Mari Abril

The committee held a special meeting to discuss criteria for the President's Circle, review the functional expense allocation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and prepare a recommendation for the Board of Directors regarding the proposed operating budget for the 2026/27 fiscal year.

The committee discussed the proposed 2026-27 operating budget, including revenue projections, fundraising goals, and staff requests. Deliberations included budget allocations for the Pledge Forever program and oversight concerns regarding discretionary funding. The committee also evaluated a proposed fee increase by the auditor, with plans to potentially issue an RFP or conduct benchmarking. Additionally, the committee debated increasing annual contributions to the board reserve fund to accelerate the path to full funding.

The meeting addressed various academic and administrative topics, including the recognition of Desert Community College District Month and National Library Week. Reports were provided by constituent groups and associations regarding their recent initiatives and advocacy. The Board approved several consent items concerning policies, human resources, and administrative services. Key action items included approving Board member travel, appointing a representative to the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee, confirming an interim leadership appointment, and approving budget revisions and change orders for the Palm Springs Development Project. Additionally, the Board received updates on accreditation progress and a presentation regarding recent amendments to the Brown Act, while closed session discussions involved labor negotiations, litigation, and personnel evaluations.

The council focused on the approval of several administrative procedures including those regarding conflict of interest, immigration enforcement activities, dual and concurrent enrollment, lactation accommodation, and intercollegiate athletics. The HSI Servingness Committee Charter was also approved. First readings were conducted for Administrative Procedures concerning Emeritus Status and Financial Aid. The meeting included discussions on the 2026-2028 Technology Master Plan, updates from the President's Office regarding advocacy and accreditation visits, and reports from various college subcommittees. Additionally, information was shared regarding the plEDGE program application process, upcoming regional meetings, and artificial intelligence listening sessions.

The key discussion points centered on action items and information sharing. Action items included approving the second reading of Standing Operating Procedures for Public Safety Officers and AP 3725 regarding Information and Communications Technology Accessibility and Acceptable Use. Discussions involved the 2024-2025 CPC Meeting Schedule, recommended edits to the CPC Handbook for 2024-2025 (including discussions about the role and attendance of the President/CEO), and a prioritization overview presentation. Subcommittee reports covered the review of planning calendars, the Fiscal Health Analysis, the dissolution of the I-Plan committee, and ongoing review of literature related to data evaluation.