The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 3:03 p.m., in The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Tillman Dining Room. Dr. Theresa Banks, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board participated: Joe Barwick, Joe Brumit, Tommy Justus, Matt Kern, David King, Libby Kyles, Judy Lewis, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, Roger Reid, and Jason Walls. Michael Garrison, Himanshu Karvir, and Mariana Flores, Ex-Officio were absent.
Others present for the meeting included: John Gossett, President; Deborah Bailey, Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Shanna Chambers, Vice President of Human Resources; Kerri Glover, Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Cris Harshman, Interim Vice President of Information Technology; Fairley Patton, Vice President of Student Services; Beth Stewart, Vice President of Instructional Services; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President for Business and Finance/CFO; Darryl Rhymes, Director, Employment & Employee Relations; Ashley Leonard, College Attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board.
Call to Order
At 3:03 p.m., Chair Banks read the ethics statement. No conflicts of interest were reported. Ms. Rice called roll; a quorum was present.
Special Presentation
Dr. Patricia Donat, Senior Vice President of the Southern Association of Colleges, and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) shared that the College is due for its ten-year reaffirmation/reaccreditation and provided the Board with an overview of what to expect from the on-site visiting committee in October 2024. Dr. Donat shared the following information with the Board:
- The College submits a written report to SACSCOC prior to the ten-year visit, affirming all SACSCOC standards are being met. There were seven findings that need to be readdressed: two related to the Board, two related to faculty, two related to assessment practices, and one related to online programs.
- The Board findings were related to undue influence from external bodies, conflict of interest, and the Board’s self-evaluation process.
- The College is currently working on a report addressing all findings, which will be turned in to the visiting committee in August. If the visiting committee needs more documentation, they will ask for it during the October visit.
- The visiting committee will visit five off-campus sites; two prisons and three high schools to verify that students are learning, and faculty are teaching what they are supposed to teach.
- If more documentation is needed after the October visit, the College will have five months to document that it is complying with all SACSCOC standards.
- Dr. Donat will function as the liaison between SACSCOC and the College to make sure the reaccreditation process proceeds smoothly.
Presentation of Plaques
Dr. Gossett recognized Trustees whose terms are up at the end of June and presented plaques of appreciation to Board members Joe Brumit, Judy Lewis, Frances Ramsey, and Jason Walls. All Trustees were thanked for their service and were asked to serve on the Board again, if possible.
Dr. Banks then congratulated Dr. Parham on his retirement from the VA Hospital and for being awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Office of the Governor!
All honored Trustees received a standing ovation.
Consent Agenda
At 3:30 p.m., Chair Banks asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Dr. Parham moved to approve Consent Agenda items: 1. A. May 6, 2024, Board Meeting Minutes; 1. B. Personnel Actions; 1. C. 2024-2025 Annual Appointments and Reappointments, and 1. D. Blanket Travel Authorization and Excess Approval.
The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. Kern. Mr. Walls abstained from the vote. The motion passed by majority consent.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. Dr. Wilmoth stated that although the schedule of fees for the coming year was previously approved, the College is adding a new Pet Care Technician Certificate to our offerings. The new certificate requires the addition of testing fees. All student fees may be paid for with scholarships and/or financial aid.
Dr. Justus moved to approve the Adjustments to the 2024-2025 Schedule of Fees. Mr. King seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
2. B. Dr. Gossett shared that in response to the SACSCOC finding regarding Board self-evaluation, a new procedure has been created called Board of Trustees Expectations and Responsibilities. Board Constitution, adding a dedicated procedure to the Policy Manual strengthens the requirement.
Dr. Justus moved to approve Procedure 106: Trustee Expectations and Responsibilities. Mr. Walls seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
2. C. Dr. Gossett then stated that a new Conflicts of Interest and Undue Influence Procedure has also been created to address external influence. The procedure is in a questionnaire format that Trustees will be asked to fill out and sign each August attesting that they have read the By-Laws of the College regarding conflicts of interest and other state rules regarding Trustee conduct.
It was asked if the definition of “conflict of interest” was included in the procedure. Dr. Gossett noted that the definition of conflict of interest is in Policy 110: Code of Ethical Conduct which the procedure will be attached to.
Ms. Lewis moved to approve Procedure 110: Conflicts of Interest and Undue Influence. Mr. Walls seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Trustee Business
3. A. Mr. Kern, Mr. King, and Ms. Kyles were appointed as the Nominating Committee who will present their nominations for Chair, Vice Chair, and Board Secretary for 2024-2025, at the August 5, 2024, meeting.
President’s Report
Dr. Gossett shared the following with the Board:
- Dr. Gossett thanked the Board members for attending graduation. Over 800 students were awarded degrees, diplomas, and certificates, and over 450 of those students participated in the Commencement Ceremony.
- Dr. Gossett has attended EMT pinnings, Nursing pinnings, and the graduation ceremonies for Buncombe County, Madison County Early College, and Buncombe County’s Middle College.
- The College has held open houses for Vet Tech and the Craft Beverage Institute. Several additional open houses are planned throughout the summer as recruitment events for the fall semester.
- Congratulations to Dr. Fairley Pollack who has been selected as the Vice President of Student Services!
- Mr. Cris Harshman has agreed to remain as Interim Vice President of IT until the search starts for that position.
- Unfortunately, Ms. Shanna Chambers, Vice President of Human Resources has resigned. Ms. Chambers will be very hard to replace and will be greatly missed. We wish her great success in her next chapter.
- We have had several retirements and going away receptions for other staff members who will also be hard to replace.
- We are in the process of addressing all seven SACSCOC findings. We will explain why we picked a specific set of data for student achievements, find examples for student outcomes, and ensure that the student’s identity is protected online and that the students taking the course are the actual students enrolled in the course.
- The General Assembly has mandated that accredited Colleges must seek a new accrediting agency every ten years. Once we receive our final fifth-year report from SACSOC, the College will start looking for a new accreditor. The System Office has been helpful in researching other accrediting agencies, and we hope it will be a smooth transition.
The Board discussed the General Assembly’s appointing process, tours of A-B Tech Enka with the master planning team, and the success of holding the Grind Fest on campus.
Closed Session
At 4:07 p.m., Mr. Walls moved that the Trustees enter 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. Mr. Kern seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
At 4:57 p.m., Dr. Parham moved to return to the Open Session. Mr. Kern seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
Handouts
The State and County Budget Report as of April 30, 2024, Divisional Updates, and the 2023-2024 Student Success Scorecard are in the Handouts.
The next Board meeting will be on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at A-B Tech Madison.
Adjourn
Upon a motion properly made, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary