Published on 3/1/2022.
Comments/Board Business
Land Acknowledgement: President of the Board Carol Mathews read the District’s formal statement that recognizes our area’s Indigenous Peoples as the original stewards of the land that College of the Redwoods occupies.
We acknowledge that the land on which we are gathered today is unceded territory of the Wiyot people who continue to live and thrive on this land today. It is surrounded by the traditional, ancestral, and present homeland of several indigenous nations including the Hupa, Karuk, Mattole, Tolowa, Wailaki, and Yurok that make up Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.
Member Comments: Trustee Kelley mentioned that he attended the 2022 Effective Trustee Workshop. He found sessions related to the Brown Act, DEI, the state’s fiscal cliff, and Ethical Issues for Trustees particularly interesting. He also had the opportunity to interact with colleagues on the CCLC’s Advisory Committee on Legislation.
Board Committee Reports: Trustee Dr. Mullery reported that the Audit Committee of the Board met prior to the regular meeting of the Board and discussed issuing Refunding Bonds in one or more Series of Tax-Exempt or Taxable Current Interest Bonds with our bond counsel and a representative from MorganStanley. Refunding the Measure Q bond will allow us, if the interest rate meets a certain threshold, to refinance our outstanding bond debt. The monetary benefits from refinancing will go to the taxpayers.
Trustee Kelley noted that the Board’s Ad Hoc Committee on Advocacy met on February 8, 2022 and formalized its vision statement. The statement articulates that the Ad Hoc Committee will promote student success and the financial stability of CR by reviewing and revising BP/AP 2515; monitoring and influencing state and federal legislation that will impact the District; and monitoring and influencing the state budget as it relates to the District and to community college districts throughout the state.
Vice President of the Board Biggin mentioned that the Board’s Ad Hoc Committee for Board Evaluation is in the process of reviewing the Board Self-Evaluation instrument.
Approve Trustee Travel to CCLC 2022 Annual Trustees Conference Friday, April 29, 2022 to Sunday May 1, 2022: The conference provides our Trustees with a professional development opportunity to interact with trustees and professionals from other community colleges to explore creative ideas relative to student learning and organizational effectiveness. The Board’s approval of travel to the CCLC conference is another example of District meeting Accreditation Standard IV.C.9 The governing board has an ongoing training program for board development, including new member orientation. It has a mechanism for providing for continuity of board membership and staggered terms of office. The action is also linked to Education Master Plan Initiative 5 Pursue the Future of Learning.
Review Progress on Board Goals: The Trustees committed to review the progress they’re making on their goals. It’s clear that the Board is working hard to meet their goals. They expressed a desire to make some minor corrections to the wording of the goals. This discussion, provides evidence of the District meeting Accreditation Standard IV.C.8 To ensure the institution is accomplishing its goals for student success, the governing board regularly reviews key indicators of student learning and achievement and institutional plans for improving academic quality.
Consent Calendar Action Items
Approve/Ratify Personnel Actions: We welcome Robin Shaffer (ECE Assistant 1) to our classified staff service and Karina Brinckhaus (Nursing), Kristen Burrell (Nursing) and Richard Schock (Librarian) to our faculty ranks. I also want to congratulate Edith Ramirez (moving from Administrative Office Coordinator to Purchasing Specialist) and Gabrielle “Lacie” Meyer (from Student Services Specialist II - EOPS to SSS IV – EOPS) for their change in employee status.
Approve Curriculum Changes: Several curriculum changes were approved today. I’d like to highlight one particular new course that unambiguously demonstrates faculty creativity and innovation, shows CR's support for diversity and our indigenous communities, and supports Education Master Plan Initiative 6 Increase Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The new course—HUP 1B Elementary Hupa 1B—will allow more options for foreign language and increase diversity in the class listings. As the curriculum background information said, CR is already one of only a few California community colleges to offer an indigenous language course.
Action/Discussion Items
Approve Monthly Financial Status Report: We did not have any budget adjustments since the last report. We still plan to transfer general fund moneys to the Child Development Center ($90,000), Shively Farm ($59,567), OPEB fund ($820,000), and Capital Outlay Fund ($600,000).
