1 2 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 3 SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE EASTERN CAMPUS 4 CULINARY ARTS CENTER, MEDIA ROOM RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK 5 6 June 25, 2009 9:00 a.m. 7 8 9 10 11 12 BEFORE: 13 WILLIAM D. MOORE, Trustee/Chair 14 15 16 17 18 REPORTED BY: 19 THERESA PAPE, Court Reporter/Notary Public 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 2 2 P R E S E N T: 3 WALTER C. HAZLITT, Trustee/Vice Chair 4 JERRY KANE, Trustee/Secretary 5 ERNESTO MATTACE, Trustee 6 BELINDA ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN, Trustee 7 DAVID OCHOA, Trustee 8 PAUL V. PONTIERI, JR., Trustee 9 AVETTE D. WARE, Trustee 10 SAUL R. FENCHEL, Trustee 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 3 2 A L S O P R E S E N T: 3 GEORGE GATTA, JR., Interim President, SCCC 4 SHAUN McKAY, Interim Executive Vice President 5 MARY LOU ARANEO, Vice President for 6 Institutional Advancement 7 JOANNE BRAXTON, Associate Vice President for Campus Affairs 8 JAMES CANNIFF, Vice President for Academic and 9 Student Affairs 10 CHARLES STEIN, Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs 11 ILENE KREITZER, Executive Director of 12 Legal Affairs 13 MARVIN L. BRIGHT, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs 14 JAMES WHITTEN, Vice President Economic 15 Development 16 17 G U E S T S: 18 DR. SHIRLEY ROBINSON PIPPINS, Former President 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 4 2 (WHEREUPON, this proceeding 3 convened at 9:00 a.m. Off-the-record 4 discussions ensued, after which the 5 following transpired:) 6 (Time noted: 9:05 a.m.) 7 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Good morning. 8 Welcome to the June 2009 board of 9 trustees meeting. 10 Could we all please stand and say 11 the pledge. 12 (Pledge of Allegiance) 13 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you. 14 All right. Hopefully, Belinda's 15 en route. 16 (Discussion held off the record) 17 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. I'm being 18 asked to make sure that we speak nice 19 and loudly because we have a very formal 20 table and a very formal place, and she's 21 lost her seat at the table. 22 Sorry. 23 Okay. Our student has not yet 24 arrived. So we'll hop past Item C on 25 the agenda, and entertain a motion to 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 5 2 approve the minutes of our May 21st 3 meeting. 4 TRUSTEE MATTACE: So moved. 5 SECRETARY KANE: Second. 6 CHAIRMAN MOORE: All in favor? 7 ALL: Aye. 8 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. And, with 9 that, we have a need to go into 10 executive session to discuss litigation, 11 and that involves the resolutions before 12 us. So before we act on our 13 resolutions, we have to do a brief 14 executive session. 15 So I'll entertain a motion -- 16 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: So moved. 17 CHAIRMAN MOORE: -- for that 18 purpose. 19 SECRETARY KANE: Second. 20 CHAIRMAN MOORE: All in favor? 21 ALL: Aye. 22 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Sorry. So if you 23 want to fill that coffee cup and take a 24 seat outside for a few minutes, I hope 25 not to be long. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 6 2 (WHEREUPON, executive section 3 commenced, after which the following 4 transpired:) 5 (Time noted: 9:45 a.m.) 6 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. We're back. 7 At this time, President Gatta has a 8 special presentation to make. 9 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: I do. 10 If we would, I would like Angela -- 11 Angela Kerr-Smith to join us up front, 12 Dr. Evon Walters, the Executive Dean of 13 the Eastern Campus, and George Tvelia, 14 the Executive Dean of the Grant Campus, 15 along with the chairman to -- to join 16 with us. 17 We are very proud of our new 18 national champion, Angela Kerr-Smith. I 19 don't know if most of you had seen the 20 article in Newsday about two weeks ago, 21 but Steven Marcus, a great sportswriter 22 for Newsday, did a half-page story on 23 this young lady's -- this remarkable 24 young lady's accomplishments. 25 If you would, I think the first 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 7 2 paragraph is just beautifully written 3 and sums up the achievement and the 4 drive and the determination and the life 5 of this remarkable young student and 6 student athlete. 7 The headline is, "Suffolk's 8 Kerr-Smith wins two national titles. 9 "Her life became a metaphor for her 10 sport. Angela Kerr-Smith essentially 11 sprinted from class to work to track 12 back to work. Over and over, day after 13 day. Her reward came at the recent 14 National Junior College Athletic 15 Association nationals, where she won the 16 100 and 200 meters to become the first 17 national champion in any sport on the 18 Michael J. Grant Campus of Suffolk 19 County Community College in Brentwood." 