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THE OFFICIAL MINUTES

The Big Bend Community College Board of Trustees held its regular Board meeting Thursday, November 12, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom Webinar.

  1. Call to Order
    Present: Anna Franz
      Jon Lane
      Stephen McFadden
      Juanita Richards
      Thomas Stredwick
     
  2. Starfish Education Presentation
    Student Success Center Coordinator Diana Villafana presented information about Starfish which was fully launched fall quarter of 2020. Starfish integrates with CANVAS and provides opportunity for collaboration between faculty, student services staff, and students. Starfish functionality includes appointment scheduling, student access to their information, alert flags, kudos, messages, references, student profiles, staff profiles, and faculty profiles. Starfish is funded by the Transforming STEM Pathways Grant.

    Board Chair Anna Franz asked about student engagement feedback. Coordinator Villafana reported students have stated the Starfish resource catalog, appointment scheduling, and ease of use has been helpful to students.

    Trustee Jon Lane asked about the faculty perspective. Coordinator Villafana stated one-on-one and group faculty training has been helpful. Starfish provides a good visual for each student giving employees a more holistic view of the students. Starfish is a program used nationally and it promotes communication and connection that wraps around the student.

    Trustee Juanita Richards commented that Starfish sounds like an efficient tool to support and track student progress in several areas of the college.

    Trustee Thomas Stredwick expressed appreciation for BBCC’s investment in technological infrastructure.
  3. Consent Agenda
    a) Approval of October 1, 2020, Board Meeting Minutes (A); b) Student Success (I); c) Assessment (I); d) Finance & Administration (I); e) Human Resources Report (I); f) ASB Report (I); h) Foundation Report (I); i) Classified Staff Report (I).

    Motion 20-57 Trustee Jon Lane moved to approve the consent agenda. Trustee Thomas Stredwick seconded, and the motion passed.
  4. Public Remarks
    There were no public remarks
  5. Faculty Updates
    Association President Zach Olson reported faculty activities. English Instructor Zack Olson attended a workshop for completing probationary tenure self-analysis forms.

    Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor Erik Borg reported that their program is receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to have in-person classes.

    Modern Languages Instructor Jenn McCarthy reported she is increasing the number of weekly zoom meetings from two to four for winter quarter to meet student needs. Her students have completed digital family trees in other languages.

    Biology Instructor Christy Welch reported she is holding on-campus labs for Ecology. Students are also able to complete the plant dissections at home with “foldoscopes.” Class adjustments are continuing due to COVID.

    Developmental English Instructor Dawnne Ernette reported the sixth annual BBCC student writing contest is up and running, accepting submissions until May 1, 2021.

    Librarian Rhonda Kitchens reported students in her new Library 101 research class are researching COVID 19 and implications for educational institutions, students, and U.S. educational policies.

    Chemistry Instructor Sarah Bauer reported students are completing at-home labs; her favorite part is the selfies they submit performing the experiments. Librarian Rhonda Kitchens is collaborating for a virtual chemistry fair highlighting chemistry in students’ everyday lives.

    Sociology Instructor Suzanne Reilly reported she assigned students different readings, points, and tasks based on the group they were in (for example, one group was instructed to read the Communist Manifesto for five points...but it was in German while other groups were assigned to read a Wikipedia page summary of the Communist Manifesto and submit absolutely anything they wanted for 8 points. She maintained the façade for several days despite students' understandable frustration. The "big reveal" occurred in a lesson on structural inequality, and students could draw from their own feelings of unfairness over the week's assignments as a basis for their analysis.

    Basic Education for Adults (BEdA) Instructor Rosemary Parsons reported the BEdA department is forming a partnership with Double Diamond Fruit Company (DDF). DDF created incentives for their employees to enroll in the English as a Second Language program.

    Philosophy Instructor Dr. Dennis Knepp reported that most people know that the other planets are named after Greek/Roman gods. And, so are most of their moons! He assigned each student a moon with a name that has an entry in the index of the textbook: the Anthology of Classical Myth. Students summarized the myth from the original sources (such as Apollodorus or Hesiod) and then share interesting information about that moon from the NASA website. This is the third assignment using the Anthology of Classical Myth for research. Dr. Knepp emphasized using primary sources rather than Wikipedia.

    English Instructor Scott Woodham was awarded one of five 2020 Emerging Poet grants from the statewide Allied Arts Foundation, he was also granted a 2019 BBCC Exceptional Faculty Award. The winners were chosen after multiple rounds of anonymous competition in front of a jury of poetry professionals from around Washington. He plans to use the $1,000 award to pay for future submission fees. To watch a video of him accepting the award virtually and reading “Recipe for Everyday Love Potion,” a poem from his entry packet, click this link. To see a list of bios and readings from all the winners and honorable mentions, click here. Instructor Woodham is working on his first manuscript, and some poems from it are forthcoming next year in the journal Weber: The Contemporary West.
  6. President’s Update
    Dr. Tweedy reviewed the commendations and recommendation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities (NWCCU) accreditation visit. Commendations were received around the use of institutional data to identify student needs, enhance student success, and assess impacts of initiatives on student achievement; the library staff’s outstanding commitment to student services; closing the achievement gap for historically underrepresented groups; and fostering a proactive environment focused on student success. The recommendation highlighted the need for BBCC to review and articulate its goals, objectives, and indicators to provide consistent and meaningful direction for planning to determine mission fulfillment and improve effectiveness in the context of and in comparison with regional and national peer institutions.