Although this report showed a projected 2021-22 ending fund balance of 17.2%, we should avoid placing too much emphasis upon the level of unrestricted fund balance (i.e. a percentage) in the general fund at any one time. Julia is actively and forthrightly engaged in conversations related to formulating budget assumptions (which includes an optimal fund reserve for the District) with our Budget Advisory Committee. As a reminder, the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) is charged with reviewing and analyzing available data to formulate and recommend annual and long-term budget priorities. The BAC also plays a role in monitoring the alignment of the annual budget and multi-year forecast with the Annual and Education Master Plans. I want to recognize the faculty, staff and administrative colleagues serving on this key planning committee. BAC membership includes Julia Morrison (Co-Chair), Levi Gill (Co-Chair), John Johnston (CRFO designee), Courtney Sousa (CSEA designee), Paul Chown (IR/IEC), Kerry Mayer (EMC Chair), David Bazzard (Senate appointee from Transfer), and Derek Glavich (Senate appointee from CR/non-transfer/non-teaching).
I believe that whatever fund reserve solution we move forward with our focus must be on developing a reserve that is in the best interest of the District’s long term fiscal health, student success and the fulfilment of our Education Master Plan. What’s best for another community college may not be good for CR. Vice President Morrison and I remain committed to emphasizing transparency and openness in our budget conversations.
Informational Reports
Student Success Data: Included in this Board agenda was a summary of our spring enrollment as of census. The data from our IR department showed that census enrollment this spring 2022 is almost exactly the same as it was last spring 2021, enrollment remains 23% lower than prior to the pandemic in spring 2020, and FTES enrollment increased at all on-site locations this spring compared to last spring. Furthermore, enrollment in online classes decreased this spring, but FTES in online courses was still over twice the amount it was prior to the transition to mostly remote instruction in 2021.
The race and ethnicity of students this semester is similar to past semesters except that there has been a decline in Native American students of about two percentage points.
Dr. Angelina Hill is taking the lead on helping us address enrollment difficulties by asking students to respond to a “Question of the Week.” The student feedback will help us get a better sense of the challenges identified from the student satisfaction inventory, and will be used to inform our new enrollment management plan. The adult education program is also administering surveys to the community, students, and faculty to identify barriers to adult education enrollment. This informational report is additional evidence that we’re meeting Accreditation Standard IV.C.8 To ensure the institution is accomplishing its goals for student success, the governing board regularly reviews key indicators of student learning and achievement and institutional plans for improving academic quality.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Report: While we made the implicit/unconscious bias training optional for faculty serving on current faculty screening committees, the Administration and CRFO agreed to discuss alternative approaches to effective implicit/unconscious bias training for future screening committees. This report also mentioned that we set aside $100,000 in the District’s Final Budget to address an annual plan action that calls for the creation of a budget for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. All of the actions under this agenda item demonstrates the District’s declaration to support Education Master Plan Initiative 6 Increase Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Organizational Reports
Academic Senate: Academic Senate President Wall’s comments included an appreciation for the District and CRFO agreeing to discuss implicit/unconscious bias training for faculty. She also mentioned that the Academic Senate will discuss how the faculty may partner with student services to support student access and completion.
CRFO: President Haggerty noted that contract negotiations may move forward now that the contract sunshining process has concluded. She also mentioned that SARTCO conversations have been productive.
Classified: President Engman mentioned that CSEA is working to fill seats on planning committees that call for CSEA representation. She also noted that Brynn Allen has been elected to serve as the Communication Officer for the CSEA.
Student Trustee: Student Trustee Rimmey pointed out that ASCR approved the charting or re-chartering of several clubs including the Pelican Bay Scholars’ Redwoods Garden Club, the API Club, the Craft Club, and the Welding Club. ASCR approved the application of Mason Koski to serve as a Eureka Campus senator and approved the budget for the ASCR Logo Contest.
Administrative Reports
President/Superintendent's Report: My written report noted that:
- Vice President of the Board Biggin volunteered to serve on the President’s Council Subcommittee 2 “Internships, mentorships and real-world learning” and Trustees Dr. Robertson, Kelley, and Coppini have agreed to serve on Subcommittee 3 “Imaging partnerships and learning opportunities". I am happy to share that Dr. Angelina Hill will track and implement the ideas that the subcommittees identify and make sure that the Council’s work is linked to the College Mission, the Education Master Plan, the Board’s goals, and the College’s program review and planning processes. Furthermore, Dr. Hill has been asked to identify potential consultants who may help the College develop a future mindset. All of these actions connect to Education Master Plan Initiative 3 Create a More Nimble and Adaptable Institution.
