The two hundred and twenty-fifth meeting of the Central Virginia Community College Board was held at 4:30 p.m. on April 26, 2017, in the Appomattox Hall Conference Room, Room 1114.

 

 

Dr. Robert Arnold

Mr. Keith Maxey

Mr. Nathaniel Marshall

Dr. Lloyd Tannenbaum    

Dr. Steve Troxel

Dr. John Walker

Mr. Ben Witt

Campbell County

Campbell County

City of Lynchburg

City of Lynchburg

City of Lynchburg

Amherst County

Bedford County

 

Mr. Winfred Nash

Mr. Franklin Swann

Mr. Michel Zajur

Appomattox County

City of Lynchburg

State Board Rep.

 

Mr. Wil Perez

Mr.  Josh Moody

Webmaster-CVCC

 

 

Dr. John Capps, President

Dr. Muriel Mickles, VP for Student and Academic Affairs

Mr. Lewis Bryant, III, VP for Finance and Administration

Mr. David Lightfoot, VP for Information Technology

Dr. Ruth Hendrick, VP for Workforce Solutions

Mr. Michael Bradford, VP of Institutional Advancement

Chief Russell Dove, Chief of Police

Ms. Dianne Sykes, General Administration Coordinator

 

 

Mr. Ben Witt, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m.

 

 

On a motion by Dr. Troxel, duly seconded, Minutes No. 224 from the regular meeting of January 18, 2017, were approved with one correction and one clarification as previously recommended in an email by Dr. Troxel.

 

The motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Mike Bradford stated he was a member of the web redesign committee and began the presentation by comparing CVCC’s old web site (2006 until 2017) with the new one that went live on March 15. He stated some of the new web site’s features were a wide screen display, more graphics, no dropdown boxes, and fewer links all of which were designed to draw and welcome new students and help them connect to the College. Mr. Bradford stated even the pictures, taken at the College by Ms. Jill Markwood, are captivating. He stated the entire web site helps CVCC work toward the strategic plan, Complete 2021.    

Mr. Wil Perez, CVCC’s webmaster, stated the new website is clean, clear, and concise. He said this is a change from the old web site which was heavy with text and very compartmental. Wil stated the new web site is more functional-based and features a more modern design, better navigation, and improved compatibility with mobile devices.

Ms. Kris Ogden stated the new web site contains business sector categories called meta-majors that also map to the Virginia Department of Education Career Cluster categories. She stated if a category is selected, both credit programs and training programs are listed. Ms. Ogden stated links to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Virginia Education Wizard are also provided.  She stated, for each program, pathways were created that not only include the educational requirements to achieve a credential, but also include career and compensation information. Ms. Ogden stated this is the first phase with a lot more work to be done. 

Mr. David Lightfoot stated the redesigned website is to be a resource for the community to learn about educational opportunities. He stated these opportunities are for both the individual seeking to gain knowledge, skills and abilities, and for companies to improve their bottom line by training existing employees and/or hiring well-trained employees.

Mr. Lightfoot stated the information in the pathways will be enhanced with a partner called, EMSI, which maintains expected earnings and job market predictions in a defined zip code. He stated the contract for EMSI should be signed early this summer.

Mr. Lightfoot stated CVCC is scheduled to go-live with a system-wide initiative known as Virginia’s Integrated Planning and Advising for Student Success (VIP-PASS).  The new system is dependent upon well-defined Program Pathways, and thanks go to Ms. Ogden’s leadership in this area. Mr. Lightfoot stated this is an individualized web-based system that assists potential and current students in navigating their path to achieve their educational dream. He stated the go-live date will be summer or fall of 2018.  

Mr. Lightfoot stated the web redesign was truly a college-wide effort, and the product seen today is a testament to many hours of hard work by many people. He stated it has been well received. 

Mr. Witt thanked each for their presentations.

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

 

On a motion by the Curriculum Committee duly seconded, the Associate of Applied Science in Mechatronics Academic Pathway was approved as a new Associate of Applied Science degree.

The motion carried unanimously.

 

On a motion by the Curriculum Committee duly seconded, the Mechatronics Academic Pathway Career Studies Certificate was approved as a new Career Studies Certificate.

The motion carried unanimously.

 

The proposed Local Fund Budget for FY ‘18 were reviewed. On a motion by Dr. Troxel with Dr. Tannenbaum duly seconding (as there was not a quorum for the Facilities and Finance Committee), the Local Fund Budget for FY ‘18 was approved as written.

The motion carried unanimously.

 

The Local Fund Quarterly Financial Report and Financial Statements were reviewed.  On a motion by Dr. Troxel with Dr. Walker duly seconding (as there was not a quorum for the Facilities and Finance Committee), the Local Fund Quarterly Financial Report and Financial Statements were approved as written.

The motion carried unanimously.