    Dr. Tweedy also announced that the Nursing program was reaccredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

    Dr. Tweedy reported that BBCC’s Bachelors in Applied Management was approved by the State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and needs approval from NWCCU, and federal financial aid. Trustee Thomas Stredwick asked about the cost of the program. VP Humpherys explained the tuition is on par with regional universities.

    Trustee Jon Lane asked about sharing information in Spanish. VP Humpherys stated that staff and faculty share information in Spanish. President Tweedy stated the budget and enrollment is better balanced this meeting compared to the last meeting. The president and vice presidents (executive team, ET) selected the University of North Carolina Institute to administer the PACE employee satisfaction survey to set a baseline.

    There have been a few students confirmed with COVID 19 and appropriate quarantining for students and exposed employees occurred. Dr. Tweedy thanked the ET members for continued diligence monitoring guidance and implementing efforts to support students and employees through the pandemic.

    Work is more challenging and BBCC continues to be proactive in building community. Dr. Tweedy thanked ASB Officers, Director of Student Activities Kim Jackson, and program assistant Sarah Schutt for arranging multiple virtual ASB activities for students. TRiO also hosted an inspiring virtual celebration for First Generation students.
  7. WAC Revisions
    Dr. Tweedy described two WAC revisions and requested the trustees approve the changes.

    Motion 20-58 Trustee Stephen McFadden moved to approve the extension of the Title IX emergency filing in August along with what is adopted today effective upon filing. Trustee Jon Lane seconded, and the motion passed.

    AAG Jason Brown explained that the initial emergency rule filed in August expires December 11. The permanent rule-making process will not be completed by that date. The additional rules harmonize the sexual harassment code with the Title IX procedures. The board’s motion renews emergency rules approved in July and authorizes additional rules on an emergency basis to comply with issues stemming from a case at Spokane Community College.
  8. Transforming Lives Nomination
    The trustees collaborated to choose their ACT Transforming Lives nominee from the pool of nominees Rosa McIver, Dora Mendez, Giovanni Partida, Elizabeth Rams, and Susanne White.

    Motion 20-59 Trustee Thomas Stredwick moved to nominate Dora Mendez as BBCC’s Transforming Lives nominee and Rosa McIver as the alternate. Trustee Jon Lane seconded, and the motion passed.
  9. President’s Onboarding Process
    The trustees discussed President Tweedy’s onboarding process.
  10. 2021 Board Calendar
    Motion 20-60 Trustee Jon Lane moved to approve the 2021 board meeting schedule. Trustee Thomas Stredwick seconded, and the motion passed.
  11. Assessment of Board Activity
    Trustee Jon Lane participated in filming an alumni video with the BBCC Foundation.

    Trustee Thomas Stredwick attended a tour of the Workforce Education Center (WEC) along with Grant County PUD staff and President Tweedy.

    Trustee Stephen McFadden attended a tour of WEC with legislators, discussed the board evaluation with Board Chair Anna Franz, and participated in the NWCCU accreditation visit interview. He stated he is currently one of the Legislative Action Committee (LAC) members and the board may want to choose another trustee for the role.

    Board Chair Anna Franz participated in the NWCCU accreditation interview and discussed trustee job descriptions with Trustee Jon Lane.
  12. Next Regular Board Meeting
    The next board meeting is set for January 7, 2021.
  13. Miscellaneous
    Motion 20-61 Trustee Jon Lane moved to appoint Trustee Anna Franz to the ACT Legislative Action Committee replacing Trustee Stephen McFadden. Trustee Stephen McFadden seconded the motion, and the motion passed.

    Trustee Jon Lane thanked ASB President Savana Stephenson for attending the meeting and the great ASB newscast videos. He also said ACCT President and CEO Noah Brown is retiring and from ACCT and the Senior Vice President of ACCT, Jee Hang Lee has asked for a recommendation from Trustee Lane.

    Trustee Jon Lane attended the LAC meeting this morning. He reported Sen Karen Keiser from Highline College District reported there is a $4.2 billion state budget deficit. She anticipates budget cuts deeper than 15% and the state’s Rainy Day fund should help. There is also support to provide free college with a college grant program. The legislature is aggressively looking at new funding sources. LAC participants discussed low community college enrollment and attributed child care issues, internet connectivity, and concerns about online learning. LAC members discussed the importance of retraining and economic recovery and equity.

    Board Chair Anna Franz recognized that Trustee Emeritus Michael Blakely passed away and Trustee Stephen McFadden shared that there is a scholarship set up in Trustee Emeritus Michael Blakely’s name at the BBCC Foundation.

    The meeting adjourned at 2:54 p.m.

 

Anna Franz, Chair

ATTEST:

 

Sara Tweedy, Secretary