- I started the search for a new Director of Human Resources and Diversity, Equity Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). I revised the job description to allow this position to serve as the District’s principle administrator for our DEIA efforts as well as leading our Human Resources Department. The revision of the job description reflects the District’s commitment to DEIA as memorialized in the Board’s goals, the President's goals, and Education Master Plan Initiative 6: Increase Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
- We nominated Student Trustee Brianne Rimmey for the Board of Governors Student Leadership Award. She’s well deserving of the nomination.
- We are actively looking for ways to address the lack of food variety in offerings and a decrease in the quality of service in our Dining Services operation. We have been struggling to find staff for the dining kitchen positions since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. AS you may know, we are not alone in facing a staffing shortage. Public and private industries are experiencing a similar scarcity in staffing. Ashley Mitchell and Ericka Barber identified some potential solutions to our challenge including increasing hourly wage for qualified cooks; hiring a permanent fulltime benefited CR employee in the kitchen; creating new student positions funded with Federal Work Study that will assist with kitchen work; purchasing a food truck that will provide a second location to offer food; upgrading our Point of Sale System to enhance online ordering and reduce wait times; and purchasing a hot food self-serve buffet table to help reduce wait time during peak meal hours.
I ceded some of my time to Bob Brown to talk about the academic and on the court/field success of our student athletes.
Interim Vice President of Instruction Report: Kerry’s written report noted that Professor Anibal Florez and Assistant Professor Ernie Shull will receive additional training in hybrid electric vehicle technology to ensure the faculty are current in this growing automotive technology. Dean Mike Haley and the faculty have also outlined a professional development plan focused on learning from our Community College colleagues at institutions such as College of the Desert (which worked with staff from the Schatz Energy Research center to develop their ZEV program), El Camino College, Las Positas College, and Mira Costa College. To support this effort, Kerry is using Strong Workforce funds to purchase new equipment including hybrid-electric vehicle trainers to ensure that CR students are learning this new technology on industry-standard equipment in a safe environment. These planned program upgrades align with the College's new Education Master Plan Initiative #2: Expand and Prioritize Offerings that Prepare Students for Living-Wage Jobs and Initiative #3: Create a More Nimble and Adaptable Institution.
Kerry also wrote that the Biology department purchased a set of LT Sensors from AD Instruments to support online lab activities in the pre-nursing courses. In fall 2021, Professor Wendy Riggs and Associate Professor Dr. Gabriel Holtski distributed the sensors to online BIOL-7 students and were then able to facilitate labs that included robust physiological data collection and group collaboration. Kerry thanked Professors Riggs and Holtski, on the part of the Administration, for using this innovative technology and for their support of innovative and engaging pedagogy. This action aligns with Education Master Plan Initiative #5: Pursue the Future of Learning.
Kerry commented on the recent passing of Professor Danny Walker. She also mentioned that she and Dr. Crystal Morse intends to attend the KT mid-semester celebration on March 28.
Vice President of Administrative Services Report: Julia provided links to websites that provide regular updates to a few of our capital projects:
https://www.redwoods.edu/about-us/Home/Office-of-Administrative-Services/NewFacilities/UIR-SS
https://www.redwoods.edu/about-us/Home/Office-of-Administrative-Services/NewFacilities/Creative-Arts
Julia informed the Board that the Business Office will hold a training on March 29, 2022.
Julia also mentioned that we are in the process of purchasing a camera to keep our internal and external community apprised of the progress we’re making on the construction of our new buildings.
Executive Director of the Foundation: Marty noted that the former CR football player Kevin Wilcox, and his wife Tammy, have made a five-year commitment of $10,000 a year, the Foundation Board welcomed Dr. Jason Ramos, Tribal Administrator and CEO of Tribal Business Enterprises for the Blue Lake Rancheria, the Foundation Board unanimously approved Dr. Colby Smart, Assistant Superintendent for the Humboldt County Office of Education, as a new board member, and the Del Norte Foundation Committee approved a request from Tory Eagles, Pelican Bay Scholars Program Coordinator, for $1,600 to cover the costs of 300 dictionaries for Pelican Bay students.
Approve a Trustee Request to Place an Item on a Future Agenda or Direct Staff to Give a Regular Report: The Trustees asked that I report on how we’re using enrollment data to inform our future enrollment policies and priorities. They also asked that I supply data related to how the property taxes allocated to CR are distributed by city in Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte.