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Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education, Montgomery, Alabama

Board Briefs from meetings of the Alabama State Board of Trustees

for Community and Technical Colleges and Athens State University

May 22, 2008 The State Board of Education met at 9:36 a.m. in the Auditorium of the Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery, Alabama, for consideration of postsecondary education matters. Present were Mrs. Ella Bell, Mrs. Stephanie Bell, Mr. David Byers, Dr. Mary Jane Caylor, Dr. Ethel Hall, Mr. Randy McKinney, Mrs. Betty Peters and Mrs. Sandra Ray. Also present was Chancellor Bradley Byrne, Alabama Community College System. Absent was Governor Bob Riley. PUBLIC HEARING State Attorney General Troy King advised the Board that he is authorizing a law suit requested by Chancellor Byrne to proceed to recover money taken by former Chancellor Roy Johnson and other businesses and contractors who the evidence in criminal proceedings indicates have engaged in conduct that cost taxpayers millions of dollars in corrupt kickback schemes. The firm of Hand Arendall has been selected to pursue this litigation. ACTION ITEMS APPROVED The Board authorized the Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute (AIDT) to construct a Robotics Training Center. Planning must be completed and construction contracts executed no later than February 22, 2009, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $14,000,000 – Local government funds and special allocation from PSCA The Board approved the Calhoun Community College application for an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Physical Therapy Assistant. Fiscal consideration: $962,700 in estimated new funds will be required to support the proposed program and a total of $1,503,060 will be available through internal allocations, tuition, and extramural funds. The Board approved the Calhoun Community College application for an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Respiratory Therapist Assistant. Fiscal consideration: $989,700 in estimated new funds will be required to support the proposed program, and a total of $1,551,910 will be available through internal allocations, tuition, and extramural funds. The Board authorized Calhoun Community College to renovate the interior of the Research Park Building, Huntsville Campus. Planning must be completed and construction contracts executed no later than February 22, 2009, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $3,500,000 ($500,000 – Current Restricted Fund [Adult Education Grant]; $1,959,399 – College Plant Fund [Unexpended]; and $1,040,601 – Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007 Bond Issue)

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The Board authorized Enterprise-Ozark Community College to renovate Lolley Hall which houses a gymnasium, pool and classrooms. Planning must be completed and construction contracts executed no later than February 22, 2009, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $300,000 – Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007 Bond Issue The Board authorized Gadsden State Community College to replace three roofs; two on the Ayers Campus and one on the East Broad Campus. Planning must be completed and construction contracts executed no later than February 22, 2009, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $800,000 – Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007 Bond Issue The Board approved the Northeast Alabama Community College application for an Associate in Applied Science Degree and Certificate Award in Industrial Maintenance. Fiscal consideration: $785,500 in estimated new funds will be required to support the proposed program, and a total of $942,950 will be available through internal allocations, tuition, and extramural funds. The Board authorized Reid State Technical College to re-roof the Wiley Salter Administration/ Auditorium Building and install new Mansard Roofing Systems on Buildings 100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 700 and the Student Center. Planning must be completed and construction contracts executed no later than February 22, 2009, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $657,972 – Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007 Bond Issue The Board authorized Southern Union State Community College to purchase a multi-campus phone system. This purchase must be completed no later than November 22, 2008, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $300,000 – Current Unrestricted Fund The Board authorized Wallace Community College – Dothan to purchase equipment and technology for instructional purposes. This purchase must be completed no later than November 22, 2008, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $195,000 ($46,435 – Current Restricted Fund [Title III Grant]; and $147,665 – Current Restricted Fund [President’s Community-Based Job Training Grant]) The Board authorized Wallace State Community College – Hanceville to purchase equipment for instructional purposes. This purchase must be completed no later than November 22, 2008, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $589,960 – Current Unrestricted Fund The Board authorized Wallace State Community College – Hanceville to renovate the Tom Bevill Health Education Building. Planning must be completed and construction contracts executed no later than February 22, 2009, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $4,000,000 ($544,935 – Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007 Bond Issue; and $3,455,065 – College Plant Fund [Unexpended]) The Board granted Lurleen B. Wallace Community College additional authorization on a construction project previously approved on October 28, 2004, October 27, 2005, June 22, 2006 and April 26, 2007. Planning must be completed and construction contracts executed no later than February 22, 2009, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: $1,500,000 ($392,226 – College Plant Fund [Unexpended]; and $1,107,774 – Education Facilities Excellence Act of 2007 Bond Issue)

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The Board adopted the proposed changes and additions made to the Board policies pertaining to Physical Facilities Management. The Board authorized that, unless an alternative effective date is specified within the policy, these revised policies take effect immediately and declare null and void and supersede any prior versions of these policies. Fiscal consideration: None The Board authorized the allocation of a portion of the 2007-2008 State Adult Education Funds as outlined below. Fiscal consideration: $73,216 – 2007-2008 State Adult Education Funds $23,300 – Lurleen B. Wallace Community College $12,479 – Bevill State Community College $12,479 – Calhoun Community College $12,479 – Wallace State Community College – Hanceville $12,479 – Wallace Community College – Dothan The Board authorized the allocation of a portion of the 2007-2008 State Workforce Development Funds for various programs as outlined below. Fiscal consideration: $215,681 – 2007-2008 State Workforce Development Funds $11,250 – Enterprise-Ozark Community College $58,447 – Reid State Technical College $27,276 – Lurleen B. Wallace Community College $58,708 – Snead State Community College $60,000 – Calhoun Community College The Board adopted a resolution recognizing the contributions of the Alabama Supercomputer Authority to the mission of the Alabama Community College System and specifically thanking the Alabama Supercomputer Authority for its unsolicited 100 percent increase in broadband access at every college. The Board appointed Dr. Robert K. Glenn as President of Athens State University, effective at a date mutually agreeable between the Chancellor and Dr. Glenn. Fiscal consideration: Dr. Glenn will receive annual compensation and other benefits as provided for in State Board of Education Salary Schedule A. The Board appointed Dr. James Lowe as President of Bishop State Community College, effective at a date mutually agreeable between the Chancellor and Dr. Lowe. Fiscal consideration: Dr. Lowe will receive annual compensation and other benefits as provided for in State Board of Education Salary Schedule A. The Board authorized the President of Marion Military Institute (MMI), subject to review by the Chancellor and the Chancellor’s legal office, to purchase two properties that total approximately 2.75 +/- acres and include two dwellings located at 214 and 215 Polk Street, Marion, Alabama. This purchase must be executed by September 24, 2008, or this authorization will expire. Fiscal consideration: The properties have been appraised at $197,000 and $202,176. The family will sell the properties to MMI for $200,000 plus closing costs. $203,000 – Current Unrestricted Fund

