May 2004 
Volume 39, Number 1
Patrick R. Lake, Editor

   SACJTC provides a support network of more than 300 two-year colleges through which ideas and information can be shared as community college presidents face the challenges of the 21st Century.  The association represents a collective voice which provides advocacy and leadership regarding issues of critical importance to two-year colleges in the South.

 
Access to a legitimate avenue from a unified professional voice with SACS to address regional issues and to have an impact on policies and procedures that relate directly to two-year colleges; 

Sponsorship at the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) convention of the annual luncheon, featuring a prominent speaker;

Recognition of outstanding practices among member institutions; 

Encouragement of professional development, networking, and idea exchanges among college CEOs, administrators, and faculty; 

Communication among member institutions via the SACJTC Newsletter; 

Opportunities for professional to submit ideas for publication in issues of the SACJTC Occasional Paper. 

Southern Association of Community, Junior, and Technical Colleges
Winter Board Meeting
December 7, 2003
Opryland Hotel
Nashville, Tennessee

Present: Terrence Kelly, Steve Thornburg, Marshall Smith, Pat Lake, Stafford Thompson, Charlie Roberts, Howell Garner, Barbara Losty, Millicent Valek

Absent: Tom Gamble, Barry Russell

Call to Order: Terry Kelly called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. in Delta Island A Meeting Room of the Opryland Hotel.

Approval of Spring Minutes: Following review, Howell Garner moved, Charlie Roberts seconded, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the spring meeting minutes as presented.

Membership Report: Marshall Smith distributed a hand-out which updated the membership information as presented in the agenda book. Although the numbers were higher on the hand-out, it was clear that the Association has fallen significantly behind the budgeted number of 250 members for the 2003 year. The current total is 216 members. Marshall Smith distributed state-by-state membership rolls and sought the assistance of Board members in bringing in non-payers over the next several weeks. It was noted that the number of community colleges located within Texas and North Carolina ensure that those two states were pivotal.

Financial Report: Marshall Smith discussed the overall financial report, noting that expenses would exceed revenues for the third year in a row. The difference will amount to approximately $3,000, which could be changed by last-minute corporate sponsorships. He also reviewed the investment report, noting a total in reserve of $27,655.07, an increase of $809.14 over the preceding year’s report. Steve Thornburg moved, Stafford Thompson seconded, and the Board voted unanimously to accept the financial report.

A discussion followed regarding the current dues structure. Several Board members noted that it has been many years since the dues amount of $50 was set. It was also noted that a possible increase would decrease the reliance on corporate sponsorships for the annual luncheon and ensure that the Board could distribute a book(s) or other tangible service to the membership each year. Howell Garner moved, Millicent Valek seconded, and the Board voted unanimously to increase the dues from $50 to $100, effective for the 2004 Association year. Pat Lake was asked to publicize the reasons in an upcoming newsletter.

Audit Committee: Steve Thornburg reported that he would review the books following the Board meeting and report to the Board prior to the beginning of the business luncheon.

Editor’s Report: Pat Lake reported that Howell Garner has agreed to maintain the Association’s Website at his institution in Mississippi even though his term of service on the Board is concluding. The number and variety of newsletter and occasional paper productions were itemized. Board members complimented Pat Lake on his work, noting in particular that the electronic format allowed easy distribution on the individual institutional campuses. Marshall Smith was asked to feature the Association’s Website address in next year’s business luncheon program.

  Pat noted that Kay McClenney had provided a copy of her keynote speech and that he intended to publish it in an upcoming newsletter.

Nominating Committee Report: Stafford Thompson, the chair of the Nominating Committee, offered the following slate of officers and Board members for 2004: President, Steve Thornburg; Vice-President, Millicent Valek; Past-President, Terrence Kelly; Secretary-Treasurer, Marshall Smith; Editor, Pat Lake; Class of 2006 – James Mitchell, George C. Wallace Community College, Alabama; Dr. Chuck Mojock, Lake Sumter Community College, Florida; Dr. Randy Pierce, Floyd College, Georgia; Dr. Willis Lott, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Mississippi; and Dr. Tommy Warner, Nunez Community College, Louisiana. Pat Lake moved, Howell Garner seconded, and the Board voted unanimously to accept the slate of officers and Board members as presented.

Discussion Items: The Board considered the emphasis of the Association for 2004, determining that it would be “Learning Centeredness – Using Technology for Instructional Support.”

The Board discussed the original premise on which the Association was founded – that of advocating the cause of two-year institutions in the Southeastern United States with respect to issues of accreditation. To that end, the Board determined to conduct its spring meeting in Atlanta, preferably at the headquarters building of the Community on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The point of this site would be to create the opportunity to discuss in depth the desire of community colleges to participate more fully in leadership activities of the Commission on Colleges. The proportion of the entire Commission membership as represented by the two-year institutions is significant, and may approach 50% of the total membership of the commission. This discussion would be held with Dr. Jim Rogers, the Executive Director of the Commission. Steve Thornburg was asked to make appropriate arrangements for a date, time, and place for this meeting. March was tentatively identified as an appropriate month for this activity.

The Website discussion had been held earlier in conjunction with the Editor’s Report.

Services for members had also been discussed, but it was reiterated that distributing a book or other significant professional development component was very important in maintaining the presence of the Association among the member institutions.

Business Meeting and Luncheon: Operational details for the annual business meeting / luncheon were discussed and appropriate assignments made. A separate table is to be provided for representatives of corporate sponsors this year. It was decided that Terrence Kelly would be the general greeter, that Steve Thornburg would take responsibility for meeting and assisting the keynote speaker, Kay McClenney, and that Howell Garner would handle the door prizes. Marshall Smith would serve as liaison with the hotel personnel involved and Charlie Roberts would greet and seat each corporate sponsor representative in attendance.

The remainder of the Board would report to the door for general responsibilities, including ticket-taking, trouble-shooting, admittance, and similar functions.

It was noted that business matters for the luncheon would include: financial report, audit report, election of Board members and officers, recognition of corporate sponsors, and recognition of outgoing Board members.

Plans for Spring Board meeting: These had been discussed earlier.

Old and New Business: There were no items.

Terrence Kelley adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m.

  SACJTC's theme for 2004 is:  Learning Centeredness - Using Technology for Instructional Support.  This call for papers can address your viewpoint and/or status of this theme at our two-year colleges.  To submit an occasional paper for consideration email Pat.Lake@kctcs.edu  

   SACJTC is requesting photos of your campus to be used on the association's website.  To submit a photo email Pat.Lake@kctcs.edu