Call
to Order
The meeting was called to order at
5:02 p.m.
Roll
Call
Present:Heywood,
Holden, Jeffries, Mason, Rasmusson
Absent:Canady, Pelleran
Trustee Pelleran arrived at
5:09 p.m.
Limited
Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items
There were no comments from the public.
Strategic
Plan Focus Group
President Cunningham thanked the Trustees for
getting together to revisit several major questions that will impact
how business is done at
Lansing
Community College
.She introduced Mr.
Lucian Leone
who is the Director of Marketing at the College and who will be
conducting the focus group.President
Cunningham stated that focus groups have been conducted with both
internal and external stakeholders.
She said that the results of the focus groups will be shared at
the special Board meeting on
May 16, 2003
.
Mr. Leone informed the Board that when the
strategic planning process began three years ago he facilitated three
focus groups similar to what the Board will be going through tonight.
At that point they met with three different groups:
students, business leaders, and community members.
These groups were selected to give a different perspective to
questions that were asked.Mr.
Leone stated that in March 2003 the focus groups were repeated with
the same three groups and the same questions were asked.
He said that given this is a focus group, it is not
quantitative data rather it is qualitative data.
Mr. Leone explained the format of the focus
group.The Trustees will
be given six questions. He
will pass out the question, explain it briefly, and ask the Trustees
to answer the question without any discussion, which will take
approximately 10 minutes. The
Trustees will then have the opportunity to openly discuss why they
answered the question the way that they did. The same question will be
passed out a second time and after hearing some discussion about it,
this may then change the answer that was given the first time.
Mr. Leone informed the Board that there are no right or wrong
answers and consensus is not the desired outcome.
He said that it is fine to disagree because the purpose is to
gather their input and it will then be integrated into the strategic
planning process.
Mr. Leone distributed the first question:
Please budget $3.00
across the following four areas:
- Developmental
education
- General
education
- Career
& Workforce Development
- Personal
Enrichment
The Board took time to answer question number
one.
Trustee Rasmusson responded that he allotted most
of the money in career and workforce development.
He said that if we don't have development in the community,
we won?t have a community.If
you travel to other parts of the country you?ll see that they have
much more new capital and on a larger scale than we do.
We have to do all that we can to promote development.
He said that he placed the least money in developmental
education.
Trustee Holden agreed with Trustee Rasmusson.
She placed most of the money in workforce development.
Trustee Holden felt that it is so important to help
development.It is
important for the economic growth of our community.
In addition, it is more expensive to do workforce development.
Trustee Holden said that she placed the least amount in
personal enrichment.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that he placed equal
amounts in general education and career and workforce development.
He allotted 20% of the three dollars to developmental
education.Chairperson
Jeffries said that he doesn?t see the community changing in terms of
what we're getting and what the needs are.
He thinks that more resources will have to be allocated to
developmental education.The
lowest category he had was personal enrichment.
Trustee Mason placed most of the money in workforce development
because she thought about the M-TEC.
She placed some in general education and then divided the
remainder into development education and personal enrichment.
Trustee Pelleran responded that she placed 75
cents in each category.
Trustee Heywood stated that he ranked general education and workforce
development the same.He
also rated developmental education and personal enrichment the same
because he realizes that in the future we're going to be putting a
lot more into developmental education than we want to be.
He said that he was being more realistic about it than dreaming
?pie in the sky? because if he did dream ?pie in the sky?,
developmental education wouldn?t exist.
Mr. Leone asked the Board if they had any
comments regarding other Trustees? responses.
Trustee Rasmusson said that we have to remember
that personal enrichment is important politically.
For example, a lot of people take courses, come to plays, or
study astronomy and it leaves them with a good feeling toward the
College.It fulfills a
need in their life and enriches the community.
Mr. Leone distributed question number one again and said they could
change their answers or keep the same ones.
Mr. Leone distributed question number two: Please
indicate the kind of emphasis LCC should place on the following areas
(strong, some, little, or no emphasis):
?
Communities that
pay taxes to support LCC - the ?tax base? (15 school districts)
?
The ?tax base?
plus other parts of Ingham, Eaton,
Clinton
,
Ionia
, Shiawasee,
Livingston
counties that are not in
another community College's tax base
?
The entire
mid-Michigan area, including the traditional territories of other
community colleges
?
All of
Michigan
?
The Midwest,
including Michigan
?
The
United States
?
The world
The Board took time to answer question number
two.
Trustee Holden responded that she placed strong
emphasis with the tax base.She
placed some emphasis on the second category, little emphasis with the
mid-Michigan area, little emphasis with all of
Michigan
, and she created a new category ?very little? and selected it for
the last three categories.Trustee
Holden said that through curriculum we should place emphasis in the
last three categories, but not in terms of the College's priorities.
Mr. Leone stated related to curriculum we should
bring in a world perspective, but we're really talking about how we
focus our priorities in terms of recruiting and building our
foundation.
Chairperson Jeffries responded that he placed
strong emphasis in the first category, some emphasis in the second,
little emphasis in the third category, and he also created a new
category called ?very little? and placed it in the remaining
categories.
Trustee Mason responded that she placed strong
emphasis in the first category, some emphasis in the second category,
little emphasis in the third category, and the remaining categories
received very little emphasis.
Trustee Pelleran responded that she placed strong
emphasis in the first and second categories, and she placed very
little emphasis in the remaining categories.
Trustee Heywood responded that he placed strong
emphasis in the first and second categories, and the remaining
categories received some emphasis.
He said that it is important that we realize we cannot rely on
geography anymore.What we
define as geography right now is becoming more and more obsolete with
the internet.we're
getting to a point where we are able to communicate by satellites and
where a class can be taught via satellite to somebody in
Iraq.
Trustee Rasmusson responded that he placed some
emphasis on the third and fourth categories for the same reason that
great research universities seek foreign students to improve the
quality of their student body for the benefit of some of the great
minds of the world.
Mr. Leone distributed the second question again
giving the Board an opportunity to change their response.
Trustee Holden asked Trustees Pelleran and
Heywood to elaborate on why they placed strong emphasis in the second
category.
Trustee Pelleran responded that category is what
she considers community college underserved areas.
Therefore, since we do have out-of-district tuition it's a
way for them to get an education and be part of the area and also pay
for it with their out-of-district tuition.
These areas add to the base of the workforce and service in the
area.
Trustee Heywood agreed with Trustee Pelleran?s
statements.He said that
we draw a lot of students from Charlotte and
St. Johns
areas, and that type of student base enriches the way we provide and
deliver educational services.The
more diverse you have your student body the more interaction you have
with people who are different.The
more diverse the study body the more likely it is that you are going
to get the germination and cross pollination of ideas and concepts in
education.This in turn
allows us to teach each other and it supports our tax base in the long
run.
Trustee Pelleran stated that she is not averse to
annexing them into our district.
Trustee Mason said that she received several
calls from high school students from the
Saginaw
area that were interested in attending
Lansing
Community College
.She said that these
students are thinking about attending Michigan State and instead of
going to Delta Community College, they are considering Lansing
Community College.
Trustee Pelleran stated that when she was in
college in the
Upper Peninsula
a lot of individuals from the business community would attend
Lansing
Community College
to take corporate finance because the program here was far superior to
the one at
Lake Superior
State
University.
Mr. Leone distributed the third question: Please
budget $2.00 across the following areas:
?
Those students
that are below average academically
?
Those students are
average academically
?
Those students
that are above average academically
The Board took time to answer question number
three.
Chairperson Jeffries responded that he allocated
the $2.00 equally among the three categories. However, he felt that it
is unrealistic. He thinks that the first category would receive
additional support than the other two.
Chairperson Jeffries said that they should all be the same in a
perfect world.
