register today at www.acct.org

acct 43rd annual leadership congress

october 10 – 13

leveraging student successthrough partnerships, innovation & evidence

ACCT-Boston-TQAd.indd 1 1/26/12 7:43 PM

SUMMER 2012

Executive Compensation in Six Steps | Moving Towards Better Measures of Success

Eric Shinseki, Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Community college leaders found themselves a rare source of bipartisan agreement during the 2012 National Legislative Summit.

CONSENSUS CHALLENGE

Amid

EssEntial to achiEving our complEtion goal

rEgistEr today at www.acct.org!

Be part of the largest national gathering of community college trustees.

Featured Speakers

BILL grEENExecutive chairman

accenture

PaUL E. LINgENFELtErpresident

state higher Education Executive officers

StErLINg SPEIrNpresident and cEo

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

BYroN PIttScontributing correspondent,

60 minutes & cBs news chief national correspondent

gENE wILHoItExecutive director

council of chief state school officers

1T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y S U m m E R 2 0 1 2 1

We have all heard it by now: The Mayan calendar comes to an abrupt end in December of this year. Given that the Mayan civilization just as abruptly ceased to exist and other civilizations rose to follow, the calendar’s end may actually mark the beginning of something new: a new prophecy of a future full of hope and excitement, especially as it relates to ACCT’s work on behalf of community colleges.

So far, the opportunities are presenting themselves clearly. While the U.S. economy continues to flounder, our community colleges continue to make positive economic impacts and gain the respect of many who realize they are needed more than ever. There is no doubt that

budgets are tight, and our leaders, in response, have become more creative than ever. The tidal shift in our dual commitment to access and success, as well as our focus on accountability measures, will ultimately benefit all sectors of our society.

We are faced with unprecedented challenges, and from these challenges will arise opportunities to build and shape a bright future. As examples, I am excited about the new partnerships being forged among our community colleges and K-12 systems, as well as the expansion of our relationships with the business community, our constituent communities, and our international partners in a shrinking world — all a result of the changes that are accumulating in 2012.

The 2012 National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C., saw unprecedented participation by members of the U.S. Congress with the introduction of a new Congressional Forum. ACCT introduced a new mobile application that improves the meeting experience and extends our ability to communicate with one another. This October’s ACCT Leadership Congress in Boston will continue the model of beginning with a symposium on student success — a component introduced two years ago. And there is more to come!

Challenges are good; they offer opportunities. They are welcome. They create change, not in the form of a redirection but, as with the Mayan calendar, an evolution that is taking us to a higher level of service to our students and our communities.

I welcome you to join ACCT and our member trustees and their presidents in Boston this October. Registrations are already outpacing the past two years, and we have secured the president of one of the nation’s largest philanthropies to share what even greater opportunities lie ahead. ACCT provides an invaluable support system; it brings forth opportunities for ongoing advocacy to our member colleges and serves as a guide through major transitions.

I look forward to seeing and speaking with you this fall in Boston. We have a lot of important work to do, and too many emerging opportunities that we cannot afford to lose.

(;{ROBERTO URANGALONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, CALIF.

From the Chair

2012: The Year of Change

BOARD OF DIReCTORS 2011-2012

Chair Roberto Uranga

Long Beach City College, CA

Chair-ElECt Jean Torgeson

North Iowa Area Community College, IA

ViCE Chair John W. Sanders

John A. Logan College, IL

SECrEtary-trEaSurEr LeRoy W. Mitchell

Westchester Community College, NY

immEdiatE PaSt Chair Peter E. Sercer, Sr.

midlands Technical College, SC

CEntral rEgional Chair Jeffrey A. May

Joliet Junior College, IL

northEaSt rEgional Chair Bakari Lee

Hudson County Community College, NJ

PaCifiC rEgional Chair Anita Grier

City College of San Francisco, CA

SouthErn rEgional Chair David H. Talley

Palm Beach State College, FL

WEStErn rEgional Chair Colton J. Crane

Central Wyoming College, WY

William E. Coleman, Jr. mercer County Community College, NJ

Stanley EdwardsHalifax Community College, NC

Robert “Bob” FeitSoutheast Community College, NE

Mary FigueroaRiverside Community College District, CA

Jim HarperPortland Community College, OR

Donna HorganCecil College, mD

Randall “Mack” Jackson, Diversity Committee Chairmidlands Technical College, SC

Vernon Jungmoraine Park Technical College, WI

Clare OllayosElgin Community College, IL

Clemon PrevostCollege of the mainland, TX

George ReganRobeson Community College, NC

Dorothy “Dottie” SmithState Center Community College District, CA

Robin M. SmithLansing Community College, mI

Nancy WatkinsHillsborough Community College, FL

Frederick “Fred” WhangTacoma Community College, WA

Roberto ZárateAlamo Colleges, TX

s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y2

The Voice of Community College Leaders

summer 2012

From the President & CeO

TrusTeeQuArTerLY

Your opinion Matters

COnTACT: David Conner (866) 895-ACCT (2228) dconner@acct.org

TRUSTEE QUARTERLY (Issn 0271-9746) is published three or four times per year as a membership service of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). ACCT is a not-for-profit educational organization of governing boards of public and private community, technical, and junior colleges. membership is also open to state coordinating boards, advisory boards, and state associations. The mission of ACCT is to foster greater understanding of and appreciation for community college boards; support boards in their efforts to develop public policies focusing on meeting community needs; help build board governance leadership and advocacy capacity through in-service education and training programs; and support boards through specialized services and programs.

Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and values of the Association of Community College Trustees.

non-members may subscribe to TRUSTEE QUARTERLY for $60.00 per year (plus postage for international subscriptions). Third-class postage paid at Washington, D.C.

DesIgn & PrODuCTIOn

www.moiremarketing.com – Washington, D.C.

1233 20th street, nW, suite 301Washington DC 20036

(202) 775-4667 FAX: (202) 775-4455e-mail: acctinfo@acct.org

www.acct.org

1-866-895-ACCT (2228)FAX: 1-866-904-ACCT (2228)

editorial TeameDITOr-In-CHIeF J. noah BrownPresident & CEO

mAnAgIng eDITOr David ConnerMarketing & Communications Specialist

eDITOrMark toner

eDITOr AT LArgeLaura peters

COnTrIBuTIng WrITersJee Hang LeeDirector of Public Policy

narcisa a. polonio Vice President for Education, Research & Board Leadership Services

ira Michael shepard ACCT Legal Counsel

eDITOrIAL AssOCIATesJulie Golder alionelizabeth alvaradoKeyshia Jimerson John steinecke

PrOOFreADerKit Gray Wolverton

The 2012 CommuniTy College NatioNal Legislative Summit (NLS) introduced an exciting

new element — a forum at the U.S. Capitol Building, where a standing-room-only crowd of trustees and presidents heard from lawmakers as varied as U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). You can read more about the Capitol Forum on page 10, as well as day-by-day proceedings of the 2012 NLS on page 12. The NLS was a tremendous success thanks to you, our members.

ACCT’s membership continues to grow each year, and attendance for the 2012 ACCT Leadership Congress this October in Boston is anticipated to

be the highest we’ve seen in several years. This year’s Congress theme is Leveraging Student Success through Partnerships, Innovation, and Evidence, and ACCT is excited to share what we have been doing in each of these areas.

Partnerships. I am pleased to welcome Pearson Higher Education and EdFinancial Services to ACCT’s Corporate Council, which advises the association’s leadership on the latest developments from the field. Pearson joins our exclusive and carefully selected Corporate Council members, including TIAA-CREF, whose director of executive compensation contributed the must-read article “Executive Compensation in Six Steps” (page 22). We hope that you will take a look at the profile of all our Corporate Council members on page 25-27 and thank those who you meet from any of these companies for their support.

Innovation. We have recently begun offering exclusive online educational webinars for trustees, with topics ranging from Boardsmanship 101 and the role of the board chair to advocacy, fundraising, disaster preparedness, and more. We know that budgets are tighter than ever and the roles and responsibilities of trustees are greater than ever, so we are excited to offer these on-demand services in which you can engage from the comfort of your own boardroom or even your own home.

Evidence. ACCT’s partnerships in the Voluntary Framework of Accountability (VFA), Governance Institutes for Student Success, and other related initiatives are giving trustees the evidence based in data they need to steer their colleges strongly into the future.

Too many developments are underway to share here, but I encourage you to visit www.acct.org for more information, and to attend this October’s ACCT Leadership Congress, which will feature presentations on these and other initiatives that will help your students succeed. The next issue of Trustee Quarterly will focus more on the partnerships, innovations, and evidence that are coming together to make our colleges stronger than ever before.

J. noah BrownaCCT PresidenT and Ceo

Partners in Student Success

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 3

TrusTee QuArTerLY | summer 2012

DePArTmenTsContents

FeATures

8 AdvocAcy What Is Completion? Getting Closer to

a Better Way to Measure Success

Jee Hang Lee

30 LEGAL Recent Federal Court Decisions Could impact Higher ed Personnel Practices Ira Michael Shepard

1 From the chair

2 From the President & cEo

4 News

28 Around the Regions

34 AccT Lifetime Members

37 Searches and Retreats

41 Interface

44 Advisor

In eVerY Issue

10 A Full House at the capitol — Mark Toner ACCT’s first Congressional Forum brought together community college leaders and a bipartisan group of lawmakers for a candid discussion of the state of the nation.

12 consensus Amid challenge — Mark Toner Community college leaders found themselves a rare source of bipartisian agreement during the 2012 National Legislative Summit.

20 community college and K-12 collaboration in San diego — Rich Grosch and Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D.

Trustees from San Diego’s community college and K-12 systems have forged a new partnership for student success.

22 Executive compensation in Six Steps — Nancy Taylor A sound executive compensation program begins and ends with good governance, argues TIAA-CREF’s director for executive compensation.

25 Inside the corporate council — David Conner More about the companies that support ACCT and community colleges.

84

12

s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y4

News

Biden-Solis Bus Tour Highlights Partnerships, Grant ProgramsOn February 22, Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis commenced a three-day “Community College to Career” bus tour across five states to highlight innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses. Dr. Biden and Secretary Solis interacted with community college faculty, students, and business and community leaders to learn about best practices in providing students with the skills training they need to be successful in their careers. The bus tour followed President Obama’s announcement of a proposed $8 billion Community College to Career Fund co-administered by the Departments of Labor and Education.

Dr. Biden and Secretary Solis visited the following states and colleges during the bus tour:• Ohio – Columbus State Community College; Sinclair Community College; Cincinnati State Technical and Community College• Kentucky – Bluegrass Community and Technical College• Tennessee – Roane State Community College• Virginia – Wytheville Community College• North Carolina – Davidson County Community CollegeVice President Biden joined the “Community College to Career” bus tour at its last stop at

Davidson County Community College.  At the conclusion of the bus tour, Secretary Solis announced a solicitation for a new round of grant applications for the $2 billion Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant (CCCTG) Program. The solicitation for applications can be viewed at http://1.usa.gov/z5M4xJ.

The TAA CCCTG Program is authorized for $500 million for each of four years, fiscal years 2011 through 2014, to support educational and career-training programs focused on dislocated and unemployed workers. Each state will be guaranteed a minimum of 0.5 percent of the total funding, or $2.5 million per state per year.

u.s. secretary of Labor Hilda solis (left) and Dr. Jill Biden get a behind-the-scenes look at an industrial training facility at one of the stops on their bus tour.

New Online Trustee Education and Training Opportunities

With the generous support of the ACCT Trust Fund Board, ACCT now offers online educational opportunities for trustees and presidents. The pilot webinar took place on March 20 and featured a diverse panel of disaster-mitigation experts. Participants not only had the opportunity to interact and ask questions online or by phone during the webinar, but they also have exclusive access to an ever-growing library of online resources to help them safeguard their institutions.

RECENT AND UPCOMING

ONLINE TRAINING SESSIONS

April 26, 3-4 p.m. EST

How the Board Can Organize an Effective Meeting: Basic Board Procedures

May 24, 3-4 p.m. EST

What the Board and Trustees Need to Know About the Code of Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

July 12, 3-4 p.m. EST

By-laws and Public Record Requirements: Board Meeting Essentials

August 9, 3-4 p.m. EST

The Board’s Role in Accreditation

September 18, 3-4 p.m. EST

The Role of the Chair of the Board

To register and for more information, go to http://bit.ly/HoserJ or e-mail prodriguez@acct.org.

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 5

Nacua Launches New Online compliance ResourceThe National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) has announced the launch of a new collaboration with ACCT and 19 other higher education associations, the Higher Education Compliance Alliance. 

Federal regulations touch every facet of college and university operations, from employment law to export controls; international programs to student affairs; tax issues to accreditation.  Not surprisingly, surveys of NACUA members pointed to a growing interest in finding resources to assist counsel and administrators in complying with these myriad regulations.  Knowing that other higher education associations shared this interest, the idea was born for the Higher Education Compliance Alliance — an effort to gather the collective knowledge and resources of a wide range of associations in one place as a service to the higher education community. 

Spearheaded by NACUA, the Higher Education Compliance Alliance represents a broad cross-section of higher education interests. These associations share a joint commitment to providing high quality resources on a diverse range of compliance topics to the higher education community. Aggregating compliance news and resources from participating associations, government agencies, and other sites like Catholic University’s Campus Legal Information Clearinghouse, the Higher Education Compliance Alliance site is designed to be a continuously updated resource for administrators and others on campus seeking to understand their compliance obligations.

