The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, May 2, 2022, at 3:03 p.m., in person, and via Zoom in The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality. Mr. Matt Kern, Chair, presided.
The following members of the Board participated in person: Michael Garrison, Tommy Justus, Himanshu Karvir, Matt Kern, David King, Libby Kyles, Judy Lewis, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, and Frances Ramsey. Trustees Joe Brumit and Bethany Duke, Ex-Officio, participated via Zoom. Trustee Theresa Banks was absent.
Others present for the meeting included: Dr. John Gossett, President; Terry Brasier, Vice President of Student Services; Amanda Edwards, Executive Director of College Advancement; Kerri Glover; Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Beth Stewart, Vice President of Instructional Services; Brian Willis, Vice President of Information and Technology/CIO; Dirk Wilmoth, Vice President of Business and Finance/CFO; Deborah Wright, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Darryl Rhymes, Director of Employment and Employee Relations; Ashely Leonard, College Attorney; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board. Anne Oxenreider, Executive Director of Research and Planning participated via Zoom.
Call to order
Chair Kern 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 Kern asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Dr. Justus moved to approve Consent Agenda items: 1. A. April 4, 2022, Board Meeting Minutes, and 1. B. Personnel Actions.
The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. King. Trustees Brumit, Garrison, Justus, Karvir, Kern, King, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved the Consent Agenda. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
Resolution/Action Items
2. A. 1. Dr. Stewart informed the Board that two faculty members have been invited to lead a session during the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges in Toronto, Canada. Not only will students benefit from new ideas on instructional strategy and student success, but A-B Tech’s reputation in the math community will be increased on an international level. All traveling faculty are covered by the College’s insurance.
Mr. Karvir moved to approve the Faculty Study Abroad Trip to Canada. Mr. King seconded the motion. Trustees Brumit, Garrison, Justus, Karvir, Kern, King, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved the Faculty Study Abroad Trip to Canada. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. A. 2. Dr. Stewart stated that an additional faculty member has been invited to attend the Weaver Delegation in one of Asheville’s Sister Cities, San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico. The trip will enhance the faculty member’s teaching by exposing her to various cultural aspects of Mexico, to see where the artists work, and what their lifestyles are like. The trip to Mexico is being funded by the Faculty Development Committee.
Ms. Lewis moved to approve the Faculty Study Abroad Trip to Mexico. Dr. Parham seconded the motion. Trustees, Brumit, Garrison, Justus, Karvir, Kern, King, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved the Faculty Study Abroad Trip to Mexico. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. B. Dr. Wilmoth shared that annually the College is required to submit its budget to the Board of Trustees for approval. The College is asking the Buncombe County Commissioners for a small increase in salary and benefits for our lowest-paid employees. The Madison County proposed budget will remain unchanged from last year. The College is seeking quotes to pave the parking lot at A-B Tech Madison and may ask the Madison County Commissioners for help in the future, to offset the cost of the project.
Dr. Parham moved to approve the Proposed Budgets for Buncombe and Madison Counties. Mr. Karvir seconded the motion. Trustees Brumit, Garrison, Justus, Karvir, Kern, King, Kyles, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved the Proposed Budgets for Buncombe and Madison Counties. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. C. Dr. Wilmoth stated that the tuition for the new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program was not included in the previously approved Schedule of Fees. He then asked the Board to amend the 2021-2022 and the 2022-2023 Schedule of Fees to include the $2,900 in tuition for the CDL program. Scholarships are in place to help CDL students with the cost of the program.
Mr. King moved to amend the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Schedule of Fees. Dr. Justus seconded the motion. Trustees Brumit, Garrison, Justus, Karvir, Kern, King, Kyles, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved the Amendment to the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 Schedule of Fees. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. D. The Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) has asked the College to lease them a parking lot on campus for their employees to use while a parking deck is constructed on MAHEC’s campus. The Administration is seeking permission to negotiate a lease for parking lot B-8 (located beneath the old Rhododendron Building site on the Asheville campus), for $3,813 a month for approximately eighteen months. Lot B-8 is rarely used by our students and faculty.
