Phoebe Bustamante

The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan for Massachusetts Bay Community College focuses on 'Seizing Opportunity' across five key pillars. These pillars include advancing enrollment through targeted strategies and partnerships; strengthening teaching and learning by continuously improving pedagogy, faculty support, and online offerings; enhancing academic programs with new degree options and course expansions; enriching the student experience through expanded direct support and co-curricular engagement; and optimizing institutional resources by establishing new centers, diversifying revenue, and updating technology and sustainability efforts.

Key discussions during the meeting included the introduction of new Trustee Reyad Shah and honoring outgoing Student Trustee Mahanaz Jatoi. The Executive Reports covered the Board Chair's updates on the National Legislative Summit and a holiday party, and the President's report on positive Spring 2026 enrollment projections, successful reaccreditation by NECHE, and concerns regarding a Boston Globe editorial analyzing post-graduation earnings data from the Department of Higher Education. Student Trustee Jatoi highlighted high academic support usage, a Wellness Club event, an International Students Club trip to New York City, a Harvest Gathering event, and the significant achievement of the Computer Science Club in the NASA Space Apps Challenge. Additionally, the Board designated Diane Schmalensee as Chair Emerita. The Finance & Administration Committee reported on investments, cash position, and personnel actions, including the appointment of an Interim Dean of STEM. The Student Success and Academic Affairs Committee received presentations on athletics/wellness programming and the STEM Tech Academy dual-enrollment program. A special report detailed the ongoing kitchen renovation, and the Enrollment Report indicated strong year-over-year growth. The Dashboard report provided updated data on admissions yield, enrollment demographics (noting 28% Hispanic/Latino students), and retention rates. A Capital Campaign report indicated foundational work for a second campaign. Communications reported zero incidents for the Clery and NIBRS reports.

The Finance & Administration Committee meeting included a presentation of the FY2025 College Audit by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, which resulted in an unmodified (clean) opinion with no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies noted. The committee recommended accepting the FY2025 College Audit Report. A discussion was held regarding the FY2026 Revised Budget, which totaled approximately $55.7 million, reflecting a $1.4 million increase over the provisional budget, driven primarily by stronger-than-anticipated tuition and fee revenues due to higher enrollment projections. The revised budget also included new allocations for student success initiatives such as Chromebooks, textbooks, audiovisual equipment upgrades, meal scholarships, and hygiene products. Updates were provided on the Kitchen Renovation Project, with an expected completion date of the end of March 2026. Personnel items included a review of the President's attendance report and the Personnel Actions Report showing one new employee and two internal role changes.

The meeting included the introduction of new Trustees, honoring the former Chair Schmalensee, and executive reports from the Board Chair, President, and Student Trustee. The Finance & Administration Committee reported on the budget-to-actual performance, investments, cash flow, student accounts receivable, kitchen renovations, contracts, and the reallocation of soccer field funds. Personnel items included sabbatical recommendations and personnel actions. A special report on Title IX was presented, along with an enrollment report and updates from the Foundation and Capital Campaign. The board also discussed the college's efforts to address food insecurity among students and the marketing department's awards.

The committee discussed the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) Performance Measurement Reporting System (PMRS), which provides data on access, affordability, and equity. The presentation covered enrollment trends, student debt figures, student success and completion rates, and economic mobility data. The committee also discussed future meeting topics, including athletics, the STEM Tech Academy program, the Associate Degree Nursing program, the Artificial Intelligence Faculty Learning Community, and program reviews for Environmental Sciences and Safety, and Radiologic Technology.