Area Report for Board of Trustees

As reported previously, we have begun our budget planning process for FY24. Executive Cabinet has established three primary budget planning objectives: (1) revenue generation of ~$1.2M by increasing FTEs, (2) budget reductions of ~$1M, and (3) identifying local fund balance transfers of up to $1.5M, to manage our fiscal challenges.

Policy Development Council has been very busy this year with evaluating and adopting new policies. Among the new policies forwarded and approved by Dr. Mosby include “Hazing Prevention”, “Respectful Workplace Environment”, and “Social Media”. The Council comprises of faculty, staff, and student members as listed below:

Policy Development Council

• Michael V. Pham. Chair
• Mahad Dahir, ASHC
• James Peyton, HCEA
• Gayatri Sirohi, Faculty Senate
• Vacant, WPEA
• Justin Dampeer, Academic Affairs
• Jesse Knappenberger, Student Services
• Kendra Ferrer, Administrative Services
• Shakira Ericksen, Institutional Advancement
• Gretchen Erhart, President’s Office

I had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Community Colleges for International Development (CCDI) conference last month. According to the organizers, it was one of their better-attended conferences with some 250 attendees. The conference primarily focused on two major themes of colleges developing more virtual classes with international partners and international student recruitment. The U.S. State Department interestingly also had significant presence with resource tables and workshops, to provide information about foreign service career opportunities for community college students.

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

Facilities: The construction of our new College Way entrance (from the future Kent-Des Moines light rail station) is anticipated to begin on May 1, 2023.  Sound Transit contractors plan to begin utility works in the East Parking Lot in the initial phase leading up to full road construction phase during the summer of 2023.

Global Programs: We are in the process of preparing for our next Study Abroad trip (September 2023). In collaboration with North Seattle College, Wenatchee Valley College, and Tacoma Community College, we have received a total of 34 student applications – with a maximum of 16 to be selected. Selected students will participate in various virtual and in-person workshops during spring and summer quarter, with the final trip to Vietnam taking place between September 1^st and September 9, 2023. The entire program, including the trip, will cost each student only $500, with the rest of the funding raised through various corporate donations as well as from the University of Washington Global Business Center.

Public Safety: Public Safety was invited to ESOL classrooms for safety briefings. With ESOL classes accounted for over 8% of all fall classes, ESOL students represent a significant number at Highline College campus. It is thus a high priority for Public Safety to continue meeting with ESOL staff and students to provide safety education around crime prevention and reporting.

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

Auxiliary: The Bookstore is preparing for commencement related activities such as Grad Fair. The team is excited to help celebrate student success!

Budgets and Grants: Budgets and Grants provided new P-Card training with the introduction of a new easier-to-use reconciliation process for both users and administrators.

Facilities: The “Campus Master Plan 2030” draft was introduced to the college community in early March via email to the whole campus. We also hosted a virtual Zoom presentation on March 7^th to seek comments and feedback from the college community.  The “Campus Master Plan 2030” is being presented to the Board on March 16^th.

Global Programs: Our Global Programs team (Dr. Jennifer Jones, Sam Kaplan, and I) facilitated a virtual presentation on “A History of Vietnam: From War to Peace to Prosperity” to a group of 11 faculty, in preparation for their Experiential Learning Trip to Vietnam during Spring Break 2023.

Public Safety: Des Moines Police Department Chief of Police, Ken Thomas, has announced his retirement effective June 1, 2023. Public Safety has valued the partnership with Chief Thomas and the Des Moines Police Department. While we have not been informed of his replacement, we will continue to work on safety projects and initiatives with the Assistant Chief. We look forward to building a strong partnership with the new leadership at the police department once they are onboarded.

Division Honors and Achievements

Finance: It is with great pleasure to announce the appointment of Stefan Feller as our new Director of Finance. Stefan comes to Highline College with over 20 years of finance experience in the private industry. He is an avid mountain climber with his next goal set for Mont Blanc in Europe later this summer.

Public Safety: David Menke attended the WAVR-21Threat Assessment Training on February 22^nd and 23^rd. This evidence-based methodology provides threat assessment management teams a scientifically developed instrument, which assesses the risk of violence in the workplace. WAVR-21 provides useful tools that facilitate a structured professional judgment approach and help guide through a range of critical factors. WAVR-21 is considered the standard in the security industry and is endorsed the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals.   

Report submitted by Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Michael V. Pham