to be on top. The thing that brings great
leadership to an institution as much as brains, and I think Paula
has all the brains she needs, but it is really heart. David
Hollister is an excellent mayor because he loves this community,
and it shows. That is what you will get from Paula. You will get a
dedication that you will never get on a national search. I have a
personal interest. I have two grandchildren enrolled in this
community college. So I have a personal interest. I just hope you
will all make it unanimous and let Paula lead us to where we need
to go. Thank you.
NEW SPEAKER: Good evening
Mr. President, councilmen, Trustees, I had no intentions to come
up because I didn't think she needed it. But our good mayor and
others indicated about the hiring from within. I am the former
Lansing police commissioner. I was on the commission when we went
out the first time to get a police chief, at that time it was
necessary to do so. Our new police chief, the mayor, and everyone
else indicated it was right. We had the person within to do the
job, and I think we have that person now. So what I am saying is
we have that person in Mrs. Cunningham to do the job and I don't
think there is anyone else in the community or nationwide that can
do better. I also have a son enrolled here. So I am paying money
and I want the best for my money.
Mike Ryan: Hi, my name is
Mike Ryan. I would like to speak on behalf of Paula on a personal
basis. For over 30 years I have been best friends with Paula and
her husband, Darius, who is my best friend. I am fortunate to have
two best friends in them both. We were in business together, we
have done different projects together and I found Paula to be very
workable, she helps people. She continually helps people on a
daily basis. I never met anyone more dedicated to her kids than
she is. That is one of the things my wife and I love about her. We
love her so much she is the God Mother of our child. When I was
going into business, and my partner at the golf course, I wanted
to buy him out. Paula came to me and said, Mike, if you want to
buy him out, we will do all our credit cards up, whatever it takes
to do it. That is not a typical woman now, I know women like to
spend, but she was doing it out of love and dedication, nothing
against women. That is the way my wife is. She was doing it out of
dedication from our friendship, that is the type of person she is.
Her husband is the same way. I was born and raised in Lansing. I
would be very proud for her to be President of LCC because she
would do an excellent job and she would treat everyone like she
treats my wife and I and my daughter. Thank you.
Tony Glascoe: Hello, Mr.
Creamer. First of all I would like to encourage the Board. I am
not a novice to serving those who have been delegated authority as
I served Mr. Creamer and Mr. Benavides when I was with the city of
Lansing and had faith in the decisions they made. I have faith in
the decisions you make in the delegated authority you have been
given. Paula Cunningham and I go back about 10 years. I can echo
everything everyone has already said. She is a woman of integrity.
As the former pastor of the Children at Living Word Outreach
Church, Paula and I worked together for five years. She was
actually my subordinate, a volunteer, and now I work for her. What
I find is she is as great a follower as she is a leader. She is a
personal friend who will be there, who set aside everything when
my mother passed a year ago to give me a word of encouragement.
She is an individual who never stops doing the work of the
College. She is forever talking to the children, the young people
about LCC, about the opportunities at LCC, about what they want to
be when they grow up, and how they can fit into the fabric of this
College so not only are you getting a person who works 8 to 16
hours a day, but you are getting a person who lives Lansing
Community College. Who is dedicated to this College, who feels
this College is part of her family and that she will do whatever
she can do to promote the College, not herself, but to promote the
College and what is in the best interest of this community. Thank
you.
Monica Zuchowski: Good
evening my name is Monica Zuchowski. I live at 329 North Walnut. I
am President of the Lansing Neighborhood Council. As many of you
know, LCC is totally encompassed within the boundaries of the
downtown association. It has been recently, probably the last six
months that the DNA and Lansing Community College have really
started communicating at a deeper level than we have in a long
time. Part of that is because we have not, as an organization,
reached out to LCC, but LCC has not always reached out to us. And
that is changing. I welcome that, I see a sign of that from the
incentive program for home ownership within my neighborhood
association boundaries to the involvement of Lansing Community
College and the recent home tour that the Greater Housing
Coalition and the DNA cosponsored and brought people to LCC who
have not been here in probably 30 years and not been on campus,
have not been to this wonderful facility. We packed them in. I
thank Paula and her staff for their involvement in that. One of
the things I look at when I consider our relationship as a
neighborhood group with LCC is, "Are they good
neighbors?" And I am in discussions with the State of
Michigan about some things, we talked with other neighborhood
organizations and the city on a regular basis, and with Paula, as
our President, and hopefully, continuing as the permanent
president, I see that relationship developing and growing further.