The site does not replace NACUA’s legal reference service archives, which house the majority of NACUA’s conference outlines, publications, and resources, or the organization’s wide array of in-person and virtual legal programming. However, through the Higher Education Compliance Alliance website, NACUA and the other participating associations have agreed to make selected resources from their libraries available as a service to the higher education community. In this way, the Higher Education Compliance Alliance will serve as a complement to the vast resources available on NACUA’s own site and provide NACUA members with access to materials from other associations as well.

The Higher Education Compliance Alliance is the product of many months of work and collaboration between the NACUA staff and representatives from the 20 participating higher education associations. For more information, visit the Higher Education Compliance Alliance website at www.higheredcompliance.org.

ACCT Named 2012 Alliance for Educational Excellence Award Winner

ACCT has been selected as the 2012 Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society Alliance for Educational Excellence Award winner. ACCT Chair Roberto Uranga was presented the award during Phi Theta Kappa’s Annual Convention April 12-14 in Nashville, Tenn.

In 2001, Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Beta Kappa, and the National Honor Society launched an initiative, The Alliance for Educational Excellence, to promote broad-based excellence in learning at all levels of education. Phi Theta Kappa has assumed the leadership role for this initiative, which now includes many international and national education-based organizations.

“ACCT engaged community college trustees in discussing and developing strategies regarding their role and their institution’s role in effectively measuring student success,” said Dr. Rod Risley, Phi Theta Kappa’s executive director. “For these outstanding efforts given to improve student success and college completion, Phi Theta Kappa expresses profound appreciation to ACCT for its commitment to aid all community college students in reaching their dreams for a better life by completing what they start.”

Past recipients of the Alliance for Educational Excellence Award have included USA Today, Coca-Cola Refreshments and Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, American Association of Community Colleges, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and the Hites Family Community College Scholarship Foundation.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,280 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, Peru, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than 2.5 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918.

In MeMorIaMJohn B. Mondragon

ACCT Diversity Committee Member

It is with great sadness that we share with you that John B. Mondragon passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. John was a longtime trustee of Central New Mexico Community College, and he was

recently re-elected by the ACCT Western Region to serve on the ACCT Diversity Committee. A special election will be held during the 2012 ACCT Leadership Congress in Boston to fill the remaining year of his

term on the ACCT Diversity Committee.

News

s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y6

accT and Single Stop uSa Renew PartnershipACCT has renewed its partnership with Single Stop USA, a national nonprofit that is working with member colleges in several states to help students access the resources they need to stay in school through completion.

Groundbreaking in its simplicity, Single Stop builds the capacity of its college partners using highly trained staff and proprietary technology to provide students with a single access point for the benefits and services for which they are eligible.  These include supports such as tax credits, public health insurance, legal assistance, and financial counseling — programs and services that frequently make the difference for students who are otherwise forced to choose between groceries and graduation.

Since the inception of our partnership over two years ago, Single Stop and ACCT have provided services to more than 30,000 community college students across the country, helping them to access more than $70 million worth of benefits and services. Even more compelling, preliminary evidence suggests that students who receive Single Stop services are more likely to persist than those who do not.

Our collaboration has been highlighted in national and local publications alike, most recently in the Chronicle of Higher Education  and U.S. News and World Report.  Yet even with a significant grant from the White House Social Innovation Fund and unparalleled support from donors as varied as the Kresge Foundation, the Robin Hood Foundation, New Profit Inc., Bank of America, and the GreenLight Fund, demand for Single Stop services far exceeds supply.  In just the last year alone, the organization has received requests from more than 100 institutional leaders interested in partnering with Single Stop to help their students succeed.  

“To help meet President Obama’s challenge to increase completion and transfer rates at community colleges, we are redoubling our efforts,” said ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown. “We have committed to working closely with Single Stop and a select group of prominent advisers over the next year to hone service delivery so that together we can scale our initial impact to reach even more colleges and students in need.”

“We must stay competitive, both as institutions and as a nation,” said Single Stop USA Founder and CEO Elisabeth Mason. “At the same time, we have the power to help students succeed in their academic pursuits. Our timely partnership represents an excellent opportunity to make good on both commitments and we look forward to this exciting partnership as it continues to gain momentum.”

Read more about the ACCT’s collaboration with Single Stop at www.singlestopusa.org/Strategies/Community-College.shtml.

accT Mobile app Simplifies Meetings, communication

Hundreds of trustees and college presidents have downloaded the ACCT mobile application, launched during the 2012 Community College National Legislative Summit. We’ve heard an overwhelmingly positive response from app users, who’ve told us that the app made navigating the NLS easier, with such features as meeting schedules and instant schedule change notifications, maps, a live Twitter feed, an up-to-date Congressional directory, and built-in contacts.

But the app isn’t just for the NLS. ACCT has updated the application for the upcoming 2012 ACCT Leadership Congress in Boston¸ and the contacts and Congressional directory remain permanent features, allowing you to get in touch with colleagues and lawmakers with a single click. If you plan to attend the ACCT Congress, be sure to download the app to your smartphone to customize your schedule and receive instant updates.

To download the application to your iPhone, iPad, Android, or Blackberry device, go to your device’s app store and search for “ACCT,” click the QR code below, or go to http://acct.crowdcompass.com/apps. Already have the app? E-mail dconner@acct.org and let us know what you think.

2012 accT Leadership congress: Remaking History in america’s Most Historic cityThe trustees are coming! Make sure you’re one of them at the 2012 ACCT Leadership Congress, to be held October 12-13 in Boston, Massachusetts. Among the esteemed keynote speakers will be Sterling Speirn, president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Bill Green, president and CEO of Accenture. The 2012 ACCT Congress will offer unparalleled opportunities to meet some of the nation’s philanthropic and thought leaders, and as always will feature close to 100 concurrent sessions organized in six tracks, including partnerships, evidence, innovation, financial reality, equity and diversity, and effective governance. Make sure you join your fellow trustees and presidents as we re-make history in historic Boston.Registration for the 2012 Congress is open at www.acct.org/events/annualcongress/12.

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 7

LET THE LAW WORK FOR YOUTiming is everything when it comes to advocacy, but not everyone has time to pay attention to pending legislation day in and day out.

ACCT’s Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Alerts do the work for you.

Since 2008, nearly 1,600 new people have signed up to receive ACCT’s LAW Alert e-mails — brief summaries of legislative actions e-mailed to subscribers as legislation happens, giving community college trustees, presidents, and other leaders and advocates time to contact their representatives and exert influence before it’s too late.

Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents, and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the LAW E-Alert network. To join, simply e-mail publicpolicy@acct.org with “LAW Alert” in the subject of the e-mail.

For more information about ACCT’s advocacy services, visit www.acct.org/advocacy.

accT, aacc Partner to Focus on Preparing Future PresidentsACCT has entered a new partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to prepare future college presidents. The collaboration will address three trends that community college leadership is now facing: the graying of college presidents, a shrinking pool of presidential candidates, and the frequent reconfiguring of — and high turnover on — college governing boards.

“We take very seriously our obligations to identify, recruit, train, and retain the highest caliber leaders to meet the demands of the future,” said ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown.

As a first step, AACC will offer a new leadership training program for college CEOs that will launch this fall. “Surviving the First 120 Days in the Presidency” will give new college presidents the skills to successfully transform the culture of their institutions. The program will cover such critical topics as:

• UnderstandingtheworknewCEOsmustdopriortotheirfirstdayonthejob• Establishingproductiverelationshipswiththeboardoftrustees,faculty,andcollective

bargaining groups• Settingandcommunicatinggoalswiththeboardoftrustees;and• Effectivelyengagingthebusinesscommunity“We have a vested interest in growing the leadership pipeline for our institutions — from

foundational skills, through middle management, to senior-level administration — and to equip senior leaders to be successful after getting the job,” said AACC President and CEO Walter Bumphus.

ACCT will also expand its offerings for online trustee education, as well as develop a series of educational webinars and teleconferences that will focus on board-CEO relationships.

Both organizations have already made significant progress toward establishing the foundation for these initiatives, and over the next six weeks ACCT and AACC will explore other potential initiatives related to community college leadership.

Over the past 35 years, ACCT has successfully placed more than 400 college presidents and chancellors through its search services (see p.37), conducted hundreds of board self-evaluations and presidential evaluations, and strengthened board-CEO teams at ACCT’s Governance Leadership Institutes, the Annual ACCT Leadership Congress, and other events. The secret to success for community colleges is a strong board-president relationship. Visit www.acct.org for more information about ACCT’s services, or contact acctinfo@acct.org.

accT President to Kick Off New Book SeriesRowman & Littlefield Publishers, one of the premier publishers of academic and education-related books, is pleased to publish ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown book, the first in a forthcoming series of books about the American community college system. President Brown’s book is a thorough treatment of the past-present, and future of community and technical colleges and their place in the higher-education sector, as well as the nation’s overall economic vitality. Brown’s book is slated for a November 2012 release.

8 s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y

a d v o c a c y

d

the path to completion is not a straight line. IPEDS fails to consider these circumstances and does not have the capacity to measure other important outcomes outside of completion.

One of the chief complaints about the current IPEDS data is that student transfers are not counted as a success for the beginning institution. For example, if a community college student transfers to a four-year institution prior to receiving an associates degree and ultimately graduates with a bachelor’s degree, this student would be counted as a success only for the four-year institution — and included in the community college’s data as a student who failed to complete. Given the

Since the creation of the firSt community, junior, and technical college, our institutions have largely been measured by a metric that is stacked in favor of four-year institutions and understates the vital contributions of community colleges: a narrowly defined focus on graduation.

Since 2009, President Obama has focused on increasing the nation’s educational attainment levels. While ACCT and community colleges across the country have supported this effort, the mechanism of how we measure success continues to elude us. The U.S. Department of Education and the Obama Administration are beginning to utilize federal funding as “carrots” to incentivize states to move toward success and innovation in higher education, an approach already taken on the K-12 level through such programs as Race to the Top. New proposals for higher education mirror this philosophy.

The flawed completion metric poses a potential hurdle for community colleges as they look to compete with traditional four-year institutions for these newly proposed dollars. In a time of diminished state and local resources and movement towards performance-based funding, community colleges need to develop an appropriate method of measuring performance that aligns with the spectrum of the community college mission.

The current measurement of higher-education success has largely focused on the federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which is compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The IPEDS graduation data

What Is Completion? Getting Closer to a Better Way to measure success

by Jee Hang Lee

Jon

ATH

An

evA

ns

is geared toward assessing students who can be described as “full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.” However, only approximately 40 percent of community college students in a given year fall within this category, which means that the majority of community college students are not effectively measured by this data system. Even for the students it does measure, the data does not account for the impediments they face as modern-day community college students, such as finances, family obligations, and remediation — all factors that can delay or temporarily halt progression toward completion. For many community college students,

9T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2

subsequently extend recommendations to Congress.

The committee recommended several areas of improvement, including:•Creatingatechnicalreviewpanel

to develop a standard definition of students who are “substantially prepared for transfer.” The committee’s report further detailed parameters for data relating to transfer students, with the recommendation that IPEDS track outcomes for a longer period of time and collect data on students who transfer prior to receiving a certificate or degree, including community college students who transfer to four-year institutions.

•Providingfinancialincentivesforstates to create uniform postsecondary data systems that measure student transfers. In order for IPEDS to collect this data, Congressional action may be necessary, as there is currently a statutory prohibition against a federal student record system.

•RecommendingthatIPEDScollectdata on additional cohorts of students, including part-time beginning students, students who are not college ready, and federal financial aid recipients.

•CallingforIPEDStoclarifythedefinition of various terms, such as degree-seeking, broaden the current measures for student progression and completion, and utilize gainful employment and earnings data as alternative measurements of success. By combining these recommendations,

the Committee on Measures of Student Success has developed a plan that will provide the public and policy makers with a more accurate look at what completion and success looks

increased frequency of transfers and reverse transfers, the traditional IPEDS system continues to underrepresent student success at community colleges. With the rising cost of tuition at four-year institutions, an increasing number of students are considering completing coursework at community colleges in order to generate savings. This trend may prove detrimental to the community college completion rate under the metric used by IPEDS.

In addressing the changing nature of higher education and the flaws in current metrics, Congress created a committee to examine the “calculation and reporting of the information by two-year, degree-granting institutions of higher education” in its last reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The law states that the committee “shall consider the mission and role of two-year degree-granting institutions of higher education, and may recommend additional or alternative measures of student success for such institutions in light of the mission and role of such institutions.” This represents an important step in acknowledging the complex set of offerings at community colleges, which in addition to degree-seeking students include job training, developmental education, and adult education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appointed five community college leaders from across the country to the Committee on Measures of Student Success, which was tasked to make recommendations on examining and creating measures of success. The committee conducted five meetings and recently issued its final report to Secretary Duncan, who will

like at a community college. Its goals are ambitious; implementation of the recommendations could take years to realize.

On another front, ACCT continues to participate with AACC and The College Board on developing the Voluntary Framework of Accountability (VFA), which encompasses a broader system of reporting and could potentially be implemented in the short term. While taking a similar approach to measuring transfer students and graduation rates, VFA also calls for tracking the progress of learning and success through students enrolled in developmental education, career and technical education, and adult basic education. Future issues of Trustee Quarterly will discuss the development and implementation of VFA and its importance in fully articulating the larger picture of community colleges and their students. The VFA is now in Phase Three as it rolls out to institutions across the country. Unlike the current IPEDS system, the information within VFA will encompass the totality of the work at community colleges. The VFA is a key part of giving community colleges a voice in how success is measured.

