Area Report for Board of Trustees
As presented in draft version in July, the College is requesting approval and adoption of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget. The Budget document has been updated to include FY24 actual expenditures.
Highline College ended FY24 in a very strong financial position. The College closed out the fiscal year with a net surplus of approximately $3M. Due to the high return on favorable interest rates, Investment & Interest accounted for approximately $2.2M of the net surplus alone.
Regrettably, I will be missing the September Board meeting, as I will be leading 15 students on the “Follow the Supply Chain to Vietnam” study abroad program. Five other staff and faculty, including Dr. Jamilyn Penn, will also be accompanying the trip.
The Administrative Services Division held our annual retreat on August 21st to review the FY24 work plans and to develop goals and strategies for FY25. The following is a summary of our accomplishments and achievements from the last year. We will be submitting the FY25 division goals in the October report.
Core Theme 1: ACCESS, Reduce Barriers and close equity gaps to access for all community members
- Our Summer Camp program (two-week), for six high school students, from Vietnam was a big success. Five out of six students have applied for admissions to Highline as international students for fall 2024.
- Through the support of the Foundation and corporate sponsors, the Follow the Supply Chain to Vietnam study abroad program was able to provide eligible students with the opportunity to experience and learn about Vietnam. For a seven-night trip, including airfare and accommodation, each student only had to pay $600 to participate.
- Facilities completed the renovations of two large classrooms in B-21 and faculty offices on the second floor of B-23 on time and on budget. A new Veteran’s Resource Center was also constructed in B-23 to support our veteran students.
- The multi-million Chiller replacement project in B-29 was completed in record time (compared to industry standards) to ensure continuing operations of B-29 throughout the summer quarter.
- Facilities had begun the space planning for the future Welcome Center. Given the complexities of the existing program relocation, Executive Cabinet has directed for exploring new options with temporary portable buildings.
Core Theme 2: STUDENT LEARNING, Increase educational success, collaborate to improve
- Despite not having a Global Program Manager, we were still able to offer various workshops and programs during International Education Week (November) and Highline Welcomes the World Week (March), with the support of faculty and staff throughout the campus.
- Public Safety collaborated with the Office of Community Standards and Student Conduct, as well as Campus View Residence Life Office, to offer programs resulting in a reduction of conduct cases compared to the previous year.
Core Theme 3: COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: Create a more inclusive working environment and a more valued, visible relationship with communities we serve
- Facilities had been working with the City of Des Moines and Sound Transit in the final phase to open the new main entrance on College Way. It is expected for the entrance to be open by fall quarter 2024, preceded by a ribbon-cutting ceremony around late September.
- Public Safety continued to represent Highline College as an important partner to the cities of Kent and Des Moines, as well as the business community along the Pacific Highway South corridor between Kent and Des Moines. In addition to hosting quarterly on-campus meetings with city officials and business/community members, David Menke, Director of Public Safety regularly participated in the various advisory boards to bring safety concerns to the forefront.
Core Theme 4: CULTURE & CAPACITY: Promote a campus culture which fosters equity and inclusivity supporting employee growth and development, and institutional capacity for transformation
- Budget Office conducted 15 procurement card audits. We found all departments to have adequate internal control procedures as well as appropriate record keeping.
Division Strategic Goal: FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
- Bookstore saw sales revenue increases by $186K or 43% in FY24 compared to the previous year.
- Budget Office was able to invoice grant reimbursements promptly on a monthly basis, but also completed 100% of grant invoicing by the close of the fiscal year, allowing for a continual positive cash flow (generating investment interests).
- Finance team successfully completed the FY22 financial statement audit in January 2024, although with a couple of exit items. We were able to submit the FY23 financial statement in March 2024 for another round of audit in the same fiscal year.
- Public Safety implemented a new Safety Management Fee (to be effective FY25) as approved by the Board. The new fee will allow for Public Safety to maintain operations and staffing levels needed to ensure a safe and secure campus environment.
Report submitted by Vice President of Administrative Services, Dr. Michael Pham