Acknowledging that they are not a community of their own, but part
of our neighborhood and we are part of theirs and I hope that you
folks will make the best decision. Thank you.
Mary Ettinger: My name is
Mary Ettinger. I am the President of the Capitol Area CAB Council,
UAW. In your packet there is a letter from our regional director
Cal Rapson, I am here to speak in support of Cal's letter and say
that Paula has done a good job, keep her. Thank you.
Dwayne Vernon: Hi, my name
is Dwayne Vernon, I live at 4315 Wagon Wheel in Lansing. I am
really happy to be here tonight. I told Paula I would come
tonight. I have known her through Rotary, and community
activities. I speak to the Board and all of you in the audience. I
was at the awards day a few weeks ago, I guess it was a few weeks
ago. Time flies. I felt a great spirit in that room of the Lansing
Community College people, students, staff, people that were there,
awardees. I just felt that after what Paula said there was a
rebirth feeling, and it really felt terrific. I spend a lot of
time out in Spartan country, but I felt real good about LCC. I
think one of the things I would like to see is more cooperation,
and I talked to Paula about this, between Lansing Community
College, Cooley, Davenport and Michigan State University. Mayor
Hollister has said many times we want a world-class city. We want
to be known for our educational facilities, in addition to our
industrial side and the State Capitol. We have great opportunities
here, and I think under Paula's leadership we can do this. I
really feel that this is the right person to lead Lansing
Community College as we go into the 21st century and I give my
whole heart of support to her. I think she is good for all of us.
She is good for the community and the best thing I can say about
Paula Cunningham is she is a good person and we need a good person
to lead this college as we go forward into the next century. Thank
you.
Debra Harris: My name is
Debra Harris, I thought it would be good to have student
representation here. I am on the student advisory committee to the
President. We meet with Paula every two weeks, I have known her
about a month, month and a half, but in the short time there has
been a great impact on myself and the other students, about 10
students. To my knowledge with one student she had a concern, she
wrote a letter and had not got a response to whatever person she
wrote. Paula took her aside, got her E-mail, got information and
said, "I will respond to you. E-mail this to me and I will
give you a response." Sure enough that day the response was
there and the support was there and that is very important to us
as students to know someone really cares. I agree with the fact
that Paula is a great person, but on top of that she has taught us
a lot about leadership, and we need to look up to people like
Paula who have good concepts. In the end I did a paper on Paula as
a choice of a leader of the community, and I think all the
students feel the same.
Barry Stearns: My name is
Barry Stearns, I live at 8034 Corson Road, Grand Ledge, I serve as
faculty here at Lansing Community College. I want to thank the
community people who have come; I appreciate the comments that you
have made. As an insider for 34 years, over the last several years
there is a cancer that has been growing inside the institution, it
is a continuing rift between the leadership of the institution and
those of us who are employees working here. One of the things I
really like about being here tonight is having worked with Paula
for many years I see that Paula knows who we are. She will listen
to us. She will interact with us. She will fight with us. And that
is all we ask for. We ask for someone who will play even handedly.
We need to get a hold of what is going on here and over the last
several years it has been getting continuously worse. Morale has
not been good here over the last eight years. So we welcome Paula,
and your openness, we certainly welcome your positive attitude.
And as an individual faculty member, I would like to work with you
to make this place back to what it was at one time. Thank you.
Howard Jones: My name is
Howard Jones, I am in good company here. I see other former city
council people here on the Board of Trustees, as well as Tony
here. Do you know there are a couple reasons I really like Paula.
Number one, she is a very fine athlete. She plays golf. She is a
good tennis player. I have been at conferences, with my wife who
was on the Board of Trustees, down in Florida and Paula will even
let you win occasionally. Which as an old feller I really
appreciate. Also, I think something you folks should know is that
Paula is in demand by a lot of community colleges. If you don't
snap her up, believe me, she will be gone soon. She is a very good
ambassador for this college. I have seen her working with other
people in community colleges all over this country, conferences
that I have been to. So, Paula, I am glad you are where you are
and I am glad you have decided that you would be interested in
being President of Lansing Community College. You are a fine
person, we respect you because you respect us. Thank you.
Satnam Bhugra: I am
President of the Arab American Association. I also worked with
Paula for 19 years. I was here longer than she has been. It has
been a pleasure to work with her. I am glad to see the dust is
settling and things are moving forward and with the help and
support, I think with David Hollister, I think things will move
forward. All the best. Thank you.
Sally Pierce: I am Sally
Pierce, I have already talked to the Board members about the
concerns that some people here on campus have as Barry alluded to.
We are looking forward to working with you, Paula, and what I want
to address is the lab lecture issue. As you Board members know, we
had a labor management team working on this issue after our last
round of negotiations and we were unable to reach agreement about
it, although the team did define issues and cost at that time.
Today I heard that the College is preparing to hire a consultant
to get data about what is happening at other community colleges. I
think getting data is a great idea, but one of the things I am
continually hearing is a need for revenue stream for the cost of
upcoming faculty negotiations and I want to make an offer today to
help work collaboratively with the College. I don't know if you
know that the MEA has data bases which include data about the
community colleges that aren't necessarily bargained for by the
MEA, and the NEA has data bases which include data from community
colleges all around the country. So to work together, we would be
happy to work with you to find that comparative information and
maybe we can take the money that was going to go to the outside
consultant and put it towards contracts here at LCC.
Larry Leatherwood: Mr.
Chairman, members of the Board of Trustees, audience, friends and
everybody else. You have a copy of a letter that I wrote to Mr.
Jeffries supporting the appointment of our President, interim
President, of LCC. I think it says very clearly and explicitly why
I think it is important that we remove that title interim and make
her the President of this college. I did not intend to speak here
this evening, however, I would be remiss if I did not point out to
you in case you did not pick up on the various comments made this
far this evening some very key words that I think are very
descriptive of why our person should be President of this college.
The first word is leadership. She has exhibited leadership in this
community. She has shown leadership at this college and she is
going to continue to show leadership and continue to bring this
college in the forefront of this community, in this state, and in
the nation. She is qualified, she has the academic credentials,
she has the experience at this college, therefore, she would be
able to do what is necessary to provide the leadership. She has
intelligence. Exhibited today by her being here waiting for that
moment when the Board says you are now the President of this
college. She is resourceful. I know she is resourceful because she
comes quite often to the community, and says not will you, but you
will offer your services. And we appreciate that and we do that
willingly, Paula. She is capable. She exhibits capability in terms
of providing leadership for this college and without being
redundant I won't dwell on it, that she has integrity, which
someone else pointed out a few moments ago. I think one of the
attributes that is necessary for a leader, is to have integrity.
Someone also said a new beginning. A rebirth of a college, I think
that is encouraging and what we are looking for. We want new
directions, we want leadership, we want someone to bring us
forward and I think Paula will do that. She is a good person. Very
good person, and I can vouch for that. She is a good Christian.
She is a good parent. She is a good friend. She will also fight
for her staff. I heard that said and I think that is an admirable
quality. Because we can provide leadership, or think we can, but
if the people we provide leadership for doesn't feel the same way,
then we have a problem. We heard staff come forward and say she
provides leadership and I think that is an excellent quality. She
has a positive attitude and I think, again, that is an excellent
trait that she exhibits and I think she will continue to do so.
And I think the final comment is she is willing to let others win.
And I think that is an excellent quality, and therefore, Mr.
President, I now call for the question.
Dorothy Jones: Well, before
we call for the question I have to have my say. When I look at
this Board I think that the people who tell us that, I studied
this kind of thing, we have to get adjusted to more rapid change.
When I see this Board compared to two years ago, it is true. I am
real pleased that you are about to name Paula Cunningham to be
your permanent President. I like to think that I recognized her
skill before any of you did. Unfortunately, she and I were the
only ones who heard the conversation as we were driving to
Traverse City one time. I said, "Paula, you would make a good
President. Why don't you get your Ph.D.?" She said, "No,
I don't want to do all that, I am not a President, I want to
continue what I am doing. I love Lansing Community College."
But here she is, and without the Ph.D. I think we learned in the
past year that just a Ph.D. is not really the requirement for
being a President and we are going to learn or have learned that
it isn't necessary to be an outstanding President. This past year
has been really traumatic for you, especially the three of you
that were here all through this. But I want to say, maybe you had
to go through that to recognize that you really didn't have to
have a Ph.D. person and you didn't have to go far to find one. You
might not have even realized what a jewel Paula is without it.
When I look at the wonderful things she has done in less than six
months and the diverse group of people that are here supporting
her, I think we better send her to Egypt to settle the dispute
there.
Glenn Kirk: I am Glenn Kirk
of Lansing. I would like to take a couple of minutes, the
refrigerator light comes on and I do more than two minutes, so I
will try to be brief. Paula I am here to first of all tell you our
prayers and thoughts are with you. I know Paula on several
different levels. First of all, on a business and professional
level I know Paula and I know her as a leader. I won't repeat all
that, I will just say that it is absolutely true and I will put
heavy emphasis on leadership and integrity. I know her on a
coworker basis for a lot of organizations that we both volunteer
for and our paths cross. Paula knows how to keep things going,
keep things moving and how to make things happen and that is
important when you are in the role of a President and leadership
role of any organization. But most importantly to me in the five
years I have been in Lansing with General Motors, I have gotten to
know Paula and her husband as friends and as good as she is at all
the other things mentioned tonight she is much, much better at
being a friend, and I appreciate that. I was coming here tonight
fearful quite honestly that a couple of incidents in the past
would be connected to the incident that we are hoping happens
tonight and, Board, I would urge you, don't let incidents of the
past interfere with the job and the task that you have before you
tonight. They are not connected. Only to the fact that we have to
name a President, but they are not connected. We have the right
person to be President sitting at the lead table tonight. I will
tell you that when I first heard that Abel Sykes was leaving and
retiring, I made one phone call. I called Paula Cunningham and I
said, Paula, whatever you want me to do, whoever you want me to
call, or beat up, if that is what we really need to do, I am
totally supportive that you would at that point in time be the
right person to be President of Lansing Community College. And she
told me at that point in time that was not her interest. That was,
I don't know, a year and a half, maybe two years ago when I made
that phone call. I stand before you tonight, Board, and ladies and
gentlemen, if I believed that then, I know in my heart tonight
that more than ever before, this is the right person to lead this
institution. So, Board, I will say three things to you. I would
like for you to do three things. First of all, give her the job.
She deserves it, she will do a great job at it and she is the
right person for it. The second thing I will say to you, Board, is
give her the support to do the job. She is going -- she has a big
job ahead of her, there is a lot going on in this arena, a lot
going on in this community, she is going to have to draw from you
folks for your leadership, your contacts, and your support.
Support her in doing that job. The last thing I will say to you is
get out of her way and let her do the job, we have you here as a
Board of Trustees, not as a board of operations. I don't know that
that is happening, but if it is, get out of her way, you have the
right person, let her lead. Thank you for your time.
James Butler: My name is
James Butler. I live at 1476 Stonegate in East Lansing.
I am a business unit
executive for IBM and also for the chamber. I would like to let
you know because I know, Paula loves Lansing Community College
with a passion. Paula is committed, she is focused and she is
dedicated. She has outstanding management skills, outstanding
leadership skills, and programmatic type skills. Not only that,
Paula and I have had the opportunity to work on several boards
together. We have worked on the Lansing Regional Chamber of
Commerce, UNCF, several major task forces and not only that, if
you ask Paula at any point in time to help she never hesitates. In
my opinion, Paula has earned the right and what we need to do as
citizens and as the Board is to do the right thing. As far as I am
concerned what we need to do is to make Paula President, but also
remember we are on the verge of greatness. Paula is not a diamond
in the rough. She is a fine jewel; so let her shine as President.
Chairperson and Board
Member Reports
Chairperson Report
November Board Meeting
Location
Chairperson Jeffries
informed the Board of the location change for the November
meeting. The meeting will be held at the GM Powertrain, Machine
Tool Operations plant at 1600 N. Larch St.
Special Meeting, October
30, 2000
Chairperson Jeffries stated
there would be a special Board meeting on October 30, at 5:30 p.m.
The meeting will be an information only session on the Facilities
Master Plan and the Lansing M-TEC. Dr. Bill Mothersell and Dr.
Michael Moore will present the M-TEC report. This will hopefully
begin LCC deliberations as it moves forward to the new year
dealing with the application the College will be submitting and
allow the Board to make a very informed decision.
Presidential Status
Chairperson Jeffries stated
he has heard a couple of issues expressed in conversations he has
had with other Board members and members of the public as it
relates to the presidency. Some of the processes the college is
involved in were mentioned. The Facilities Master Plan and how
does a president vs. an interim president effect the
implementation of that. The Lansing M-TEC, those negotiations are
going on with the College, the State, as well as GM. Chairperson
Jeffries asked a couple of people to come to the Board to address
these issues for informational purposes, so the Board can get some
understanding of how these issues are effected.
Mickey Knight, Knight
Consulting: Members of the Board it is a pleasure to be here. I
served in the legislature for 12 years. Incidentally, Lansing
Community College, once I left and went to lobbying business, was
my first client. So there is a little bias in the direction of
Lansing Community College. One of the things we are involved in,
representing your interest before the legislature, is in the
competitive area of capital outlay. The reason I say competitive,
there is probably no process that is more competitive or perhaps
more political. Having said that let me explain a little more
carefully what I mean. It has a joint committee, eight members of
the Senate, and eight members of the House. The chairman of that
committee shifts each year, goes through a cycle so during a
two-year session it is one year with the Senate, second year with
the House. The criteria and dollar amounts vary from session to
session. The criteria depends largely upon management and budget
of the collective branch, but also the interest of the individual
chairs of both the House and Senate. So it becomes a highly
competitive process. It isn't who is most qualified, but how we
discount certain applicants. As was mentioned, there is a
five-year plan requirement through management budget. One of the
things that it implies is certain continuity or at least a certain
long-term approach before the state is interested in spending
millions of dollars on a facility. It becomes a matter of how we
can discount an application such as the one that might be applied
for by Lansing Community College. Having the year and challenging
year of representing this institution in the legislative process
we had in this past year, I think most of you are really familiar
with what transpired, having a solution to that kind of
instability, I think becomes extremely important and I say that
because it makes my life easier in representing you in that
process. I don't want you to lose out on a very good potential
application because of something that could really be handled in
an easy fashion.
Having said that let's not
give them a reason to discount Lansing Community College. Give
them stability and makes it easier to sell to the legislature. I
am looking out for my own interest, I want it easy and get money
for the college, we have been successful because of the nature of
this board, and the activity, and projects, participation from the
mayor's office, but we need to have that sense at least a
permanence to the extent that we won't be discounted, so your
application won't be just completely thrown to the wayside, it is
a very political process, don't give them a reason to discount
you.
Bill Mothersell: Thank you
very much. Brian gave me a call and asked me my thoughts about the
interim status and it's impact on the M-TEC and I will be very
specific on this. I really have only dealt with the M-TEC issue
with Lansing Community College. We were asked to get myself,
myself and Mike Moore, we are both professors at Michigan State
University. What I would like to do is maybe provide my view of
the interim status, three different levels, one from a general
perspective and perhaps a little more specific.
