Board Meeting Briefs March 10, 2021

March 11, 2021 - 09:25 AM

Meeting Date: March 10, 2021     Location:  Via teleconference   Next Meetings: March 20, 2021 (Study Session)
                                                                                                                                                        April 14, 2021                     

INTRODUCTIONS

 

Trustee Area Local Elected Introductions

The Board welcomed newly elected K-12 school board and City Council members:

• Diana Miranda-Dzib (Baldwin Park Unified School District)
• Dena Florez (Bassett Unified School District)
• Brian Tabatabai (West Covina City Council)
• Christine Salazar (Hacienda La Puente Unified School District)

 

Introduction of the following newly appointed and promoted employees:

Permanent New Hires

Classified Employees

• Jana Crawford, Administrative Specialist III (EOPS/CARE)

• Mauricio Goncalves, Tutorial Specialist (Writing Center)
• Bruce Smith, Horse Barn Technician (Agricultural Sciences) 

Management Employees

• Michael Carr, Director, Academic Technology (Information Technology)
• Malia Flood, Dean, ACCESS and Wellness (ACCESS)
• Seth Meyers, Assistant Director, Behavioral Health Services (Student Health Services)
• Lewis Moore, Chief Technology Officer (Information Technology)

RECOGNITIONS

Awarded a Certificate of Service to and congratulated the following retiring employees:

• Jorge Duarte, Custodian (Custodial Services), 29 years of service
• Ian Francisco, Information Technology Support Technician (Information Technology), 21 years of service

 

CAMPUS LEADERSHIP REPORTS

Reports were given by Academic Senate, Classified Senate, Faculty Association, CSEA 262, CSEA 651, Foundation and Alumni Association, and Management Steering.  Detailed reports will be reflected in the official minutes when posted online.

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORT – LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Ashley Walker, the college’s lobbyist, provided the Board with an update on the governor’s budget as well as bills that benefit California Community Colleges.

 

The governor’s 2020-21 January Budget calls for the legislature to act on $12.8 billion in immediate and early budget proposals in the current fiscal year, as well as proposes a fiscal year 21-22 spending plan. The Legislature and Administration recently announced coming to agreement on several items, including a COVID-19 pandemic relief legislative package, and a K-12 schools reopening incentive plan.

 

The pandemic relief package that was signed by the governor includes:

• $100 million in emergency grants for community college students.
• $6 million for CalFresh outreach to higher education students, along with $12 million for county workload.
• $600 cash payments to EITC and ITIN households and individuals.
• $600 grants to CalWORKS, SSI/SSP and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants individuals.

2021 Anticipated Issues:

 

State Issues

• Adult Education and Distance Learning Attendance Model
• Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program Expansion
• Census Based Funding for Noncredit Managed Enrollment Courses
• California Adult Education Program Carryover
• Student Basic Needs
• Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF)
• Student Equity and Achievement Program
• Student Financial Aid

Federal Issues:

• Headcount vs. FTES in Federal Stimulus Plan
• Increasing Pell Awards
• Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Grants
• Noncredit students’ access to Coronavirus Relief Funds
• Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA)
• Second Chance Pell Grants

 

INFORMATIONAL REPORT – SCHOOL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION UPDATE

Dr. Madelyn Arballo, Associate Vice President, School of Continuing Education, provided an update on how the pandemic has affected noncredit enrollment.

 

SCE continues to serve large numbers of students, even through the pandemic.  In 2019-20, SCE served 43,560 noncredit students, along with over 2,000 students in contract and community education programs.  With over 8,143 noncredit FTES generated in 2019-20, it the largest community college noncredit program in the state system.  COVID-19’s effect on SCE became evident with a 22% loss in headcount and 18% in FTES for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020, when compared to the same terms in 2019.

 

Some of the more recent student and program outcomes continue to demonstrate SCE’s impact on the community, the College, and statewide:

• At the start of the Stay-at-Home Order, SCE offered zero online courses.  In two weeks, SCE quickly mobilized to offer 913 online courses, thus emphasizing the incredible flexibility and responsiveness of Mt. SAC faculty and staff to ensure continuity of instruction and services.
• Between 98-100% of Certified Nursing Assistant students have consistently passed state certification exams for the past several years, with immediate employment opportunities available.
• From 2015 to 2019, the Adults with Disabilities program grew from 139 to 633 students.  Although there is still a huge regional gap in serving this very vulnerable population, Mt. SAC is one of the few institutions trying to decrease this gap within the Mt. SAC Adult Education Regional Consortium.

 

 

ACTION ITEMS

• Approved the Consent Calendar, with the following items pulled and approved separately:
  • Quarterly Investment Report
  • Agreement with Quinn Power Systems for Annual Preventative Maintenance at the Chilled Water Central Plant and Cogeneration Facility
  • Personnel Transactions
• Voted for the following for the 2021 California Community College Trustees Board of Directors:
  • Tina Arias Miller (Rancho Santiago CCD)
  • Bernardo Perez (Ventura County CCD)
  • Cindi Reiss (Peralta CCD)
  • Mark Edney (Imperial CCD)
  • Michele Jenkins (Santa Clarita CCD)