Board of Trustees Meeting

Location and Time

Highline College
District 9
2400 South 240th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198

Study Session (Building 25, Room 411): 8 a.m.
General Session (Building 25, Boardroom):10 a.m.

Attendees

Board of Trustees: Chair Bob Roegner, Vice Chair Fred Mendoza, Dan Altmayer, Debrena Jackson Gandy and Sili Savusa present.

Executive Staff: Toni Castro, Dr. John Mosby, Michael Pham, Dr. Jeff Wagnitz and Sue Williamson present.

Rick Brady (Attorney General Representative) present.

Minutes

Study Session call to order: 8 a.m.

An Executive Session convened at 8:15 a.m. for discussion on the performance of a public employee. Study Session resumed at 8:25 a.m. Other topics discussed within the Study Session included budget and legislative issues, staffing and facilities update.

General Session call to order: 10:14 a.m.

Chair Roegner noted that all trustees were present. He then extended his thanks to Trustee Jackson Gandy for leading us through the past year as board chair and he welcomed President John Mosby.

Approval of minutes

A motion was made by Trustee Jackson Gandy and seconded by Trustee Savusa to approve the regularly scheduled meeting minutes of June 14, 2018, subject to corrections of typos. The minutes were approved with noted edits.

Opportunity for public comment

There were no individuals who wished to offer public comments for this meeting.

Correspondence

President Mosby passed around correspondence he had received from various individuals including Sr. Assistant Attorney General David Stolier, Director of the Yangzou Foreign Affairs Office Zhu Yong, and Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal, congratulating him on his appointment.

Standing reports

Associated Students of Highline College: No representation
A report from the Associated Students will be offered at the first fall meeting.

Washington Public Employees Association: No representation
No report.

Highline College Education Association: Sherri Chun reported for Dr. James Peyton

• Ms. Chun informed the board that she has been full-time faculty at Highline since 2005 and represents the Business Technology Department. She is chair of the Business Division and treasurer for the HCEA. Ms. Chun extended her thanks to the Board and welcomed President Mosby, stating that she looks forward to working with him.
• Ms. Chun shared a colleague’s story of receiving an email from a student of 16 years past. The student noted that what they learned all those years ago was still useful today in the entrepreneurial endeavors. She noted, “The difference we make does count” even years later.
• She went on to thank the Board of Trustees for their support of the 2018–2021 HCEA contract negotiations and said the feedback on the contract has been positive. While there are still issues in compensation, she noted, the new contract strengthens the ability to attract and retain quality faculty.

Faculty Senate: No representation
The Faculty Senate will report at the first fall meeting.

Highline College Foundation: Asha Bhaga
Ms. Bhaga reported for the Foundation, noting that the Foundation had:

• Successfully closed the out the fiscal year.
• Held a successful fundraising breakfast, Gala, and Annual Campaign.
• Sponsored a new Celebration of Learning event, in collaboration with our Education Department programs as a way to engage our donors with students. The donors got to hear student stories and meet some of the department’s scholarship recipients. Thanks to Dr. Frank Kline and Ms. Amy Hedlund for their collaboration on this event.
• In partnership with the TRiO program, honored BECU for its clothing donation for students who were graduating. Ms. Bhaga thanked Mr. Ay Saechao for that opportunity.
• Noted transitions are happening at the Foundation. Dr. Lisa Skari has accepted the appointment of President at Mt. Hood Community College, Foundation Director Mike Slater has retired, and Ms. Anna Maria Popp, an attorney in Seattle and longtime board member, has accepted the chair position.
• Finally, Ms. Bhaga thanked the campus community and the trustees for funding the Dr. Lisa Skari Scholarship. Funds continue to come in and so far $1,500.00 has been raised.