I think first off if you
think of organizations and the kinds of partnerships that we are
working on with this M-TEC with Lansing Community College there is
some really simple, easy to understand reasons why organizations
look for stability. One is if you have a single contact person you
have the opportunity to have a common perceptive and understanding
of what that institutions views are. Two, that there develops a
common history and a better understanding that when issues and
problems arise they know where the institution will go. And I
think thirdly, at the common level is the shared mind sets, shared
common mind set of the direction an institution is going in this
particular M-TEC and the effort that is with Lansing Community
College. The local employers, General Motors, etc., that it is
important that they develop a strong partnership model as they
move forward. I would also like to talk in a more specific level
of the information I have received as a result of talking to about
50 or 60 people, both local employees as well as within Lansing
Community College the faculty, staff, etc.
When I talk to the
employers a common theme was, which is not surprising, is they
would like to put the issues of concerns, that have been in the
press a lot this last year, is put it behind them. They would like
to move forward and the interim status seems to be a hindrance of
being able to move forward.
Again, I have only known
her for a few short months so it is interesting to hear from
people who have known her for a long time. But what I have heard
from local employers is strong support for Paula, and working with
her over these last few months, she has been there. In working
with LCC and the interviews with faculty and staff you often here
strong support for Paula. It is a common theme that comes through.
I would also like to talk a
little bit from my perspective working with Paula, again, just in
the last few months, since July, June, when I started working with
Paula and what I have noticed in Paula is sort of from a personal
perspective, this isn't from working with the interviews and local
employers and General Motors, but my own view. I have found her
very focused, confident individual who is decisive. I think the
most important part relative to M-TEC is she is collaborative.
That is very important in this effort. So, yes, we have known
other focus people, other decisive people, but to link those with
someone who is collaborative is an important challenge when we
think about this M-TEC, sort of in brief and short as my own
perspective, I found her a pleasure to work with and I think of
the leaders I have known in 21 years in this industry, you don't
find many stronger leaders who are decisive and also collaborative
so I find it refreshing she is able to combine those traits.
Trustee Pelleran stated
that she had spoken with faculty, staff, students, people inside
LCC, people in the city of Lansing, people in East Lansing,
Okemos, Leslie, Grand Ledge and Charlotte. There has been
overwhelming support by the people she has spoken with for Ms.
Cunningham. She felt that appointing Paula Cunningham to the
presidency was the right thing to do. She did hear a few negative
comments and they were of deep concern to her. She received a
letter from someone at the College that stated if the Board
appointed Paula Cunningham they would not do anything to support a
bond issue or work on any committees. Trustee Pelleran asked
people not to take that attitude. She asked for everyone to work
collectively with the president and support her in any way
possible.
Trustee Holden stated she
wholeheartedly supports appointing Paula Cunningham to the
presidency at LCC. Like Trustee Pelleran, she has spoken with a
number of community members. She also stated there had been a
large number of people who had approached her to offer support of
Ms. Cunningham. The other point that Trustee Holden made was that
she made a request to find out how many presidents in Michigan
community colleges had been appointed. Michigan has nearly
one-fourth of their community college presidents appointed from
within. The third point she made was regarding Ms. Cunningham?s
leadership. She has always respected her leadership but never as
much as in the last six months when she took it at a very
difficult time. Ten days after she was appointed to the interim
position, she came to the Board with a list of priorities, and
handled one of the most difficult things the College was facing,
the Livingston County M-TEC. She has handled all decisions in a
most masterful way. She stated Paula Cunningham and her leadership
is exactly what LCC needs, and she would be supporting her
appointment.
