Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees
Minutes of Meeting (Official) – February 3, 2021
A meeting of the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees was held via a Zoom Teleconference at 5:00 PM.
Present
Ms. Borislow
Mr. Cox
Mr. Dodier
Ms. Fernandez
Mr. Guilmette
Ms. Linehan
Ms. O’Rorke
Ms. Paley Nadel
Ms. Quiles
Ms. Sanchez
Ms. Worden
Also Present
President Glenn
Call to Order
Chairwoman Borislow called the meeting to order at 5:02 PM and welcomed Glennys Sanchez to her first official meeting as a Trustee and thanked her in advance for her contributions to the Board. With a quorum present, Chairwoman Borislow proceeded with the agenda.
Approval of Minutes
On a Motion presented by Trustee Linehan, and seconded by Trustee Cox, it was voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the December 2, 2020 minutes as presented.
Correspondence
President Glenn noted that he had received a series of texts over the past 24 hours from Cheryl Goodwin, within hours of her recovering from an operation. Cheryl will be on medical leave for several weeks, but wishes her best to the Board and looks forward to her return.
Unfinished Business
President Glenn welcomed five new employees to the college and noted that their welcome packets would be forthcoming. They are listed below:
Zoey Lauria, STEM, Nina Leone, Management Information Systems, and Brian Hough, Trev Stair, and
Melissa Bouse in Marketing Communications.
Board Chairwoman Update
The notes of the four-hour Board of Trustees retreat are being compiled, along with details on the key topics covered in the virtual breakout rooms. Kelly Saretsky will present a report in the near future. A friendly reminder was given for the Trustees to complete their training modules.
Education Report
Sabbatical Report: An Update on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) at NECC
(ADM-3663-020321)
Dr. Carolyn Knoepfler, the Chair of the STEM division, provided an overview of the STEM division in which 567 students are currently enrolled, along with 21 new students in the Spring semester. The STEM faculty has worked tenaciously to master the online growth during the pandemic, combining face-to-face, as well as virtual labs such as Labster when possible. A total of 16 new online classes were created.
The funding of $250K each year has supported various programs, scholarships, and supportive tutoring, together with the hiring of three adjuncts to help students in their career pursuits. One adjunct, Zoey Lauria, a ’20 Biology Graduate in December, was hired as the college’s STEM liaison and will be supporting students in science, technology, engineering, and math programs for 25 hours per week, while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in biology from UMass Lowell.
The Engineering Week Pilot program is giving students the opportunity to meet UML faculty, tour labs and meet graduate students, allowing for a much smoother transition to UML. If successful, this program will be expanded to the computer science, biology, and math departments.
The highlight of STEM week was an industry panel which expanded with the virtual format to include colleagues from Arizona, Texas, and New York. This broadened experience allowed students to make great connections and even resulted in one student being offered a position.
Dr. Knoepfler thanked the Board for their continued support. President Glenn thanked Dr. Knoepfler for all her efforts to ensure our students’ success.
Report of Board Committees
a) Audit and Finance Committee
1) GW&K Investment Management Update (Verbal)
Trustee Cox noted that the Subcommittee met with the GW&K consultants and received a brief presentation which provided a recap of the college’s investments. GW&K reported that investments are solid and stable with a year to date performance of 16.41% return, and 21.87% for the full calendar year, and noted that the college is in good financial condition.
2) FY21 Mid-Year Actual to Budget Report (AFC-21-01)
Mike McCarthy thanked Anthony DeGregorio and his team for doing amazing work in reforecasting, relying on actual six months of data and projections for six months. He noted that the college has done well in investments, and thanks to one-time sources of revenue, such as CARES Act funding and the Governor’s Emergency Education Fund, we anticipate covering our expenses with no further reductions in FY21 and hope to end the year with at least $13 million in reserves, just under three months of spending. Given the uncertain enrollment and financial future, our long-term goal is to have $20 million in reserves, equal to four months of spending.
3) Alumni Advancement
Chairwoman Pati Fernandez noted that the committee is looking forward to supporting Allison Dolan-Wilson and her team, along with the Foundation and Alumni groups, in hope of expanding the network of donors and helping those relationships to grow.