Mr. Garrison moved to authorize the Administration to negotiate a lease for parking lot B-8 with MAHEC. Mr. King seconded the motion. Trustees Brumit, Garrison, Justus, Karvir, Kern, King, Kyles, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved negotiating a lease with MAHEC. The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
2. E. The General Assembly has authorized $4,132,820 in State Construction and Infrastructure Funds for the College. The Administration would like to use some of the funds to proceed with the following two capital projects: a roof on the Sycamore Greenhouse and the installation of door access control systems on the remaining buildings on the Asheville campus. Both the Enka and Madison campuses already have door access systems.
Dr. Parham moved to use a portion of the State Construction and Infrastructure funds for the Sycamore Greenhouse Roof Replacement and Building Access Control Upgrades. Mr. Karvir seconded the motion. Trustees Brumit, Garrison, Justus, Karvir, Kern, King, Kyles, Lewis, Metcalf, Parham, and Ramsey each verbally approved to use of a portion of the State Construction and Infrastructure funds for the Sycamore Greenhouse Roof Replacement and Building Access Control Upgrades The motion was passed by unanimous consent.
President's Report
Dr. Gossett shared the following information with the Board:
- Over sixty people have expressed interest in our new CDL program, and forty have completed the orientation for the program.
- Pratt & Whitney has asked the College for 4,000 square feet of space to place some of their equipment. We tried to accommodate their needs but unfortunately, we do not have 4,000 square feet of usable space on campus.
- Pratt & Whitney is also seeking to hire five or six A-B Tech graduates to travel throughout the country to learn about processes at various plants before beginning work here in Asheville.
- Dr. Gossett is working with the Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention Committee for the North Carolina State System Office.
- Continued meetings are being held with our local legislators in an effort to seek guidance on how to approach salary discussions with the General Assembly.
- Dr. Gossett was interviewed by wART Radio in Madison County, which was fun and informative.
- He visited Chattanooga with the Asheville Chamber to discuss workforce issues with a city similar in size to Asheville. Hopefully, some of the ideas learned in Chattanooga will be put to use in Asheville.
- Six employees graduated from the Trailblazer Leadership Academy last week, and three employees graduated from the Western Community College Leadership Academy.
- President Emeritus Ray Bailey was named Person of the Year by the Boy Scouts and was celebrated on campus with a nice dinner and evening.
- All are welcome to attend the Student Art Exhibition that starts this Friday, May 6, and runs through the end of the month. The Artist Reception is on May 6 in the Conference Center.
Trustee Business
4. A. Trustees Matt Kern, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, David King, Judy Lewis, Libby Kyles, and Bethany Duke will attend the May 14 Commencement.
Staff Report
Dr. Jon Wiener discussed the College’s Allied Health Programs with the Board. Dr. Wiener presented the following information:
- We are proud to say that most of our Allied Health programs are very successful.
- Our Nursing Program is in the top three in the state of North Carolina.
- Our Phlebotomy Program is number two in the United States.
- Our Sonography Program is third in the state of North Carolina.
- Dental Assisting is number one in North Carolina.
- Dental Hygiene is third in the state of North Carolina.
- All programs are accredited by national accrediting agencies and usually receive top ratings.
- Most programs have between a 90 to 100 percent pass rate on national licensure exams.
- Most programs have 100 percent employment of our graduates.
- Most of the Allied Health Programs are competitive or selective entry and require students to score well on a standardized test.
- All programs have three levels of training: didactic, laboratory, and clinical. Students must pass all three levels to graduate.
- We currently have sixty full-time faculty and sixty-five adjuncts on staff, all of who are very dedicated and passionate about their programs.
Dr. Wiener concluded his presentation by acknowledging that the demographics of our faculty and students do not reflect that of Asheville and that he hopes this changes in the future.
SGA Report
Ms. Bethany Duke shared that graduation is right around the corner and that several pinning ceremonies are taking place. All students are excited to move forward into the next chapters of their lives.
Closed Session
At 4:06 p.m., Dr. Metcalf moved that the Trustees enter into a closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 (a) (3) to discuss matters protected by the attorney-client privilege. Dr. Parham seconded the motion.
On a motion properly made, the Board returned to Open Session at 4:47 p.m.
Handouts
Divisional Updates, the April 2021-2022 Student Success Scorecard, and the State and County Budget Report as of March 31, 2022, are in the Handouts.
The next Board meeting will be on Monday, June 6, 2022, at 3:00 p.m., in The Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality.
Adjourn
On a motion properly made, the meeting adjourned at 4:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary