February 1, 2021 Board of Trustee Meeting Minutes


The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Thursday, February 4, 2021, at 1:30 p.m., in the Simpson Conference Room, via Zoom and teleconference. Dr. John Parham, Chair, presided.

The following members of the Board attended in person: John Parham, Wayne Brigman, and Matt Kern. Trustee Frances Ramsey participated via teleconference. Trustees Theresa Banks, Joe Brumit, Libby Kyles, Judy Lewis, and Roger Metcalf participated via Zoom. Trustees Nian Avery, Himanshu Karvir, and Max Queen were absent.

Dr. John Gossett, President; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board participated in person.

Others present for the Zoom meeting included:

  • Terry Brasier, Vice President of Student Services;
  • Shanna Chambers, Executive Director of Human Resources;
  • Amanda Edwards, Director of the Foundation;
  • Kerri Glover, Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing;
  • Anne Oxenreider, Director of Research and Planning;
  • Beth Stewart, Vice President Instructional Services;
  • Brian Willis, Vice President Information Technology/CIO;
  • Deborah Wright, Vice President Work Force Development and Continuing Education;
  • Darryl Rhymes, Associate Director, Human Resources and Special Assistant to the President for Equity and Compliance;
  • Ashley Leonard, College Attorney.

 

Call To Order

Chair Parham read the ethics statement. No conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called the roll, a quorum was present.

Chair Parham asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.

  • 1. A. December 7, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes, and
  • 1. B. Personnel Actions.

The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. Kern. Trustees Banks, Brigman, Brumit, Kern, Kyles, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved the Consent Agenda. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Resolution/Action Items

2. A. Dr. Beth Stewart discussed terminating the Industrial Systems Technology Program with the Board. The College is replacing the Industrial Systems Program with the more recognized Mechatronics Engineering Technology Program in hopes that a more recognized program title will increase enrollment in the program. Mechatronics Engineering Technology will require one additional class at no cost to the College.

Mr. Kern moved to approve the termination of the Industrial Systems Technology Program. Mr. Brigman seconded the motion. Trustees Banks, Brigman, Brumit, Kern, Kyles, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved the termination of the Industrial Systems Technology Program. The motion passed unanimously.

 

President’s Report

Dr. Gossett shared the following information with the Board:

  • Planning meetings continue with Buncombe County and Pratt & Whitney. The architect for A-B Tech’s on-site Training Center has been chosen.
  • The Buncombe County Health Department has been using the Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center to administer the first Covid-19 vaccine. Covid-19 testing is also available at A-B Tech Madison. The process has been running smoothly, and A-B Tech is proud to be a part of the solution in fighting the pandemic.
  • Only four percent of the College’s employees have tested positive for Covid-19 since June 2020. The Covid-19 Taskforce and Human Resources Department have done a wonderful job of keeping our campuses safe.
  • Ms. Anne Oxenreider has compiled the suggestions from the October Board Planning Retreat and has created a Strategic Planning Committee that will take those suggestions and create the strategic plan for the College. The Committee includes employees from different areas of the College, who will work together to decide what the College’s new vision and mission statement will be. The new Vision and Mission Statement will be presented to the Board for approval in May.
  • Mr. William Buster, the Senior Vice President of Impact for Dogwood Trust, has asked to have a conversation with the region's community colleges regarding our needs. Mr. Buster will be on campus on March 1 to meet with the western North Carolina community college Presidents and to facilitate a discussion on how the Trust can support and assist our colleges. President Stith of the North Carolina Community Colleges Systems has been invited to attend as well.
  • I met with Mr. Lew Bleiwies at the Asheville Airport regarding potential space on the airport property for our Aviation program. This conversation is ongoing.
  • I have had several meetings to discuss enrollment with local university Chancellors and the Superintendent of Asheville City Schools.
  • The May 15, 2021 Commencement Ceremony will be held virtually this year. Details will follow!
  • The North Carolina Community College President’s Association is working together to lobby the General Assembly to not hold the pandemic against the community college’s budget. I have met with several of our local representatives regarding the same issue.
  • An ongoing priority for community colleges is faculty and employee salaries. We continue to lobby the General Assembly to compensate community college employees at the same rate as state employees.

4. A. Chair Parham appointed Mr. Matt Kern to the Foundation Board. Mr. Kern will work with Mr. Brumit in representing the Board of Trustees on the College’s Foundation Board.

4. B. Chair Parham asked the Board to consider attending the April 21-23 NCACCT Law/Legislative Seminar. The Seminar is a great way to meet other Trustees, get new Trustee training, and complete the mandatory Ethics Training. It has not been decided if the Seminar will be virtual or in-person this year.

Chair Parham mentioned that the State and County Budget Report as of December 31, 2020, and the 2020-2021 Student Success Scorecard were in the Handouts.

The next Board meeting will be on March 1, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. in The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality.

 

Adjourn

On a motion properly made, the meeting adjourned at 1:48 p.m. unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary