The Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Board of Trustees convened a meeting on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 3:01 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, Michael Garrison, Tommy Justus, Matt Kern, David King, Libby Kyles, Judy Lewis, Roger Metcalf, John Parham, Frances Ramsey, and Jason Walls. Himanshu Karvir was absent.
Others present for the meeting included: Dirk Wilmoth, Acting President; Deborah Bailey, Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development and Continuing Education; Terry Brasier, Vice President of Student Services; Kerri Glover, Executive Director of Community Relations and Marketing; Beth Stewart, Vice President of Instructional Services; Brian Willis, Vice President of Information Technology; Darryl Rhymes, Director, Employment & Employee Relations; and Carolyn Rice, Secretary to the Board. Ashley Leonard, a College Attorney, participated by phone.
Call to Order
At 3:02 p.m., Chair Banks asked the Board to observe a moment of silence in honor of the lives lost on September 11, 2001.
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.
Closed Session
At 3:04 p.m., Mr. Kern moved that the Trustees enter into closed session pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11 under subsection (a) (3) to discuss matters protected by the attorney-client privilege, and under subsection (a) (5) to discuss the acquisition of real property.
At 3:11 p.m., on a motion properly made, the Board returned to Open Session.
Consent Agenda
At 3:12 p.m., Chair Banks asked for a motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
Dr. Parham moved to approve Consent Agenda items: 3. A. August 7, 2023, Board Meeting Minutes; and 3. B. Personnel Actions.
The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was seconded by Mr. Garrison. The motion passed unanimously.
Resolution/Action Items
4. A. Mr. Brian Willis introduced a new policy and procedure called “Disabling and Deleting User Accounts” to the Board. The policy and procedure were created to restrict authorized user's access to College resources to a specific time frame. It also allows the College to review and disable accounts when access to College resources is no longer required or permitted.
Several questions were raised, and Mr. Willis assured the Board that notifications will be sent prior to disabling an account, that the College will retain all student records, and that the College currently has over 120,000 active student accounts. An additional issue for the College is that Microsoft is raising the cost next year on licensing and resource allocation.
Dr. Justus moved to approve the Disabling and Deleting User Accounts policy and procedure. Ms. Lewis seconded the motion. Ms. Ramsey abstained from the vote. The motion passed by majority consent.
4. B. Dr. Wilmoth shared a potential green infrastructure concept for stormwater management with the Board. RiverLink received a grant, and the College is matching that grant with funds from Article 46 to address the negative impact of stormwater on the Haith Branch. The infrastructure concept will be located by the Advanced Manufacturing building above Chestnut and is designed to both slowdown and clean the stormwater. There is space for a potential amphitheater near the concept, and it will be designed to be a welcoming place. The project will be managed by RiverLink, and maintained by the College. Any costs to the College will be paid for out of operational funds.
Dr. Parham moved to approve the green infrastructure concept for stormwater management. Mr. Walls seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
4. C. Dr. Wilmoth informed the Board that the accounting firm Cherry Bekaert, LLP raised the price to conduct the financial audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, by $20,000. Accordingly, the Administration requested that Sharpe Patel, the Foundation’s auditor, consider amending its contract with the Foundation to include the scope of the College audit. Sharpe Patel agreed to do the College’s audit for a lower price and agreed to an option to renew the contract through fiscal year 2024.
The Administration asked the Board to amend the Foundation’s contract with Sharpe Patel to three years and to add the College to the contract.
Dr. Barwick moved to approve changing the College’s auditing firm to Sharpe Patel. Mr. King seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
President’s Report
Acting President Dr. Dirk Wilmoth shared the following with the Board:
- Dr. John Gossett will return to work on September 18!
- The state auditor examining financial aid for 2022-2023 found no issues! This is a big deal and kudos to Dr. Terry Brasier and his staff.
- A-B Tech is number one in the state for spending money on workforce development!
- The new roofs on the TCC buildings at A-B Tech Enka are working and keeping the buildings dry!
- The College continues to wait for the General Assembly to vote on the budget.
- The Fall Festival welcoming students back to College is tomorrow. Please come and get lunch and a free tee shirt.
- Student Services has seen a 145 percent increase in CCP students since 2012, which accounts for a third of our curriculum FTE. Kudos to Dr. Patton and her team for their recruiting work.
- We hope that you can join us for Autumn in Asheville on October 12.
Staff Report
Dr. Brasier shared the following information on enrollment:
- The number one factor for a student choosing a community college is affordability and the availability of federal student aid. A-B Tech delivers a high-quality education at a low cost.
- Enrollment is the most important metric of all colleges and is an institutional-wide responsibility.
- The cost of attendance should not be a barrier to attending. A-B Tech has numerous financial aid opportunities for students, including multiple scholarships.
- The College currently serves 19,203 students in both curriculum and continuing education.
- Unfortunately, the pandemic had a major impact on community colleges across the country. Where most two-year colleges lost around 38 percent of their enrollment, A-B Tech lost less than 20 percent.
- We expect an additional 200 students to enroll by November 1 in our “Late Start” programs.
- A-B Tech has advisors embedded in all ten of our local high schools, so much so that A-B Tech has become part of the high school’s culture.
- Most of our students work 20 or more hours a week. The College offers classes at flexible times to help students continue their education.
- Retention is the largest focus of Student Services. We reach out to all students who don’t return to ask them the reason why and to offer them help to come back to College.
- The College participates in multiple recruiting events across Buncombe and Madison counties.
- We continue to strive to increase enrollment daily.
Dr. Banks thanked Dr. Brasier for his presentation and noted his passion for students and the College.
Handouts
Divisional Updates are in the Handouts.
The next Board meeting will be on Monday, October 2, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in the Brumit Center for Culinary Arts and Hospitality.
Adjourn
On a motion properly made, the meeting adjourned at 4:26 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn H. Rice
Board Secretary