Triton College Board of Trustees 1-29-14

Triton College Board Meeting

January 29, 2014

Triton Board Room, 300A

Observer:  Ann Courter

Meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m., began at 6:50 p.m.

Present:  Chair Mark Stephens, Donna Peluso, Vanessa Moritz, Glenn Stam, Elizabeth Potter, and Glover Johnson.  A student representative was also present.  Diane Viverito was not present, and the chair explained that she was unable to attend because she was moving to another residence. 

The chair welcomed the new trustee, Glover “Trace” Johnson, and noted that he was appointed to replace resigning trustee Thomas Gary and will need to stand for election in April 2015.  Committee assignments were rearranged, leaving Mr. Johnson without an assignment as the most junior trustee. 

Triton’s enrollment continues to decline, down 17%.  There will be a detailed report in February comparing Triton’s enrollment to statewide community college enrollments.  A board retreat will be scheduled soon.

The board plans to close the Nuevos Horizontes Center in Melrose Park after 30 years because enrollment has been declining since 2003.  In addition, only 130 of the 15,000 ESL/GED students served there over the past 5 years have enrolled as credit students on the main campus.  The programs will be absorbed into Adult Ed, Continuing Ed, and extension sites.  They are working on space and transportation plans for mid-stream students.  The sale of the property is expected to yield about $700,000.  Trustee Johnson asked whether the unions have been supportive of this plan.  The response was that there will be a communication plan rolled out in February.  They will focus on bridge programs and pathways to help students move from ESL to credit programs and on to earn BA degrees or career development.

The Higher Learning Commission has issued a draft report on Triton’s accreditation.  Mr. Stephens stated that full continuing accreditation will be granted.  The school will have an opportunity to respond to the draft report before it is made public to “make factual corrections.”  The chair noted his discomfort with the process which allowed the 6-member HCL team to meet “behind closed doors with staff and community” and that the “self-interested comments of a few won’t sink the ship.”  He stated that he “doesn’t like sneakiness” and the “pot shots taken [at President Granados] are inexcusable, and disgusting.”   He would “defend with my last breath” the president and the policies that apparently were criticized in the draft report, and noted several times that they “work their rear ends off.”    He stated that the HLC did not object to board procedures 7 years ago in the prior study, but apparently did in the current draft report, and the board will address those concerns.  The college has no debt, and $30 million in reserves, projecting reserves of $21 million at the end of 2014 after the parking lot resurfacing and other improvements.  He noted that they will be looking at bonds and referenda to give raises to staff.  The campus is 50 years old, with a new building to open in 2015, and needs a master plan.

President Granados reported that the HLC was impressed with Triton’s strong commitment to student success.  Governance needs work and moves too slowly, according to the HLC, and assessment in classrooms needs work.  Dr. Granadod felt that union intervention and shared governance was a factor in the slowness.  There are too many committees, and communication bogs down.  She sees the report as an opportunity to know what needs to be worked on and to close the loop by making changes, being innovative, and taking risks.

Mr. Stephens noted that before he joined the board, board members had college-issued credit cards and travel and food expenditures were over $100,000, but he eliminated that practice.  Now the board “doesn’t get involved in who goes on what trips.” There are currently 3 dean positions open.  The board has “never vetoed candidates approved by the President,” but does like to meet them.  In the future, these meetings will be after hiring (and in open meetings). 

Bills in the amount of $1.4 million were approved without comment.

The board went into closed session at 8:15 p.m. to evaluate the president.