Board of Trustees Meeting
Location
Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access
Minutes
Attendees
Board of Trustees: Chair Exstrom, Trustee Bowman, Trustee Swenson
Executive Cabinet: Acting President Penn, Danielle Slota, Emily Lardner, Josh Gerstman, Mariela Barriga for Maribel Jimenez, Michael Pham, Melanie Lawson, Tim Wrye
Assistant Attorney General: Bruce Marvin
Absent: Trustee Johnson
Study Session call to order: 9:01 a.m.
Discussion Topics
- Review draft 2025 board meeting schedule for proposed action in General Session – 10 minutes – Danielle Slota
- Executive Session called to order at 9:10 a.m.
- Performance of a Public Employee
- Entered executive session for 30 minutes, extended to 10:10 a.m.
*The Board, as and when deemed necessary, may call an Executive Session for appropriate purposes under the Open Meetings Act.
(g) To evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. However, subject to RCW 42.30.140(4), discussion by a governing body of salaries, wages, and other conditions of employment to be generally applied within the agency shall occur in a meeting open to the public, and when a governing body elects to take final action hiring, setting the salary of an individual employee or class of employees, or discharging or disciplining an employee, that action shall be taken in a meeting open to the public;
Meeting adjourned at 10:58 a.m.
Board of Trustees Meeting
Location
Hybrid Meeting Format: offering both in-person and virtual meeting access
General Session called to order at 10:30 a.m.
General Session Minutes
Roll Call
Board of Trustees: Chair Exstrom, Trustee Bowman, Trustee Swenson
Executive Cabinet: Acting President Penn, Danielle Slota, Emily Lardner, Josh Gerstman, Mariela Barriga for Maribel Jimenez, Michael Pham, Melanie Lawson, Tim Wrye
Assistant Attorney General: Bruce Marvin
Absent: Trustee Johnson
General Session called to order: 10:15 a.m.
Approve minutes
Approve minutes of the regularly scheduled meeting of November 14, 2024
Trustee Exstrom motioned to approve, Trustee Bowman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Opportunity for public comment
- Bevin Taylor, on behalf of HCEA, in support of WPEA
- Dr. Diego Luna, spoke to potential impact of changes in Federal Administration particularly in regards to undocumented students. How campus will respond to Homeland Security visits to campus. Encouraged leadership to be vigilant with training on how to respond in support of Highline. Also spoke to fiscal impacts that may impact campus and encouraged leadership to continue to keep the mission, vision, and values of the campus top of mind. Need to ensure that there is a plan to support, protect and care for our students. We are all vulnerable to internalizing and acting on fear. Encourage leaders to lead in moments of crisis.
Action items
Action item a. 2025 Board of Trustees General Meeting Schedule
Trustee Exstrom moved to approve the following dates for 2025
- January 16, 2025
- February 27, 2025
- March 13, 2025
- April 17, 2025
- May 8, 2025
- June 5, 2025
- July 10, 2025
- August – NO REGULAR MEETING
- September 11, 2025
- October 9, 2025
- November 13, 2025
- December 11, 2025
Trustee Bowman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Standing reports
- Highline College Education Association: Dr. James Peyton
Follow up to Bevin Taylor’s public comment – the work of classified staff is extremely important to the work faculty do. Their work makes a difference to the functioning of the college. Follow up on Dr. Luna’s comments – the political climate creates a background of uncertainty but recognizing it helps to identify how faculty can support the community. Spoke to the work of faculty to close fall quarter and enter winter quarter. Faculty continue to work to meet the needs of students along with the new challenge of generative AI and the impacts it has on the classroom and the type of work that faculty have to do to accurately assess the learning that students have. Expressed appreciation of human resources and academic affairs leadership as well as support of college administration.
- Washington Public Employees Association: George Babcock
Spoke on behalf of WPEA thanking all 135 faculty that signed the recent letter in solidarity with WPEA. On Nov. 22nd WPEA filed a lawsuit against the state of WA and the Governor’s Office. The hearing is scheduled for Dec 13 in which they hope that the decision will be made for OFM to return to the bargaining table. They also hope that Highline College will return to the bargaining table as well.
- Faculty Senate: Sangeeta Sangha
Faculty members reviewing policy changes and proposals to coursework
- Associated Students of Highline College: No report
- Highline College Foundation: Richard Mockler
Successful Thunderbirds soar event followed by a helpful retreat that will help the Foundation in their work in further supporting students. Received a very generous donation from the estate of Dr. Ed Command. Currently engaging with college leadership to continue over the next several months on how to best utilize the funds in support of the college both short term and long term. April 16th will be the Highline Legends Lunch.
Board Report
- Q Center Annual Report, Amy Rider and Chino Gonzales
Annual report presentation is available to view online at this link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGY6uuW5ng/SijxOdm5qlum_wZGrjRlAw/view?utm_content=DAGY6uuW5ng&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer
Full report is available at this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17uMFmEtIr8iee0JHM7GQsCEDYJDbfbJd/view?usp=sharing
Area reports
- Administrative Services: VP Dr. Michael Pham
State budget shortfall is rumored to be more than anticipated.
