Board of Trustees Meeting

Location

Virtual Zoom meeting: 8:00 a.m.

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, John Mosby, Michael Pham, Aaron Reader, Danielle Slota, Tim Wrye present.

Bruce Marvin (AAG) present.

Minutes

Study Session call to order: 8:04 a.m.

Discussion Topics

Executive Session pertaining to Highline College labor relations

The Board, as and when deemed necessary, may call an Executive Session for appropriate purposes under the Open Meetings Act.

• The BoT, President Mosby, ED Korst and VP Pham entered the Executive Session at 8:06 a.m..
• Executive Session concluded at 8:40 a.m.

Updates on upcoming changes to the Model Supplemental Title IX Student Conduct Procedures, VP Aaron ReaderNow in process of permanent rule making

• Student conduct code last updated in 2018
• AAG’s working together to develop the Model 20 code 
• Three sections will have significant changes
  • Make a title change to the authority section
  • Statement of Student Rights will be a new section coming to the code
  • Prohibitive Student Conduct will be updated 
  • Purpose of updating is to allow the code to speak cleanly to the new emergency rules as permanent rules 
  • Have met with ASHC and requested feedback, next step is an open hearing for the campus to provide feedback, will provide a summary and details to the BoT at that time
  • Part of permanent rule making will be to repeal the current chapter

ctcLink, CIO Tim Wrye

• 36 working days left
• Provided introduction to ctcLink for Trustee Bowman
• Review timeline for rollow-out and the activities associated with that timeline
• Campus Town Hall hosted in November

Action items

• Review of Action item a: Approval of the 2021 Highline College Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule; to be voted on in the 10 a.m. General Session
  • January 14, February 11, March – no meeting, April 08, May 06, June 10, July 08, August – no meeting, September 09, October 07, November 11, December 09

Unscheduled business

• Carver Governance Model – Dan provided history on HC BoT not adopting this model.  This was noted because the state is hosting an upcoming Trustee Tuesday education session on this model. 

Meeting adjourned at 9:27 a.m.

Board of Trustees General Session

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, John R. Mosby, Michael Pham, Summer Korst, Tim Wrye present

Bruce Marvin (AAG) present

Minutes

General Session called to order at 10:00 a.m.

Approval of minutes

Approval of minutes from the regular meeting on November 12, 2020.  Motion made by Trustee Bowman, seconded by Trustee Swenson.  Motion passed unanimously.

Opportunity for public comment

Mirian Villafranca, student –

• Believes that the college is running campus as business as usual
• Community has diverse needs
• Advocated for change in classification of full time status 
• Asked that the trustees advocate for a change to 10 credit full time status
• Stated that staff, faculty and students feel unsupported

Standing reports

Associated Students of Highline College: Thomas Bui

• Thanked Mirian for making their comments, encouraged communication with ASHC
• Students are busy with finals week
• 250 students engaged this quarter in programming
• Thunderweek planned for winter break

Washington Public Employees Association: Tessa Bowen

• WPEA  currently in elections at state level
• WPEA at HC is currently is still in negotiations
• Stated that morale is low, not necessarily related to work, but individuals are struggling.  Encouraged employees to take the time they need.  

Highline College Education Association: James Peyton

• Noted that MJ’s comments highlighted the real concerns and struggles of the community at this time.  
• Report submitted in writing by James Peyton on December 10, 2020 following the General Session reads:

“The student comments highlight the very real struggles of members of our communities – students, faculty, staff – in the middle of a pandemic, health concerns, ongoing social and economic justice struggles, and budget cuts.

December finds us at the end of Fall quarter. Faculty are busy teaching, advising, grading, finalizing student outcomes assessments, doing committee work, and planning for Winter quarter. Faculty Department Coordinators have been doing all that faculty do and revising course outcomes, promoting programs, observing adjuncts, staffing classes for Winter, preparing for ctcLink, and planning the schedule for Spring. 

Across campus, many faculty, staff, and administrators are working on Guided Pathways initiatives. These initiatives reach deeply into college operations with priority areas including Program Mapping, Math Attainment, Advising, Intake, Ensuring Learning, Strategic Equity Planning, Scheduling, Exploratory Sequence, Research, Student Voice, and Communication.

The work that the college is doing every day is making a positive difference for our students and our communities. Making that difference is what brings us back to work every day. At the same time, there are struggles. In our HCEA membership meeting yesterday, faculty expressed concerns about enrollment, workload, and isolation. We are looking forward to the day when we can return to campus to more normal operations.

Faculty greatly appreciate the work of IT, Educational Technology, and the Learning and Teaching Center for the support they are providing in this remote-work environment. We also appreciate the extensive work going into preparing for ctcLink.

Finally, HCEA would like to thank the administration for their collaborative approach to negotiations.”

Faculty Senate: Sam Alkhalili

• Thanks Mirian for speaking on behalf of students
• Thanked Tessa for speaking on behalf of classified staff
• Faculty Senate has concerns around enrollment, planning to meet with VP Lardner and Reader, also inviting Marc Lentini and Bob Scribner.  Inviting Dr. Mosby to share any upcoming changes to campus or the campus budget.  Planning to invite HCEA to an upcoming meeting to offer assistance in promoting the union.  
• Working on updating constitution

Highline College Foundation: Josh Gerstman

• Recently participated in a workshop on confronting institutional racism.  Board is currently debriefing the lessons learned there.  
• Recognized Asha Bhaga on her efforts around emergency funding for students
• Currently planning an interactive and engaged virtual gala: Friday, April 30th

Action items

Action Item a: Approval of the 2021 Highline College Board of Trustees Meeting Schedule

Trustee Swenson moved, Trustee Mendoza seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.

Area reports

Administrative Services: VP Michael Pham

• Keeping a close eye on the state of our budget
• Recognized all of Administrative Services for their efforts during the pandemic
• See written report as submitted

Academic Affairs: VP Emily Lardner, Ph.D.

• Recognized faculty and staff for their strong work under remote working conditions 
• Recognized Dr. Tanya Powers for being chosen to serve on the Racial Equity Committee for the Workforce Development Council of Seattle King County
• Recognized three faculty in ELCAP who dedicated their time to pilot a peer-to-peer course review project whose intention was to promote equity and inclusion and exemplify anti-racist teaching practices.   
• See written report as submitted

Student Services: VP Aaron Reader

• Expressed appreciation to Student Services for continuing to balance the changes associated with remote working conditions, institutional work and preparation for ctcLink along with continuing to engage students.
• Recognized the intention placed on community health and mental health
• See written report as submitted

Institutional Advancement: VP Josh Gerstman

• Recognized the hard work that went into the first virtual Black and Brown Male Summit and many of the staff and faculty that dedicated time to a successful event including Rashad Noris, Tanisha Williams, Mariela Barriga, Loyal Allen Jr., Gerie Ventura, Carmen Williams, Razmehr Fardad, Diego Luna, Aleyda Cervantes, Fawzi Belal, Erich ET Elwin, Geomarc Panelo and Rickitia Reid.
• See written report as submitted

President’s remarks

• Noted that this has been the most challenging year as a professional and as an individual.
• Noted the celebrations we have had including student success and accreditation.
• Challenged the campus to continue with innovative thought to serve our students, faculty and staff in hybrid operations.
• 2021 starts a new chapter in Highline’s history with a new accreditation cycle that will include a strategic plan rooted in equity and servant leadership.
• See report as submitted.

Unscheduled business

General Session was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Minutes Signed and Approved

The meeting minutes from December 10, 2020, were approved and signed into record by Chair Sili Savusa and President John R. Mosby on January 14, 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.