The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 3:04 p.m., in RAMS 112, A-B Tech Madison. Dr. Theresa Banks, Chair, presided.
In addition to Dr. Banks, the following members of the Board participated: Michael Garrison, Tommy Justus, Matt Kern, David King, Judy Lewis, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, Anthony Penland, Frances Ramsey, Glenda Weinert, and Mariana Flores, Ex-Officio. Joe Barwick, Himanshu Karvir, Libby Kyles, Roger Metcalf, and Roger Reid were absent.
Others present for the meeting included: John Gossett, President; Deborah Bailey, Vice President, Economic and Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Amanda Edwards, Executive Director, College Advancement; Kerri Glover, Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Fairley Patton, Vice President of Student Services; Darryl Rhymes, Director, Employment & Employee Relations; Beth Stewart, Vice President of Instructional Services, Dana Moore, Dean, Engineering, Transportation & Technology; Angie Goodwin, Dean, Allied Health; Ashley Leonard, College Attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call to Order
At 3:04 p.m., Chair Banks read the ethics statement. No conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called roll; a quorum was present.
Consent Agenda
At 3:05 p.m., Chair Banks asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Ms. Lewis moved to approve the Consent Agenda items:
- March 3, 2025, Board Meeting Minutes; and
- Personnel Actions. Mr. Kern seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Resolution/Action Items
- Dr. Gossett informed the Board that the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) regarding the use of A-B Tech facilities needs to be amended to change the size of the structure used to monitor air quality from 8’X8’ to 8’X10’, and to update the contact information for the project to Mrs. Beth Green, Director of Facilities Support.
- Dr. Parham moved to approve the First Amendment to the MOU Regarding the Use of A-B Tech Facilities. Mr. Kern seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
- The Board reviewed the 2025-2026 Schedule of Fees. General student fees are increased incrementally and directly correlate to increases imposed on the College. Increases in fees for curriculum students are also directly related to increased costs of supplies needed for classes. Although fees for Continuing Education students are typically low and are not eligible for financial aid, costs have increased here as well.
- Unrestricted funds donated to the College may be used to help offset the financial burden placed on our students. Additionally, when excess funds are available in fee accounts, those funds are used to offset fee increases. Curriculum course fees may be paid for with financial aid, and when funds are donated for a particular class (such as Vet Tech), we can waive those fees.
- Chief Penland moved to approve the 2025-2026 Schedule of Student Fees. Mr. Kern seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
- Dr. Gossett shared that in 2023 and 2024, the College was able to use HEERF (Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds) to write student debt off the books, rather than remove the debt as an asset. Unfortunately, HEERF is no longer available. The College is required to actively pursue the collection of outstanding student debt for a minimum of 365 days. The debt is then placed with the Department of Revenue for another 365 days, and once the debt is over three years old, the College asks the Board of Trustees for permission to “write off” the debt as an asset on our books. The debt is still a liability to the student, and the College continues to try to collect the owed funds.
- Dr. Parham moved to authorize the removal of Overdue Student Accounts. Mr. King seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Trustee Business
- Dr. Banks asked for a report from the Trustees who attended the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees (NCACCT) Seminar. Dr. Parham responded and encouraged the Board to attend a future NCACCT Seminar, as it is a great way to meet your fellow Trustees from around the state, and Dean Shatley (Campbell, Shatley) always gives an excellent legal presentation. North Carolina is the top community college system in the country, and we hope it remains that way!
- Also, during the Seminar, a bipartisan group enacted a project signed by the governor to have two million North Carolina citizens with a degree or industry-requested credential by 2030. A panel discussion was held on how to attract 24-40-year-old students, and there is still a push for the new funding formula known as PropelNC.
- Dr. Parham, Chief Penland, and Ms. Ramsey were appointed to serve on the Presidential Evaluation Committee.
- The Board was reminded to please complete their annual Statement of Economic Interest Forms by April 15, 2025.
- Several Trustees agreed to attend the May 10, 2025, Commencement Ceremony.
President’s Report
Dr. Gossett shared the following with the Board:
- Governor Stein will give welcoming remarks to our graduates on May 10.
- The College’s Professional Development Day on March 4 was very successful. Our employees appreciated the theme of the day, which was resilience, renewal, and restoration.
- Pratt & Whitney decided a year ago not to partner with the College in a training facility on the Biltmore West property. Biltmore Farms, however, is still interested in having a manufacturing, innovation, and training hub on their property and is taking several stakeholders to Chicago next week to tour MxD (Manufacturing X Digital); a destination for innovative manufacturers.
- A Town Hall was held on campus last month, which gave our leadership team a good opportunity to test the College’s Emergency Operations Center.
- Spartanburg Community College was invited to campus to discuss advanced manufacturing and share ideas.
- The Economic Development Corporation presented its 5x5 Strategic Plan to the community. We are proud to be the only higher education organization mentioned by name in the plan!
- Dr. Gossett attended the state system’s Pinnacle Awards, where Dr. Shelley White was celebrated as the President of the Year! Ms. Glover, Mr. Spencer Black, and Mr. Don Perkins created an excellent video on Hurricane Helene, which will be shared with the Board in the near future.
- The Find Your Future event was very successful and drew the largest turnout since COVID.
- Our Culinary Team won the Southeast Regionals and will move on to the Nationals in Las Vegas this summer.
- We haven’t heard anything regarding the status of federally funded grants from anyone in Washington, DC, about what to expect in the future. We hear things on the news like everyone else, and it has been frustrating not to have answers for employees and students who rely on grants for employment and programs.
- Article 46 Funds sunset in 2027, is part of a local bill, and any extension must go through the General Assembly for approval. The College is laying the groundwork to get the Article 46 bill extended.
Staff Report
Dr. Stewart shared the following information on an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Pilot Program for the classroom:
- SACSCOC requires the College to have a set of student learning outcomes, and our General Education Committee has decided that AI is so important to the College that an AI Student Learning Outcome will be added in 2026.
- Students will learn to create a prompt in AI and then be able to critique it for accuracy.
- Instructional Services will have three AI projects next year:
- Administrative – students will be asked to take two processes and streamline them using AI.
- Assessment – we will restructure the College’s Student Learning Outcomes (SLO) assessment process using AI, which includes the collection of evidence, compilation of data, and analysis of data.
- Teaching – selected departments must finish two projects – one in the fall and one in the spring. The projects must include SLOs, student activity, and a teaching component.
- AI is truly the future, and we want A-B Tech to be at the forefront of our peers.
- Thank you to Mr. Bill Sederburg for his generous donation that allowed us to purchase ChatGPT licenses and books for our students.
- We will still need humans to make sure AI is correct!
SGA Report
SGA President Ms. Mariana Flores shared that the SGA held a tie-dye t-shirt event that attracted 150 students. A “Create Artist Trading Cards for Autism Acceptance” event was held on April 2. All cards created were given to Arms Around ASD to support the Autistic Community. We have a lot of students volunteering for the April 9 Earth Day, and all Board members are invited to attend and participate in the many offerings. A craft circle is scheduled for April 22, where students can bring a craft project to work on. The SGA will have materials on hand for students to use for crafts as well.
SGA Vice President Ross Fallon paints customized LEGO mini figures that have caught the eye of Marvel comic book and LEGO aficionados around the world. Mr. Fallon has a YouTube channel with almost 300,000 subscribers! Ross will have a LEGO building event with students on April 23.
Finally, we are seeing a substantial increase in students who want to participate in the SGA this fall.
Closed Session
At 4:15 p.m., Mr. Kern moved that the Trustees enter into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (1) and (3) in order to discuss confidential personnel matters pursuant to G.S. 115D-27-29 and to discuss matters protected by the attorney-client privilege.” Dr. Justus seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
At 4:24 p.m., Mr. Garrison moved to approve the March 3, 2025, Closed Session minutes. Mr. King seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
At 4:27 p.m., Mr. Kern moved to return to the open session. Chief Penland seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Open Session
Dr. Gossett informed the Board that the Welding Lab at A-B Tech Madison has several safety issues, including air ventilation, power sources, and the ability to move power around the room, and will be closed at the end of the Spring semester for extensive cleaning. We continue to work with the General Assembly for funds to expand A-B Tech Madison, and a new welding lab is included in those expansion plans. If the expansion funds are not approved, we will get the current Lab cleaned and back up to standard by Spring 2026. The College is working with local welding companies who can offer lab space to our students, and affected high school students have been offered other opportunities in electronics and construction-related courses.
The Board then discussed the budget and reduction in county funding. Facilities have been reorganized in an attempt to save money; we are researching several other cost-saving ideas. The good news is that enrollment is up and continues to increase.
Informational Items
The 2024-2025 Student Success Scorecard, Divisional Updates, and the State and County Budget Report as of February 28, 2025, are included in the Board packet.
The next Board meeting will be on Monday, May 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality at A-B Tech Asheville main campus.
Adjourn
Upon a properly made motion, the meeting adjourned at 4:49 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice,
Board Secretary