Jennifer Tavernier

The board conducted a regular meeting to elect a new chair and vice-chair for the 2026-2027 term, resulting in the selection of Jesse Maldonado as chair and Jerry Rust as vice-chair. The meeting included a land acknowledgement, the formal adoption of the agenda, and the reading of a question from the board's equity lens. Key discussions focused on institutional research data sharing agreements with a sister college, specifically addressing data ownership and security. Additionally, the board discussed the ongoing teach-out process for the Health Information Management program and acknowledged public comments regarding community concerns.

The College Council meeting included the review of the Capital Assets policy and presentations on strategic planning and accreditation. Key business included the nomination and approval of co-chairs for the upcoming academic year, and second reads of policies regarding drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, art on campus, student organizations, and student government. The council also held a first read of a new GPA changes policy, discussed the assignment of an AI use policy for employees, and reviewed a work plan assessment.

The council discussed the 2025-26 College Council Work Plan, emphasizing the need for future AI and cybersecurity policies to meet accreditation standards. A pilot program for a student representative mentoring initiative was approved, with a scheduled evaluation in Winter 2027. Additionally, the council reviewed the Student and Employee Privacy Rights Policy, approved the Syllabus Policy after adding a reference to the Field Trip Policy, and held a first read of the Freedom of Inquiry and Expression Policy.

The council received a presentation on the FY2027 Budget Mitigation Plan, which details strategies for reaching a break-even point through reductions in personnel and operational costs. Key discussion topics included the impact of staff reductions on the Health Clinic, Library and Tutoring services, and various academic programs. Council members and administrators reviewed the status of affected faculty, classified staff, and managers, while clarifying the processes for notifications, bumping rights, and union coordination. The meeting concluded with a discussion on the importance of aligning the budget with institutional values and ensuring clear communication throughout the implementation process.

The council discussed various policy assignments, including the Equity Lens, Employee Pronouns, and Sustainable Purchasing policies. Revisions to the Operations Manual were approved. Several policies underwent a first read, including those regarding Student Government, Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Organizations, Art on Campus, and the removal of the Accessibility of Student Services policy. Additionally, updates were provided on capital assets inventory, mitigation workgroups, and upcoming GPA change policies.