Christopher Alves

The Regular Board Meeting agenda includes procedural items such as Call to Order, Pledges of Allegiance, and Public Comment, with specific guidelines for speakers. The Chairwoman's and President's Reports are scheduled. Key actions involve Finance Committee reports, including the Monthly Financial Statement for October 2025 and the First Quarter Investment Report for Fiscal Year 2026. The Academic Committee agenda features potential approvals for purchasing two switch electric vehicle lab kits, classroom furniture for the BEAT Division, pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Welding degree, a clinical affiliation agreement with Fox Hollow Post Acute, and a standard Memorandum of Understanding template for the Texas Workforce Commission Skills Development Fund. The Facilities Committee will provide an update, and the Student Services Committee agenda includes furniture purchase approval and a contract extension for a customer relationship management platform. The Policies Committee plans to consider several TASB Update 50 LOCAL policies for revision, addition, or deletion. The meeting also includes an Executive Session to consult with the attorney on litigation and real estate, deliberate on personnel matters, and discuss cybersecurity infrastructures, followed by consideration of the FY25-26 Salary Schedule.

The strategic plan of Texas Southmost College aims to empower students, families, and industry through practical, affordable, high-quality education, fostering personal success and regional economic growth. It envisions the institution as a nationally leading, community-rooted, and student-centered entity dedicated to transforming lives. Key strategic goals include increasing student enrollment, retention, completion, and transfer; aligning academic and continuing education with workforce needs; enhancing facilities and technology infrastructure; expanding employee development and organizational culture; and elevating community engagement and institutional visibility.

The meeting includes discussions and possible actions regarding the ratification of regular meeting minutes from June 25, 2025, approval of a memorandum of understanding between Texas Southmost College and Texas Southmost College Foundation, approval of the FY26 budget, and revisions to the Investment Policy. Additionally, the board will consider and possibly act on approving alumni association membership categories and associated fees, as well as proposed 2026 Centennial events.

The document outlines Texas Southmost College's strategic plan, emphasizing its mission to transform communities through innovative learning opportunities and its vision to be a premier community college dedicated to student success. The plan details the college's role and scope, focusing on university transfer, career, and technical programs, as well as college preparatory and developmental education. It highlights the college's values, including integrity, access, service, excellence, innovation, and success. Additionally, the plan identifies five strategic goals for 2018-2023, which include fostering student success, leading regional workforce development, enriching the student experience, enhancing community connections, and investing in each other.

The board meeting included discussions and actions on several key policies. TASB Update 49 Local policies BCA, BCB, and BCE were approved. Revisions to local policies DJ (LOCAL), EA (LOCAL), and ECC (LOCAL) were also approved, covering topics such as assignment, workload, schedules, academic year, calendar, instructional arrangements, and course load schedules. The board also engaged in a discussion regarding faculty workloads. An executive session was held, followed by discussions on pending litigation, real estate issues, and personnel matters, including the FY 24-25 Salary Schedule.