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Minutes 09/12/2000




GOVERNING BOARD
September 12, 2000
MINUTES



An executive session and strategic conversation of the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board was scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. at the District Support Services Center, 2411 West 14th Street, Tempe, Arizona, pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02, notice having been duly given.

PRESENT

GOVERNING BOARD
Gene Eastin, President, Donald R. Campbell, Secretary, Nancy Stein, Member, Ed Contreras, Member, Linda B. Rosenthal, Member

ADMINISTRATION
Fred Gaskin, Raul Cardenas, Phil Randolph, Anna Solley, Rufus Glasper, Ron Bleed, Pete Kushibab, Larry Christiansen, John Cordova, Art DeCabooter, Stan Grossman, Homero Lopez, J. Marie Pepicello, Carol Scarifiotti for Linda Thor, Joyce Elsner for Tessa Martinez Pollack, Arnette Ward, Fred Gaudet, Gina Kranitz

STATE BOARD
Nick Balich

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Gene Eastin.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Governing Board met in executive session, notice having been previously given.

The meeting recessed at 5:31 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 6:30 p.m.

SPECIAL MEETING

(I-A)
EMPLOYMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, REITREMENTS AND SEPARATIONS - Phil Randolph recommended approval of the Employments, Resignations, Retirements and Separations.

MOTION

MOTION NO. 8989
Linda Rosenthal moved the Employments, Resignations, Retirements and Separations be approved. Motion carried 5-0.

STRATEGIC CONVERSATION

CENTER FOR ADVANCE OF STANDARDS – ASSESSMENT AND OUTCOMES

Dr. Ginny Stahl introduced the conversation, organized by the Deans of Student Services, as an opportunity to showcase areas of student services throughout the district. Dr. Stahl introduced her fellow Deans of Student Services, provided the mission for that council and related the governing board goals that are supported by that mission – 1) Students will be provided programs and services that support their learning, educational, and employment career goals, 2) Students will be provided programs and services that support their personal growth and citizenship development. She provided a history of the work performed to assess student services using the CAS tools. Areas identified to be enriched included leadership development and community services, changing technology and the ability to respond to the many ways students approach the Maricopa colleges. Paul Dale referred to the information in the material in the agenda packets and noted that two panels of students, moderated by staff, would be presenting their experiences and their identified needs in the areas of financial aid and disability services

FINANCIAL AID PANEL
Moderator: Barbara Santangelo

Student Panelists:
Sunday Jackson - Maricopa Skill Center
Chad Combs – Chandler Gilbert Community College
Christopher June – GateWay Community College
Shandiin June - GateWay Community College
Ramana Carpio – Chandler Gilbert Community College CG
Margaret Turner – South Mountain Community College

Student Comments

  • Hard to take care of family and attend school.
  • Crucial to get money through financial aid on time
  • Difficulty in obtaining financial aid due to delay in process
  • Assistance needed for direction to different agencies.
  • Sometimes receive conflicting information when applying for financial aid due to people in office are so busy, a student worker may not be as knowledgable.
  • Additional staffing is needed.
  • Forms are difficult – need more assistance in filling out forms.
  • Technology – a computer translator would be very helpful.
  • Did not received scholarships timely due to lack of technology for timely process.
  • Had no problems, but financial aid was not available at one college and had to go to another.
  • School is able to get the bill out timely, but it can take some time to get financial aid.

DISABILITY SERVICES PANEL
Moderators: Dee Duggan and Jack Clevenger

The colleges are here to provide quality education and equal access to all students. If technology were available, it would assist in many of the disability areas.

Student Panelists:
Ken Spector - Mesa Community College
Byron Lee - Phoenix College
Stephanie Rouse - Phoenix College
Kevin Jackson - Phoenix College
Irene Montano - Phoenix College
Alicia Draper - Scottsdale Community College
Carol Watkins - Chandler Gilbert Community College

Student Comments

  • Services have improved - have a full lab at MCC with eight computers set aside for the disabled in the library and staff assistance. Starting to take upper math classes and seeing some problems with graphing calculators.
  • Took math course and received tutor assistance through resource center at PC. Staff of dedicated people in disability center. Problem is technology – a very small center of computers designed for those with disabilities. Do not have a Braille printer which is essential. Scanners are needed.
  • It costs $6,000 to Braille a math book. If the college had a scanner, it would be more cost effective.
  • Inadequate number of interpreters. Concern for all students in deaf community. Need qualified, high level certified full time staff interpreters on campuses.
  • Received more assistance from community college – noted especially when transferring to ASU.

Participants then broke into small groups to discuss the question:
Based on what you have read in the packet, based on what you have heard from the students tonight and based on what you know to be true working in Maricopa, what is working relating to providing access and retention for students who are on financial aid and access and retention for students who are getting services thorugh the disability services center?

Groups were asked to identify two to three of their top comments:

GROUP ONE
1) Everyone recognized that generally services in both area are pretty good when they are available, but in peak periods of time they are not available and that is a problem. More staffing and scheduling adjustments would be helpful.
2) Technology is relevant to assisting in staff issues.
3) Automation/technology presents its own problems. Requires training for staff and students and expense.

GROUP TWO:
1) Technology: is an issue in financial aid and disability services. It would allow allow advisors more time to advise students, would allow students to access more information regarding scholarships and grants, and students be more self sufficient.
2) Colleges need to employ certified interpreters.
3) Need to continue in right direction – staff very helpful but need more.

GROUP THREE:
1) Instructors are concerned and good, but still room for more training to be more effective.
2) Technology for financial aid and disability services is very important.
3) Inservice for faculty is important. Need to make sure they are comfortable meeting the needs of the various students.

GROUP FOUR:
1) Technology is not equipment – need a new financial system.
2) Disability services – need to look at a new type of technology. Need Braillers and scanners.
3) Need to have interpreters on campus so the access question can be addressed.
4) Staff are good and caring.

Gene Eastin thanked those who had planned and participated in the conversation. He especially thanked the students for coming and participating on the panels and in the small groups. Mr. Eastin noted that the Governing Board had heard the needs expressed.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

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