4) Equity Imperative
Chairwoman Quiles noted that she has connected with many colleagues and will schedule a meeting in the next few weeks. A report will be presented in March.
5) Nominating Committee
Chairman Cox reported that Glennys Sanchez has taken over Mark Forman’s role on the board. The search for Trustee nominees is beginning for when the appointments of Trustee Linehan and Trustee Cox have ended – (Trustee Linehan, March 2020, and Trustee Cox (March 2021).
Report of Administration
President Glenn encouraged trustees to participate, if available, in The Association of Community Colleges (AAC) 2021 Community College virtual National Legislative Summit, which was convening on February 8 – 10. This event is the premier community college advocacy event in Washington, DC, bringing together more than 1,000 community college leaders.
a) Update on NECHE Accreditation & Virtual Site Visit
The NECHE site visit is scheduled for April 11 to 14. Dr. Sonya Christian, President of Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, California, will head the accreditation team.
b) NECHE – CBE Substantive Change Request for Early Childhood
Dr. Kim Burns, Dean of Academic Innovations and Professional Development, will lead the discussion on Early Childhood and the accreditation of competency-based education. This hybrid online approach will permit a high degree of flexibility, allowing students to move forward, combining their work and family responsibilities. President Glenn thanked Dr. Burns for all her efforts in anticipation of NECHE’s approval of the college’s entire department in Early Childhood education.
c) NECC 2020 Strategic Plan
President Glenn noted the contribution that the Professional Development team has made in helping faculty and staff pivot to online learning and prepare them for the competency-based format, which minimizes the expense of textbooks.
President Glenn had the opportunity to participate in the Adjunct Breakfast. At this event, the college took the extra step to make this group feel welcomed, and shared the accomplishments of their professional growth.
d) Haverhill Campus
The college has saved $100k of the total cost of the lease with Opportunity Works, freeing us from space that we no longer need.
With funding from DCAMM, a Request for Proposals will be made available for a partner to the college in the potential renovation and creation of new athletics facilities on campus. President Glenn thanked Mike McCarthy for his efforts in pursuing these resources for our athletes.
The college is working with the City of Haverhill in order to hold a vaccination site on the Haverhill campus. Lawrence General Hospital is connecting to faculty and students in this endeavor.
e) Lawrence Campus
The college is receiving support from the Smith Family foundation to provide for a fifth year in high school, for those students who wish to participate, to complete an Associate degree, accumulating 30 or more credits. This will alleviate the pressure on the Lawrence Promise program.
New Business:
There was none.
Grants
President Glenn noted that the four grants listed below for consideration and approval total just over $90,399. Chairwoman Borislow asked if the approvals could be conducted together. All trustees agreed, and
a roll call followed:
Commonwealth Corporation/Lawrence Community Works: Workforce Success Grant ADM-3664-020321
FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program COVID-19 Recovery Award ADM-3665-020321
Mass. Dept. of Elementary & Secondary Education: Adult Basic Ed Supplemental Funds ADM-3666-020321
Mass. Dept. of Higher Ed: Training Resources & Internship Networks (TRAIN) Program ADM-3667-020321
On a Motion presented by Trustee O’Rorke, and seconded by Trustee Forman, it was voted unanimously by roll call vote to approve the four (4) grants, agenda items 9a, numbers 1 thru 4, as presented.
Other Business
Trustee Paley Nadel noted that the annual Lawrence Partnership meeting will be held virtually on February 25, from 10:00 to 11:00 am. The 2021 David Tibbetts Economic impact award recipient will be Julia Isabel Perez Silverio, the first Latina to be elected to the Lawrence City Council. Also, there will be a tribute to former Mayor Dan Rivera, who has become the new leader of MassDevelopment. Upon registering online, a link will be sent to the attendees.
Former NECC Board of Trustees member, Wendy Estrella, has become the new Board Chairwoman of the Lawrence Partnership. President Glenn expressed thanks to outgoing Chairwoman Marianne Paley Nadel for her great efforts and leadership.
Adjournment:
6:12 pm
