BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FORT LEWIS COLLEGE October 5, 2012 Vallecito Room, Fort Lewis College Durango, CO 81301

Vol. 12-89

Call to Order

Vice Chair John Wells convened the meeting of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College at 8:20 a.m.

Trustees Present:

John Wells, Vice Chair; Peter Decker; Leonel Silva; Steve Short; Karen Wilde; Amy Wendland, Faculty Representative; and Byron Tsabetsaye, Student Representative Participating via Telephone: Matt Wassam Absent: Heidi Baskfield

Staff Present:

Dene Thomas, President; Barbara Morris, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs; Steve Schwartz, Deputy Treasurer & Vice President for Finance and Administration; Glenna Witt Sexton, Vice President for Student Affairs; Michelle Merz-Hutchinson, Legal Counsel; Peggy Sharp, Deputy Secretary; and Mike Larson, Audio Consultant

RECOGNITION

Dr. Erin Lehmer, Assistant Professor of Biology, was recognized by the Board as the Featured Scholar for the Academic Year 2012-13. Dr. Lehmer thanked the Board for supporting research and especially for the opportunity for students to be involved in research projects.

Ms. Cassidy Cabot, a Fort Lewis College student and Miss Rodeo Colorado 2012, was also recognized. She briefly described her duties as Miss Rodeo Colorado, as well as her plans for the future.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Mark DeVoti, superintendent of Archuleta County School District, Dr. Dan Snowberger, Superintendet of Durango School District 9-R, spoke in support of the Master Degree in Teacher Education: Leadership. They commended Dr. Richard Fulton and the Teacher Education faculty who have worked diligently on this proposed program and reiterated the need for such a degree in this region. ACTION AGENDA – CONSENT

Peter Decker moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Leonel Silva seconded the motion. Motion passed and the following items were approved:

Approval of Minutes of May 31, 2012 Meeting of the Business Affairs Committee

Approval of Minutes of May 31, 2012 Meeting of the Academic & Student Affairs Committee

Approval of Minutes of May 31, 2012 Meeting of the Presidential Evaluation Committee

Approval of Minutes of June 1, 2012 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College

Approval of Minutes of June 15, 2012 Special Teleconference Meeting Of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College

Approval of the Minutes of July 13, 2012 Special Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College

Approval of Minutes of August 2-3, 2012 Retreat of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College

Approval of Minutes of August 10, 2012 Special Teleconference Meeting of the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College

Approval of Minutes of August 29, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Presidential Evaluation Committee

Approval of Minutes of September 6, 2012 Teleconference Meeting of the Presidential Evaluation Committee

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vice Chair Wells called attention to the Planning Calendar. Concern was raised regarding having a Board meeting on April 26, 2013, as it may conflict with the involvement of key administrators participating in pre-commencement activities. The consensus was to keep the Board meeting on April 26, 2013, and to conduct it in the President’s Conference Room due to the unavailability of space on campus. The idea of having a meeting in Denver was also discussed. During the August retreat, it was suggested that rather than meeting in Denver, senior administration and Trustees would host a coffee for legislators in the Capitol at a convenient time during the legislative session. Staff will consult the College’s lobbyist to arrange an appropriate time that will work for the Trustees and the administration.

Michelle Merz-Hutchinson, Legal Counsel, briefed the Trustees on a pending law suit filed against the CHEIBA Trust, of which Fort Lewis College is a member along with nine other higher education institutions in the State. The case is being referred to the Colorado Supreme Court for an opinion and Ms. Merz-Hutchinson will keep the Board informed of the ruling.

Committee Reports

Academic & Student Affairs Committee John Wells, Chair of the Committee, briefly reported on the various topics that were discussed at the meeting – including a presentation and discussion of the proposed Master of Arts degree in Teacher Education. Other agenda items discussed were the proposal for adoption of Institutional peers, the CCHE compliance issues, the Colorado Performance Contract and the Department/Program Learning Outcomes and Expectation Statements.

Business Affairs Committee Committee Chair Karen Wilde reported that the committee heard reports from Jeremiah Stancampiano on five completed audits and the Audit Plan for 2013. In addition, the committee reviewed the Institutional Fee Plan presented by Michele Peterson.

Old Fort/Hesperus Sub-Committee In the absence of Committee Chair Heidi Baskfield, Karen Wilde asked President Thomas to summarize the issue presented at the sub-committee meeting concerning the grant from the Colorado Historical Society for renovation of the Old Fort library. President Thomas reported that bids for the renovation had come in higher than expected and exceeded the total monies available for the project. Fort Lewis College had committed $68,000 in matching funds for the grant. President Thomas stated that given the uncertain future of the property, the administration is proposing that the grant be returned to the Colorado State Historical Society and the College’s matching funds could then be used for unmet campus needs.

Standing Reports

Faculty Representative Report Amy Wendland acknowledged the efforts by Chuck Riggs, Faculty Senate President, in shepherding the faculty discussion regarding the need to make curricular changes. She also voiced the faculty’s concern about the state law allowing students to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Student Representative Report Byron Tsabetsaye stated that the ASFLC has been very busy during these first weeks of the semester. He indicated that students are excited and that much has been accomplished in a short time.

Fort Lewis College Foundation/Office of Development Report Vice Chair Wells gave a brief summary of some of the fund-raising activities being undertaken by both the Alumni Association and the Foundation. ACTION AGENDA – NON-CONSENT

Approval of New Degree: Master of Arts in Education: Teacher Leadership

Provost Morris commended the Teacher Education faculty and Dr. Richard Fulton, who have worked diligently in preparing this proposal for the College’s first graduate degree. Vice Chair Wells echoed the praise and stated that the proposal had been fully reviewed by the Academic & Student Affairs Committee during their meeting.