The measurement of success and corresponding data are becoming an integral part of federal funding and policy. It is a trend that is unlikely to change in the near future, and defining success is something that community colleges must help shape.

ACCT Director of Public Policy Jee Hang Lee can be reached by e-mail at jhlee@acct.org, or by phone at 202-775-4667.

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House Minority Leader nancy PeLosi (d-caLif.) was surprised by the size of the crowd in the auditorium of the capitol Visitor center in washington, d.c. “i was expecting to meet with a few trustees in my office,” she said, looking out at the 900 community college leaders in the standing-room-only audience.

“you really have arrived in town.”a standalone event held during february’s 2012 community

college national Legislative summit (nLs), acct’s inaugural congressional forum brought together a broad range of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and around the country. the forum was a striking reminder of the bipartisan importance of community colleges to lawmakers — and the deep partisan divides during an election year. from both sides of the aisle, lawmakers stressed the challenges involved in continuing to support community colleges in a fiscal climate that is becoming yet another “new normal” in washington. “every new program we add means an existing program is

going to suffer,” said sen. Michael B. enzi (r-wyo.), urging community college leaders to “protect your existing programs, and come up with ways to make them better and fairer.”

enzi warned community college leaders that the Pell Grant program’s explosive growth means that the program may not be sustainable in the long run “without addressing the underlying systemic forces that undermine federal aid programs.” enzi was critical of recent changes to Pell as detrimental to non-traditional community college students — specifically, the elimination of year-round Pell and ability-to-benefit students — but added that the “temporary relief” brought by these changes and additional funding will end in fy 2014, at which point Pell will require an additional $8 billion just to maintain current levels.

federal support to higher education “is not going to go away,” enzi said. “But it will be less and less effective if we don’t make

meaningful changes now. your work is really cut out for you.”rep. steny Hoyer (d-Md.) was one of several House democrats

who referred to federal support of community colleges as a critical investment in the nation’s future. “at every level, we need to make sure we provide affordable, accessible quality education for our young people — not just for them, but for our society and success as a country,” he said.

Hoyer stressed his commitment to programs that “maintain and preserve your important work,” including Pell and Perkins grants. Hoyer also pointed to his own bill, the Job opportunities Between our shores (JoBs) act, which would support partnerships between community colleges and advanced manufacturing firms. “the president wants to double exports,” Hoyer said. “we will not double exports unless we make things in america.”

Pelosi reemphasized the importance of continuing federal support for the community college agenda, asserting that “nothing reduces the deficit more than investments in education.”“we are committed to reigniting the american dream and

building ladders of opportunity,” said Pelosi. “community colleges are an important rung on that ladder...let’s take this debate to a higher ground, of consideration of what our values are as a country and the role that education plays in them.”

Pelosi called the $2 billion pledged to community colleges through the affordable care act of 2010 “the biggest investment in higher education in the history of our country.”“we wanted more — and we will continue to fight for more,”

she said.other lawmakers, however, continued to warn community

college leaders of difficult times ahead. rep. Virginia foxx (r-n.c.) drew from her own experience as former president of Mayland community college.

ACCT’s first Congressional Forum brought together community college leaders and a

bipartisan group of lawmakers for a candid discussion of the state of the nation.

FullA At the CapitolB Y M A R K T O N E R

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 11

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“we have a real economic crisis in our country, and i want to challenge you as leaders in the community college system…to find ways to do the things you must do without more money,” foxx said.

“it can be done.”foxx stressed her belief that the federal government “has

no business in education whatsoever,” but acknowledged that federal programs supporting community colleges would remain at least “for a while.” she told community college leaders they had a moral responsibility to ensure that their programs are effective.

“students come to us and look us in the eye,” she said. “you have a responsibility to ensure that your programs are doing what they’re supposed to be doing.”

foxx also discussed the ongoing work around reauthorization of the workforce investment act (wia), stressing the need to consolidate the 47 job-training programs currently overseen by nine federal agencies. “these programs can provide a boost to communities hard hit by the economy — we all agree on that,” she said. “But we have redundancies, waste, overlap, and multiplication of services. these sow confusion and are a detriment to the people who need them.”

while the lawmakers made few direct references to their colleagues on the other side of the aisle, they drew fairly transparent comparisons in their comments. “we’re going to have debates here in washington with those who think educating

our citizens is too expensive,” said rep. chaka fattah (d-Pa.) “i represent the side that says that ignorance will cost our country more. there’s no chance a country of 300 million people can compete with countries of a billion people unless we educate everyone to their full potential...community colleges are the best dollar we can invest in our nation.”

a chief sponsor of the american opportunity tax credit and advocate of the Gear up program, fattah pointed to successful workforce training programs undertaken in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the country. “there’s more work to be done,” he told community college leaders. “the reward for good work is more work.”

sen. Patty Murray (d-wash.) told attendees that the importance of community colleges “isn’t an abstract issue for me.” Murray’s mother received technical training that ultimately allowed her to send all seven of her children to college.

Pointing to growing skills gaps, Murray stressed the importance of ensuring that the nation’s workforce development system “is firing on all cylinders.” “community colleges have a track record of filling jobs in some

of the nation’s most competitive industries,” she said. “we have a lot to do. i know resources are tight… it’s not going to be easy, but our country has taken on challenges before and always come out ahead. and i’m pretty confident that community colleges are going to lead the way.”

Top left: U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Sen. Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.); Sen. Patty Murray (D-Ore.); U.S. House of Representatives Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.); Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.); Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.).

s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y12

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T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 13

A contentious, high-stAkes election yeAr. Another proposed multi-billion dollar initiative to help community colleges meet the nation’s growing workforce needs. Words of caution about partisan divide and the looming threat of the nation’s deficit.

these were the pieces of the puzzle that faced the more than 900 community college trustees and presidents who convened in Washington, D.c., for the 2012 community college national legislative summit. “Much has transpired since we last met in D.c.,” Acct chair

roberto uranga, a trustee at california’s long Beach city college, told attendees. “it is a crucial time to advocate for our community colleges… to ensure they continue to receive the support they deserve and need.”

A vital task — and one complicated by election-year politics that followed an unprecedented debt-ceiling crisis that nearly brought the government to a standstill last year. “We have a presidential election in november, which [only] increases the hyperpolitical nature of what’s going on in D.c.,” said Acct Director of Public Policy Jee hang lee.

regardless, community college leaders still found themselves among the rarest of the rare in Washington’s hyper-partisan climate: representatives of institutions held in high regard by republicans and Democrats alike.

“there are disagreements on what we need to do to fix our economy,” said rep. Brad Miller (D-n.c.), a co-founding member of the bipartisan community college caucus. “But whatever economy we have, we need to have the world’s most productive workforce, and community colleges are the way to make that happen.”

Former senator robert Bennett (r-utah) urged nls attendees to “tell the story of the enormously significant financial bargain that community colleges are.”“community colleges are an undiscovered jewel in terms of the

impact they can make in the lives of young people,” Bennett said. “you have a message that is vital. education is an issue that every member of congress needs to pay attention to.”

Former senator Pete Domenici (r-n.M.) was even more succinct in his advice: “you have a terrific approach, with autonomy on the local level and serving the public in need,” he said. “Don’t let the politicians mess things up.”

At the same time, Domenici repeated a message nls attendees heard time and time again over the next few days on capitol hill: the need for fiscal restraint has become the top priority in the minds of many lawmakers. “i’m here to convince you there is a big problem, and it’s got to be fixed,” he said.

nonetheless, attendees were urged to continue “pushing on the rope” and maintain their advocacy for community

community college

nationallegislative summit

2012

Opposite page: Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) meets with college trustees from Oregon in his office. Top left: The Honorable Robert Bennett, former U.S. Senator (R-Utah) and senior policy advisor for Arent Fox; Center: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki closed the 2012 NLS. Right: Bill Green, executive chairman of Accenture, made a special appearance at the Community College Caucus Reception on Capitol Hill with ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown.

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colleges by ardent supporters like William green, a one-time community college student and current executive chairman of global consultancy Accenture. “i want to thank you on behalf of business,” green told a standing-room only crowd at a reception on capitol hill. “A competitive country needs competitive companies, and competitive companies need a competitive workforce... the community college system is the secret weapon.”

the community college system “has hundreds of boutique success stories,” green added. “What we have to do is industrialize…. it’s a defining moment for community colleges and the impact they can have.”

Opportunities And Open Doorsreminders that community colleges remain in the crucible of the ongoing debate over the role of the federal government appeared even before the nls began. one day earlier, President Barack obama unveiled his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year at northern Virginia community college — the same setting chosen for the signing of the health care and education reconciliation Act of 2010, which provided $2 billion for community colleges through the four-year community college and career training grant (ccctg) Program. And once again, the obama Administration had included an unprecedented proposal for community colleges in its Fy 2013 budget — an $8 billion community college to career Fund, which followed an earlier $5 billion proposal for modernizing community college facilities. “obama hasn’t been the first president to talk about

community colleges,” said David Baime, AAcc senior vice president for government relations. “We’ve been in the presidential limelight before. the difference is that obama has thought big…. and proposed money…. it’s very hard to get new programs established… but the benefits of having a very long life makes it worth fighting for them.”

the community college to career Fund builds on the ccctg program, with the end goal of serving an additional

2 million workers through targeted community college-based training programs that provide skills that lead directly to employment. “the president has once again opened the door wide,” Acct President and ceo J. noah Brown told attendees.

even in the face of such an unprecedented proposal, nls speakers urged community college leaders not to lose sight of programs already in place. For example, the ccctg program, which administered its first $500 million in grants last year, has already survived several “minor but real” threats and is likely to face them again, speakers cautioned.

nowhere is preserving existing funding more important than the $40 billion Pell grant program, which serves 9.7 million students. Facing a $1.3 billion shortfall in fiscal year 2012, lawmakers recently made several significant eligibility changes, including the elimination of year-round Pell and benefits for “ability-to-benefit” students who lack a high school diploma or geD, said Acct senior Public Policy Associate Jennifer stiddard. “A lot of these changes disproportionately impact community colleges and working students,” stiddard said. “it’s important that Pell be kept whole.”

While estimates place just 1 percent of the community college population as ability-to-benefit students, the precedent remains troubling, speakers said. “the reality of the situation was that [congress] was tying to put a puzzle together based on cuts — they didn’t take into account the impact on our institutions,” said lee. “once we lose this issue, the next issue will be elimination of students who are half-time,” lee said.

“this is something that is really real for us.”looking ahead, the Pell grant program will face an $8

billion shortfall in Fy 2014, which is also the first year that it will be subject to cuts under sequestration. unless congress is able to come up with an alternative method to generate $1.2 trillion in savings, sequestration will be triggered in January of 2013, cutting most federal programs by between 7.8 and 9 percent, according to stiddard, adding that the percentages

The Honorable Pete Domenici, former U.S. Senator (R-N.M.) and senior fellow and co-chair of the Debt Reduction Task Force.

Major Garrett, congressional correspondent and National Journal columnist, moderated a panel discussion featuring panelists Charlie Cook, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report and columnist for the National Journal, and Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report and columnist for Roll Call.

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 15

will be even higher if defense spending isn’t included. “i don’t know if we’ve hit the panic button quite yet, but it’s something to be aware of,” she said.

the reauthorization of the Workforce investment Act, which is currently facing partisan debate over the need to consolidate a disparate range of programs and services, was also emphasized. “Whatever form the programs take, we want a system where we as community colleges are more of a true partner,” said Jim hermes, AAcc Director of government relations. speakers urged attendees to advocate that community colleges retain their place on state or local workforce investment boards.

other legislative priorities include making permanent the American opportunity tax credit, which currently serves 9.4 million families, support for assisting veterans and active duty service members, and considering the role community colleges can play in k-12 education when the elementary and secondary education Act (eseA) comes up for reauthorization.

given the challenging budget climate, Acct and AAcc leaders urged community college leaders to continue stressing the impact of their institutions. “in budget parlance, there’s a difference between consumption and investment,” said Baime. “education is an investment.”

Catalysts For Changetwo obama Administration officials reiterated President obama’s continuing commitment to the community college sector and urged its leaders to support returning veterans.

roberto J. rodriguez, special assistant to the president for education on the White house Domestic Policy counsel, called community colleges “the largest and most nimble sector of higher education.” citing the obama Administration’s goal of 5 million more community college graduates by 2020, rodriguez described the proposed $8 billion community college to career Fund as a “doubling down on the

[president’s] commitment” to support colleges in their efforts.“securing this investment would give more community colleges

the resources they need to become community career centers to ensure that employers have the workforce they need and that workers are gaining industry-recognized credentials that build strong careers,” he said.

community colleges must take the lead in addressing the skills gap, rodriguez told attendees. “it is unacceptable that we have millions of unfilled jobs when we have 8.3 percent unemployment,” he said, calling the community college to career Fund “a plan to ensure our workers get the education and training they need to take the jobs of today.”

rodriguez urged community colleges to continue strengthening partnerships with industry. “Most of you have been engaged in partnerships for years,” he said, pointing to groundbreaking programs such as the cisco networking academy at Macomb community college in Michigan and Anne Arundel (Md.) community college’s leadership in a collaborative of community colleges developing certificate programs in steM subjects such as cybertechnology. “our administration wants to play a central role in deepening

and expanding that work,” rodriguez said.rodriguez also pointed to collaborative efforts such as the

2010 White house summit on community colleges, which spawned such programs as the Aspen Prize for community college excellence and skills for America’s Future. the administration’s new First in the World competition, modeled after the earlier investing in innovation Fund (i3) for k-12 education, will help drive new solutions that that address student completion issues in higher education, he added. the administration is also working to address the remediation challenge, which rodriguez says costs community colleges $2 billion annually.“We need a new commitment to increase college success,” he

said. “We believe that community colleges can be the catalyst for that change.”