Action items

• • Action item a. Resolution 153-2018 (Pertaining to the College Way Connection Project)

Trustee Mendoza moved that Resolution 153-2018, pertaining to an inter-local agreement between Highline College and the City of Des Moines regarding the creation and development of College Way and the development around the Sound Transit Light Link Rail, be adopted. Trustee Altmayer seconded. The resolution was adopted.

• • Action item b. Amendment to President’s contract

Trustee Mendoza moved to approve a minor adjustment to the President’s contract. Trustee Savusa seconded. The motion was passed.

Board report

VP Wagnitz introduced the board report, College and Community Sustainability: Food for Thought, noting that food security for community college students is a growing problem across the country. VP Wagnitz also noted that Highline’s Urban Agriculture Program and our Community Pantry, which collaborate to address hunger, were both started with the use of grants.

Presenting the report were Mr. Bobby Butler, Program Manager for the Urban Ag Program, Mr. Loyal Allen Jr., Director of Workforce Education Services, Ms. Mariela Barriga, Student Success Manager, and Ms. Bria Nolan, AmeriCorps Representative.

Mr. Butler reported that the program was started by faculty and administration who saw a need in the community for a program of this type. Many know that South King County is considered a food desert, where fresh food is difficult to come by. He noted that one-third of greenhouses gases are from agriculture, including all of the ocean dead zones. In spite of these problems, agriculture can be a force for good and Highline College’s program teaches how it can be a viable profession, where a person can make up to $100,000 per year on less than two acres of land.

Focuses of the first KCD grant:

• Create partnerships with community organizations
• Increase student recruitment
• Develop curriculum
• Expand growing areas on campus
• Conduct outreach to local schools and underserved populations

The program hosted an Urban Ag Food Summit. Enrollment doubled by the second year.

Some of the names of community partners were shared.

Curriculum development included three practicum courses along with coursework in food justice, food as medicine, indoor growing, farm business, administration, permaculture and edible landscape design, and backyard science.

The program’s partnerships include the Immigrant Refugee Coalition, Truman High School, Decatur High School FFA, Tahoma High School FFA, Enumclaw High School FFA, and Puget Sound Skills Center.

A second King County Conservation District grant to the program has focused on:

• Identification and acquisition of farmland near the college campus
• Development of acquired land
• Purchase of farm tools and implements
• Conduct community outreach
• Provide farmland for students and community partners
• Integrate existing curriculum with new farmland
• Develop a pilot model that can be replicated by other cities/schools

Summarizing, Mr. Butler noted some of the program’s results so far:

• Over 40 community partners
• Awarded 19 scholarships
• Certificate has grown from 8 courses to 14
• Articulation agreements with WSU, UW-T, and Evergreen in progress
• Class enrollment has doubled and program enrollment has tripled
• Constructed 1 aquaponics system, 1 hydroponic system, 80 ft. of swales with fruit trees, 7 containers have been planted
• Our outreach has impacted the lives of hundreds of student and community members

Trustee Mendoza commented that he was amazed and proud of the program’s progress and what Mr. Butler and his colleagues have accomplished in the three years.

Mr. Loyal Allen Jr. welcomed President Mosby and expressed his eagerness in working with him. Mr. Allen noted that Highline’s WSSN (Working Student Success Network) grant was awarded in part because Highline is an Achieving the Dream School. Two years ago at the Achieving the Dream Conference, Mr. Allen and others saw other schools establishing food pantries on their campuses. He reported that he and his colleagues immediately recognized the need for a pantry at Highline. Mr. Allen noted that it was a collaborative effort on the part of Mr. Bobby Butler, Mr. Dave Weber, and many others as well as his own department to bring the pantry into being. Mr. Allen introduced Ms. Mariela Barriga for the next part of the report which focused on Community Pantry Sustainability.

Ms. Barriga described the evolution of how Highline’s Pantry came into being through much collaboration over the course of a year, including the use of student surveys from community colleges and on Highline’s campus. She shared the statistics from these surveys, providing insight into student food security needs.

The community pantry has more than grab-and-go meals provided by Des Moines Food Pantry.

