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THE OFFICIAL MINUTES

The Big Bend Community College Board of Trustees held a Regular Board meeting Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in person.

Present: Gary Chandler
  Anna Franz
  Bethany Martinez
  Amy Parris

 

  1. Mission Moments
    Athletic Director John Meeks and Coach Preston Wilks escorted the Women’s basketball team to the meeting for introductions. Coach Jason Hopkins and Bryce Hendricks introduced the Men’s basketball team.

    Director Yolanda Ibarra presented the information she shared when her department received the NWCCU Beacon Award. She shared data comparing students who are using WES services and students who are not; WES students retained or completed a credential at 76% and all Non-WES students retained or completed a credential at 65%. Also, WES students from historically underrepresented groups retained or completed a credential at 76% and Non-WES students from historically underrepresented groups only retained or completed credentials at 34%. Director Ibarra also shared student success stories. Trustee Franz stated the equity and completion rate is outstanding.
  2. Public comment
    There was no public comment.
  3. Consent Agenda
    Motion 23-38 Trustee Anna Franz moved to approve the consent agenda. Trustee Bethany Martinez seconded and the motion passed.
  4. Faculty Updates
    Faculty Association President Tyler Wallace shared news from faculty.

    Michele Reeves, Early Childhood Education Instructor was asked to present at two national conferences in partnership with EWU and local education leaders about our partnership pathways for Elementary Education teachers. She was unable to attend either conference due to conflicts with Early Learning Teacher Preparation Council with the State, but she did contribute to the presentations being made by this group. The first conference was in California at TED - Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children. The second was in Minnesota at DEC – Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children.

    Kaja Englund, Criminal Justice Instructor shared activities from two classes. In her online CJ& 209 Police Psychology course, students are currently working on watching a video interview of Corporal Lopez from Moses Lake Police Department. The purpose of this interview was to help students connect what they are reading in their textbook and learning in class to "real life" experiences expressed by Cpl. Lopez. The interview questions prompted Cpl. Lopez to share about his psychology related experiences and training on the job as a police officer.

    In her CJ& 101 Intro to Criminal Justice course while students were learning about reasonable suspicion and probable cause, she had a student arrest her in class (and yes, with real police handcuffs). What better way to have students see and understand the process of reasonable suspicion, major sources that provide probable cause, search and seizures, stop and frisks, and arrests than doing a role place scenario. The particular scenario in which she was arrested started with her putting up a news flash for a person who was wanted for robbery on the screen. The description of this wanted individual was an exact description of Kaja. She assigned an "officer" student to the case who, with the help of his backup crew (being the rest of the class) worked through the questioning, searches, and framework of then making an arrest.

    Melissa Heaps, Basic Skills Instructor reports that students in BEdA have had an exciting November! It started with a visit to the aviation department, where Cade Levine gave WA State History students a tour of a 727 and taught them about career options as flight mechanics. Mitch Poth from the Communications Department stopped by the BEdA US History class to discuss what makes a good political speech. Finally, students learned about the history of irrigation and agriculture in the Columbia Basin with a visit to Jonathan Hartman’s greenhouse in the WEC building.

    Rhonda Kitchens, Faculty librarian and Library Science Instructor hosted another round of the Passion Project series. This quarter featured Lindsay Groce and her tails of all she learned as she traveled England and Europe on her sabbatical. Before the event attendees were invited to make their own fascinators to wear for the tea and presentation as we were all transported to England for a discussion about the history of science. In addition, Rhonda wishes to invite everyone to stop by the Library to visit the poets table and write a Haiku at this annual event.

    Aviation Maintenance Technology Instructor Chris Dinges is a graduate of the Big Bend program and formerly worked for MedStar/Life. He is in his third year of the tenure review process and Big Bend’s AMT program is ranked sixth out of 175 schools.
  5. Student Leadership
    Mechatronic Club members showed a mechatronics project mini farm bot performing. Instructor and IST Advisor Justin Henley introduced the Club Officers. Forty students are in the club with around eleven active members.
  6. ASB Updates
    ASB President Ty Tait provided a report about ASB activities. Clubs need to attend one ASB meeting per month to encourage networking and funding justification. The Mechatronics Club offered to make t-shirts for other students. ASB coordinated a disability awareness speaker and food events. ASB and clubs have been active with a Dia de los Muertos celebration and food and destress events. There are more student activities planned for winter and spring quarters.
  7. President’s Update
    Dr. Tweedy highlighted new employees and employees who have been promoted as well as open positions. She shared winter Student enrollment, which continues to increase. Dr. Tweedy answered the bookstore budget question from the last meeting. We don’t have a bookstore therefore no bookstore budget; we communicate with Barnes and Noble who operate our bookstore services.

    Dr. Tweedy announced we are an ASPEN Top 150 college and in the top 15% of community and technical colleges in the nation. The Top award is $1 million and similar to the Oscars for community colleges. Six critical areas are evaluated to choose the top colleges: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, access, and equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

    Additional information will be submitted to the Aspen Institute and we hope to earn a spot in the top 25 schools.

    Dr. Tweedy reported she will meet with legislators in January, February, and April with a focus on raising awareness about dual enrollment, it’s funding, and the pipeline from Big Bend into industry. Graduating students from high school with post-secondary credentials help our students and industries. College in the High School helps students collect credits that may not all transfer to Universities.

    The Big Bend Community College Foundation held a successful Family Campaign and achieved their stretch goal of $45,000, above the original goal of $42,000.

    Board Chair Gary Chandler announced a 15-minute exec session at 2:40 p.m. 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 meeting reconvened at 2:55 p.m. No actions were taken during the executive session.
  8. Exceptional Faculty Award Recommendation
    Dr. Steve Ausere adjunct instructor for nine years EFA. Good for MA students. Spine issues are the second highest reason to visit a physician.

    Motion 23-39 Trustee Anna Franz moved to approve associate faculty member Dr. Steve Ausere’s application to attend a spine training ($950). Trustee Amy Parris seconded and the motion carried.
  9. Legislative Meetings in Community
    Trustee Gary Chandler discussed the idea of scheduling board meetings in the outlying communities of the Big Bend CC service district with local legislators and community members invited to the meetings. President Tweedy discussed meeting in communities to highlight partnerships between community members and Big Bend.
  10. Board Goals
    The Board goals for the 2023-2024 academic year are as follows:
    1. Develop a clear method of monitoring Big Bend Community College’s Ends Statements including the identification of indicators which measure the performance of the institution relative to the Ends.
    2. Advance equity, diversity, and inclusion by reviewing policies to ensure support of operational equity, diversity, and inclusion programs.
    3. Establish an annual calendar of board study session topics to ensure professional development of Board members.

      This agenda item was tabled to the next meeting when the full board is present.
  11. Board Policy 1000
    Reviewed at the last meeting.

    Motion 23-40 Trustee Anna Franz moved to approve BP1000 revisions Trustee Bethany Martinez seconded and the motion passed.
  12. Transforming Lives Event
    The state level Transforming Lives event has been placed on hold due to budgetary constraints. The board will discuss this event during the next board meeting when Trustee Richards, ACT Transforming Lives Committee member will be present.
  13. Assessment of Board Activity
    Trustees submitted their activities in writing.
  14. Next Meeting
    The next meeting was confirmed for Thursday, February 1, 2024.
  15. Miscellaneous
    Trustee Amy Parris asked about the upcoming legislative visits and the ACT Conference. President Tweedy reported the trustees are invited to attend legislative visits with her January 25 during her WACTC meetings. Dr. Tweedy stated Big Bend’s legislative priority is dual enrollment.

    Adjournment 3:25 p.m.

 

Gary Chandler, Board Chair

ATTEST:

 

Sara Thompson Tweedy, Secretary