Sen. John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) with the West Virginia delegation

Roberto J. Rodríguez, special assistant to the president for education, White House Domestic Policy Council

ACCT Chair Roberto Uranga from Long Beach City College in California with Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.)

s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y16

A Call To Actioncommunity colleges can also serve as catalysts for another dramatic change in the fabric of the nation — that of military veterans returning to the homefront and the workforce. u.s. Department of Veterans Affairs secretary eric shinseki urged community college leaders to support the 950,000 veterans and family members currently enrolled in higher education programs, more than one-third of whom attend community colleges. “this is an important moment in our nation’s history,” he said. “the education opportunities available to veterans can make a huge difference — certainly in their lives, but also the future of our nation.”“i want to ask more of you,” the retired Army general said, urging

community college leaders to provide meeting spaces and other services that would allow veterans to support each other as they adjust to their post-military lives. “embrace our veteran students, and encourage them to organize themselves.”“there is a transition. they can help each other,” shinseki

said. “have them seize the collective responsibility of graduating each other.”

in its third year, the current gi Bill is the largest since the original bill created at the end of World War ii, according to shinseki. it has been expanded to include nondegree programs, and one-third of all beneficiaries are attending community colleges. shinseki credited institutions like lansing community college in Michigan, which offers a military medic program that provides a fast-track to becoming paramedics or nurses, and ohio’s cuyahoga community college, which opened a distance learning lab at a VA hospital.“given a chance, veterans will prevail as your best students,”

shinseki told attendees. “[they] have what it takes to succeed not just in the military, but in school and in whatever endeavor they choose.”

shinseki looked back to the post-World War ii gi Bill, which “provided the leadership that catapulted our nation to the world’s largest economy.”“lightning is about to strike a second time,” he said.

Reading The Tea Leavesin presidential election years, politics becomes a spectator sport, and nls speakers provided insight into the mood of an uncertain electorate looking ahead to november.

Pointing to the “widespread acceptance of minimalism and mediocrity” in congress, given the now-commonplace delays in such routine matters as passing budgets and spending bills, Major garrett, congressional correspondent and columnist for the National Journal, said that the upcoming election may result in a “bipartisan wave,” in which both incumbent Democrats and republicans are punished in equal numbers.“i think you’re going to see a bunch of incumbents lose… but not

because of what color jersey they wear, but their proximity to the windows,” agreed charlie cook, editor and publisher of the Cook Political Report.

the presidential race remains heavily reliant on the intensity of each candidate’s respective supporters, cook said, although the economy may become the deciding factor. stuart rothenberg, editor and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report and columnist for Roll Call, told attendees that “there’s been a slight uptick in mood in the last three to four months.” cook cited the gradually improving economic picture. “We’re at this weird transition point,” he said. “We don’t know where the economy is going to go next, but the public is encouraged by what they’re seeing.”

regardless of the outcome of the fall elections, one dynamic remains unlikely to change. “the people who are most ideological are having the biggest impact on public policy,” garrett said. “that makes it difficult to make an impact.”

For that reason, advocacy by community college trustees must continue throughout the year, speakers told nls attendees. “our work does not end here,” said AAcc chair Myrtle e. B. Dorsey, chancellor of st. louis community college in Missouri.

Acct’s Brown agreed. “let us find ways to bring our elected officials to the table for an informed, intelligent, and sustained conversation about what matters to this country to make sure it continues on a trajectory that makes all of us proud,” he said.

ACCT leaders presented the 2012 National Education Service Award to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) in recognition of his many years of service. Pictured (L to R): ACCT President and CEO J. Noah Brown, AACC President and CEO Walter G. Bumphus, AACC Board Chair Myrtle E.B. Dorsey, U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Senior Education Policy Advisor Spiros Protopsaltis (accepting of behalf of Sen. Harkin), Iowa Western Community College Trustee Connie Hornbeck, and ACCT Chair Roberto Uranga.

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 17

Rep. Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.) meets with members of the New York delegation

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) Rep. Benjamin Quayle (R-Ariz.) with college leaders from Arizona

Across the hill and on both sides of the aisle, trustees wearing maroon buttons reading Pell=success for community colleges found sympathetic ears — but not much in the way of promises during a contentious election year.

“there are some challenges with the budget — you’ve probably heard that,” sen. rob Portman (r-ohio) told a room full of community college leaders. “if you haven’t, someone’s not telling you the truth.”

in meetings with lawmakers over three days, community college leaders kept reinforcing the importance of preserving Pell grants and other sources of financial aid for students.

“the problem is the county has no money and the state has no money,” Burlington county college President robert c. Messina Jr. told rep. Jon runyan (r-n.J.) “the students are paying 70 percent of the freight. People say the taxpayers pay, but the students actually do.”

student trustees helped make the message personal. “if it wasn’t for the Pell grant, i would have had to quit,” Angel l. torres, a student representative to the rockland community college Board of trustees, told rep. nita lowey (D-n.y.).

rep. Adam smith (D-Wash.) sympathized with trustees about eligibility changes to the Pell grant program. “the fundamental flaw in the logic is the four-year bias,” he said.

“What we want is for people to have skills. Why would we want to cut off that opportunity?”

“We want to make sure we don’t lose any more ground,” Aims community college trustee carol ruckel told rep. cory gardner (r-colo.)

Pennsylvania trustees thanked sen. robert P. casey Jr. (D-Pa.) for helping the state’s community college leaders brainstorm a collective application that won a $20 million workforce development grant from the community college and career training grant Program. “the grant will allow us to build an intake system that we will still have after the [funding] goes away,” said Dr. karen A. stout, president of Montgomery county community college.

the warm reception community college leaders received served as a reminder of their bipartisan support. rep. Ben Quayle (r-Ariz.) even ducked out of a committee hearing to meet briefly with trustees from Maricopa community college.

lowey urged trustees to encourage their students to become politically active. recalling last year’s efforts to preserve the Pell grant program, the congresswoman said she talked to about a dozen women who would have been impacted by the cuts. “not one of these young women registered to vote or did vote,” she said. “too many students don’t appreciate how important it is.”

B y M a r k T o n e r

Community College leaders made their Case in a Congress

seemingly united only by its support for their institutions.

On February 12th, cOmmunity cOllege trustees tOOk part in the secOnd annual natiOnal legislative

summit advocacy academy. held at the Wardman park marriott in Washington, d.c., the advocacy academy provided

participants with the skills and information to become knowledgeable advocates in the halls of congress. participants came

from california, colorado, Florida, georgia, illinois, maryland, michigan, missouri, new Jersey, north carolina, Ohio, Oregon,

pennsylvania, south carolina, texas, Washington, and West virginia.

AGENDA

• Thefederallandscapeoflegislationandcommunitycolleges

• HowtocommunicatewithCongressionalofficesandstaff

• FederalAid–Whereisitnowandwherewillitgo?

• Howfederalfundingworksandhowitimpactscommunitycollegesand students

• Gettingthecommunitycollegemessageoutthroughthemedia

• ACongressionalsnapshotonhighereducation

• HowtokeepupwithpoliticsandpolicymakinginWashingtonaftertheNationalLegislativeSummit

18 S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y

2012 AdvocAcy AcAdemy

a day of influenceTrustees gather in Washington, D.C., to learn from experts in federal issues and policy on how to effectively advocate for their institutions.

february 12

Held immediately before the 2012 Community College National Legislative Summit, the Advocacy Academy provided trustees with the skills and information to become knowledgeable advocates for their institutions.

Community college trustees from 17 states attended the Advocacy Academy.

“presentations were very relevant and full of practical suggestions.”

Participants had ample opportunities to ask questions and network.

“very informative session!”

“prepared me to advocate more effectively.”

acct’s public policy resources

for Community College trustees

www.twitter.com/cctrustees www.facebook.com/cctrustees

HeldeachFebruary inWashington,D.C., theCommunityCollegeNationalLegislativeSummit(NLS)isanimportantopportunity for community college leaders to becomeinformedoncutting-edgepolicyissuesandadvocatetokeyMembersofCongressandtheAdministrationonbehalfofcommunityandtechnicalcolleges.

www.acct.org/events/legislativesummit

community college

nationallegislative summit

ACCT’s highly successful Latest Action in Washington(LAW)e-mailalertsofferimmediate,conciseupdatesonlegislativeactivityimportanttocommunitycolleges.Signup to receive LAW E-Alerts by sending an e-mail with

“LAWE-Alerts”inthesubjectlineto:

publicpolicy@acct.org

laWlatest aCtion in washington

ACCT has launched a blog forum to highlight activity inWashingtonfocusedaroundlegislativeactivity.Readerscanchoose to receive daily post summaries automatically bye-mail,sharepostswithothers,andcommentonallposts.

www.communitycollegebeltwaynews.blogspot.com

ACCT’swebsitecontainsresourcesfortrusteesonadvocacyandpublicpolicy.Informationincludes:legislativeprioritiesand federal funding; ACCT letters to Congress; tips onbecomingafederaladvocateforyourcollege;andanactioncentertowriteyourrepresentatives.

visit aCCt advoCaCy onlinewww.acct.org/advocacy

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Community College and K-12 Collaboration in San Diego

By Rich GRosch and constance M. caRRoll, Ph.d.

last octoBeR, the GoveRninG BoaRds of the san

dieGo Community College District (SDCCD) and the San

Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) held a special — and

historic — joint meeting at one of the community college

district’s main campuses. It represented a sense of shared

commitment to and shared responsibility for the preparation

of students across the full K-14 continuum. Putting the notion

that “it takes a village to educate a child” into reality, San

Diego has demonstrated that it takes two districts to educate

the children of America’s eighth largest city.

The joint board meeting was proposed by the SDCCD Board of Trustees as an important step toward addressing the student transition from high school to community college. A recent report by the California Community Colleges Student Success Task Force specifies the need for these organizations to work together statewide for the benefit of students, noting that:

A vast majority of first-time students entering the California Community Colleges (CCC) are underprepared for college-level work. In the CCCs, 70 to 90 percent of first-time students require remediation in English, math, or both. In 2010, 79 percent of California’s 11th grade students who took the Early Assessment Program (EAP) college readiness test did not test “college ready.” Currently, system policies between K-12 and postsecondary

From left, back row: sDCCD Trustees maria Nieto senour, Bill schwandt, Peter Zschiesche; sDusD Board members John Lee evans, scott Barnett, sheila Jackson; and sDCCD Trustee mary Graham. From left, front row: sDusD superintendent Bill Kowba, sDusD Board member richard Barrera; sDCCD Trustee rich Grosch, and sDCCD Chancellor Constance m. Carroll.

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 21

education related to standards, curriculum, and assessment are not well aligned to communicate either clear expectations for college or career readiness or to support a smooth transition for high school graduates. (CCC, SSTF, page 14)

The report includes as its first policy recommendation a call for collaboration around jointly developing common standards for college and career readiness aligned with high school exit standards.

Like many community college districts and school districts, the SDCCD and SDUSD already boasted a broad and impressive range of partnership activities. Developed over the years through the innovative activities of individual community college presidents and high school principals working with their combined faculty and staff, the menu of current partnerships includes a joint high school diploma and GED program administered by the SDCCD’s Continuing Education division; a number of early college and middle college high schools at two SDCCD campuses; a fast-track program for high school seniors; an Accelerated College Program; and a Gear-Up program with several middle and charter schools. While these programs demonstrate an impressive record of working together, they were not the result of systemic planning. And that’s where the joint board effort kicks in.

The boards discussed three overarching themes during the joint meeting: expanding and improving efforts to jointly prepare students for success in college; expanding and improving efforts to jointly prepare students for success in careers; and fostering and supporting interaction and collaboration between community college faculty and K-12 teachers to develop common academic expectations and pathways to student success.  The boards hoped to build upon their past and existing partnerships in moving forward, and they indicated a unanimous goal of moving forward in a systemic manner based upon overall service and quality assurance, not just ad hoc developments of an individualized nature.

Systemic approaches and design principles were used to outline the following action steps approved by the boards as future goals:•Holdajointboardmeetingonanannualbasis,beginninginfall

2012, during which updated plans and progress will be discussed.•Increasethenumberofmiddlecollegehighschoolsbyatleast

one additional school.•Increaseconcurrenthighschool/communitycollegeenrollment

by 10 percent over a five-year period. •Increasethenumberofhighschoolsatwhichcommunitycollege

faculty provide instruction either on-site or via virtual technology, while taking a fresh look at relevant learning models using a holistic view that includes socialization.

•Instituteacceleratedcareerprogramslinkedtointernshipsandservice learning experiences.

•Worktowardcoordinatingastandardizedspringbreakbetweenthe community college district and the K-12 district, as well as San Diego State University.

•Ensurethatstudents,especiallythosewhoaredisadvantaged,have comparable opportunities (accessibility to programs, inclusiveness, and common standards) throughout both districts regardless of geography or socioeconomic characteristics.

