Board of Trustees Meeting

Location

Virtual Zoom meeting: 8:00 a.m.

Minutes

Attendees

Board of Trustees: Chair Sili Savusa, Vice Chair Sharmila Swenson, Dan Altmayer, Joe Bowman, Fred Mendoza

Executive Cabinet: Josh Gerstman, Summer Korst, Emily Lardner,Michael Pham as Acting President, Aaron Reader, Danielle Slota, Tim Wrye present.

Bruce Marvin (AAG) present.

Study Session call to order: 8:01 a.m.

Discussion Topics

Sound Transit presentation, 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

• Federal Way Link Extension scheduled to open in 2024
• Construction of grand entry to HC is planned for 2022
• Community survey to launch requesting input on the station
• Construction Mon – Fri, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., 24 hr service for reporting construction issues: 1-888-298-2395
• Station naming decision scheduled for later this year

Comments: request for shorter lease terms in transit oriented development plan to create access for students; confirmed that residents of the mobile home communities were not displaced; communication needed with small businesses along the corridor, specifically face-to-face conversations; request for student engagement at Highline; question around minoritized contractors – DBE goal is 15%  which includes 5% disadvantaged, 20% apprenticeship, and specific goals for small business and schools

S&A budget presentation, Samantha Sebring

Budget updates, VP Michael Pham

• Legislature adopted a state budget – no apparent budget cuts, no mandated furloughs; funds earmarked for Guided Pathways and high demand.
• College budget continues to face challenges due to declining enrollment.
• Student Success Center next in line for funding under capital projects – $3.1M for design, may be included in the current supplemental budget. Typical timeline is one biennium for design, and the following biennium for construction.
• Typically in May, the 3rd quarter financial report is provided, due to ctcLink conversion it is not yet complete. Focused on producing a full year-end report in its place.

Distribution of board self-evaluation & president’s evaluation, Danielle Slota

• Board practice review – Sharmila, Joe, Danielle propose updates (May/June – final approval in July)
• President’s evaluation – due to Sili in June
• Self-evaluations – due in June, collated and presented by Sharmila in July

Unscheduled business

• Request for Special Board Meeting in Executive Session in the coming week(s) pertaining to public employee

Meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m.

Board of Trustees Meeting

Location

Virtual Zoom meeting: 10 a.m.

General Session Minutes

Roll Call

Board of Trustees: Chair Sili Savusa, Vice Chair Sharmila Swenson, Dan Altmayer, Fred Mendoza, Joe Bowman present

Executive Cabinet: Danielle Slota, Josh Gerstman, Aaron Reader, Emily Lardner, Michael Pham as Acting President, Summer Korst, Tim Wrye present

Bruce Marvin (AAG) present

General Session called to order at 10:02 a.m.

Approval of minutes

Approve minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of Apr. 08, 2021

• Trustee Swenson moved to approve the minutes from Apr. 08, 2021.  Trustee Bowman seconded the motion.  Potion passed unanimously.

