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THE OFFICIAL MINUTES

The Big Bend Community College Board of Trustees held a Regular Board meeting Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. in person.

Present: Anna Franz
  Gary Chandler
  Juanita Richards
  Bethany Martinez

 

  1. Mission Moments
    President Thompson Tweedy and Board Chair reported that the First Regional Government to Government Tribal Relations Summit was held on campus November 14. The event was well attended and is the first step toward building relationships with Native peoples who cared for and resided on this land first.
  2. Educational Presentation
    Dr. Bryce Humpherys shared about the Student Success Priority. He provided the demographics of our student population and programs by educational intent including Transfer (41%) Direct Transfer Agreement, Associate of Applied Science, and Bachelor of Applied Science; Industry Training (11%), Basic Education for Adults (19%) and Workforce (27%) Certificates of Achievement/Accomplishment. We track data points for student success such as Mission Fulfillment Scorecard and Report which includes data elements. Institutional Research and Planning Dean Valerie Parton gathers data and shares it with leadership and the campus. The data also shows achievements between groups of students, such as gender, ethnicity, socio economic level, etc. There are specific strategies focused on recruitment, retention, and persistence. Accelerated English and math instruction have shortened the time for students to achieve their goals. Starfish, technology training and support, peer mentoring for students, academic advising, and assessment of the student learning process are specific strategies that support retention and persistence.

    New employees were introduced. Dr. Aaron Mahoney is our agriculture/chemistry instructor and published peer reviewed publications. Business Office is at full staff, Jackson Wilks Asst Business Office Director, Deanne Newkirk accounts receivable and collections.
  3. Consent Agenda
    Motion 22-33 Trustee Juanita Richards moved to approve the consent agenda. Trustee Gary Chandler seconded and the motion passed.
  4. Remarks
  5. Faculty Updates
    Faculty Association Officer Dr. Allison Palumbo shared information from faculty members as Faculty Association President Dawnee Ernette was absent to provide her students an in person final.

    Dr. Barbara Bush, Communications Studies faculty, shared that a group in her Small Group Discussion class is collecting donations for the Viking Food Pantry in the library from Dec 5-7! This is for their final project where they are supposed to identify a need in the community and aim to help solve it, or at least address it. They identified the Viking Food Pantry as needing donations, and so that is what they are working on.

    Jen McCarthy, World Languages faculty, has a flash mob video to share: https://youtu.be/aezPtfDIiTE She says her French class was a great class – wonderful and engaged students with lots of in class participation.

    Sarah Bauer, Chemistry faculty, shared that it’s great to have Chemistry back in the lab for the first time in two years! Seeing students doing actual measurements and reactions rather than computer simulations has been wonderful.

    Instructor Bauer says she has fully flipped the CHEM& 121 courses. In our flipped class, the content is delivered outside the classroom (through assigned reading and lecture videos with embedded check-in questions) and then our time in the classroom is spent on active learning activities that have students engage in the content in small learning groups in a more meaningful way, such as through directed practice, physical modeling, and error-analysis. Thanks to connections made by Chemistry Instructor Lindsay Groce with CWU, this quarter, I welcomed a guest observer who will be teaching the same course for another institution and wants to employ this model and use the designed activities in her classroom.”

    Dr. Aaron Mahoney, Ag/CHEM Faculty Instructor shared that students in his Crop Production AGR 265 met with local seed producer Ron Welch to tour his farm and learn more about growing seeds for resale. He discussed farm operations, ag production for the seed industry and answered student questions about farm management. They also spent an afternoon with local alfalfa grower Craig Duvall. Craig took the time to meet with our Agriculture students and answer all their questions. He talked about day-to-day farm operations, the financial side of being a grower, and the steps he goes through to manage his crops. These field trips allow students to learn from industry experts and see a real-world application of what they are learning in the classroom. Recent agriculture program graduate Garrett Devine stopped by to speak with students in crop production class this afternoon. Garrett currently works as a field agronomist at Quincy Foods. He shared his experience in the Big Bend AG program, what it's like working in the industry, and some of his day-to-day job duties. Lastly, the recent purchase of the light bank system allowed crop production students to observe the growth stages of 14 different crops grown near Moses Lake and the Columbia Basin. By increasing the daylength (how long the lights are on) and “stressing” the plants, the crops were able to go from seed to flower in about 8-10 weeks. This provided observable knowledge of the different stages of growth, flowering and reproductive stages, and the overall physical appearance of the crops in a shorter duration. Students were also able to design and conduct experiments of these crops and collect data for analysis.