•Ensurethattherearemeetings,workshops,andconferencesbetween the districts’ faculty and teachers, counselors, and administrators to ensure student success through early assessment, common academic standards and expectations, and appropriately designed curricula.Governing boards have a unique opportunity to develop critical

policy affecting education not only at their own community colleges, but also through interaction with other governing boards, especially at the K-12 level. By taking joint responsibility for common problems and goals, this process can lead to systemic improvements that will benefit all students, rather than ad hoc improvements based on individual leadership styles, geography, or the socioeconomic characteristics of demographic groups within a region. And the winners, of course, are the students who will now have an orderly, well-planned pathway of opportunity before them.

Rich Grosch is president of the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees, and Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of the SDCCD.

Student SucceSS BeginS with PartnerShiPSthe San diego community college district’s collaboration with its neighboring K-12 system is one example of how innovative partnerships are emerging as a primary means by which to improve college readiness and completion rates. the 2012 acct Leadership congress will focus on leveraging student success through partnerships, innovation, and evidence. a special general session panel with expand the discussion of partnerships among community colleges and K-12 school boards, as well as area businesses. the session will feature candid conversation by leaders in public school districts, higher education, and business. Paul e. Lingenfelter, president of the State higher education executive Officers, gene wilhoit, executive director of the council of chief State School Officers, and Bill green, president and ceO of accenture, will engage in a dynamic discussion and answer audience questions about the challenges and opportunities they have experienced and foresee in forging community college partnerships. For more information about this must-hear discussion and other sessions in the partnerships track, go to http://www.acct.org/events/annualcongress/12/.

s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y22

B y N a N c y T a y l o r

a souNd execuTive

compeNsaTioN program

BegiNs aNd eNds wiTh

good goverNaNce, argues

Tiaa-creF’s direcTor For

execuTive compeNsaTioN.

it’s no surprise that executive compensation is

a hot topic these days. however, the focus on

executive compensation is not limited to firms on

wall street. while the amounts of compensation,

bonuses, and perquisites found in higher

education may pale in comparison to those in the

for-profit world, they elicit mixed responses within

the academic community. The ability to recruit,

retain, and reward key employees is as essential

in higher education as in the corporate sector,

and is largely accomplished through the use of a

variety of executive compensation arrangements.

6Compensation

exeCutive in

T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 23

Marketplace characteristics and competitive pressures, the public’s demand for accountability and disclosure, and the changing legislative and regulatory environment all have an impact on the design of an effective executive compensation program.

A sound executive compensation program begins and ends with good governance and well-established compensation philosophy, policies, and practices in line with the institution’s overall goals and objectives. Good governance practices must include peer-group analysis and a review of the total compensation package (including perquisites such as housing and car allowances, along with business and entertainment expenses) and must provide for performance measurements that clearly define success. Good governance practices should also be well documented and adhere to all legislative and regulatory requirements. Now more than ever, good governance must include adherence to the three Cs: compliance, coordination and communication.

The Three CsCompliance with the legislative and regulatory

requirements surrounding executive compensation and nonqualified deferred compensation plans is critical in order to avoid intermediate sanctions, fines, and potential disqualification of the plans themselves. Coordination of all arrangements established throughout the university — whether for a star faculty member, university president, or athletic coach — should be centrally managed and maintained to ensure all arrangements are in line with the overall executive compensation policies and practices of the institution. And communication throughout the organization is critical so that no surprises or inconsistencies in policy and practice are present.

Development of a comprehensive executive compensation program should be looked at as a joint venture among key stakeholders. These include members of an institution’s board of trustees and senior administrative officials such as the business officer, the human resources director, and the institution’s legal counsel.

Executive compensation can be divided into four general components: base salary, standard employee benefit plans, supplemental short- and/or long-term incentive compensation plans, and perquisites. Focusing on the supplemental plans, tax-exempt and governmental institutions are limited in

comparison to their for-profit counterparts in what can be provided key employees. There are several types of executive compensation arrangements commonly used in the higher education marketplace. In general, public institutions tend to have more options than private institutions because they are exempt from certain ERISA reporting and disclosure requirements and IRS coverage and nondiscrimination rules.

The Six Steps to Effective Compensation1. Analyze existing benefit plans and executive compensation arrangements. One of the first things you will want to do is review the benefits provided under the standard package of employee benefit plans that will be offered to the key employee. Analysis of the base retirement and tax-deferred savings plans is necessary in order to identify gaps in coverage and opportunities that maximize benefits provided under the available limits. In other words, do the math. Addressing what is needed or desired can only be accomplished after determining what is already being provided.

For existing executive compensation arrangements, you will want to determine if the programs still meet their primary objectives and remain in compliance with current regulatory and legislative requirements. You will also want to analyze the administrative requirements and costs of the benefit program to ensure that it remains affordable and efficient.

Finally, as with any employee benefit plan, you will want to ensure that the executive compensation package that is being offered or considered is not only adequate, but also understood and appreciated by the key employee.2. Establish primary plan objectives for the executive compensation program. This step basically asks why an institution is considering development of a supplemental executive compensation package. Is it simply to provide the key employee with additional retirement contributions above and beyond those provided by the standard employee benefit plans? Is it to restore benefits lost under these standard plans due to the IRS limits placed on compensation or nondiscrimination testing? Is it to provide the key employee with additional salary deferral opportunities? Or is it to attract or retain the services of a key employee or to reward performance? The answer to these questions will help identify the most appropriate executive compensation arrangement for the circumstance.

s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y24

3. Identify optimal plan design features. Once you have determined the plan’s primary objective, you will want to gauge the relative importance of certain design features from an institutional perspective. A common consideration is the issue of public disclosure and/or Form 990 reporting. In the case of a highly recruited athletic coach, these issues generally tend to get played out in the local media and are difficult to manage. However, the type of plan selected will determine when or how the compensation is disclosed. (Note: all public/governmental institution information is subject to state open records laws, and private/tax-exempt institutions must disclose all compensation on IRS Form 990.) Other considerations include determining the importance of protecting the benefit from the institutions’ creditors, whether future service requirements are required, and when benefits are to be made available. 4. Determine tax and distribution strategy. Of great importance to both the institution and the key employee is the tax liability and distribution strategy associated with the executive compensation plan selected. Although tax-exempt and governmental employers do not have the same tax incentives as for-profit organizations when establishing executive compensation arrangements, some plan designs have bookkeeping requirements that must be considered. The institution also must determine the importance of employer control of the assets and benefit distributions prior to and after vesting or before retirement. Of particular concern to the key employee are the individual tax consequences of the benefits during the accumulation phase, upon vesting, prior to distribution, and following separation from service. Rules vary by plan type and must be analyzed carefully. 5. Select the appropriate financing methodology. Depending on the type of executive compensation plan under consideration, an institution will need to base its financing strategy on projections of future assets, benefit liabilities, and cash flows. Simply put, how is the institution going to pay for or account for the benefits promised? Common financing arrangements include:•Cash/lump-sum settlement (pay as you go)•Shadow account (defined interest and

earnings assumptions)

•Institutionally owned annuity/mutual fund accounts•Institutionally owned life insurance policy•Use of Rabbi trust, employee trust

From the key employee’s perspective, various funding arrangements tend to involve a tradeoff between the level of security provided on the underlying benefits and the amount of tax deferral that can be achieved. Certain executive compensation arrangements have maximum contribution limits placed on them with the benefit of spreading out the tax liability over time upon distribution, while others provide for unlimited contribution amounts but are heavily taxed upon vesting or distribution.6. Establish guidelines for periodic review and evaluation. It is critical to review executive compensation arrangements on an annual basis to ensure they remain consistent with the institution’s overall compensation philosophy, policies, and practices and are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

While the focus of this article centers on the types of executive compensation packages most commonly used in higher education, the annual review should take into consideration the total compensation package: base salary, benefits, short- and long-term incentive programs, and perquisites. It is also important to ensure that all executive compensation plans are well documented, including the decision-making process and procedures that went into their development. And finally, good governance requires involving all of the key stakeholders (human resources, finance/business office, and legal counsel) and clear communication between senior leadership and the institution’s governing body.

Nancy Taylor is director of executive compensation and institutional product management for TIAA-CREF and can be reached at ntaylor@tiaa-cref.org. The material is for informational purposes only and should not be regarded as a recommendation

or an offer to buy or sell any product or service to which this information may relate. Certain products and services may not be available to all entities or persons. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc., distribute securities products.

Development of a comprehensive executive compensation program

shoulD be lookeD at as a joint venture among key stakeholDers,

incluDing members of an institution’s boarD of trustees.

T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y S U m m E R 2 0 1 2 25

b y d a v i d c o n n e r

More about the coMpanies that

support acct and coMMunity colleges.

CorporateCouncil

theInsIde

the ACCt CorporAte CounCIl wAs estAblIshed by

the ACCt board of directors for the purpose of creating

partnerships and opportunities for companies that support

the mission of community colleges to add their support

and expertise in the education and training of community

college governing board members. In recent years, the

Corporate Council has become a valuable advisory

committee to ACCt as well as its membership through

Corporate Council meetings and ACCt leadership Congress

session presentations, roundtables, and more. At the 2012

ACCt leadership Congress in boston this fall, the Corporate

Council will convene its first-ever sponsored spotlight

session on partnerships, which will focus on student success

and completion from these important partners’ unique

and specific vantage points. please take a moment to get

acquainted with the companies that provide important

support for ACCt’s events, programs, and services.

S U m m E R 2 0 1 2 T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y26

ACT Inc. | www.act.orgACt is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides a broad array of assessment, research, information, and program management solutions in the areas of education and workforce development. each year, ACt serves millions of people in high schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies — nationally and internationally. ACt has offices across the united states and throughout the world. ACt’s mission is “helping people achieve education and workplace success.” ACt, a vital player in the completion agenda, has been an ACCt Corporate Council member since 2008.

Barnes & Noble College Booksellers | www.bncollege.combarnes & noble College is the country’s leading college bookstore operator, with a diverse range of campus partners across the country, including public and private universities, community colleges, and law, medical, and specialty schools. b&n’s mission is to create bookstores that are focal points for campus life and learning, enhancing the educational mission of the institution, enlivening campus culture, and delivering a strong and consistent revenue stream to our partner schools. b&n College is investing in technology and leading the industry to bring customers new options, including digital products, devices, and unique services. barnes & noble College booksellers has supported the ACCt Corporate Council since 1990 and has provided additional support for the ACCt leadership Congress throughout the years.

Blackboard Higher Education | www.blackboard.comFrom its beginning as a small education technology company, blackboard has been dedicated to improving every aspect of the education experience for millions of learners and educators around the world. blackboard works with thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations, providing them with tomorrow’s education experience today. the drive to make a difference and lead the evolution of education is at the core of what makes the company’s solutions so effective. From teachers and administrators to students and parents, the company

builds on everyone’s best to create a better education experience. ACCt welcomed blackboard to the Corporate Council in 2011 and looks forward to its ongoing partnerships and developments within the community college sector.

CampusWorks Inc. | www.campusworksinc.com Campusworks is an information technology management firm exclusively dedicated to higher education. Founded in 1999, Campusworks distinguishes itself by providing clients with a unique combination of business acumen, higher education expertise, technical know-how, and professional planning bundled into a senior It professional. the strength and productivity of Campusworks’ senior It executives are enhanced by a team of experts that specialize in all aspects of technology infrastructure, instructional and administrative computing, and system and security administration. Campusworks has been a valued and trusted partner as an ACCt Corporate Council member since 1990.

The College Board | www.collegeboard.comthe College board believes that an investment in education is an investment in the future. From its earliest days, the company has devoted itself to educational opportunity and achievement. the College board has championed innovation, equity, and excellence for generations of students. It prides itself on being an advocate for children and parents; the company is a strong presence in thousands of schools and communities across the country. the company’s work falls broadly into three categories: College readiness, College Connection and success, and Advocacy. the College board has been an ACCt Corporate Council member since 1990 and has lent vital additional support to the ACCt leadership Congress, as well as content development around student success and completion.

Economic Modeling Specialists Inc. www.economicmodeling.comeconomic Modeling specialists Inc. (eMsI) provides high-quality employment data and economic analysis via web tools and custom reports. twelve years ago, eMsI began conducting economic impact studies for colleges. the company believed then, as it does now, that colleges bring value to their regions, and we helped them quantify that value. eMsI also found that

T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y S U m m E R 2 0 1 2 27

in order to actively align their programs with good industries and jobs in the region, colleges need solid labor market data. And so the company built Analyst — a tool designed to give colleges the best labor market data available. eMsI now serves thousands of clients at community colleges and workforce boards across the u.s. today, eMsI is a company of roughly 40 people with a long history of supporting ACCt and the community college sector. eMsI was founded through an ACCt initiative and became an independent Corporate Council member in 2007.

Edfinancial Services | www.edfinancial.comwith increasing enrollments and expanding responsibilities, colleges and universities are challenged to meet the needs of a growing student body. you’re asked to do more with less. how can you accomplish all this and spend time counseling your students? edfinancial services has created streamlined processes and operational efficiencies specifically designed with schools in mind.

Ellucian | www.ellucian.comthe recent combination of two education technology leaders, datatel and sunGard higher education, has a new name: ellucian™. ellucian helps education institutions thrive in a dynamic world. the company delivers a broad portfolio of technology solutions, developed in collaboration with the global education community, and provides strategic guidance to help education institutions of all kinds navigate change, achieve greater transparency, and drive efficiencies. ACCt is pleased to welcome ellucian in its new incarnation.

