GENERAL MATTERS

Call to Order

Richard Fimbres called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Brenda Even led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Public Comment and Reports

Public Comment

Chalita Ledesma and Patricia Porras addressed the Board about investigating the possibility of offering more social service classes in the evening.

Mr. Stewart asked for a detailed report on night, weekend and distance learning offerings. Chancellor Flores responded that the report would be available at the May meeting.

Staff Representatives

Sherry Wright and Julie Hecimovich reported on the February Staff Council meeting. The Provost’s report included information on how the College is complying with Prop 300.  Staff Council was informed that proposed changes to policies, regulations and standard practice guides will be posted on the College’s website for 21 days to give employees an opportunity to comment on the changes. Staff Council’s scholarship fundraising dinner is planned for March 23 to benefit Project PROGRESS!

Student Representatives

Carlos Tapia and Christian Tapia highlighted student sponsored activities at each of the campuses. Of note was that two Community Campus students made the Phi Theta Kappa All Arizona team. The West Campus Student Government President and Vice President will attend the American Student Association of Community Colleges Conference in Washington, DC.

Faculty Representatives

Jack Mertes reported on the March 2 Faculty Senate meeting.  Revisions to the Senate charter were approved. SPG 1101-AA was discussed.  The Adjunct Faculty Affairs Committee has met and is working on its charge.

Report — Chairperson of the Board

Motion to Authorize Executive Session PASSES
Motion No. 6731

Scott Stewart – M, Brenda Even – S, to authorize an Executive Session of the Board of Governors on April 18, 2007.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Chairman Fimbres read a statement regarding awarding sabbaticals. He stated that the sabbatical process is one that deserves attention and celebration, but also demands that the College be accountable to the public. He outlined the Board’s expectations that the sabbatical process be competitive and that the review of sabbatical proposals be based on criteria that is objective, measurable and rigorous, emphasizing benefits to students and the community.  He informed administration that the Board expects recommendations for reviewing the criteria, process and procedure for awarding sabbaticals by the September Board meeting.

Statement on Fiduciary Responsibility

Mr. Fimbres made the following statement:

I want to take this opportunity to relay my thoughts, and what I hope are the thoughts of the other members of this Governing Board, about the high level of fiduciary responsibility that we as Board members owe to the College, and expect of all Pima College administrators, faculty members and other College employees.

I believe the goal of the Governing Board should be to have Pima College serve, as effectively and efficiently as reasonably possible, the post-secondary educational needs of Pima County’s many residents.  In this endeavor, we are charged with overseeing the expenditure of substantial sums of public monies. 

As a result, we owe it to Pima College’s students and employees, as well as Pima County’s taxpayers, to insist on high standards of fiduciary responsibility and economic accountability with respect to all of the College’s operations.

We should insist on this high level of responsibility and accountability in all decisions we make as Board members.  In turn, we should insist that all College employees perform their jobs at this same high level of responsibility and accountability. Every decision we make as Board members, and decisions our employees make as College employees, should be guided by these foundational principles.

Motion to Adopt Statement on Fiduciary Responsibility PASSES
Motion No. 6732

Brenda Even – M, Marty Cortez – S to adopt Chairman Fimbres’s statement on fiduciary responsibility as a statement of the Governing Board.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Report — Secretary of the Board

There was no report.

Report — Pima County Representative to the Arizona Association for District Governing Boards (AADGB)

Mr. Stewart reported that the Legislature is making progress on reinstituting a State Board. A number of colleges have submitted input on the role and composition of a state board that was well received by the Legislature and the Governor’s Office.  Pima informed ACCA that the College is considering dropping out of the association. Mr. Stewart also noted that all the colleges are struggling to implement requirements of Prop 300.

Dr. Even reported on the trip to the National Legislative Summit. She, Marty Cortez, Chancellor Flores, Provost Miles, AVC Cuyugan and Stan Steinman and two student representatives attended the summit and visited with Congressional representatives in Washington, DC.

Chancellor’s Report

Dr. Flores and the Board presented Clare Strom with a plaque recognizing Ms. Strom’s service to the College and the staff as Staff Representative to the Board.

Nick Curtis, President of ACES (Association of Classified Exempt Staff), presented ACES’s proposal to the Board. Their proposal includes institutionalizing the Step Progression Program and providing a minimum salary increase of 5.6%.

Arlene Muniz, Chairperson of the non-exempt employees group, AFSCME, presented AFSCME’s proposal.  Among the issues AFSCME will be addressing this Meet & Confer session are increased professional development dollars and a classification/compensation schedule for physical plant and public safety employees.  Ms. Muniz stated that additional items may be brought forward based on the budget.

Chancellor Flores highlighted the comments he made at the Faculty Senate: challenges of implementing Prop 300 and the probability of a community college state board.

Report — Monthly Financial Statements through January 2007

Vice Chancellor Bea reported that finances are continuing to proceed according to the budget and expectations.

Information Items

Voluntary Separations from Employment

Student Aide Hires

Board Policy: Faculty Qualifications – Second Reading

These items were noted as information items.