Trustee Mason responded that the first category
needs more money than the rest and the other two categories should
receive equal amounts.
Trustee Pelleran responded that until Lansing
Public schools are able to bring us students that are at par with
college level math and reading, then we have to help those students
out.She gave 75 cents to
the first category, 75 cents to the second category, and 50 cents to
the third category.
Trustee Heywood responded that he allocated 20%
in the first category, 40% in the second category, and 40% in the
third category.The reason
he gave the second and third categories equal amounts is because it
will take more resources to create a challenging environment for the
above average student.
Trustee Pelleran stated that the above average
students need to look at ways that they can strengthen their
opportunities with the gifts that they?ve been given.
Trustee Rasmusson responded that he disagrees
with those that would give an equal share or a larger share to the
below average because you hit a point of diminishing marginal return
very quickly.If you just
have a few people who went through the public school system and they
really don't have cutting edge skills, you can do a lot with them
and they?ll go on and do anything.
With the vast majority of those, if they?ve gone through a
poor education system or they're retarded, great resources will
produce very small results.He
said that in his teaching experiences he has witnessed people who came
from very bad school systems, if they didn?t really learn to think
well and agile when they were young, they just never are top notched
minds.Trustee Rasmusson
stated that he placed most of the money in the second category, less
in the third, and less in the first category.
Chairperson Jeffries asked if it costs more to
provide an education to the above average academic students than the
average academic students.
President Cunningham responded that it is not
just a matter of additional cost, but additional resources and
opportunities.She said
that it requires creative initiatives to figure out how to keep them
motivated.President
Cunningham also stated that many of the academically enriched students
are financially challenged so that is why we are here.
Mr. Leone distributed question number three
again.A few Board members
changed their answers.
The Board was asked the fourth question:
Please budget $2.00
across the following areas:
?
Those in the lower
income bracket
?
Those in the
middle income bracket
?
Those in the upper
income bracket
The Board took time to answer question number
four.
Trustee Mason responded that she allocated more
money in the first category compared to the other two.
She said we are going to need more help in the first category.
Trustee Pelleran responded that she allotted more
to the first category and less in the other two categories.
Trustee Heywood responded that he allotted 50% to
the first category, 40% to the second, and 10% to the third category.
Trustee Rasmusson stated that he placed equal
resources in the second and third category and placed more resources
in the first category.
Trustee Holden responded that she placed equal
amounts in the first two categories and placed a lower amount in the
third category.
Chairperson Jeffries responded that he placed 40%
in the first and second categories and placed 20% in the third
category.
Mr. Leone distributed question number four again.
The Board did not change their answers.
The Board was asked the fifth question: Please budget $2.00 across the following areas:
?
Young adults (ages
16-29
?
Middle-aged adults
(ages 30-49
?
Older adults (ages
50 and over)
The Board took time to answer question number
five.
Trustee Pelleran stated that knowing that the
average age of our student is 28 years; she placed more resources in
the first and second categories and placed fewer resources in the
third category.
Trustee Heywood responded that 63% of our student
body is under the age of 26, but there is a significant number of
people who are returning for job training skills, which costs more.
He stated that he placed 35% in the first category, 45% in the
second category, and 20% in the third category.
Trustee Rasmusson responded that he placed 20% in
the third group because he assumed that if they are returning to
school they are highly motivated to do so and will require the least
resources.He divided the
remaining resources between the first and second categories.
Trustee Holden stated that she placed $1 in the
first category because they are the population of the transfer
programs, but also for our courses.
She placed 70 cents in the second category and 30 cents in the
third category.
Chairperson Jeffries responded that he placed 60%
in the first category, 30% in the second category, and 10% in the
third category.
Trustee Mason responded that she allotted $1 in
the first category, 80 cents in the second category, and 20 cents in
the third category.
Mr. Leone distributed question number five again.
The Board did not change their answers.
The Board was asked the sixth question:
Which institutions should
LCC compete with? (Yes if we can be
better/faster/cheaper/competitively or conveniently or No)
?