Epsilen | www.epsilen.comtoday’s generation requires new approaches that take learning beyond the classroom. to keep pace, educational institutions worldwide choose epsilen. the results are superior retention, excellent outcomes, and satisfaction among teachers and students. epsilen’s diverse team of executives, directors, and partners are passionate about education and are committed to transforming the way students learn, worldwide.

Ferrilli Information Group | www.figsolutions.comFerrilli Information Group is an independent services organization whose mission is to understand higher education partners’ unique strengths so that it can provide the best solutions to enhance operational efficiency, optimize the constituent experience, and ensure the institution’s long-term success. For nearly a decade, Ferrilli’s team of higher education experts has developed and improved innovative services and solutions for institutions of higher education. the company takes a comprehensive look at each client, considering the unique needs of its constituents and of the institutional needs, goals, and objectives. today, Ferrilli supports 18 strategic partners on an ongoing basis and has worked with over 100 institutions. Ferrill joined the ACCt Corporate Council in 2008.

Pearson Higher Education | www.pearsonhighered.com pearson higher education has long been focused on student success. that’s why pearson creates content, learning tools, and services that give instructors the ease and flexibility to engage students with a learning experience that motivates and encourages success. pearson’s commitment to help every student achieve is not a slogan; it is an imperative. last year, more than 8 million students learned from the company’s online products alone. pearson’s content is trusted. Its innovations are real. And the support the company provides to instructors and students alike is based on a simple premise: “we are not successful unless our customers are successful.” ACCt is pleased to welcome pearson to the Corporate Council.

TIAA-CREF | www.tiaa-cref.orgthe tIAA-CreF group of companies is a prominent financial services organization dedicated to providing lifetime financial security to those in the healthcare, academic, cultural, and research fields; for people whose work serves others. An organization with more than $487.1 billion in total assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2012, tIAA-CreF has more than 3.7 million participants in more than 27,000 plans and 15,000 public and private institutions. tIAA-CreF has been a longtime supporter of ACCt, joining the Corporate Council in 1990.

28 s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y

Around the Regions

NOrTHeAsT regiON

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has called for centralizing the management of the state’s 15 community colleges and consolidating them into a single line item in the state budget. A legislative committee has also called for the governor to appoint the chair of each college’s board of trustees and give the state board of higher education more of a role in the selection, compensation, and evaluation of college presidents; at press time, these proposals were still being considered by the legislature.

Under a bill approved by the Connecticut senate’s higher education committee, all community college and state university students would be able to take credit-bearing courses with embedded tutoring and skills classes instead of noncredit remediation classes. Supporters argue that skipping remediation and providing adequate support in credit-bearing classes would help improve student persistence.

Nearly 400 community college students and supporters

rallied at the Pennsylvania state capitol to protest the governor’s proposed FY 12-13 budget, which would reduce community college budgets by an estimated 5 percent. Supporters also asked Pennsylvania legislators to support capital funding for the state’s community colleges, which for the fourth year running have not received any funding in the governor’s proposed budget. Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges have a list of “shovel-ready” projects that exceed $100 million, and their leaders have requested $10 million in capital funding.

New Hampshire community colleges entered a nursing partnership with Southern New Hampshire University, which will create formal pathways from the associate to master degree level, as well as dual admissions and shared curricula development, scholarships, faculty, advising, and financial aid.

ceNTrAL regiON

Seventeen Ohio community colleges and universities are preparing to switch from the quarter system to a semester-based calendar. College

leaders have said that the switch will not lengthen the time to degree or increase costs for students.

The Ohio Board of Regents is expanding its eTutoring statewide collaborative to all of the state’s two- and four-year universities. The program allows students to get help from online tutors provided by participating institutions and is serving more than 3,000 students in seven subjects this year, officials said.

In April, President Obama spoke at Lorain County Community College in Ohio to promote federal job training programs. Obama visited with students in the college’s Transformations program for computerized numerically controlled machining, which has placed 90 percent of participants in jobs within three months of graduation.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Michigan has launched a 26-week utility line worker academy in cooperation with the Consumers Energy utility, whose officials said they needed to develop a younger talent base as its employees age. KVCC is also opening a production technician academy for a consortium of employers and plans to open a mechatronics academy in the fall.

Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and workforce development agencies in Missouri and

Kansas will share a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor funded by a pool of $183 million in fees collected from companies seeking H1B visas to bring foreign workers to the United States. The “Earn IT & Learn IT” program will focus on targeting Kansas City-area workers for job training.

The City Colleges of Chicago in Illinois will participate in a $3.5 million program to retrain returning military veterans for careers in the gas utility sector, which faces a need for additional workers as the city prepares to modernize nearly 2,000 miles of gas pipes over a 20-year period.

wesTerN regiON

Nine colleges in the Colorado Community College System received accreditation for their early childhood associate degree programs from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Community colleges are the largest provider of early childhood professional preparation programs in Colorado. In 2011, more than 14,000 early childhood professionals attended community college classes.

29T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2

Wyoming’s seven community colleges and the state’s health department were the only two entities that saw budget increases in the biennial budget approved earlier this year by lawmakers. The state’s community colleges received an additional $16 million for 2013-14.

Southeast Community College in Nebraska is one of six community colleges in the nation to participate in a pilot program with the International Student Exchange Program. ISEP, which has traditionally worked only with four-year colleges and universities, is piloting lower-cost summer programs for community college students in the United Kingdom, Italy, India, France, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

Central Texas College has created articulation agreements with 35 four-year universities, including institutions in states as far away as Maryland, Iowa, and Kansas.

.

PAcific regiON

A study of faculty at California’s community colleges indicated that nearly one in three full-time faculty

members plan to retire within five years, according to a survey presented at the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting. The survey also suggests that part-time faculty would be willing to help replace retiring faculty, with nearly 80 percent of those surveyed saying they would accept a full-time position if offered.

Oxnard College in California has created a fundraising committee targeted at supporting the community college’s athletic programs. Comprised of volunteers and school employees, the athletic association’s first goal is to raise $187,000 to allow the college to continue its basketball and volleyball programs.

Yuba Community College District in California is nearing completion of its 2.8 megawatt solar energy program, one of the largest at a community college in the state. The district anticipates receiving nearly $600,000 per year in energy rebates due to the multi-campus solar arrays it has installed and projects overall savings of more than $19 million over the life of the project.

Maricopa County Community College District in Arizona signed an agreement with the University of Arizona that will allow the institutions to collaborate on programs and provide incentives for students to

complete the newly defined Arizona Transfer Admissions Pathway (AzTAP). The program provides guaranteed admission into selected UA degree programs for students who complete requirements at Maricopa Community Colleges, as well as pre-transfer admissions counseling and renewable scholarships for eligible students.

Administrators at Seattle Community College in Washington have backed away from a rule change that would have restricted protests on its three campuses. Students, faculty, and the American Civil Liberties Union had argued that the proposed rules would restrict free speech.

Salt Lake Community College in Utah has proposed phasing out its barbering and cosmetology programs. Among the school’s oldest vocational programs, the programs were deemed as providing less lucrative career prospects than newer programs in mortuary science and music technology. “These are jobs that [start at] $8 an hour. Should we be encouraging programs that we know that a number of people are enrolling in but wouldn’t find meaningful jobs that would support a family?” Trustee Chairwoman Jesselie Anderson told the Salt Lake Tribune.

sOuTHerN regiON

Virginia’s 23 community colleges have implemented a common risk-management software platform to allow information security officers on each campus to coordinate on issues such as e-mail security, hacking, malware, and IT policy violations.

Virginia Western Community College offers free two-year tuition for students in two cities and one county through its Community College Access Program, which received a $125,000 donation from Advance Auto Parts. The program serves as many students as possible, based on student need and available funding. During the 2011-12 year, CCAP is helping 160 students attend Virginia Western, which plans to expand its service area to several additional counties.

Sandhills Community College in North Carolina has launched an ophthalmic medical assistant program. The one-year program will prepare 18 students to perform ophthalmic procedures under the supervision of a licensed physician in two fully equipped eye examination rooms.

Around the Regions provides an opportunity to share what’s happening in the states and around the regions. This section focuses on state legislative and budgetary issues, economic development, and finance. Please e-mail items from press releases or newsletters to ACCT at dconner@acct.org. Fax submissions to 202-223-1297.

D

S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y30

During the last quarter, the federal courts have been active with new case decisions that continue to affect the administration of community colleges. One federal court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1871 prohibits sexual orientation discrimination, even in the absence of a Title VII prohibition. Another federal court rejected the EEOC’s position that Title VII protects breastfeeding women from discrimination.

The federal courts of appeals have split on whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires employers to automatically reassign a disabled employee to any vacant position for which he/she is qualified. Finally, one federal court of appeals ruled that individual supervisors at public agencies (which could include community colleges) may be individually liable for Family

Recent Federal Court Decisions Could Impact Higher Ed Personnel Practices

by Ira Michael Shepard ACCT General Counsel

l e g a l

and Medical Leave Act violations they effectively cause. This also created a split in the decisions of the federal appeals courts, opening the way for the Supreme Court to step in and decide this important issue, as well as the ADA issue. All three cases are discussed in more detail below.

Sexual orientation discrimination. A federal district court trial judge recently held in a case of first impression that there may be a federal statutory remedy for sexual orientation discrimination, even though Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does not include sexual orientation as a protected class. The judge ruled in favor of a gay Minnesota police officer who had sued the City of St. Cloud under the Civil Rights Act of 1871, alleging the city violated his 14th Amendment equal protection rights by disciplining him and ultimately constructively discharging him

after he disclosed his sexual orientation. The judge denied the city’s motion for summary judgment, concluding that the plaintiff had produced sufficient evidence to show that the city treated him differently after he requested and was denied permission to represent the police department in the “Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) Gay Pride Event.” (Lathrop v. St. Cloud, D.Minn. No. 10-2361, 1/23/12)

The judge specifically concluded that the city did not allege, nor does the judge believe, that there is any legitimate governmental concern that would justify treating a homosexual police officer any differently in terms of discipline than a heterosexual police officer. Therefore, the judge concluded that the plaintiff raised a legitimate governmental concern and a legitimate equal protection claim. In

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T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 31

denying summary judgment to the city, the judge further concluded that a reasonable juror could find that the defendants discriminated against the plaintiff, considering that he was disciplined five separate times, the subject of three separate internal investigations, surreptitiously tape recorded, and given the worst possible performance reviews, all within six months of disclosing his sexual orientation.

Breastfeeding women as a protected class. A U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of Texas recently ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended does not protect breastfeeding women in dismissing a case brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of a woman who was allegedly fired because she wanted to pump breast milk while at work. (EEOC v. Houston Funding II Ltd., Case No. 4:11-CV-02442 US DC SD TX)

The EEOC had argued that Title VII clearly protects pregnant women from employer discrimination, and that protection includes childbirth and related medical conditions. Federal District Court Judge Lynn Hughes rejected that argument, concluding that related medical conditions end on the date of childbirth and that lactation and breast pumping are not covered by Title VII under its prohibition of sex discrimination. The employer claimed to have discharged the plaintiff because she abandoned her job when she did not come back to work after giving birth. The EEOC claimed that the “abandonment” argument was a pretext for sex discrimination, as the plaintiff had told the employer that she would return to work and allegedly requested permission to use a back room for pumping breast milk. The case was filed before a separate law protecting women who breast pump in the workplace was enacted. The judge held that the plaintiff “after giving birth was no longer pregnant and her pregnancy-related conditions ended.”

An EEOC attorney commented that the agency would consider its options and that an appeal is likely. The EEOC also

announced that it would hold a public meeting on the subject of pregnancy discrimination and caregiver issues.

Reassigning disabled employees to vacant positions. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently reaffirmed its position that the ADA does not require, as a reasonable accommodation to a disabled employee, the automatic transfer right to any vacant position that he or she is qualified to fill. In deciding a case brought by the EEOC, the Seventh Circuit rejected the EEOC’s position, holding that an employer’s policy allowing a disabled employee to apply, transfer, and fill a vacant, alternative position for which he/she is qualified only if the disabled employee is the most qualified applicant for the vacant position does not violate the ADA. (EEOC v. United Airlines Inc., 7th Cir., No. 11-1774, 3/7/12). In affirming its past position, the Seventh Circuit joins the Eighth Circuit in rejecting the EEOC’s position.

The EEOC had argued that the ADA requires an employer, as a reasonable accommodation to a disabled employee, to offer the disabled employee a transfer to any vacant position that the employee is qualified for. The EEOC takes the position that the ADA requires reassignment of a disabled employee to a vacant position over a more qualified non-disabled employee or candidate if the disabled employee is “at least minimally qualified” for the job vacancy. The Tenth Circuit and the DC Circuit agree with the EEOC’s position. The three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit stated that while they affirmed the past Seventh Circuit precedent, it may be appropriate for the entire Seventh Circuit sitting en banc (as a whole) to decide this ADA issue. The U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately have to decide this issue and clarify this split in the Circuit Courts of Appeal.

Family and Medical Leave Act violations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently held that a Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) plaintiff had the right to go to a jury trial over whether her supervisor at a county adult probation

and parole agency should be held personally liable for allegedly effectively recommending her termination in violation of the FMLA. (Haybarger v. Lawrence County Adult Probation and Parole, 3rd Cir., No. 10-3916, 1/31/12) The Third Circuit rejected a contrary decision by the 11th Circuit, which held that individual public agency supervisors can never be individually liable under the FMLA because they never have sufficient control over these decisions to be considered employers under the statute. This split in circuits sets up a possible Supreme Court decision on this issue. This decision will have a direct impact on supervisor liability for FMLA violations at public two- and four-year institutions of higher education.

