May, 2017

I. CEOCCC Board Member Spotlight – Constance Carroll
II. CCCT Board Member Spotlight – Brent Hastey
III. Leveraging Federal Grants for Your Campus 
IV. Board Management Solution Assists With Compliance of the Brown Act

CEOCCC Board Spotlight

CEOCCC Board Member Constance Carroll

Dr. Constance Carroll has served as Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District since 2004. A partial list of accomplishments and professional accolades she has earned during her remarkable career can be found here. The League asked Dr. Carroll a few questions about her approach to leadership, her view of the most significant challenges confronting California Community Colleges, and what she enjoys doing when she has time away from her responsibilities as Chancellor.

What brought you to the world of community colleges?
When I was an administrator at the University of Southern Maine, the university formed a community college without-walls in York County, the southernmost county in Maine.  Having served as a university administrator, I knew very little about this emerging form of educational institution and, as I learned this model, I became deeply impressed.  The notion of an egalitarian form of higher education, with open access to all who could benefit, was captivating.  It was clear to me immediately that community colleges were about two things: building the middle class and providing a pathway to greater achievement at the university level and beyond.

What do you view as one or more of your most important contributions to your district and/or the California CC Sector?
In the San Diego Community College District, I have had the privilege of hiring hundreds of faculty members, whose work with students has improved their lives and whose broader work at my former college, San Diego Mesa College, and their work at the district level have resulted in important new programs and processes, especially the development of learning communities. In addition, I led the district’s second and largest bond measure to a successful conclusion, bringing our total bond program to a total of $1.6 billion, with facilities that have transformed our campuses and with top bond ratings to boot, such as our triple-a rating from Moody’s.

At the state level, two contributions stand out, both of them controversial at the time.  The first was the Equalization Initiative, which I co-chaired from 2004 to 2006, which finally equalized the apportionment revenue to community college districts, providing equity in funding for the first time in the history of the California Community Colleges.  The second effort was my chairmanship of the difficult but successful advocacy effort to pass SB 850 (Block), which created a pilot project for a select number of community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in workforce fields. I am continuing to support an expansion of this pilot program.

How might you describe your approach to leadership in higher education?
First of all, I have twin interests in equity and progress.  Whether it’s equity for students in their access to and success in higher education or equity in funding for community colleges, I have a strong desire to work toward that goal.  I also am very concerned about making progress, ensuring that our institutions do not fall behind in achievement and innovation in serving our students and communities, which is why I am so devoted to seeing the community college baccalaureate effort expand in California. My approach to leadership in these causes begins with learning about the need and then forming coalitions of people who share the same values and seek the same outcomes. I am always delighted to see the members of the coalitions play their own roles in advancing the causes we all support. That is how Equalization was achieved and that is how the baccalaureate pilot was passed. These were “our” achievements, not “my” achievements.

What's something that people need to know about your district?
The San Diego Community College District is one of the largest and most innovative districts in the nation, with credit colleges, an enormous noncredit institution, and military education programs that span the United States. The SDCCD is one of only two California institutions in the national League for Innovation, in recognition of the fact that we are always pushing the edge to find new and more effective ways of serving our communities and students.

What do you view as key issues confronting California's Community Colleges?
In my view, there are three issues or challenges that confront the California Community Colleges: First and foremost, there is the issue of funding, since the state’s under investment in the community colleges is serious and places them last in the funding rate per student, after the University of California, after the California State University, and after K-12.  Second, California’s community colleges operate under a vast system of regulations and statutes, including legislative involvement, that make it difficult to move quickly and difficult to expedite innovative approaches.  Third, there is a pervasive parochialism in our system. At national conferences and meetings, and on national boards, California representation is very low, with the result that California’s community colleges are often unaware of or uneasy with developments that leading colleges across the nation are involved in. The community college baccalaureate is a case in point.  That is an instructional format that twenty-two other states employ with great success and with great benefit to their communities and economies, but this is still new and controversial in California.

What do you enjoy doing when you have time off or for hobbies/activities?
When I have time, I enjoy hiking, skiing, playing the guitar, going to the opera, and, for the past two years, learning Spanish.

CCCT Board Spotlight

CCCT Board Member Brent Hastey 

Among California's 442 community college elected trustees, you are unlikely to find one with more extensive board experience than Yuba Community College District Trustee Brent Hastey. Since the age of 28, Trustee Hastey has served on both private and public sector boards. Yet Hastey's tenure at Yuba is his first on a community college board, and he observes that every board works within a unique context and confronts particular challenges and opportunities.

Asked about the role of community college trustees, Hastey identifies the need to develop leaders, build consensus, and to make decisions and lead. He recognizes that what some may perceive as impatience is an approach reflecting his belief that trustees ultimately have to make decisions.

And one of the most consequential decisions a community college board makes is hiring a CEO. Trustee Hastey points to his role in the hiring of Yuba CCD Chancellor Doug Houston as an important decision that the Yuba Board got right. "Chancellor Houston is a very good leader," Hastey states without hesitation.

Responding to a question concerning the most significant challenges confronting California's community colleges, Hastey identifies a crisis in leadership at the CEO level, and the need for well-trained boards to keep chancellors and presidents in their positions long enough for them to succeed. He observes, "boards must understand their role in creating the conditions for students to achieve their goals, and that requires not only an effective CEO, but a well-developed professional faculty and staff focused on student success."

Trustee Hastey's connection to the Yuba District extends beyond his current service as a trustee. In addition to earning his associate's degree at Yuba, Hastey's 85 year-old mother, his siblings, spouse, and all four children have all attended Yuba.

Regarding important attributes of the Yuba CCD, Hastey points to its approximately 4,200 square mile expanse and the 100 mile distance from one end of the district to the other. Located in the rural, north-central part of the state, the Yuba District includes educational centers in Clearlake and Yuba City, as well as outreach operations in Williams and Beale Air Force Base.

In addition to his trustee duties at Yuba, Hastey has served a statewide role on the CCCT Board since 2015. Professionally, Hastey is Director of the Yuba County Water Agency, owner of a self-storage company, Vice President of the Board of the Association of California Water Agencies, a Director on the Board of the Bank of Feather River, and 31-year member of his Rotary club. Still, what becomes abundantly clear in conversation with Brent Hastey is that he's most proud of his four adult children and his 33 years of marriage to his spouse Alisan.

And in what he admits may surprise some of his CCCT colleagues and others familiar with the pragmatic professional and dedicated family man, is that on occasion you can find him driving 130 MPH (only on straightaways mind you) at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows or Sonoma Raceway as part of the road racing team he's belonged to since 2007.  Yet in discussing this activity it is clear that it is the camaraderie that he enjoys with his teammates and fellow road racers that Hastey finds the most rewarding part of this endeavor.

If you are searching for a trustee that understands the role of the community college board, believes that chancellors and presidents must be provided the opportunity and support to develop in their role, and someone who reserves comment for agenda items and issues to which he can add something constructive and unsaid, look no further than CCCT Board member and Yuba CCD Trustee Brent Hastey. (Although you'd better look fast lest he's already lapped you twice).

 

Leveraging Federal Grants for Your Campus

 

The League would like to share a few federal grant opportunities and/or ideas to participate in consortia that could bring federal investment to programs on your campus. 

Agency: National Science Foundation
Program: CyberCorps Scholarship for Service
Estimated Total Program Funding: $25,000,000
Maximum Grant Award: $5,000,000
Closing Date for Applications: July 3, 2017

Program Description: The CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) program seeks proposals that address cybersecurity education and workforce development.  The Scholarship Track provides funding to award scholarships to students in cybersecurity.  All scholarship recipients must work after graduation in a government position related to cybersecurity for a period equal to the length of the scholarship.  A proposing institution must provide clearly documented evidence of a strong existing academic program in cybersecurity.  Such evidence can include: designation by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education/Cyber Defense (CAE IA/CD), in Cyber Operations or in Research (CAE-R); a specialized designation by a nationally recognized organization; or equivalent evidence documenting a strong program in cybersecurity.  The Capacity Track seeks innovative proposals leading to an increase in the ability of the United States higher education enterprise to produce cybersecurity professionals.  Proposals should contribute to the expansion of existing educational opportunities and resources in cybersecurity and focus on efforts such as research on the teaching and learning of cybersecurity, including research on materials, methods and interventions; curricula recommendations for new courses, degree programs, and educational pathways with plans for wide adoption nationally; teaching and learning effectiveness of cybersecurity curricular programs and courses; integration of cybersecurity topics into computer science, data science, information technology, engineering and other existing degree programs with plans for pervasive adoption; and partnerships between institutions of higher education, government, and relevant employment sectors leading to improved models for the integration of applied research experiences into cybersecurity degree programs.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

 

Agency: DOT/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Program: 2017 Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) Grant Program Estimated Total Program Funding:  $1,000,000
Maximum Grant Award: $100,000
Closing Date for Applications: June 23, 2017
Program Description: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is soliciting applications from organizations that provide CMV operator training. CMVOST is a grant program intended to reduce the severity and number of crashes on U.S. roads involving CMV by training operators and future operators in the safe use of such vehicles.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

 

Agency: U.S. Department of Education
Program: Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Program
Estimated Total Program Funding:  TBD – Pending Final FY 2017 Appropriations
Maximum Grant Award: $6,000,000
Closing Date for Applications: June 19, 2017

Program Description: A competition for the SEED Program offers funding to increase the number of highly effective educators by supporting implementation of evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance educators.  This round includes two absolute priorities, two competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority.  The two absolute priorities are (1) Supporting Effective Teachers and (2) Supporting Effective Principals or Other School Leaders.  Applicants must address one of these funding categories. The competitive preference priorities are (1) Promoting Diversity in the Educator Workforce and (2) Support for Personalized Learning Environments.  The invitational priority, Support for the Use of Micro-Credentials, is not mandatory and does not provide extra points or consideration.  The Department of Education expects to give five to eight awards of $1-6M each for the first year. 

NOTE: In the past, institutions of higher education were not eligible to apply for SEED funding.  IHEs are now eligible to apply.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

 

Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Program: Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Teams Program (I-CorpsTM Teams)
Estimated Total Program Funding: $12,750,000

Program Description: In order to maintain, strengthen and grow a national innovation ecosystem, NSF has established the Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Teams Program (I-Corps Teams). The NSF I-Corps Teams Program purpose is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring and funding to accelerate innovation that can attract subsequent third-party funding. The purpose of the NSF I-Corps Teams grant is to give the project team access to resources to help determine the readiness to transition technology developed by previously-funded or currently funded NSF projects. The outcomes of I-Corps Teams projects will be threefold: (1) A clear go or no go decision regarding viability of products and services, (2) should the decision be to move the effort forward, a transition plan for those projects to move forward, and (3) a definition of a compelling technology demonstration for potential partners.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

Board Management Solution Assists With Compliance of the Brown Act

Whether you are a new or veteran board member, The Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code sections 54950-54963, referred to as the “Brown Act”) certainly impacts agenda and meeting compliance. With today’s steady stream of technology, a proper electronic board management solution, such as BoardDocs, can help ensure necessary compliance.

Agenda Posting
One part of the Brown Act compliance is notice must be given for a regularly scheduled meeting at least 72-hours in advance or 24-hours in advance for a special meeting, including access to agenda materials. The agenda must provide clear notice of what will be discussed at the meeting.

The Brown Act is applicable to local agencies, legislative bodies and any standing committee of a board, regardless of the number of members.

Agenda Requirements and Transparency
An electronic board management solution allows Community College Districts the ability to post public notice of their meetings on their websites, as well as post agendas containing the information that will be discussed during the meetings.

With BoardDocs, agenda materials can be accessed quickly and easily in advance of the posted requirement for the Brown Act, allowing greater transparency with the public, staff and stakeholders.         

Additionally, using this board management online solution allows you to save agenda templates, thus, standard Brown Act language can be included on every agenda seamlessly to ensure information is not forgotten each time a new meeting agenda needs to be drafted.

Comply With Ease
Greater public transparency is realized when the public and stakeholders can access crucial board meeting information anytime, anywhere.

“With CCLC BoardDocs, West Hills Community College District is able to timely post meeting agendas with just the simple click of a mouse - meetings then become active and featured, ensuring compliance with the Brown Act,” explains Donna Isaac, Executive Assistant for West Hills Community College District.

Maintain Confidentiality Where Needed
CCLC BoardDocs’ solutions allow organizations three content areas for superior security and protection. Administrative, Executive and Public content areas serve as a separate repository where information can be stored and shared. Any sensitive information needing to say private and remain in the executive content area for board members, while the public content area can share the crucial information to ensure compliance with the Brown Act.

Learn More
To learn more about what a state-of-the-art board management solution can do for your organization, visit BoardDocs.com or call (800) 407-0141 ext. 3554.

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