20 (Applause) 21 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: What's 22 not written in the first paragraph, and 23 why I've asked Dr. Walters to join us, 24 is that Angela is a student at the 25 Eastern Campus, but she runs track at 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 8 2 the Grant Campus in Brentwood. So her 3 determination and her sprinting, you 4 would -- 5 (Laughter) 6 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: -- you 7 would think she wouldn't be running the 8 100 and the 200, but rather the 9 marathon. And -- and all that hard work 10 has paid off. 11 We have a certificate of 12 recognition to you on behalf of the 13 college, signed by myself and Bill 14 Moore, for achieving greatness in the 15 100 and 200 meter sprint at the 16 2009 national championships in track and 17 field. We applaud your athletic 18 achievements and extend appreciation for 19 your accomplishments that have brought 20 acclaim to Suffolk County Community 21 College, and we wish you continued 22 success and happiness in the future. 23 Congratulations. 24 (Applause) 25 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: I just 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 9 2 have one question. 3 How does it feel to be a two-time 4 national champion? 5 MS. KERR-SMITH: It feels great. 6 TRUSTEE PONTIERI: Where are you 7 off to next year? 8 MS. KERR-SMITH: I am actually 9 going back to Suffolk in the fall, so -- 10 (Applause) 11 TRUSTEE MATTACE: She wants a 12 three-peat. 13 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Why not? 14 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: Can we 15 get a picture? 16 (Photograph taken) 17 MS. KERR-SMITH: Thank you. 18 CHAIRMAN MOORE: We'll move on. 19 We're going to hop to Item F. 20 Is Chuck here to give us our 21 finance report? 22 There we are. 23 VICE PRESIDENT STEIN: Good 24 morning. 25 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Good morning. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 10 2 VICE PRESIDENT STEIN: I'd like to 3 provide you with the finance report. As 4 of May 31, in your packets, you will see 5 the printouts, with a slight variation 6 from the prior months. Some of the 7 summer enrollment numbers are slightly 8 down. 9 Your August report, basically, will 10 wrap up the year, you know, with final 11 transfers and movements. But I think 12 the important thing is to talk about the 13 fact that the Suffolk County 14 Legislature, this past Tuesday, has 15 approved the college's operating budget. 16 I anticipate -- as submit- -- as 17 submitted -- as you know, the county 18 executive recommended the budget over to 19 the legislature as submitted, and the 20 legislature voted 17 to zero to approve 21 it. I anticipate that that will be the 22 final action. And since you approved 23 your -- your final resolution in May, 24 and there have been no changes; 25 hopefully, it's done and that's a 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 11 2 wonderful accomplishment. 3 And the other good news was on 4 Tuesday, the legislature overrode vetoes 5 regarding the capital program. And I 6 believe you received a communication 7 from President Gatta talking about that 8 action. 9 The Health and Fitness Center at 10 the Eastern Campus was restored and the 11 design funding was advanced to 2011. 12 The Learning Resource Center for 13 Michael J. Grant Campus was advanced 14 design funding for 2010. 15 The parking lot and walkway 16 lighting college-wide advanced $300,000 17 with improvements for 2010. 18 In addition, the executive and 19 legislature branches approved college 20 security notification funding of 21 $350,000 for the purchase of equipment 22 in 2010, and maintained all other 23 projects slated for funding in 24 subsequent years within the county's 25 current adopted capital plan. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 12 2 So all in all, I believe our 3 finance report is good news. And I -- I 4 want to thank you, this is my final 5 report. I'll be leaving tomorrow. My 6 official last day is July 10th. It's 7 been a pleasure serving you and the 8 college. 9 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Well -- 10 (Applause) 11 CHAIRMAN MOORE: -- don't sit down 12 just yet. 13 (Continued applause) 14 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Please join me, 15 Chuck. 16 And that is good news. That's the 17 first budget cycle under the actual 18 state law and regulations done the way 19 it's supposed to be done. So 20 congratulations to the board, 21 congratulations to the college, and to 22 the county as well for doing it the way 23 it's supposed to be done. 24 This is June 25th, unless I've 25 slept for two months. And usually we do 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 13 2 this resolution in August, it's gone 3 back and forth and back and forth. 4 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Yeah. 5 CHAIRMAN MOORE: So it's a sign of 6 good things to come, so -- and no small 7 measure due to your work. 8 (Discussion held off the record) 9 CHAIRMAN MOORE: It's my deep 10 pleasure, on behalf of the Board of 11 Trustees, to extend sincere appreciation 12 for serving as Vice President for 13 Business and Financial Affairs from 1997 14 to 2009. Under your leadership, the 15 college has successfully maintained its 16 financial stability and increased the 17 strength of its balance sheet. You have 18 artfully -- see -- administered, 19 developed, and implemented plans that 20 maintained the programmatic and fiscal 21 integrity of the college. We applaud 22 your dedication, and wish you continued 23 success and happiness in the years 24 ahead. 