George Abraham

This document outlines GTC's Institutional Success Measures and Student Success Indicators, which were approved by the President's Cabinet in November 2025. It establishes key performance indicators such as Persistence Rate, Graduate Placement Rate, Licensure Exam Pass Rate, Progression Rate, and the IPEDS Outcome Measure 8-Year Award Rate. The plan sets specific baselines, minimum thresholds, and targets up to 2028, aiming to evaluate and enhance student achievement while aligning with state performance goals and embodying the mission of empowering individuals, changing lives, and reshaping communities.

Key discussion points included a comprehensive update on the college's enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, Colleague, which is mission-critical but runs on outdated hardware presenting significant risks. The committee also reviewed changes to the organizational structure, where internal audit now reports to the chief of staff with a direct line to the audit committee chair for enhanced independence. Internal Audit provided updates on completed petty cash and change fund audits, noting four observations related to policy violations and procedural issues, and confirmed completion of the November and December financial aid compliance audits. Furthermore, the development of the 2026 audit plan and the risk assessment process were discussed, with the ERP system identified as the college's primary risk. Plans for a state-funded cybersecurity assessment using NIST standards in Q2 2026 were also mentioned.

The meeting began with the Chair calling the meeting to order and confirming that the press was notified and a quorum was present. Key discussion points included an update on the Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI), which recently received the Society of Manufacturing Engineering (SME) Workforce Development Innovations Award. The CMI update highlighted current student partnership levels (approximately 14%), high graduation and employment rates, and enrollment projections showing significant growth for Summer and Fall 2025, with key programs being located in the facility. Projections indicate a need for additional instructors. Additionally, a board member recognized the college for hosting the NAMIWalks event, which raised substantial funds for mental health support.

The meeting commenced with a welcome to board members, staff, and legislative guests, followed by recognition for a board member's reappointment and the Greenville County Schools' 90+% graduation rate. Key discussions included the approval of the 2026 GTC Board Calendar. The President's Report highlighted achievements such as exceeding enrollment goals, a significant increase in the college's economic impact (from $627 million to $874 million), updates on the Center for Welding and Automation Excellence and the Center for Industrial Cybersecurity and AI, the decision to allow the current ERP system contract to expire while seeking new vendor pathways, and an alumnus restaurant receiving a Michelin star. The Audit Committee provided an update on reorganizing the internal audit function to align with global standards and presented an updated disaster recovery plan and cybersecurity report. The Performance and Evaluation Committee recommended and the board adopted the 2028 strategic plan. The Marketing, Recruiting, and Enrollment Committee reported winning five awards. The Education and Training Review Committee received unanimous approval for two new programs: an Associate of Applied Science in Visual Arts and an Associate of Applied Science Engineering Fundamentals, Welding Concentration. Updates were also provided on the SCATCC's plans, the preliminary ULI data report, and the CHE's review of higher education institutions. The Greenville Tech Foundation reiterated its commitment to fundraising and is managing leadership transitions. The board convened in executive session to discuss a personnel matter before adjourning.

The Audit Committee meeting included an update on internal audit activities and organizational changes, such as the Internal Audit team moving under the Chief of Staff's office and the pending hiring of a General Counsel. Key discussion points in the internal audit update involved strengthening governance, risk management, and control processes, including compliance with Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Standards. The committee also discussed the status of the 2026 Audit Plan Risk Assessment, which is being developed based on input from various college areas and emerging risk reports. Furthermore, the committee reviewed the 2026 Office of Information Technology (OIT) Disaster Recovery Plan, which outlines procedures for catastrophic network disruptions, and discussed recovery timelines related to on-site and cloud-based backups. An update on cybersecurity was also provided, referencing Federal Trade Commission safeguards and detailing 2025 incidents like phishing and transcript fraud. The motion to present the 2026 OIT Disaster Recovery Plan to the full Board for approval carried.