The Third Circuit saw no reason to differentiate between public and private employers under the FMLA. It concluded that both the FMLA statute and the Department of Labor regulations make it clear that under the law, individuals such as private company corporate officers are individually liable for FMLA violations they cause as they are acting in the interest of the employer. Noting that public employers are covered by the FMLA, the court concluded that public and private employers should be treated the same with regard to the individual liability of their supervisors.

The Third Circuit joins the Sixth Circuit in holding that public agency supervisors are individually liable under the FMLA. The Third Circuit reasoned that “although a supervisor may not have ultimate authority over employment practices, we have held that a higher decision makes ultimate authority does not relieve lower decision-makers from liability.” We will follow this decision, as it is likely to become an issue that the U.S. Supreme Court will decide.

Ira Michael Shepard is a partner with the law firm of Saul Ewing, LLP, in Washington, D.C., and ACCT’s general counsel.

32 s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y

ON THE AGENDA

• KeyIndicatorsofanEffectiveBoard

• Robert’sRuleofOrderandParliamentaryProcedures

• WhatTrusteesNeedtoKnowAboutOutcomes,Quality,andStudentSuccess

• InnovationinCommunityCollegeProgramsandServices

• ImageBuildingandCrisisManagement

• EffectiveStrategiesandToolsforAddressingFinancial Constraints

• BoardSelf-AssessmentasaLeadershipTool

This March 29-31, 54 coMMuniTy college TrusTees and their presidents convened at the Borough of Manhattan community college in new york city to take part in the 2012 accT governance leadership institute. The annual institute, led by accT Vice President Dr. narcisa a. Polonio, was designed to help trustees become outstanding board members, strengthen the board/president relationship, and network with others from across the country and beyond. This year, gli participants came from across the country, including arizona, illinois, iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, nebraska, new Jersey, new york, ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming. accT will host a specialized governance leadership institute in 2012: a governance leadership institute for new Trustees august 1-3 in Washington, D.c. For more information on this event, go to www.acct.org/events/institute or e-mail narcisa_polonio@acct.org.

The 54 trustees and presidents at the 2012 Governance Leadership Institute came from 15 states.

leadership MattersMarch 29-31, 2012

“Topics were on target!”

“it helped me better understand my role as a trustee and the types of questions i should ask.”

Attendees participated in discussions to strengthen their governance knowledge and skills.

2012 GOVERNANCE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

33T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y s u m m e r 2 0 1 2

ON THE AGENDA

• Boardsmanship101—TheFundamentalsofBeinga

GoodBoardMember

• UnderstandingtheBudget,FinancialDocuments,and

CapitalProjects

• EducationAdvoacy—ReflectionsFromInsidetheHalls

ofCongress

• PublicSpeakingandHandlingtheMedia

•WhatNewTrusteesNeedtoKnowAboutOutcomes,

Quality,andStudentSuccess

• TheBoard-CEORelationship:AnInteractiveDiscussion

learning to leadFebruary 13, 2012

“exactly what i needed to know to be a good trustee.”

New trustees from throughout the country engage in conversation.

2012 NEW TRUSTEE ACADEMY, WASHINGTON, D.C.

More Than 40 coMMuniTy college TrusTees anD Their PresiDenTs conVergeD in WashingTon, D.c., The Day BeFore the 2012 community college national legislative summit for a one-day primer on the basics of board leadership. Participants lauded the quality of the speakers, saying they found the discussion and materials very useful. community college leaders in attendance came from colorado, Delaware, Florida, illinois, iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, new Jersey, north carolina, ohio, okla-homa, oregon, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and guam. in response to demand, accT will host an expanded two-and-a-half day governance leadership institute for new Trustees this august 1-3 at the national center for higher education in Washington, D.c.

“spoke to many of the issues i was interested in.”

34 s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y

edward “sandy” sanders, Ar Dick Trammel, Ar Donald Campbell, AZ Jan Guy, AZ Gloria Guzman, AZ Fred Harcleroad, AZ Debra Pearson, AZ Linda B. rosenthal, AZ esther D. Tang, AZ Jane Gregory, BC Chuck Ayala, CA Lewis s. Braxton, CA Lois Carson, CA Carole Currey, CA Denise Ducheny, CA Isobel Dvorsky, CA Dorothy ehrhart-morrison, CAPaul Fong, CA rebecca Garcia, CA Paul J. Gomez, CA Walter Howald, CA Worth Keene, CA Bruce Ketron, CA Brenda Knight, CA marie Y. martin, CA William H. meardy, CA Carl robinson, CA Herbert roney, CA Armando ruiz, CA evonne seron schulze, CA Pete Tafoya, CA Leslie Thonesen, CA roberto uranga, CA David Viar, CA John Dent, CO John Giardino, CO George Boggs, DC Ken Burke, FL Jody T. Hendry, FL Nancy Watkins, FL Kenneth r. Allbaugh, IA Harold Brock, IA*

ACCT LIFeTIme memBers

* Deceased

robert Davidson, IA Joyce Hanes, IA B. A. Jensen, IA Kirby Kleffmann, IA moudy Nabulsi, IAWayne Newton, IA Wanda rosenbaugh, IA Linda upmeyer, IA James L. Ayers, IL steven J. Ballard, IL mark Fazzini, IL Phyllis Folarin, IL raymond Hartstein, IL Patricia Jones, IL James Lumber, IL Judith madonia, IL robert mcCray, IL michael monteleone, IL David murphy, IL rich Nay, IL Therese G. Pauly, IL Franklin Walker, IL Jerry Wright, IL robert Burch, Ks James D. Hittle, Ks Jo Ann Huerter, Ks Dick Klassen, Ks ed Nicklaus, Ks Jo Ann sharp, Ks Darrell shumway, Ks Lauren A. Welch, Ks mary Beth Williams, Ks m. W. “Bill” Wyckoff, Ks Joan Athen, mD Daniel Hall, mDNancy m. Hubers, mD robert Lawrence, mD Brad W. Young, mD William C. Warren, me Frank s. Gallagher, mI robert e. Garrison, mI*David W. Hackett, mI

Fred mathews, mI shirley Okerstrom, mI George Potter, mI David rutledge, mI Anne V. scott, mI Celia m. Turner, mI*Denise Wellons-Glover, mI James B. Tatum, mO Joann L. Ordinachev, mO Troy Holliday, ms James stribling, ms John Forte, NC Hugh Lee, NC George Little, NC Helen Newsome, NC*Kathleen Orringer, NC raymond reddrick, NC C. Louis shields, NC Lillie J. solomon, NC Lynda stanley, NC Alwin Arce, NJ Angelo Cortinas, NJ Clara Dasher, NJ Nino Falcone, NJ William T. Hiering, NJ Donald Loff, NJ William mcDaniel, NJ*James r. Perry, NJ Virginia scott, NJ Charles Tice, NJ Barbara Wallace, NJ ronald Winthers, NJ Beatrice Doser, Nm Gloria Lopez, Nm robert matteucci, Nm Nancy r. rosasco, NV Arthur C. Anthonisen, NY David mathis, NY Donald m. mawhinney, NY Jean m. mcPheeters, NY richard N. Adams, OH maureen Grady, OH

rebecca L. redman, OH Victor F. stewart, Jr., OH Ken Bartlett, OK Norma Jean Germond, Or Doreen margolin, Or*Jim Voss, Or Gene P. Ciafre, PA morrison Lewis, PA Gene e. mcDonald, PA Betty K. steege, PA John Wright, PA e. stewart Blume, sC sheila Korhammer, sC montez C. martin, Jr., sC William O. rowell, sC* Peter e. sercer, sr., sCJames smith, sC elmer Beckendorf, TX manuel Benavidez, Jr., TX*Kitty Boyle, TX Don Coffey, TX Diane Olmos Guzman, TX Bennie matthews, TX Carla mcGee, TX Della-may moore, TX Pattie Powell, TXsteve salazar, TX Lydia santibanez, TX W. L. “Levi” smallwood, TX J. Pete Zepeda, TX m. Dale ensign, uT Frank mensel, uT marilyn Blocker, VA robert W. Harrell, Jr., VA melanie L. Jackson, VAelizabeth rocklin, VA ruthann Kurose, WA Naomi Pursel, WA Vaughn A. sherman, WA Joan Jenstead, WI*Dennis Christensen, WY

They deserve more than just a gold watch.

7 reAsONs TO BesTOW A LIFeTIme memBersHIP

1 Giving outstanding and retiring board members a Lifetime membership to ACCT is a way to thank them for their service, recognize them among their peers, and ensure their ongoing interest in your college.

2 Lifetime members receive complimentary registration to all ACCT meetings, including the Annual Leadership Congress and the National Legislative summit, after retiring from their local boards.

3 Lifetime members receive all of ACCT’s award-winning publications, including Trustee Quarterly magazine, and the Advisor and From the Desk of ACCT newsletters.

4 Lifetime members are recognized publicly in Trustee Quarterly, on the ACCT Web site, and elsewhere.

5 The Lifetime membership program supports and promotes ACCT’s continuing trustee education and professional development.

6 Colleges that purchase Lifetime memberships can deduct the expense from taxes to the fullest extent allowed by law.

7 It’s just a nice thing to do — and haven’t your most exceptional trustees earned it?

For applications or assistance, go to www.acct.org/membership/lifetime/honor-trustee.php, contact the ACCT membership Department by phone at (202) 775-4667, or e-mail acctinfo@acct.org.

ACCT LIFeTIme memBersHIP

Do you have board members getting ready to retire?

Are you looking for ways to recognize them for their hard work and dedication?

Don’t let them go without an ACCT Lifetime membership!

www.acctsearches.org

Oftentimes, colleges undergoing a presidential transition can be best served by the appointment of an interim president. ACCT Interim Services assists governing boards with the process of selecting transitional leadership. AIS is your gateway to transition, simplified.

Four Reasons Interim Presidents are Valuable1. Interims can provide stability while keeping the institution's priorities on track during transition.2. They can help the college transition smoothly during the process of identifying a new permanent president.3. Interim presidents can lend specialized expertise and skills needed during the transition.4. They can lend a fresh perspective and address issues that may have been either ignored or handled poorly in the past.

ACCT has an extensive registry of retired presidents.

ACCT INTERIM SERVICES

AIS

Narcisa A. Polonio, Ed.D.VP of Research, Education & Board

Leadership Services 202.276.1983

narcisa_polonio@acct.org

Keyshia Crawford Jimerson, M.Ed. Program Specialist

202.775.6484kjimerson@acct.org

TRANSITION. SIMPLIFIED.

RECRUIT

INTERVIEW

NEGOTIATE

APPOINT

41T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y S U m m E R 2 0 1 2

A publicAtion of the community college professionAl boArd stAff network in cooperAtion with the AssociAtion of community college trustees

INTERFACEAbout PBSN and Your Executive CommitteeIn OctOber 1993, bOard staff assIstants and secretarIes attended workshops at the Annual ACCT Leadership Congress in Toronto. Those attending recognized a need for a more formal networking mechanism to offer year-round support and outreach

to higher education board staff. A founding committee was formed to research the creation of a formal organization under the aegis of ACCT. The committee submitted a proposal to ACCT, and in late July 1994, the proposal concept was approved and refined to become the charter for the new organization. At the 1994 ACCT Congress in Chicago, the Professional Board Staff Network was recognized by ACCT and adopted by those board staff assistants/secretaries in attendance. Officers were elected and subcommittees were formed to move the organization forward, and as the saying goes…. “The rest is history!”

Membership to PBSN is open to all who serve in the capacity of board staff or assistants to the president of community, junior, and technical colleges which are members of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). If your college is a member of ACCT, then the board staff at the college are members of PBSN. Find out more about PBSN at www.acct.org.

I would like to introduce you to our PBSN Executive Committee. You will recognize a few of these members.

We will start with our current Vice President and President-Elect, Wendy Dodson. Wendy began her career at Sandhills Community College in November 2007 as the executive assistant to the president and assistant secretary to the board after moving to North Carolina from Maine.  Wendy first became involved in PBSN at her first ACCT Congress in 2008.  In 2010, she became PBSN Secretary. Wendy was instrumental in helping to get president’s assistants in North Carolina invited to a quarterly president’s meeting and allowing the North Carolina assistants to have a workshop of their own. In 2011, Wendy became PBSN Vice President and will take the gavel as President at the PBSN Business Meeting in Boston in October. “I have enjoyed meeting all of the assistants from across the country and frequently network on a various number of topics with them,” Wendy says. In Fall 2011, Wendy took on additional responsibilities at Sandhills Community College, becoming the college’s HR director. This was a natural progression for Wendy due to her previous HR experience working with Key Bank of New York and the variety of employee relations responsibilities she already has in her role as executive assistant. She is also currently working on her master’s in public administration with a concentration in the area of human resources.

