Area Report for Board of Trustees

Due to the short turnaround time since the December 2023 Board meeting, coupling with the winter break, the January 2024 BOT Area Report from Administrative Services Division will be brief.  May the new year bring peace, prosperity, success, and the fulfillment of goals and dreams to all the Trustees.  Happy New Year 2024!

Core Theme 1: ACCESS, Reduce Barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members

• The construction of our new Main Entrance to Highline College (College Way roundabout) is officially completed. Three brand new “Highline College” signs have now been installed including two at the intersection of Pacific Highway South and College Way.  We look forward to the grand opening of the entire intersection in the near future.
• The Purchasing Department has acquired three (3) 12-passenger vans from the Department of Enterprise Services to primarily support athletics and student programs. The acquisition of these vans significantly reduces/eliminates the challenges of commercial van rentals at the same time reducing costs to the college.

Core Theme 3: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, Create a more inclusive working environment and a more valued , visible relationship with communities we serve

• On December 19, 2023, Public Safety provided a verbal de-escalation workshop to library staff. This course provides employees with the tools to survive stressful, heated verbal encounters with tact, poise and professionalism. They are taught how to defuse potentially volatile verbal encounters and develop skills to deflect and redirect verbal abuse.
• During December, Public Safety conducted building evacuation drills for building 6, 9, 19 and 26 as well as completed evacuation procedures training for all buildings to ensure students and staff know their roles during a building emergency.

Core Theme 4: CULTURE & CAPACITY: Promote a campus culture which fosters equity and inclusivity supporting employee growth and development, and institutional capacity for transformation.

• The FY22 financial statement audit has been completed. An exit conference with the State Auditor’s Office is scheduled for January 19, 2024.
• The Risk Assessment Survey report summary, compiled as part of the financial statement audit, is being submitted to the BOT for review. The entire document, consisting of 21 pages, will be submitted to BOT Chair Exstrom separately.  Overall, our risk levels remain low and acceptable for the following key categories:  external influence, personnel turnover, audit findings, account size, fund expenditures, cash & check handling, specialized inventories, and system process.  Compared to 2022, the results indicate increases in amount for fixed assets and in the number of departments handling/creating sensitive documents.
• Due to a major HVAC system repair/upgrade for B-29, with an estimated cost of approximately $2M, the College will be submitting a budget revision request in February to redirect (existing) funding to the project.

Division Honors and Achievements

The Administrative Services Division Winter Potluck was celebrated during the winter break with over 40 attendees.  This was one of the few occasions during the year where we got to hang out with our evening custodial crew.