Yolanda Benally

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the agenda. Reports included updates from the Faculty Association, Support Staff Association, and Professional Staff Association. The Consent Agenda encompassed the review of prior Work Session and Board Meeting minutes, correspondence, the Financial Report for the period ending October 31, 2025, personnel changes including several separations of employment, and the recommendation for the disposition of obsolete equipment. New business items included the approval of a renewal agreement for Proctored Testing Services with Meazure Learning, not to exceed $105,000.00, approval of a change order for the Physical Plant Relocation Project with Jaynes Corporation, not to exceed $250,000.00, authorization to execute a Community Benefit Agreement with DESRI for the Foxtail Flats and Four Mile Mesa solar projects, which includes a $1,600,000.00 payment to the SJC Foundation, and approval to purchase equipment for the Commercial Driver's License Program from Tillery Bus and GM Fleet Sales, not to exceed $150,000.00.

The work session included a review of the 2025-2026 Annual Strategic Goals and Objectives presented by Dr. Pendergrass. Ms. Kerri Langoni Carpenter provided an analysis detailing improvements in the Fiscal Year 2025 Employee Turnover. Mr. Edward DesPlas briefed the Trustees on the Operating Budget Report for the month ended July 31, 2025, noting that revenues and expenditures were materializing generally as anticipated for the first month of the 2026 fiscal year.

The Work Session included discussions on questions regarding Board Agenda Items and key takeaways from the ACCT 2025 Leadership Congress. Topics derived from the Congress centered on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) may impact the institution, including the necessity of training an AI-agile workforce, the scope of AI applications, developing classroom guidelines for AI use, creating an "emerging technology" policy, privacy risks associated with the free version of ChatGPT, and potential needs for formalized planning/budgeting for deferred technology maintenance. Additionally, the Board reviewed the Operating Budget Report for the two months ended August 31, 2025, noting that revenues and expenditures are proceeding as planned.

Key discussion topics included addressing questions on Board Agenda Items, reviewing the proposal for the discontinuation of certificates and degrees that are currently inactive or have been inactive for some time, receiving an update on the planned use of Fund Balance, and reviewing the Operating Budget Report for the period ended September 30, 2025.

The meeting commenced with the adoption of the agenda. Reports included a monthly presentation introducing the 2025-2026 SJC Foundation Trustees and President's Scholars, along with reports from various association representatives. Under the Consent Agenda, administrative actions were processed, including the deletion of worn-out equipment from inventory, review of the Higher Education Endowment Fund Report as of June 30, 2025, and ratification of the Fall 2025 "3% Success Scholarships" awardees. An information report addressed the Fiscal Year 2022 cohort default rate, which was 0.0%. New business focused on significant equipment acquisitions for workforce training programs: approval was granted for the purchase of three commercial semi-trucks for the Commercial Driver's License Program, heavy equipment (including a motor grader and multi-tank trailer) for the Heavy Equipment Operator Program, and training aids (including a backhoe loader and assorted trucks) for the Diesel Technology Program.