BOARD OF
MINUTES
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Vol. 05-23
Trustees Present:
Richard Ballantine; Linda Campbell, Jim Cross; Pat Noyes; Michael
Pugh,
Staff Present:
Call to Order
The meeting was convened at 8:10 a.m. by Chair Schaefer.
CHAIR’S AGENDA
Committee Reports
Richard Ballantine, Finance Committee chair, reported that the Committee reviewed the budget assumptions for 2005-06 and supported a tuition increase of 8.5% for both in-state and out-of-state students.
In response to a concern regarding transferability of courses to other institutions, Michael Pugh requested that a sample group of students who had transferred to other colleges/universities in the state be surveyed to ascertain how many courses were able to be transferred. This could be included in the audit plan for next year.
ACTION AGENDA
CONSENT ITEMS
Approval of Minutes of the April 19-20, 2005 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College; Minutes of the May 9, 2005 Special Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Trustees; and Minutes of the April 12, 2005 Meeting of the Board’s Finance Committee
Leonel Silva moved for approval with a second by Pat Noyes. Two corrections were noted and the motion to approve the minutes as corrected was passed.
ACTION ITEMS
Election of Board Officers
The slate of officers for 2005-06 proposed by the Nominating Committee’s is:
Michael Pugh, Chair
Leonel Silva, Vice Chair
Richard Ballantine, Secretary/Treasurer
Steve Schwartz, Deputy Treasurer
Peggy Sharp, Deputy Secretary
Tom Schilling moved to elect the slate as presented. Pat Noyes seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Approval of the 2005-06 Proposed Operating Budgets
Leonel Silva moved for approval, with a second by Richard Ballantine.
Michele Peterson reviewed the
budget parameters and major highlights in the operating budgets for
2005-06. Several issues were discussed
e.g. tuition and fee comparisons to other institutions – both COPLAC and
Motion carried.
Steve Schwartz, Vice President for Finance and Administration, thanked the Fort Lewis College Foundation for designating funding for a buy down of the roll forward tax; for awarding approximately $134,000 to backfill the reduction of state financial aid; and forgiveness of a concert hall loan of approximately $39,000.
Approval of Tuition and Fee Schedules for Academic Year 2005-2006 and Summer Sessions 2006
Tom Schilling moved for approval. Leonel Silva seconded the motion.
Michele Peterson reviewed the components of the Tuition and Fee Schedule as well as the Room and Board rates. A few specific fees and marketing strategies for the tuition and fee increases were discussed.
Motion passed.
2005-06 Salary Increase Recommendation
Pat Noyes moved for approval and Leonel Silva seconded. After a brief discussion, the motion carried.
Approval of New Major: Bachelor of Arts in American Indian Studies
Leonel Silva moved to approve the new major, and Linda Campbell seconded the motion.
Richard Sax, Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, provided the background regarding the work involved in preparing and getting appropriate campus approvals for this degree proposal. The strengths as well as the concerns surrounding the program were discussed. Provost Steve Roderick stated that following approval by the Board, the degree proposal will go to the CCHE for their perusal to ascertain if it is in line with the role and mission of the College. No problem is anticipated in obtaining CCHE’s endorsement.
Motion passed.
REPORT/DISCUSSION AGENDA
Report: Faculty Representative and Student Representative Reports
Jim Cross, Faculty Representative, was unable to be present during the report session.
Brayton Thomas Thurber, Student Representative, enumerated a few areas that he intended to focus on during his tenure as ASFLC president such as campus communication; ASFLC budget guidelines/philosophy; and improving library resources.
Report: Promotion and Tenure Actions for 2005-06
Steve Roderick, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs reviewed the evaluation procedures for awarding tenure and promotion.
Report: Program Reviews 2004-05
Brief summaries of the program
reviews were presented by Richard Sax, Dean of Arts, Humanities and Social
Sciences, for the
Discussion: State Regulations Regarding Travel Reimbursements
Discussion: Sexual Orientation Policy
Fred Kuhlwilm, Legal Counsel, explained that there are some discrepancies between the Affirmative Action Policy contained in the Manual of Policies and Procedures for the Board of Trustees and the College’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy. A critical difference is that the College policy includes sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination statement, while the Board’s policy does not. He recommended that the College’s policy be eliminated so that the Affirmative Action Policy in the Board’s Manual represents the College’s policy. There was consensus to include sexual orientation as a protected classification in the Board’s Affirmative Action Policy. Legal counsel will prepare an agenda item for the next Trustees meeting to eliminate the College policy and to replace it with the amended Board policy.
Carry-In Action Item: Approval of Fee for Service Contract
Steve Schwartz explained that the Fee for Service Contract is new component of the College’s funding, resulting from the implementation of the College Opportunity Fund legislation. He explained the basic concept and components of the contract, and noted that he has worked with the CCHE to address the College’s concerns. Fred Kuhlwilm, Legal Counsel, recommended that the College ask the CCHE to accept a number of wording changes prior to acceptance of the contract by the Board.
Pat Noyes moved to table the item until Fred Kuhlwilm and Steve Schwartz could further negotiate the recommended wording changes with the CCHE. Tom Schilling seconded the motion. Motion passed with one nay vote.
Break
Chair Schaefer requested a motion to go into executive session pursuant to Section 24-6-402(3)(b)(I) of the Colorado Revised Statutes, to consider the employment of the President of Fort Lewis College and that the President Brad Bartel be invited to join the Board in executive session to participate in the discussion. Michael Pugh so moved and Linda Campbell seconded the motion. Motion carried and executive session convened, during which President Bartel’s employment was discussed.
Leonel Silva moved to adjourn the executive session, with a second by Tom Schilling. Motion carried.
Break
Leonel Silva moved to remove from the table the Carry-in Item: Approval of Fee for Service Contract. Tom Schilling seconded the motion. Steve Schwartz informed the Board that he and Fred Kuhlwilm presented the College’s proposed changes to the CCHE, and that the CCHE approved said changes.
Leonel Silva moved to approve this item, and Linda Campbell seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Chair Schaefer reported that Board’s evaluation of President Bartel was very favorable. Pat Noyes moved to continue his contract for 2005-06 with a 3% salary increase effective July 1, 2005, and that an extension of the three-year contract be considered next year. The motion was seconded by Tom Schilling. Motion passed.
As the incoming Chair, Michael Pugh announced the formation of a new committee for Academic and Student Affairs that would provide the Board with a focus on academic issues. He also recommended that in order to be effective, committees should meet a minimum of twice per year. Following are the committees and their chairs as well as staff who are assigned to each. Additional members will be added.
Legislative Finance/Budget Performance & Audit
Tom Schilling, Chair Leonel Silva, Chair Richard Ballantine, Chair
Linda Campbell Steve Schwartz Michael Pugh
Steve Schwartz Steve Schwartz
Academic & Student Affairs
Pat Noyes
Steve Roderick
Linda Campbell will serve as the liaison to the Foundation, as well as to the Office of Institutional Advancement.
It was agreed that the February Board meeting be moved from
President Bartel stated that the Board of Trustees can endorse Referendums C and D, and that this action could be taken at the September meeting.
Leonel Silva moved for adjournment. Pat Noyes seconded. Motion carried
Meeting adjourned.