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The Board authorized Wallace State Community College – Selma to purchase, subject to review by the Chancellor and the Chancellor’s legal office, approximately 13 acres adjacent to the campus, and lease said property to the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections. This purchase must be executed within six months. Fiscal consideration: $100,000 – Current Unrestricted Fund The Board accepted the resignation of Dr. Edward Meadows as President of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College effective August 31, 2008. Fiscal consideration: None The Board authorized Lurleen B. Wallace Community College to name its Lecture Room 102 in memory of Mr. Frank Eugene Lassiter, Jr. and in honor of Ms. Arlene Davis (college employee); Classroom 207 for the Alabama Power Foundation; Conference Room 103 in memory of Mrs. Alyce Wilson and Mr. John E. ‘Jimmy’ Wilson; Classroom 203 for BankTrust Bank, Butler County Bank, First Lowndes Band, and Whitney Bank; Classroom 205 for the Daniel Foundation of Alabama; Nursing Classroom 207 for L. V. Stabler Memorial Hospital; Home Health Care 206B for Phi Theta Kappa, Greenville Campus Chapter; Reception Room 106 for Mr. and Mrs. Eric Cates; Office 106B for Dr. Jean Alford Thompson (college employee); Office 106C for Dr. Michael J. Daniel; Office 106D for State Farm Insurance Company, Wal-Mart, and Greenville Motor Company; and the Faculty Suite (Offices 201A, 201B, 201C) for Terrell Enterprises, Inc. The Board further authorized the names of the two college employees, Dr. Jean Thompson and Ms. Arlene Davis, be added at the appropriate time in accordance with Policy 519.01. Fiscal consideration: None The Board adopted a resolution recognizing the contributions of Mr. James Sumner in bringing the best of ethical practices to the people of Alabama; commending Mr. Sumner with deep gratitude and resounding respect for his service to others, and especially to the Alabama College System; and recognizing the accomplishments of the Alabama Ethics Commission in promoting ethical behavior for the approximately 34,855 employees of the State of Alabama. CHANCELLOR’S REPORT Mr. Byrne advised the Board that tuition at System colleges would not be increased at this time. He also stated that he rescinded a prior chancellor’s directive that colleges must schedule classes five days a week. Colleges now have the flexibility to schedule classes four days a week, giving students the opportunity to save money on gasoline costs. The Chancellor reported that the Board of Adjustment will be giving an adverse decision on the claim by Aztec against Lurleen B. Wallace Community College asking for an additional payment plus interest for purchased software. No formal decision has been made at this time. Though the contract was with Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, other colleges were involved, so there will be cost sharing to pay this Board of Adjustment claim once it is rendered. Mr. Byrne advised the Board that the Minutes of November 2007 meeting have been reviewed and some non-substantive mistakes have been found. These errors do not change the substance of any decisions made by the Board. These minutes will be brought to the Board in June for correction. Mr. Byrne reported that a recommendation has been made from the State Workforce Planning Council based on the first part of a two-part study done by the AUM Center for Government. Part of that recommendation is that the three Skills Training Consortia be combined into one statewide operation. This would centralize the administrative/management/supervisory functions

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into one, consolidate leadership to provide consistency on service delivery, and move resources currently used for management administration to direct services. A savings of $750,000 a year in administrative costs can be used for training or other direct services. No Board action is required. More information from the study will be brought to the Board at a later date. Mr. Byrne introduced three new interim presidents: Valerie Richardson at Gadsden State Community College; Wayne Bennett at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College; and Nancy Chandler at Enterprise-Ozark Community College. He reported that the legislative session ended without the passage of the Private School Licensure bill. The education budget was not passed, but a special session will be called by the Governor for that purpose. Mr. Byrne gave the Board a written report highlighting the accomplishments during his first year as Chancellor, which include new presidents, creation of an internal audit division, changes to policies, new procedures manuals for divisions of the Department, ethics training, a new workforce development division, increased partnerships with local K-12 systems, a new facilities division, the beginning of system-wide strategic planning, creation of the new dashboard on the System’s web site, rebranding of the System, new governmental affairs operation, and a boost in moral across the System. NEXT MEETING The next Board work session for postsecondary matters will be held on June 12, 2008, in the Auditorium, 7th floor, Alabama Center for Commerce. The next Board meeting for postsecondary matters will be held on June 26, 2008, in the Auditorium, Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery, Alabama.

__________________ For additional information on this report, contact the Chancellor’s office at (334) 242-2900 (ATTNET 220-2900).