Skagit Valley College

The meeting included public comment regarding board communications and a closed session to review a proposal related to professional negotiations. The board also voted to approve the interim President's contract for the designated term.

The Skagit Valley College 2024-2028 Strategic Plan outlines five key priorities: Student Success, Opportunity, Enrollment, Institutional Capacity, and Community Engagement. This document, an Annual Strategic Priority Performance Report, specifically details the progress within the 'Opportunity' priority. The plan aims to decrease student achievement gaps by addressing disparities in completion rates across various demographic groups and enhance employee sense of belonging, thereby fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for both students and staff.

This document is a performance report presented to the SVC Board of Trustees, specifically detailing progress related to the 'Opportunity' strategic priority. It assesses student achievement gaps in 3-year completion by various demographic factors and attendance, comparing SVC's performance to statewide benchmarks. The report also evaluates the sense of belonging among both students and employees. Key takeaways include identifying specific achievement gaps for Hispanic/Latino and part-time students, noting generally higher completion rates for SVC students compared to the state system, and positive findings regarding employee and student perceptions of belonging.

The meeting included a public comment segment regarding communication. The board convened into an extended executive session to discuss the performance of a public employee and legal risks associated with a proposed action or current practice. In open session, the board unanimously approved a motion to terminate the contract of Dr. Villa effective immediately. Furthermore, the board unanimously authorized Board Chair Doerner to identify a lead administrator and develop a proposal for an interim president. The Chair later stated the commitment to conduct a national search for the next president, typically taking 6-9 months, while focusing on student success.

The board convened following a public comment session regarding student impact. The board entered an executive session to review the performance of a public employee. In open session, the board unanimously approved two action items: the appointment of Dr. Mike Cogan as lead administrator until an interim president is appointed to assume delegated presidential responsibilities, and authorizing the board chair to determine the scope of responsibilities, compensation, and duration of the lead administrator's contract.