Highline College was selected to participate in an accountability audit which focuses more on Highline’s operations, how we comply with federal and state rules, regulations, and our own internal policies.
Trustee Exstrom volunteered to participate in the audit conference.
- Academic Affairs: VP Dr. Emily Lardner
Faculty hiring with a strategic recruitment effort of faculty that both demonstrate the knowledge and experience that best serves our students and also represents our student body both in part time and full time positions. Melanie Lawson has previewed some modules with Academic Affairs teams about checking bias in the applicant screening process which will be further applied across academic affairs during winter quarter.
Spoke to the generative ai challenges mentioned in the HCEA report. Talked about academic integrity and the role of generative ai. How can it be used as an appropriate tool in education. The Library, Learning & Teaching Center, and the Gen AI Taskforce continue to support campus in this area.
Departmental review of course pass rates and equity gaps in need of continuous improvement is underway.
A group of Academic Affairs members attended the recent NWCCU conference with Dr. Penn to continue to learn about process improvement for the college.
- Student Services: Acting VP Ay Saechao
Positive increase in student involvement as students attending activities, clubs, workshops begin to return to pre 2020 levels. Increases the need to offer spaces that clearly communicate that Highline supports our students. Outreach and recruitment are actively engaging with local schools. More than 30 outreach events to support building community and strengthening the pipeline. We need to continue to prepare staff and faculty for increases in enrollment. Continuing to review the data to help in this preparation. Thanks ITS and Academic Affairs for their partnership in these areas.
- Institutional Advancement: VP Josh Gerstman
Sharon Vail is currently networking to learn more about what is happening with the upcoming World Cup and opportunities for Highline College. Dave O’Keefe has been partnering with Foundry 10 who recently aligned some of their funding priorities to create space for Highline to receive more funding. Historically we have received funding to help our nursing students with their exams. Dave presented a number of different programs they could consider supporting, all four programs will be receiving funding in addition to the nursing exam support. Summer Bridge focused on female students interested in STEM, ACHIEVE Internships, and a STEM Discovery Camp. Funding support will be around $107k.
Trustee Bowman asked about the designation of Dr. Command’s estate gift. VP Gerstman shared that the intent was to help students. This broad restriction creates an opportunity for the college and the foundation to partner in how the funds will be distributed in alignment with the college’s mission, vision and values. Trustee Exstrom asked if there will be a role for the college board in this decision making. VP Gerstman shared that the conversation with the college board will be consultative. The college board has a representative on the Foundation board (Vice Chair Swenson) to representent the college board’s voice.
- Equity, Diversity and Transformation: Mariela Barriga for VP Dra. Maribel Jimenez
Written report stands: https://trustees.highline.edu/12-12-24-edt/
Invited the Board of Trustees to support the May YELL Summit (May 17, 2024). Asked for speaker referrals for the events as well as referrals for students or community groups that may be interested in participating as well.
Trustee Bowman asked about the schools that are on the outreach list and whether or not the non “mainstream” high schools are on the list.
Discussion
None
President’s remarks
Dr. Penn thanked Executive Cabinet for their monthly reports, noting that we stand on business and we are very proud of that. Expressed appreciation for Dr. Luna’s comments during public comment. Acknowledged that the political climate is challenging and that we are leaning into supporting our community through the creation of a Supporting Our Communities library guide (https://library.highline.edu/hcsupports).
Spoke to the upcoming legislative session, ensuring that she is collaborating and showing up in Olympia to engage during the session and what is happening both in the 33rd district and across the entire system. Arlen Harris has highlighted that there is new leadership making it even more important that Highline is present and forefront in conversations so that the great work as well as the challenges we are facing are heard.
New leadership at SBCTC.Transition is significant as it brings forth new knowledge. Goal is to stabilize the system through collaboration, increase communication, and prioritize the upcoming legislative session. Keeping eyes on the national landscape being prepared to speak to the work done and progress made with the funding that we have received.
Trustee Exstrom asked about the ITS security training and Highline’s completion rate. Specifically asked about the phishing phase of the training. CIO Wrye spoke to the process, supervisor reports, and the need for continued increase in participation.
Trustee Swenson spoke to the National Association of Community College Trustees. She serves as the Chair Elect for the DEI committee and noted that these conversations are happening at that level as well and continue to be challenging. Need to continue to uphold the goal of access for all students in action and in activity.
Unscheduled business
Happy Birthday Dr. Penn!
Adjournment
General Session was adjourned: 11:47 a.m.
Minutes Signed and Approved
The meeting minutes from Dec. 12, 2024, were approved and signed into record by Chair Johnson and President John R. Mosby on January 16, 2025
Mission Statement: As a South King County college striving for social justice, Highline College partners with global students as they envision, plan and achieve their educational and professional goals.