Galveston College

The Board of Regents held a special meeting that included a formal call to order, a moment of silence, and the pledge of allegiance. The primary agenda item involved an interview with a candidate for a position, followed by an adjournment into a closed executive session to deliberate on personnel matters, including appointment, employment, and evaluation of public officers or employees as permitted by the Texas Government Code. Upon reconvening in open session, no formal action was taken regarding the matters discussed in the closed session.

The Board of Regents conducted a special meeting primarily to consider and select a sole finalist for the position of President of the college. The Board entered into a closed executive session to deliberate the employment and appointment of this public official. Upon reconvening in an open session, the Board formally named Dr. Tracee Watts as the sole finalist for the presidency and authorized the Board Chair to initiate contract negotiations.

The Board of Regents meeting included a presentation on the Trellis Student Financial Wellness Survey results and a review of monthly financial reports. The Board discussed and approved the offering of an Advanced Technical Certificate in Nuclear Medicine and an amendment to the Interlocal Collection Agreement for tax services. Additionally, the Board took action on a variance to a landscaping contract, the purchase of furniture for the Student Success Center, and the conferment of faculty tenure. Full-time faculty reappointments were approved, and the Board held a discussion regarding the presidential search process.

The committee discussed updates on several facilities projects, including the Health Sciences Education Center project, ongoing student housing developments, room renovations for the Engineering Technology Program, and installations of cooling equipment and exterior lighting. Additionally, the committee reviewed the status of the Facilities Master Plan, discussed the potential impact of AI on shipfitting programs, and inquired about the timeline for new signage in the Board Room.

The Board of Regents conducted a special meeting to discuss the Presidential Search Committee's recommendations. The board held an executive session to deliberate on personnel matters and subsequently reconvened in an open meeting to approve the selection of two finalists for the position of president for upcoming interviews.