Leonel Silva moved that the Board of Trustees approve offering a Master of Arts degree in Education: Teacher Leadership. Steve Short seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 Fall Enrollment Update President Thomas stated that enrollment is up 2.35% on campus. She presented a detailed breakdown of enrollment by categories. She emphasized that freshman enrollment is up 10.3%, which is of utmost importance.

 Quality Initiative Proposal Provost Morris stated that this proposal is the first part of the College’s Higher Learning Council accreditation process. Their process has changed and Fort Lewis is the first to go through the new process. She summarized the details of the proposal and indicated that it has been submitted to the HLC for review.

 Pro Cycling Challenge President Thomas reported on the successful hosting of the Pro Cycling Challenge and the resulting benefits.

 Other Items o President Thomas stated that two presentations by Eric Greitens, author of The Heart and the Fist, the campus’s community read for 2012, were well attended. His photography is on display in the Art Gallery.

o Enrollment at most other state institutions is down somewhat this year, with a couple of exceptions.

o An agreement has been signed by Fort Lewis College and the Community College System that enables students from two-year colleges to have a guaranteed enrollment at Fort Lewis upon completion of associate degree. The criteria for this guarantee are they must have a 2.4 GPA and have declared their intent to attend Fort Lewis at the start of their enrollment at a community college. ACTION AGENDA – NON-CONSENT

Approval of Institutional Fee Plan

Michele Peterson stated that two sentences have been added to the fee plan in order to comply with CCHE’s June, 2012 policy revision. She further stated that the Institutional Fee Plan will need to be approved annually per CCHE regulations.

Leonel Silva moved that the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College hereby adopt the Fort Lewis College Institutional Fee Plan, as modified. Steve Short seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

BREAK

ACTION AGENDA – NON-CONSENT (continued)

Approval of Institutional Peers

Provost Morris gave a brief summary of the methodology used to arrive at the list of peer institutions and how this will be used from a measurement perspective.

Leonel Silva moved that the Board of Trustees approve the list of institutional peers, and Karen Wilde seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

Teleconference with Matt Gianneschi, Hereford Percy and Jeanette Garcia

In response to a letter from the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the Board and campus administration must engage in a preliminary discussion with CCHE liaisons, Hereford Percy and Jeanette Garcia, and our DHE liaison, Deputy Executive Director, Matt Gianneschi, to discuss the institution’s performance plan and respond to questions regarding the process. Fortuitously, the conversation was able to occur at this Board meeting via teleconference. Dr. Gianneschi provided the background information about creation of performance contracts in 2004 and how this process has progressed to the present time. He further explained how the new performance contract will be handled and how each institution will use the Performance Contract Worksheet to select indicators that best fit their institution and their strategic plan. He also reviewed the time line for developing the College’s Performance Plan and the deadlines that need to be met.

President Thomas reported that the College administration has already begun to make a preliminary selection from the four goals in CCHE’s Master Plan and will continue to discuss and evaluate the measures. She further indicated that the selection of indicators has not been weighted. Upon final selection, they would be sent to the three liaisons delegated to Fort Lewis and to our Board for comment prior to October 26, 2012. Mr. Gianneschi thanked the Board and College for arranging this opportunity to have discussion of the process and if needed, further discussion can occur with our designated CCHE/DHE liaisons.

ACTION AGENDA – NON-CONSENT (continued)

Approval of Proposed Annual Goals and Metrics

President Thomas reviewed the metrics and goals and explained how they were developed. She stated that some numbers were left blank as goals had not been established. Discussion ensued regarding monitoring of metrics and the difficulty in establishing goals for certain metrics.

Leonel Silva moved that the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College approve the annual goals and metrics included with this agenda item. Matt Wassam seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

Steve Short moved that the Board go into executive session, pursuant to section 24-6-402(3)(b) (I) of the Colorado Revised Statutes, to discuss the employment contract of the President of Fort Lewis College; and that the following individuals be invited to join the Committee in executive session: Michelle Merz-Hutchinson, Legal Counsel, and Peggy Sharp, Deputy Secretary. President Dene Thomas will join the session following some preliminary discussion. Leonel Silva seconded. Executive session convened at 11:10 a.m.

Vice Chair Wells stated this executive session is being held pursuant to section 24-6-402(3)(b)(I) of the Colorado Revised Statutes, to consider the employment of the President of Fort Lewis College, including, but not limited to, her compensation.

Executive session adjourned at 11:50 a.m. Public session reconvened.

ACTION AGENDA – NON-CONSENT (continued)

Personnel Action: Reappointment of Dene Kay Thomas as President of Fort Lewis College and Approval and Execution of the Proposed Employment Contract Included with this Agenda.

Steve Short moved that the Board of Trustees for Fort Lewis College approve the reappointment of Dene Kay Thomas as President of Fort Lewis College for the period from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2016, on the terms and conditions set forth in the proposed Employment Contract included with this agenda item and that the Chair of the Board be authorized hereby to execute the proposed Employment Contract on behalf of the Board of Trustees, and that the compensation increase reflected in the proposed Employment Contract shall take effect retroactive to July 1, 2012, and continue through June 30, 2013. Karen Wilde seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

Leonel Silva moved to adjourn the meeting. Peter Decker seconded.

Meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.