Ms. Barriga described Community Pantry sustainability.

Mr. Allen introduced an AmeriCorps representative, Ms. Bria Nolan, who reported on activities such as financial aid, financial literacy, and food pantry access. She reported that food insecurity is becoming well known around colleges and universities. When students see faculty using the pantries, it reduces the stigma around a food pantry.

Trustee Savusa commented to everyone that she appreciated the presentation and really wanted to underscore that the college had successfully replaced “food bank” with a “pantry” that offers more than food. She said we don’t perpetuate racism at Highline and posed a question to VP Wagnitz and President Mosby how we might get to place where we address the systemic issues underlying food insecurity. She added that the young people, with their knowledge and power, are really going to have to guide us in undoing the deficits we created in our society.

Area reports

Administrative Services: VP Michael Pham

• VP Pham welcomed President Mosby and stated that he looks forward to working with him effectively and efficiently. He also stated he had nothing to add to his written report.

Academic Affairs: VP Jeff Wagnitz

• VP Wagnitz thanked his colleagues for the board report and he thanked the Board for their thoughtful comments. He thanked them for their passion, wisdom, and for serving the community.
• VP Wagnitz reported that Art and Design students and faculty went to Franklin Elementary for a day where they demonstrated virtual reality with the children.
• Administration of Justice students received a nice mention from the city of Des Moines for their work on projects around the city.

Student Services: VP Toni Castro

• VP Castro welcomed President John Mosby and also acknowledged Inspiring and Emerging Leaders as noted in her written report.
• Ms. Jennifer Scanlon has been accepted as Highline’s representative to the 2018–2019 cohort of the Washington Executive Leadership Academy (WELA). This year-long program is designed to prepare leaders in community and technical colleges for future executive level positions. Ms. Scanlon will be mentored by two successful leaders in the college system, as well as participate in online and in-person intensives. Ms. Scanlon will assume additional responsibilities at Highline as Associate Dean for Advising and Student Success effective July 1.
• On July 7, Mr. Ay Saechao, Associate Dean for Student Development, Retention and Conduct, will serve as commencement speaker for the 2018 Graduation Celebration of the Iu-Mienh Association of Oregon. The event celebrates Mienh graduates who recently earned secondary, post-secondary, graduate or professional degrees from the state of Oregon.
• Multicultural Affairs Director Doris Martinez and Faculty Counselor Nicole Hoyes-Wilson were invited to present a workshop at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) in New Orleans, May 29-June 2. Their workshop, titled “Sister Circle for Healing and Remembrance,” is one of Highline’s Intercultural Center signature programs.
• VP Castro went on to thank all who participate in partner programs for supporting student engagement and education completion.

Institutional Advancement: Tony Johnson reported for VP Lisa Skari

• Mr. Johnson stated he didn’t have a verbal report, but was happy to answer any questions. He welcomed President Mosby.

President’s remarks

President John Mosby stated it was an honor and privilege to be at Highline and to serve as president. He congratulated the board reporters and for setting the bar high moving forward. President Mosby said he looks forward to having conversations with the campus and the community about the college and what can his office do to support that community and how we might serve our students. He stated he has been warmly received by all modes of communication and feels humbled to be a part of this institution. He went on to state that he feels very much at home.

Trustee Roegner gave his thanks to Mr. Rick Brady for sitting in for Mr. Bruce Marvin. He also thanked Ms. Snydar for her role as interim assistant. He thanked Ms. Sue Williamson for her hard work on the presidential search process. He acknowledged all the hard work by all of the vice presidents and staff for their hard work throughout the transition. Trustee Roegner acknowledged the board reporters as the next generation of leaders and thanked them for their report.

New business

No new business was discussed.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 11:42 a.m.

Minutes Signed and Approved

The meeting minutes from July 12, 2018, were approved and signed into record by Chair Bob Roegner and President John Mosby on September 20, 2018.

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.