Municipal Adult Ed
programs
?
School
district-based Adult Ed programs
?
MSU Extension
Services
?
Other community
colleges
?
Public 4-year
universities in
Michigan
?
Private 4-year
universities in
Michigan
?
Internet-based
colleges and universities
?
Private training
providers
The Board took time to answer question number six.
Trustee Heywood responded that he selected ?yes? for all of the
categories.However, if
we're looking at it within the confines our own current budget, that
changes the answer significantly.
Trustee Rasmusson responded that he disagreed
with Trustee Heywood.He
thinks the College is quite well managed, but he thinks we don't
have the management capability and we shouldn?t put the resources
into management to compete with adult education and other
universities.Trustee
Rasmusson said that our niche is competing with other community
colleges and with private training programs.
Trustee Holden selected ?no? for municipal
adult education programs because those are usually very community
based.She selected
?no? in the category for school district-based adult education and
MSU extension services.She
marked ?yes? in the other categories.
Trustee Holden said that there is a great deal of collaboration
that could occur in these categories.
Chairperson Jeffries marked ?no? for
municipal adult education and school district-based adult education
programs.He marked
?yes? in the remaining categories.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that in certain areas the College
can compete and do very well.Many
MSU students take courses at the College due to low tuition costs and
class offerings.He said
that we certainly can compete in some of the listed categories.
Trustee Mason marked ?no? in the first two
categories and in the sixth category.
In the other categories she selected ?yes?.
She said that the private four year universities probably
receive more resources than we do.
Trustee Pelleran responded that she selected
?yes? for every category.
Mr. Leone asked if there were any comments on how
other Trustees responded.
Trustee Heywood said that many of the adult
education programs in the
Lansing
area are run through community programming such as Parks and
Recreation. When he thinks
of adult education programs, he thinks of returned high school, GED-type
training.He said that if
the College is already doing so much work with folks without the
necessary skills to compete at a college level, then why not step in
and start dealing with the high school level.
Chairperson Jeffries stated that when we initially began the strategic
plan it was discussed if the College could be everything for everyone,
and it was clearly decided we could not do that due to limited
resources.It is not that
the College could not be everything for everyone, but realistically
with the limited resources we have to focus on providing the services
that meet community needs.That
has really served the College well to not be a jack of all trades and
a master of none.The
College has identified well what are the community?s needs and have
met those needs.He said
that has been made evident due to the increase in credit hours and how
the College compares with other community colleges throughout the
state.Chairperson
Jeffries said that it is important to keep that in mind as the College
moves forward with the strategic plan.
Trustee Holden agreed with Chairperson Jeffries.
She said that the College's areas of excellence serve the
College well.If the
College competes with the areas of excellence, it will do well.
Mr. Leone said that it may be challenging to take
these very complex issues and try to distill them down to very simple
allocations; however, the Board's responses feeds directly into the
strategic planning process. He said that for someone who works in
Marketing and Admissions the strategic plan drives how he thinks about
his work.These decisions
have a front line impact on those who are trying to serve the College
and the community as best they can.
Mr. Leone reminded the Board that today?s activities would be
incorporated into the process.
President Cunningham asked Mr. Leone to share
with the Board about next steps.
Mr. Leone responded that the results from the
focus groups will be compiled.The
Board will have the opportunity to review the results at the next
strategic plan renewal session on
May 16, 2003
.
Trustee Holden asked what they can expect on May
16.
President Cunningham responded that the Board
will be reviewing the strategic challenges related to the strategic
plan.There will be a
several new challenges they will also be reviewing.
She asked Mr. Ray Turner to further address Trustee Holden?s
question.
Mr. Turner responded that the core of the May 16
meeting will be review and renewal of the plan.
At the May 16 meeting there will be more time to expand, review
more information, and discuss it.
Limited
Public Comment
There were no comments from the public.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at
6:09 p.m.