Our Secretary is Debbie Novak. Debbie has worked at Colorado Mountain College for almost seven years, six of which have been in her current position as assistant to the college president and executive assistant to the board of trustees. She began her career with CMC as the executive assistant to the vice president of student affairs. Debbie became the Western region member-at-large six weeks after being hired in her current

Professional Board staff MeMBer2011-2012 executive coMMittee

OFFICERS

Sherri Weddle Bowen, PresidentExecutive Assistant to the PresidentForsyth Technical Community College, N.C.sbowen@forsythtech.edu

Wendy Dodson, Vice PresidentExecutive Assistant to the PresidentSandhills Community College, N.C.dodsonw@sandhills.edu

Debbie Novak, SecretaryAssistant to the College PresidentColorado Mountain College, Colo.dnovak@coloradomtn.edu

Terri Grimes, Immediate Past-PresidentExecutive Assistant to the President/BoardHighland Community College, Ill.terri.grimes@highland.edu

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

CENTRAL REGIONJoan TierneyAdministrative AssistantJoliet Junior College, Ill.jtierney@jjc.edu

NORTHEAST REGIONSean FischerExecutive Assistant to the President andDirector of Board of Trustee ServicesAtlantic Cape Community College, N.J.sfischer@atlantic.edu

PACIFIC REGIONTria Bullard Executive Assistant to the President Columbia Gorge Community College, Ore.tbullard@cgcc.cc.or.us

SOUTHERN REGIONWanda BrownExecutive AssistantRandolph Community College, N.C.wcbrown@randolph.edu

WESTERN REGIONMechell DowneyAdministrative Assistant to the PresidentSeminole State College, Okla.m.downey@sscok.edu

net work news summer 2012

42 S U m m E R 2 0 1 2 T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y

A publicAtion of the community college professionAl boArd stAff network in cooperAtion with the AssociAtion of community college trustees

INTERFACEnet work news

summer 2012

position. Before working at Colorado Mountain College, Debbie was a co-owner of two businesses, one of which was a print service center/photo lab.  Her experience working with the public and as a business owner has helped her multi-tasking skills, as well as her ability to work well with all types of personalities and to stay calm no matter what may come her way.

Joan Tierney is the Central region member-at-large and the senior executive assistant to the president and secretary to the board of trustees at Joliet Junior College in Illinois. Joan’s career began at the age of 16, while she was still in high school working as a co-op student at Joliet Federal Savings and Loan Association in the school savings department. She held several different positions at the bank before working her way up to a bank officer for the bank and its holding corporation. Joan also held the position of executive assistant to the president for 22 of the 27 years that she worked for the bank and was responsible for the preparation of the monthly board of directors reports and served as the official board recorder. After the bank was sold in 1995, Joan joined Joliet Junior College, the nation’s first public community college. “All of us that work for presidents and boards know how very rewarding, enriching, and challenging this position can be,” Joan says. “Our motto is…. ‘It’s what we do’.”

Our Northeast region member-at-large is Sean Fischer. Sean serves as the executive assistant to the president and director for board of trustee services at Atlantic Cape Community College in southern New Jersey. Sean serves as a member of the college’s executive senior staff, is responsible for executing the day to day operations of the president and board offices, represents the college to internal and external constituencies, and helps lead the college’s external affairs operation.  Sean maintains a strong commitment to the Atlantic Cape Foundation, volunteering to support its events and the “Create Opportunity” major gifts campaign. Sean has served as the Northeast region member-at-large since 2010. Sean holds a B.A. from Rowan University and a M.A. from Villanova University, where he graduated with distinction.

Serving as the Pacific region member-at-large is Tria Bullard. Tria has been the executive assistant to the president and board of education at Columbia Gorge Community College in Oregon since 2008.  Tria became an active member of the group after the ACCT Congress in Dallas this past year.  Prior to her employment at CGCC, Tria worked in the commercial real estate/banking industry.  She holds

a B.S. in business and marketing, is a graduate of the 2011 Ford Institute Leadership Program sponsored by the Ford Family Foundation, and is the recipient of the 2011 Pacific Region Professional Board Staff Member Award.  Tria is also a gymnastics, baseball, and soccer mom of three, a Lyle School District Board Member, and coaches robotics in her spare time.

Wanda Brown serves as the Southern region member-at-large. Wanda began working with the North Carolina Community College System in 1982 after completing 17 years in the financial industry. She has served in the role of executive assistant to the president and board of trustees at Randolph Community College in Asheboro, N.C., since 1988 and has served with three different presidents. Wanda has been an active member of PBSN since 2002. In 2008, she was recognized as the recipient of the Southern region’s Professional Board Staff Member Award. Wanda is a licensed North Carolina real estate broker and has been a Member of the State Employees Credit Union Advisory Board since 2004 (serving as chair for four years). In addition to watching her grandsons play baseball, basketball, and football, Wanda enjoys traveling, baking desserts, and playing the piano for her church, which she has done for over 50 years.

Our Western region member-at-large is Mechell Downey. Mechell has worked at Seminole State College for 12 years in her current position as administrative assistant to the president. Mechell has her associate in arts degree from Seminole State College in Oklahoma and is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in applied technology at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma. “I love my job and firmly believe in the mission of Seminole State College and that community colleges are vital in higher education,” Mechell says. She has been married to her husband Mike for 25 years and has two children, Stephen and Jessica. Mechell is active in her community with the Seminole Chamber of Commerce, Prague Round-Up Club, Therapy Dogs International, Dogs International, and the City of Seminole Planning Commission (11 years). She is also past member of the finance committee for the Seminole Baptist Church, past president of the Classified Staff Association at Seminole State College, and is currently the President of the Northeast Oklahoma United States Air Force Academy Parents Club.

ShERRi wEddLE BowENFoRSYTh TEChNiCAL CommUNiTY CoLLEgE, N.C.

43T R U S T E E Q U A R T E R L Y S U m m E R 2 0 1 2

A publicAtion of the community college professionAl boArd stAff network in cooperAtion with the AssociAtion of community college trustees

INTERFACEnet work news

summer 2012

Networking Through PBSNUsing member contacts to stay ahead of the curve.

By wendy dodson, Sandhills Community College, N.C.

frOm ceOs tO sales executIves tO small busIness Owners — all utilize some type of networking system to increase contacts and stimulate ideas within their business sectors. Why should we as professional board staff members take advantage of networking opportunities within PBSN?

Let’s face it — regardless of your work or educational experience, there is always a new innovation or another creative way to move our businesses forward. Networking can often be the bridge to ideas and creative approaches that we might not come across in the circle of our immediate environment. With networking, you can exchange knowledge and other points of view that can give you invaluable feedback. You can not only take advantage of new ideas, but also learn from others what pitfalls to avoid through the power of shared experience that a network can provide. You can improve your skills and knowledge by staying in touch with what others are doing. You can learn about what educational opportunities they are pursuing, gain recommendations for resources to help improve your skills in your position, and obtain ideas for innovating processes and procedures.

Networking is one of the many benefits of being involved in PBSN. PBSN has many avenues for networking in our community.

Professional Board Staff Network Executive Committee: back: tria bullard, mechell downey, terri Grimes, Joan tierney, wanda brown. front: wendy dodson, sherri bowen, debbie novak (not pictured: sean fischer)

One avenue is to attend the annual ACCT Leadership Congress each fall. Professional board staff members from across the country and Canada meet to share experiences, attend workshops specifically designed for their role in assisting their boards, and learn how to keep in contact throughout the year. Another benefit for members is the PBSN group page on Facebook, where members can post questions and receive input from other members on a host of subjects. They can also receive information on upcoming events, see who will be attending these events, leave messages in a universal forum, and stay in touch with those they have interacted with during previous events. Facebook users also receive information and timely communications from the executive committee on a variety of subjects.

In our ever changing role as professional board staff members, keeping in touch with how others are handling the challenges of their institutions and sharing knowledge with each other is a part of how we grow, learn, and expand our knowledge to better serve our communities. For more information about PBSN and how you can be involved, please contact President Sherri Bowen at sbowen@forsythtech.edu or Vice President Wendy Dodson at dodsonw@sandhills.edu.

44 s u m m e r 2 0 1 2 T r u s T e e Q u A r T e r L Y

Regional DiRectoR(1) Three-year term in each region. The following is the slate of nominees:

Central Region — John W. Sanders John A. Logan College, IL

Northeast Region — William E. Coleman, Jr. Mercer County Community College, NJ

Pacific Region — Frederick “Fred” Whang Tacoma Community College, WA

Southern Region — Randall “Mack” Jackson Midlands Technical College, SC

Western Region — Robert “Bob” Feit Southeast Community College, NE

DiRectoR-at-laRge(3) Three-year terms.Nominations will be accepted until July 1, 2012 to appear in the fall issue of Advisor. The following is the slate of nominees received to date:

Stanley Edwards Halifax Community College, NC

Donna Horgan Cecil College, MD

Jeffrey A. MayJoliet Junior College, IL

advisorNomiNatioNs for Director-at-Large

Deadline for receipt is July 1, 2012You are encouraged to submit your nomination via e-mail to nominations@acct.org.

Nominations for Director-at-Large positions will be accepted at the ACCT office until July 1, 2012. Each member of the Board of Directors at the time of election must be a member of a Voting Member. Voting Members are defined as governing and advisory boards of accredited not-for-profit community-based postsecondary educational institutions that primarily offer programs other than baccalaureate, graduate, and professional degrees, including boards of state systems that include such institutions. According to the ACCT Bylaws, no more than one (1) member from any member board may serve as an elected member on the ACCT Board of Directors at the same time.

If you wish to run for a Director-at-Large seat in Boston during the 2012 Annual ACCT Leadership Congress, you are required to notify the ACCT President at the Washington, D.C., office in writing of your intent to run. Your notification must be received with a postmark date of July 1, 2012, or by electronic mail (preferred method) by close of business on July 1, 2012. The President will send candidate information received within the prescribed postmarked deadline to the ACCT membership in September.

Official notification from candidates shall consist of:

• A letter of declaration to run for office;

• A letter of support from the individual’s board;

• A one-page résumé that should focus on community college-related service and other civic activities and may include brief information on education and occupation;

• A narrative statement, not to exceed 150 words, on qualifications (electronically preferred), for inclusion in voting materials to be printed;

• A 5” x 7” head-and-shoulders photo, preferably color (photos will not be returned), or a color electronic version (preferred) — 300 dpi or higher; and

• An optional single letter of support from an ACCT member board. This letter of support must be limited to one page.

You are encouraged to submit your nomination online. Please e-mail your nomination to nominations@ acct.org. ACCT will respond to your submission via e-mail within three working days. Please contact ACCT Director of Public Policy Jee Hang Lee at jhlee@acct.org if you do NOT receive a response within three working days. Nominations will also be accepted via standard mail (return receipt requested). Mail nominations to: ACCT President, 1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20036.

2012 canDiDates foR tHe acct BoaRD of DiRectoRs

2012 canDiDates foR tHe acct DiveRsity committee

(1) Two-year term in each region.(1) One-year partial term in the Western Region.*The following is the slate of nominees:

Central RegionRobert Proctor Lansing Community College, MI

Northeast RegionE. Jeff Holmes Westmoreland County Community College, PA

Pacific RegionIsabel BarrerasState Center Community College District, CA

Southern RegionHelen Rosemond-SaundersTri-County Technical College, SC

Western RegionJohn Davies Northeast Community College, NE

*A special election will be held to fill a one-year term in the Western Region due to the passing of John B. Mondragon.

All candidates received the support of their respective regional nominating committees. Nominations will be accepted from the floor on all elections.

All candidates received the support of their respective regional nominating committees. Nominations will be accepted from the floor on all elections.

ACCT PubliCATionsTo order any ACCT publication, please fill out the form below and give it to any ACCT staff member or (preferred) fax, e-mail, or mail your order to ACCT Publications (contact information below). Please include both a billing and shipping address and a purchase order, if necessary.

As a membership benefit, book orders from ACCT members are fulfilled immediately in good faith of payment. An invoice will be sent within 2-3 weeks of your order. ACCT requires pre-payment from non-member colleges.

TiTle Price QuanTiTy ToTal

Making Good on the Promise of the open Door: Effective Governance and leadership to improve student Equity, success, and Completion (2011) NEW

$30 member$42 non-member

Please check whether you are a member or non-member

Essentials of Good board/CEo Relations (2009)

$16 member$20 non-member

Please check whether you are a member or non-member

The Trustee’s Role in Effective Advocacy: Engaging in Citizen Action to Advance Educational opportunities in Your Community — What Trustees need to Know About Exercising Their Voices and influence on behalf of Community Colleges (2009)

$24 member$28 non-member

Please check whether you are a member or non-member

The Trustee’s Role in Fundraising: From Arm’s length to Knee Deep — What Trustees need to Know About institutional Advancement (2008)

$16 member$20 non-member

Please check whether you are a member or non-member

The board Chair: A Guide for leading Community College boards

$15 member$20 non-member

Please check whether you are a member or non-member

Trusteeship in Community Colleges: A Guide to Effective Governance

$30 member$40 non-member

Please check whether you are a member or non-member

Community College Trustees: leading on behalf of Their Communities

$30 member$40 non-member

Please check whether you are a member or non-member

accT MeMBerSuse any of these methods to order: E-mail: acctinfo@acct.org Call: 202.775.4454 Fax: 202.775.4455 or mail order form to the address below. (note: ACCT members are not required to send payment at the time of order.)

accT non-MeMBerSsend order form and check or money order to: Attn: Publications, Association of Community College Trustees, Dept. 6061, Washington, DC 20042-6061

Please include $3 postage and handling fee for each publication (maximum $15)

$

ToTal $

Total enclosed $ or bill:

Mail to (if different):

www.acct.org 1233 20th Street, NW Suite 301 Washington, D.C. 20036 202.775.4667 866.895.2228

register today at www.acct.org

acct 43rd annual leadership congress

october 10 – 13

leveraging student successthrough partnerships, innovation & evidence

ACCT-Boston-TQAd.indd 1 1/26/12 7:43 PM