BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 14, 2020 PRESENT: Trustees Lutts (chair), Zahlaway-Belsito, Butts, Cadet, Chisholm, Contreras, DeSimone, Katzman, Lutts, Murphy and Russell. Also present and participating at the meeting were President Keenan and Board Secretary Montague. ABSENT: None In accordance with the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter 30A and amended by Executive Order issued March 13, 2020, suspending parts of the Open Meeting Law to allow public remote participation and participation by the public body remotely. * * * I. CALL TO ORDER - Chair Lutts called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm. He thanked the Call to Order trustees for volunteering their time and service. The chair noted that the action items listed on the board’s agenda were moved forward from the September 23rd Board Committee meetings and that there were a few additional items that would be discussed. II. CONSENT AGENDA – The first matter of business was the Consent Agenda. Chair Lutts mentioned that the Consent Agenda details a list meeting minutes or reports to be approved. Consent Lutts asked if there was any discussion or modifications, hearing none he then asked if there was a Agenda motion. A motion was offered by Trustee Murphy, and upon a roll call vote, it was unanimously, Approval VOTED: To approve the Consent Agenda of October 14, 2020 (CA-20-01) Voting in the affirmative: Zahlaway Belsito, Butts, Cadet, Chisholm, Contreras, DeSimone, Katzman, Mattera, Murphy, Russell and Lutts (chair) Voting in the negative: None Absent: None * * * III. STUDENT FOCUS – The next business item, Student Focus is a new addition to the board agenda. Chair Lutts shared that he was pleased to introduce the new segment which will Student Focus bring a student perspective to the BOT meeting. He offered that students are the reason that we are here and bringing their issues and opinions forward has been one of his goals as board chair. Lutts then welcomed Trustee Cadet for the inaugural segment to share her perspective of the new campus climate and the remote framework. Trustee Cadet had great news to share with regard to students experience during the fall semester. In her opinion, one of the best things that is happening this year and one reason why our COVID case numbers are staying low is that students are finding ways to enjoy themselves on campus. Trustee Cadet said that student have had a great experiences with regards to dining on campus and 1 food trucks have been coming on North Campus. Another positive is that a lot of students applied for the Care Act and many students received something, which has been positive. Unfortunately, students did receive a lower amount of funding due to the high number of applicants. Trustee Cadet mentioned that another positive is that everyone is finally feeling safe in the classroom and professors are doing their best to ensure everyone is safe. Zoom fatigue is a challenge; however, counseling and health are doing their best providing resources to students. There is not a lot of down time for students. Chair Lutts thanked Trustee Cadet for the excellent insight into the students experience this semester. IV. COMMITTEE ACTIONS: Academic Affairs – Trustee Chisholm introduced the committee’s action and reminded the board that last month the committee spent its time discussing structural changes at Salem State. She said that we must continue to be student focused as we make these changes. To that end, any investment in programs must be done with the strategic framework in mind. More importantly, it must be done Academic Affairs- with the lens to serve our students while we work to align and migrate toward programs that will Approval of prepare our students for the future workforce. Tonight we offer a proposal for a new program in Combined BS of Health Care Studies. It’s a combined Bachelor of Science in Health Care Studies in Spanish. This Science in program does exactly what we are looking for, a better use of already-established resources. It Healthcare prepares our Spanish speaking portion of our population for employment growth in an industry that Studies and Spanish is growing. Before we read the motion, kudos to Provost Silva and Vice President Galinsky and Professor Everett. Then with no further discussion, Trustee Chisholm read the committee’s recommended motion, hearing no objections or modifications, the motion was seconded by Trustee Cadet and upon a roll call vote it was unanimously, VOTED: The Salem State Board of Trustees approves the Combined Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Studies and Spanish (see attached). (AA -20-01 ) Voting in the affirmative: Zahlaway Belsito, Butts, Cadet, Chisholm, Contreras, DeSimone, Katzman, Mattera, Murphy, Russell and Lutts (chair) Voting in the negative: None Absent: None * * * Finance and Facilities - The next action on the agenda was the Finance and Facilities which was introduced by Trustee Katzman who noted that this committee had a very thorough discussion at its last meeting. The board is familiar with this discussion around a topic that everyone is familiar with, which is to align our cost structure with our current enrollment and likely future enrollment. In addition, the COVID crisis has added a further strain so it is important to make sure that we focus on cutting costs. Trustee Katzman continued that it’s also important that we make investments in growth programs to make sure that SSU can prosper in the future. We must do what is right for students. He added that the board had previously discussed that it would not be possible to cut to prosperity. 