 

On a motion by Dr. Troxel with Dr. Tannenbaum duly seconding (as there was not a quorum for the Facilities and Finance Committee), a request was made for a $.25 increase to the student activity fee. (This would increase the student fees from $7.00 to $7.25 per credit hour. The student activity fee would increase from 5.75 to 6.00 and the parking fee would remain unchanged at 1.25 for a total of $7.25. The increase would provide an additional $20,000 for local funds that would be used for fitness center equipment rental.)

The motion carried unanimously.

Chief Dove stated the Commonwealth of Virginia requires each state agency to prepare and keep current a local Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). He stated every four years, each agency is required to conduct a review and revision of its plan to ensure that it remains current. Chief Dove stated he is seeking approval today of the revised plan by the College’s Local Board. (The previous plan was approved in 2013.)

On a motion by Mr. Marshall with Dr. Troxel duly seconding, a request was made to approve the EOP as written.

The motion carried unanimously.

Dr. Mickles began her report by stating graduation will be held on May 11 at the Vines Center. She stated 1,265 awards will be given with approximately 428 students planning to attend the ceremony. Dr. Mickles stated for the first time, students receiving Workforce credentials will be participating in graduation.

Dr. Mickles stated a lot of recruitment and retention activities have taken place in the way of open houses (STEM and CTE) for high school seniors, She stated another recruitment event was the College’s annual History Day consisting of area middle/high school students who bring in projects pertaining to history, and an Art Fair held in April for high school students to show off their talents. Dr. Mickles also stated information sessions called “Hot Topics” are held every Tuesday to help students with test taking, study skills, writing resumes, etc.

Dr. Mickles reported on several events that are scheduled for later this week which include the Student Appreciation Picnic and the POLIS awards.

Dr. Mickles reported on the Early College enrollment and stated the following:

·       Bedford Off Campus Center-50 students

·       Jefferson Forrest High School-18 students

·       Appomattox Off Campus Center-13 students (possibly 20)

·       Amherst Off Campus Center-13 students

·       Lynchburg City-25 students

·       Campbell County-23 students (possibly 24)

Dr. Mickles reported, beginning in 2018, she and Ms. Ogden will be involved in Phase II of the “Nudge to the Finish Line” grant. She stated students will receive personalized text messages containing information, nudges, and guidance about the steps they can take to earn/complete their degrees.

Dr. Mickles discussed a transition in the Workforce Solutions Division and stated she and Dr. Jim Lemons will be stepping into the role that Dr. Hendrick now fills.  

Dr. Mickles discussed the “Road to Success in Virginia” (RSV) grant which is a VCCS initiative. She stated this is for those that receive TANF assistance to help them become employable by providing encouraging and career coaching. Dr. Mickles stated CVCC will receive funding to hire a full-time RSV coach/coordinator for this program.

Dr. Mickles discussed the Workforce Credentials Grant and stated this grant will provide a career coach to assist students to enroll in non-credit workforce training.

Mr. Bryant reported on a number of projects that the College has going on—sidewalk repair, HVAC renovation project for Bedford and Campbell Halls, and repaving the College drive (funded by VDOT).

Mr. Bryant discussed the $20 million renovation project for Amherst and Campbell Halls. He stated this project is bond funded which does not mandate a deadline on when the money must be used.  He stated on July 1, the state will go out for bids to hire an Architect and Engineer firm (A&E) which should be selected by October. Mr. Bryant stated the A&E firm will come to Campus and gather input from the Campus Community about what type of renovations are needed, and afterwards, begin to create blueprints. He stated next the blueprints will be reviewed and building permits will be obtained. Mr. Bryant stated this entire process will take about two years, and then depending on how much of the buildings can be relocated to allow for renovations, approximately another two years before work is completed.

Mr. Bryant discussed the state budget and stated the governor proposed a 5% reduction of general funds for higher ed but the General Assembly approved only a 4.2% reduction for the upcoming fiscal year. (This current year had a 4.4% reduction.) He stated this amounts to approximately a $375,000 reduction for CVCC. He stated once the VCCS goes to a performance-based budget, CVCC should be able benefit from this.

Dr. Hendrick reported on the Workforce Credentials Grant (WCG) and stated 147 students were enrolled at the start of the fiscal year and 104 have now completed their programs. (She stated some students began later and are still working to complete theirs.) Dr. Hendrick stated those that should have been completed by now resulted in a 98% completion rate. She stated for CVCC to receive full funding from the grant, a student must complete the program. Dr. Hendrick stated the College has received $165,000 from the WCG in tuition assistance from the state for the programs and that has enabled many to obtain training.  

Dr. Hendrick stated 42 students have been eligible for  non-credit financial aid (FANTIC). She reported the average cost of their programs is $3,300, and students who are eligible for FANTIC pay an average of $63.

Dr. Hendrick stated an Open House for the WCG fall semester classes would take place on June 1.