    Dustin Regal, Art faculty, photos student art including ART101 Design I."Directional Dominance" projects. From ART231 Oil Painting students developed their skills with traditional "indirect" oil painting techniques as well as the more modern "direct" style by painting unique still-lifes. Lastly, from ART121 Ceramics I students learned to make cups, plates, and bowls in this class. Instructor Regal stated he approaches ceramics not as a traditional pottery class but rather a sculpture class that just uses clay as the medium.
  6. ASB Updates
    There was no ASB update as the quarter was over and students had left for winter break.
  7. President’s Update
    President Sara Thompson Tweedy shared information from the board agenda. She welcomed new Trustee Bethany Martinez Director of Multicultural and Multilingual services at Wahluke School District. President Thompson Tweedy commended VP Kim Garza and her department for onboarding new employees.

    Dr. Thompson Tweedy reported the Summer 2022 enrollment headcount and FTE numbers were up from summer of 2021. Data from Fall 2022 are not yet finalized and the numbers were down slightly. Big Bend continues to search for ESL instructors to help individuals gain skills for success. Winter 2022 enrollment is up approximately 3% and tuition collection is on track. Big Bend budgeted based on flat enrollment and the additional COVID funding helped; however, those monies will be expended and increased enrollments will support the budget.

    The first Regional Government to Government Tribal Relations Summit was held at Big Bend led by SBCTC Tribal Relations Director Lynn Palmanteer-Holder with two tribes represented.

    At 2:25 pm. Board Chair Anna Franz announced that the Board would adjourn to executive session for approximately 10 minutes to discuss items provided for in RCW 42.30.110 (1): (g) to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. The executive session ended at 2:35 pm. No actions were taken during the Executive session.
  8. President’s Contract
    AAG Joseph Ehle followed up on a matter regarding the president's contract. The president's contract will not require an amendment to include professional development because BP3011 provides detail about leave for the president & AP3200 details professional development opportunities for all employees.

    The president has a 3-year rolling contract currently in effect through June 2024. The president’s contract extension will be on the next board meeting agenda.

    AAG Ehle suggested taking action at the next meeting.
  9. BP6120 Hazing Prevention
    VP Kim Garza shared about BP6120 Hazing Prevention. Revisions are due to Sam’s Law which provides a new definition of hazing and steps the college is required to take. The accompanying AP is working through the internal approval process. Changes include all employees becoming mandatory reporters, quarterly training requirements, development of a hazing prevention committee, and a quarterly report to the community on hazing activities. Language for the revision was provided by the SBCTC. AAG Joe Ehle will research the use of consistent wording regarding students or learners.
  10. BP1000 Policy Governance
    Revisions to BP1000 Policy Governance are a result of revised ends statements. Board Chair Anna Franz asked AAG Joe Ehle about public comments and he will research and coordinate with VP Kim Garza
  11. Transforming Lives
    Board Chair Anna Franz shared about trustees donating to the fund for the local Transforming Lives recognition event. The trustees have two accounts, one is for scholarships with 4% pay out in two scholarships annually. The other fund is available for more frequent access like the Transforming Lives recognition. Trustee Juanita Richards challenged the trustees to gather sponsorships to minimize the need to use the scholarship fund for the event. Executive Director of the Foundation LeAnne Parton will provide Transforming Lives budget information for the next meeting.
  12. Assessment of Board Activity
    Trustee Juanita Richards reported she attended the ACT Conference, WEC Private donor event 10/13/2022, Business after hours WEC 11/01/2022, ACT Transforming Lives meeting 11/9/2022, Local Transforming Lives meeting 11/29/2022, First Generation college students celebration 11/8/2022, and the Big Bend Foundation meeting 10/20/2022.

    Board Chair Anna Franz reported she attended the WEC reception, ACT Fall Conference, Special meeting and legislative luncheon, meetings with President Sara Thompson Tweedy, and the First Regional Government to Government Tribal Relations Summit.

    Trustee Gary Chandler reported he attended the WEC reception, ACT Legislative Advocacy Committee meeting, and the Special meeting legislative luncheon.
    Trustee Bethany Martinez reported she attended the Special meeting legislative luncheon.
  13. Next Regular Meeting
    The next regularly scheduled board meeting is Thursday, January 12, 2023.
  14. Miscellaneous
    VP Kim Garza stated that some employees are required to complete Title IX training and all are required to complete hazing prevention training. The Trustees are on the employee list. AAG Joe Ehle clarified that the trustees are not Title IX administrators and they do not have substantial connection to students; trustees do not need to complete the Title IX or Hazing Prevention trainings. It is appropriate for the trustees to complete anti-discrimination and anti-bias trainings. VP Kim Garza will resend links for the anti-discrimination and anti-bias trainings for the trustees.

    Board Chair Anna Franz discussed trustee professional development opportunities and asked about timing preferences. Trustee Bethany Martinez is flexible and stated adding the trainings to a board meeting may be more convenient and she is not available Tuesday afternoons. Trustee Gary Chandler stated he needs to know dates in advance and asked to avoid Mondays.

    Adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

 

Anna Franz, Chair

ATTEST:

 

Sara Thompson Tweedy, Secretary