Action Items

Approval of Minutes

Motion to Approve Minutes PASSES
Motion No. 6733

Brenda Even – M, Sherryn Marshall – S, to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 7, 2007.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Consent Agenda

Motion to Approve Consent Agenda PASSES
Motion No. 6734

Sherryn Marshall – M, Scott Stewart – S, to approve the Consent Agenda.

16.1     New Appointments

16.2     Administrator Appointments

16.3     Administrator Contracts 2007/2008

16.4     Adjunct Faculty Appointments

16.5     Temporary Appointments

16.6     Intergovernmental Agreement:  Pima County Community College District and Arizona K-12 Schools Teacher Preparation Program (TPP): Intern Certification

16.7     Grade Policy Change – Final Reading

16.8     Summer Work Schedule 2007

16.9     2006/2007 Credit Schedule of Classes – Fall

16.10   Curriculum Recommendations:  -New Occupational Certificate: Clinical Research Trial Coordinator – Certificate for Direct Employment and New Degree Program:  Clinical Research Trial Coordinator – Associate of Applied Science

16.11   Curriculum Recommendations – New Occupational Certificate: Direct Care Professional – Certificate for Direct Employment

16.12   Curriculum Recommendations – New Occupational Certificate: Structured English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement – Post Degree Certificate

16.13   Curriculum Recommendations – New Occupational Certificate: Law Enforcement Academy – Certificate for Direct Employment

16.14   Curriculum Recommendations – Program Inactivation: International Business Studies – AAS

16.15   Grant Proposal: United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Secondary and Two-Year Postsecondary Agriculture Education Challenge Grants Program, Agriculture Science Education Development Program – East Campus

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Contract: Employee Medical Benefits

Executive Vice Chancellor Fugett reminded the Board that the College had a contract with PacificCare since 2000/2001. In 2006, the Department of Justice mandated that PacifiCare divest itself of its six major groups. The College was one of those groups which required us to go forward with an RFP for health benefits. The Benefits Committee worked with a consultant to seek a new medical insurance carrier for the College. The committee reviewed five bids, and interviewed three vendors. The major criteria considered were cost, minimum disruption in the providers network and customer service. The committee recommended Health Net and a continuation of the SystemEd prescription plan. There will be a 1% increase in cost. The committee also recommended that the College move from a 3-tier to a 4-tier system: employee, employee plus spouse, employee + children, and employee + family.

Motion to Approve Contract:  Employee Medical Benefits PASSES
Motion No. 6735

Brenda Even – M, Marty Cortez – S toapprove Contract:  Employee Medical Benefits.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Contract: Employee Dental Benefits

Motion to Approve Contracts: Employee Dental Benefits PASSES
Motion No. 6736

Sherryn Marshall – M, Scott Stewart – S to approve Contracts: Employee Dental Benefits.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Contract: Sun Life Financial – Employee Life Insurance Benefit

Motion to Approve Contract: Sun Life Financial – Employee Life Insurance Benefit PASSES
Motion No. 6737

Brenda Even – M, Marty Cortez – S to approve Contract: Sun Life Financial – Employee Life Insurance Benefit.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Capital Budget Plan for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009

Dr. Bea provided a summary of the process for recommending capital budget allocations and the criteria used for choosing projects. Funding for capital projects is from
auxiliary funds, grants, Prop 301 funds, and state capital funds. The recommendation is to fund $11.7 million in projects in 2008, and $9.4 million in 2009.

Motion to Approve Capital Budget Plan for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009 PASSES
Motion No. 6738

Brenda Even – M, Marty Cortez – S to approve Capital Budget plan for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Budget Parameters – Fiscal Year 2007/2008

Vice Chancellor Bea reviewed the revenue and expenditure assumptions for preparing the 07/08 budget. On the revenue side, assumptions include an increase to the tax levy to include new property growth and a 2 percent increase to the tax levy; an increase in tuition, additional revenue from investment income in the General Fund budget, and no increase in state appropriations.  Expenditure priorities include increases in the Arizona State Retirement System, health care benefits increases, contractual obligation and operating budget increases, and step progression plan increases and salary schedule lifts.

Motion to Approve Budget Parameters - Fiscal Year 2007-2008 PASSES
Motion No. 6739

Sherryn Marshall – M, Brenda Even – S to approve Budget Parameters – Fiscal Year 2007-2008.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Tuition Increase

Vice Chancellor Bea presented the recommendation to increase in-state tuition by $1.00 a credit hour, and create a $2.00 per credit hour technology fee.  Out-of-state tuition would increase proportionately to in-state tuition rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount. The $3.00 increase is expected to generate an additional $650,000 from tuition, and $1.0 million for technology improvements.

Motion to Approve Tuition Increase PASSES
Motion No. 6740

Scott Stewart – M, Brenda Even – S, to approve Tuition Increase.

Vote:  All Board members present voted “aye” by voice vote.  None were opposed.  Motion carried.

Adjournment

Motion to Adjourn PASSES
Motion No. 6741

Sherryn Marshall – M, Brenda Even – S to adjourn.

Vote: All Board members voted “aye” by voice vote. None were opposed. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.