Dr. Capps stated Dr. Hendrick has elected to retire effective May 11. He stated when she arrived at CVCC, she encountered a division that was not functioning at its optimum but she quickly bought order to the chaos by rigorous planning efforts. Dr. Capps stated she created a broad-based strategic plan for Workforce and a policy manual was also created. He stated Dr. Hendrick had contended with many new Workforce programs such as the WCG.

Dr. Capps stated CVCC plans to integrate Academic Affairs and Workforce Solutions, bringing credit and non-credit programming under one roof.

Dr. Hendrick stated it has been a pleasure to work with each of the Board members.

Mr. Bradford began by discussing two new grants that CVCC applied for last year—Title III and Trio grants. He stated an application for the Title III grant ($1.96 million) has been submitted again this year. He stated last year’s application received a good score but he later discovered a perfect score was needed to even be considered in the pool of winners. Mr. Bradford stated Mr. Jack Freeman and Ms. Ogden spent many hours preparing the application during the last 60 days and submitted the grant on April 17. He stated the College would know the results prior to Local Board’s October meeting.

Mr. Bradford stated a marketing firm was hired to give advice on the College’s current marketing plan. He stated they will return to CVCC on May 8 for a marketing brief, a media plan, and ad concepts.

Mr. Bradford stated a Harvard Renaming Committee was formed to create and conduct a survey regarding the potential name change of CVCC’s access road. He stated the survey was emailed to 8,500 people which included current semester students, alumni from the last ten years (on whom emails were known), all employees, and to members of the Local and Foundation Boards. Mr. Bradford stated over 500 responses were received, and he will take the selected name to Monday’s President’s Cabinet meeting for approval. He stated only 22% wanted to keep the name Harvard Street; therefore, a decision was made to rename the street. He reported a lot of the suggestions contained the word “CVCC.”

Mr. Lightfoot began his report by stating he was pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year CVCC  was ranked as one of the top ten mid-sized communized colleges in the nation by the Center for Digital Education.  He reported this year CVCC moved from being tied at the #9 spot to being tied for #7 spot that illustrates CVCC’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning.

 

Mr. Lightfoot reported the internet connection speed to the Bedford Center has been increased by a factor of 4 without increasing the cost, and plans are to do this over the summer for the Amherst and Appomattox Centers in FY ‘18.

 Ms. Ogden stated her office has a requirement to assess all graduates of associate degrees on a general education assessment and on a graduate survey. She stated the College also participated in a scientific reasoning assessment based on SCHEV core competencies on a rotating cycle. Ms. Ogden stated those results will be compiled this summer and will be shared for program assessment processes.

Ms. Ogden stated the College has just finished the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) with results available in the fall.

Ms. Ogden reported on the Budget and Planning Committee and stated budget requests have been received across Campus for items that support CVCC’s mission and goals.

Chief Dove began his report by stating a student that was attending the Police Academy sponsored by the Police Department and the Business and Allied Health Division (Criminal Justice Program) was offered a job during the seventh week of the program. Chief Dove stated this program is one that the Board approved two years ago and each student that has completed this program has been offered a job prior to their completion. He stated he feels this speaks to the confidence agencies have in this program.    

Chief Dove reported on the active shooter exercise that took place here on March 8. He stated he was glad to say it was an effective and safe exercise. Chief Dove stated CVCC participated well but there were some areas that needed improvement. He stated the exercise was conducted in two segments—Law Enforcement and EMS segment and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) segment. He stated he equated CVCC’s scores to a “B” and an “A” in the first segment and a “B” and “B” in the second. Chief Dove reported a plan is being developed for improvement. He stated a detailed report would be presented on May 2 to the entire Campus.

Dr. Capps asked that Dr. Hendrick distribute to the Board a summary of credentials awarded by all the VCCS’ community colleges. Dr. Hendrick stated CVCC led the VCCS in awarding 1,266 credentials last year, and so far, this year, CVCC remains in the lead with over 1,500. She stated the final number will not be known until June 30. Dr. Hendrick stated this is a whole college initiative and not just Workforce’s. Dr. Capps reported, in April 17, CVCC had been awarded 10% of the total VCCS’ Colleges.

Dr. Hendrick stated starting this fall CVCC is going to integrate Academic Affairs and Workforce. He stated two distinct infrastructures have been created at the College—non-credit and credit—with each having their own admission programming, financial aid, student support, and marketing operations. He stated integrating the two will result in better value for students. Dr. Capps stated beginning this fall, the Academic Affairs and Workforce will work as one unit.  He stated the metaphor will be “One Door.”

Dr. Hendrick stated Workforce will continue with customizing training. She said CVCC was the first to have a non-credit and credit class being taught at the same time with the same instructor.

Dr. Capps thanked Mr. Keith Maxey for his service to the Board as this will be his last meeting.

Mr. Witt stated this is his last meeting for him as chair but he will serve one more year on the Board (due to Bedford City becoming part of the County.)

 

Mr. Witt reminded everyone that graduation will be held on May 11.

 

None

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 
6:45 p.m.