Trustee Patterson stated he
chose a little different tactic, although there were many people
who approached him and gave support of Ms. Cunningham. It has been
great to see the support of the community for her. He felt during
the last year there were several people that he has had previous
relationships with and in a couple of those cases the people were
good friends that had strong disagreement with his actions over
the past year. Many of those people attended Board meetings and it
was a very uncomfortable situation at times. He spent the last
month talking to these people. He said that without reservation
they stated they have problems with some of the things at LCC, but
none of them had a problem with Paula Cunningham. Some of the
biggest critics from the past year are now willing to listen and
become reinvolved. He feels this is very important. He also
pointed out the number of Michigan community colleges who have
promoted from within. He stated that the College has been on hold
way too long, and he shares with many of the people in the room, a
much bigger vision of LCC in the community, and that is what he
works for. He would definitely be supporting the appointment of
Paula Cunningham to the presidency of LCC.
Trustee Creamer stated that
in any decision the Board needs to gather information and that has
certainly been done over the past several weeks. Above and beyond,
you need to feel good about the decision. He stated this decision
is one that he feels very, very good about. It is truly the right
thing to do.
Trustee Canady stated that
whenever you have a situation where you can hire from within, you
don't need a search. He further said that unqualifiedly a search
wouldn?t change anything. He has heard comments from others that
it hasn?t been easy. Since Paula Cunningham has been in the
interim position, it has made all the difference in the world to
him. He has great admiration for her knowledge. He has never asked
a question where she had to pick up the phone and ask someone
else. She knows how to get things done. Without any reservation he
said he will support appointing Ms. Cunningham to the presidency.
Trustee Rasmusson stated he
felt Ms. Cunningham has good qualities of leadership and everyone
who has spoken has said it better than he ever could. He has
talked to a number of people who supported the previous president,
and many of them, without exception concluded that she should be
the choice. He stated he sees her as a unifying force.
Chairperson Jeffries
thanked everyone for coming out to address the Board. He stated it
is the Board's due diligence to listen to all of the
constituencies whether internal or external. He said it is
critical to hear from the public and do it in a public way and
that has been done. He agreed with everything that had been said
about Paula Cunningham at the meeting tonight. He believes it and
supports that Ms. Cunningham is the person that everyone has
described.
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee
Patterson and supported by Trustee Canady to appoint Paula
Cunningham to president of Lansing Community College. To enter
into contract negotiations with a term ending June 30, 2002, with
a roll over, exercised on or before the January Board meeting
2002.
Ayes: Canady, Creamer,
Holden, Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
President Cunningham: I am
not usually speechless. But I was first approached and asked to
consider having the interim removed from my name, my title, I said
that there was particularly one thing that had to happen, there
was a contingency or condition before I would consider that. I
would not consider a four to three vote. I would not consider a
five, two vote. But to consider a unanimous vote from this Board
of Trustees gives me the energy I need to move forward and I very
much appreciate that. We will move forward together. I appreciate
what you all have gone through and I particularly appreciate your
courage in terms of what you have done for this institution. I
know this is a decision none of you arrived at carelessly. As I
sat and listened to the various community speakers and read the
letters of commendation I am humbled by your support not only
tonight but ever since I have been at the college, particularly in
the last six months, it is wide spread, I have felt it and it has
driven me and given me the energy I need. I am honored by the
comments from the students, that is why we are here and what it is
all about. It is gratifying to know that hard work, integrity,
experience, candor, and intelligence still pays off. I commit all
of those resources to you as we move forward. I ask you to hold me
accountable, this Board and this community, that you judge me by
my performance. I give all those qualities to you to move this
institution forward. I consider it an honor to represent Lansing
Community College and to serve this community, thank you very
much.
Larry Leatherwood stated
that it would be remiss if the audience did not in addition to
recognizing the new president, not recognize the Board of
Trustees. They should be commended for standing up and unanimously
approving the appointment of the new president.
Chair Jeffries thanked Mr.
Leatherwood and called for a five minute recess.
Board Member Reports
Trustee Canady attended the
RED Team breakfast. He didn?t get a chance to stay for the
entire event, but he did stay long enough to hear about the
proposed commuter rail from Lansing to Detroit. It will be around
an $85 million expense. They are hoping it will be operational by
2005. It will have stops in Lansing, East Lansing, Howell, Ann
Arbor, Dearborn at Greenfiled Village, and Detroit. Ridership will
be about 1,400-1,500 a day and as high as 5,000. This has
significant implications on the economy and educational aspect.