2 Trustee Katzman introduced the committee’s recommended motion that allows for the Finance & establishment of a new account at Eastern bank for ACH payments. Trustee Katzman then read the Facilities motion and hearing no further discussion asked if there was a second. Trustee Russell seconded Approval of the motion. Following a roll call vote, it was unanimously, Eastern Bank Account ACH VOTED: The Board of Trustees authorizes the establishment of a new payments Eastern Bank account for ACH payments for Salem State University. Authorized signers on the account will be the vice president for finance and facilities/CFO, university controller, and associate director of accounts payable. (FF-20-01 Voting in the affirmative: Zahlaway Belsito, Butts, Cadet, Chisholm, Contreras, DeSimone, Katzman, Mattera, Murphy, Russell and Lutts (chair) Voting in the negative: None Absent: None * * * Executive: Adoption of Title IX Executive - Chair Lutts announced the next action was from the Executive Committee to seek Regulations approval to adopt the new Title IX regulations, and he wanted to recognize the discomfort that he felt about the regulations, and that he knew that discomfort was shared by at least several others on the Board. In seeking to ensure due process to those who are accused, the regulations pose significant challenges for our community in terms of supporting those who are harmed. While Chair Lutts appreciated the desire to strike a balance between affirming both the rights of survivors and the rights of the accused, he was not comfortable that these regulations succeed in doing that. Lutts continued, he understood that Dean Panzella has been working closely with Siobian Feeney, the University’s Title IX Coordinator, to ensure that the student code of conduct addresses those incidents and circumstances that will not fall within the new definitions of Title IX offenses, but which are still harmful to our campus community and which necessitate action. He has faith that the University’s student code of conduct will serve to fill at least some of the void that has been created by the new regulations. From a very pragmatic point of view, He pointed out that the regulations are federal law and we don’t have a choice in whether to adopt them or not. We can’t simply flout the law, much as there may be times when we would like to. Also, violations of Title IX by schools puts their federal financial aid funds in jeopardy – like almost every other college and university, Salem State is dependent on those funds. Trustee Zahlaway Belsito expressed her strong concerns and discussed her background and experience relative to gender issues and knowledge of sexual harassment. Trustees Cadet, Contreras and Mattera also shared strong reservations. Discussion ensued regarding that the university had little option but to adopt the regulations or risk jeopardizing federal financial aid. Assurances were given that work would continue with the university’s student code to fulfill voids created by the new regulations. While Chair Lutts said that understood the uneasiness of adopting the new regulations, he urged the BOT to vote yes on this matter. 3 President’s Report Chair Lutts read the motion and hearing no further discussion asked if there was a second. Trustee Chisholm seconded the motion, and following a roll call, it was, VOTED: The Board of Trustees approve the incorporation of the new Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy into the State University’s Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Affirmative Action Plan, effective August 14, 2020. (EX-20-01) Executive Committee – Approve Voting in the affirmative: Zahlaway Belsito, Butts, Chisholm, Contreras, Incorporation of Title IX DeSimone, Katzman, Mattera, Regulations Murphy, Russell and Lutts (chair) Voting in the negative: Cadet Absent: None * * * President’s V. PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Report President Keenan provided an update on a wide array of matters including: Covid testing across system is working well. Commissioner Santiago has cited SSU’s efforts in his comments. The president then offered an update on the Governor’s budget. Then he thanked the BOT for bringing the resolution and attention to the state appropriation. President Keenan and the COP recently met with Speaker DeLeo and the Chairs of the Higher Education Committee, Senator Gobi and Representative Ross.