Opportunity for public comment

• No comment

Standing reports

• Associated Students of Highline College: Jarmaine Santos
  • Budget proposal to trustees during study session
  • Student body is currently very active in light of the online environment
  • Legislative breakfast event canceled due to scheduling challenges with the legislators despite the efforts of students
  • Recently attended an event with our international students and heard about increased anxiety around how the pandemic is affecting their home countries.  Challenges forming community.  Expressed they do not feel fully supported financially.
  • Applications going out for ASHC elections, the CLS and CCIE are hiring as well 
  • Acknowledged the hate, racism, and bias being experienced by the AAPI and BIPOC communities.  Noted the extreme impact of microaggressions being experienced by our students and asked that the community be vigilant against these.  Ask that we:
    • Stop the microaggressions / micro attacks by interjecting and acknowledging
    • Validate individuals who have experienced microaggressions
    • Recognize bias
    • Recognize supremacy, collinization, and imperialization in our system
• Washington Public Employees Association: Tessa Bowen
  • All WPEA budgets fully funded by the legislature
  • Noted that Juneteenth is moving forward as a recognized state holiday
  • Specific to HC – updates on the IT reclassification: some position approvals have moved forward with four outstanding and out for re-appeal
  • Working on contract alignment with HR regarding anniversaries and step increase dates, will be proposing an MOA for standard operating procedures
  • WPEA forming a ctcLink committee to support classified staff 
  • WPEA highly encouraging members across the state to get their vaccinations
• Highline College Education Association: James Peyton
  • Faculty focused on grading, advision, committees, Guided Pathways, summer and fall planning, EDI, etc.
  • Recognized the work of our community in adverse conditions
  • Acknowledged the personal and professional stress the community is under
  • Faculty contract expires in September 2021, first negotiations meeting scheduled for later this week
• Faculty Senate: Sam Alkhalili
  • Currently seeking nominations for Chair, Vice Chair, and one member at large
  • MOA for online learning now in place  between HCEA, Faculty Senate, and Highline College
  • Constitution currently under revision
• Highline College Foundation: Sheri Keller
  • Recognized Dr. Mosby for his leadership and provided well wishes on behalf of the foundation
  • Expressed appreciation for the community in their support of the virtual gala
  • New focus on the 60th anniversary planning

Action items

No action items

Area reports

Administrative Services: VP Michael Pham

• Summarized comments from study session (see above)
• Preliminary budget proposal to be reported to the trustees in June
• Center for Student Success may be unexpectedly funded in the next biennium

Academic Affairs: VP Emily Lardner

• Expressed well wishes for Dr. Mosby’s recovery
• Acknowledged the extraordinary work and effort within academic affairs to close equity gaps – more details provided in written report

Student Services: VP Aaron Reader

• Grant application updates
• SEAG (Student Emergency Assistance Grant), two years grant at $50k per year, leverage for GED and ESOL students
  • Flexibility on eligibility
  • Grant principal of trusting students – excited about this opportunity to trust the student’s definition of need in place of providing roadblocks to prevent access
• Supporting students experiencing homelessness (pilot grant)
  • Looking forward to serving students in ways we haven’t before

• Commencement
  • June 17th 
    • 700+ graduation applications received
    • Continue to receive inquiries around the possibility of crossing the stage event, potentially 400+ students to participate
    • Thank you to Core Committee team: Feney Perez, Thomas Bui, Iesha Valencia, and Kim Southerland
• Acknowledged our community that is observing Ramada and Mariela Barriga for her efforts in preparing food pickups for that community next week

Institutional Advancement: VP Josh Gerstman

• Expressed gratitude to Sheri Keller, Cody Harrington , and Rachel Collins for their additional efforts in the gala planning committee
• YELL conference kicked off on May 05, 2021
• Acknowledged the terrific grant work happening in student services and academic affair
• Noted focused engagement on graduating high school seniors
• Shared healing thoughts for Dr. Mosby and his family

President’s remarks, Acting President Michael Pham

• Provided update on Dr. Mosby’s current condition
• Executive Cabinet will continue to carry out their duties in Dr. Mosby’s absence 
• Busy planning for our return to campus
  • 300+ staff faculty attended our first session 
  • Recognized the Public Health and Hybrid Operations Leadership Council
  • Soft opening on August 2nd leading up to fall quarter
  • Goal is 25% capacity utilization in fall quarter (25% of courses with an on-campus component and the student services needed to support those students)

Unscheduled business

No unscheduled business

General Session was adjourned at 10:58 a.m.

Minutes Signed and Approved

The meeting minutes from May 06, 2021, were approved and signed into record by Chair Sili Savusa and Acting President Michael Pham on June 10, 2021.

Mission Statement: As a public institution of higher education serving a diverse community in a multicultural world and global economy, Highline College promotes student engagement, learning, and achievement, integrates diversity and globalism throughout the college, sustains relationships within its communities, and practices sustainability in human resources, operations, and teaching and learning.