Trustee Creamer reported it
is time for the LCC Lip Sync. At this point they have raised
$235,000 in scholarship dollars. He mentioned that he had tickets
for sale if anyone needed some. He recognized the outstanding job
by Pam Bergeron as interim director of the Foundation.
Trustee Patterson reported
on the facilities sub-committee. There will be a meeting on
October 23, at 12:00 noon. There has been tremendous work done by
the committee. He feels it serves the real needs of the college
and it will be an exciting plan for the Board to consider.
Trustee Patterson also
distributed a hand out of a survey that was handed out by the
Michigan Career Development Department. It has a lot of
statistical information about former students. He thought that one
very interesting and glaring statistic was that 91% of the people
surveyed felt they were getting their money?s worth at a
Michigan community college.
Trustee Patterson reported
that he attended the MCCA Fall Conference. President Cunningham
also attended. He felt it was very beneficial. He feels LCC would
benefit from working with MCCA more closely. One of the issues
discussed was the bond cap in the State of Michigan. LCC will have
to work with this to get the capital outlay appropriation money
for building improvements, etc. There is not a lot of money left
in the bond cap.
Trustee Rasmusson stated he
raised three issues at the September meeting and the
administration is aware staff is handling them. He didn?t have
anything additional to report.
Chair Jeffries asked if the
Board will get additional information on the I-496 closing.
President Cunningham stated
she has a meeting scheduled with a representative from the
Michigan Department of Transportation to look into this issue. The
meeting will take place on October 31.
Chair Jeffries asked if
Trustee Rasmusson would like to hear an informational piece on
this after President Cunningham has her meeting.
Trustee Rasmusson said that
he would be interested to know what the plan is.
President Cunningham said
she will report on this after her meeting with the Department of
Transportation.
President's Report
Information
Lansing M-TEC - There
will be a meeting on October 30. General Motors has not designated
a site, and without a site a lot of panic can occur. We don't
know specifically what training they would like to have inside the
M-TEC. After the College hired the consultants, the deadline was
extended from September 15 to January 2001. The consultants have
been out and about and will provide the Board with a lengthy
report at the meeting on the 30th.
Tuition and Fees - In
the next couple of weeks you will receive a packet regarding our
recommendation for July 2001 concerning LCC tuition and fees and
course fees as well. The College is looking at an increase in
course fees, which has been reviewed by staff, deans, and others
before being brought before the Board. In November we will need a
decision on the course fees. The proposed changes will take effect
beginning 2001-2002.
Lab/Lecture Ratio?
This item is still being worked on in terms of coming to some
unanimous agreement with faculty. There was some discussion
earlier about getting the consultant to do research for us in
terms of what other community colleges have been doing. It has
been completed and that information will be brought forward for
discussion with the Board and MAHE. They will continue to work on
this.
Action
Approval of Minutes,
September 18, 2000 ? Trustee Pelleran stated
there was an error on page 9 with the roll call vote. Rasmusson
was present and not absent.
Human Resources
Resignations
Jean S. Kemper, Learning
Services Executive, BCI,
Charles Parker, Finance
Officer and Adjunct Faculty, Careers Division
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee
Canady and supported by Trustee Pelleran to accept the
President's Report as presented.
Ayes: Canady, Creamer,
Holden, Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
Public Comment
Tom Ferris: Tom Ferris,
speaking on behalf of MAHE, LCC-ESP and Technical Union. It is
gratifying to see the Board action tonight; we have some
permanence that we can go forward with our negotiations. We
currently have negotiations under way with faculty on several
issues with support staff on wage and classification and part-time
clerical union on a full contract so we look forward to having
those negotiations wrapped up soon.
Adjournment
IT WAS MOVED by Trustee
Canady and supported by Trustee Creamer to adjourn.
Ayes: Canady, Creamer,
Holden, Jeffries, Patterson, Pelleran, Rasmusson
Nays: None.
Absent: None.
Motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at
7:45 p.m.