25 VICE PRESIDENT STEIN: Thank you. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 14 2 (Applause) 3 (Photograph taken) 4 VICE PRESIDENT STEIN: And thank 5 you very much. 6 Thank you. Everyone, thank you. 7 CHAIRMAN MOORE: All right. I 8 think we're ready to hop back up to 9 approve our resolutions. 10 We had a -- we tweaked and played 11 with Item 7, it's now ready before you. 12 Okay. And you have a pink sheet in 13 there as well, Item 9, so -- that's 14 donation of obsolete equipment. 15 I will entertain a motion to 16 approve Resolutions 2009.48 through 55, 17 inclusive. 18 TRUSTEE MATTACE: So moved. 19 SECRETARY KANE: Second. 20 CHAIRMAN MOORE: All in favor? 21 ALL: Aye. 22 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. That was 23 easy. 24 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: What 25 about the pink sheet? 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 15 2 CHAIRMAN MOORE: I think we just 3 did that, if I'm -- 4 (Overlapping conversations) 5 CHAIRMAN MOORE: I went through 55, 6 so we -- 7 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Right. 8 CHAIRMAN MOORE: -- add the pink 9 sheet -- well, that's interesting. 10 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: Because 11 55 -- 12 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Hang on. Bear 13 with me -- 14 INTERIM PRESIDENT: -- is the 15 investment policy. 16 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. So we 17 have -- the pink sheet should be -- the 18 pink sheet is Number 56 -- 19 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Right. 20 CHAIRMAN MOORE: -- so we'll 21 entertain a motion to approve 2009.56. 22 TRUSTEE MATTACE: So moved. 23 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: Second. 24 TRUSTEE ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: All in 25 favor. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 16 2 CHAIRMAN MOORE: All in favor, 3 please? 4 ALL: Aye. 5 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. Down to 6 Item G, unless I've skipped anything up 7 there, straighten me out. 8 I can give you a brief update on 9 the presidential search. 10 They've met. They've got a meeting 11 schedule put together when they'll meet 12 again. Advertisements will be going out 13 late in the summer. And the hope is 14 that resumes will begun -- be reviewed 15 come September or thereabouts. And 16 that's the process and the -- and the 17 story for now. 18 Let's see. 19 I can report out that the board has 20 elected new officers coming forward, and 21 I'm happy to report that Ernesto Mattace 22 will be the new board chair. That 23 Walter will serve as vice chair, and 24 Jerry Kane as secretary. So 25 congratulations, and I thank them for 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 17 2 their willingness to serve. 3 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: You're 4 welcome. 5 CHAIRMAN MOORE: That wraps up the 6 chairman's report. 7 Anything from around the table that 8 you care to share for the betterment of 9 the group and the community? 10 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: Yes, I have 11 something, Mr. Chairman, if you'll bear 12 with me. 13 You know, I have been afforded the 14 honor of making a presentation to our 15 outgoing chairman, and I had been told, 16 you know, this is it, you read it, no 17 deviation, anything like that. 18 (Laughter) 19 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: But I just 20 have to make one comment. 21 Ordinarily, in addition to a 22 plaque, you got a coffee cup -- do you 23 remember the coffee cups? But rumor has 24 it that it was sold at Shirley's yard 25 sale. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 18 2 (Laughter) 3 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: Along 4 with your frying pan. 5 (Laughter) 6 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: And I would 7 like to acknowledge the presence -- 8 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Oh, yeah. 9 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: -- of 10 Dr. Pippins here today. 11 It's always a pleasure to see you, 12 Doctor. 13 (Applause) 14 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: You know, 15 the plaque really doesn't cover the 16 whole last nine years that you have -- 17 we've been associated with each other. 18 Five years as chairman, and through 19 the toughest times with Plan C and 20 everything that went with it, and the 21 negotiations in the middle of a 22 snowstorm. All the things that you 23 really -- the Rankin File or the general 24 public is not aware of. 25 But -- but, Bill, I'm going to miss 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 19 2 you, I really am. You always come in 3 late so that I don't have to worry about 4 the meeting -- 5 (Laughter) 6 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: -- but just 7 let me read what -- what they -- they 8 think of you. They think. 9 Let me put my glasses on. I don't 10 want to miss this, or make a mistake. 11 "Suffolk County Community 12 College" -- that's us. 13 "The Board of Trustees of Suffolk 14 Community College extends its sincere 15 appreciation to William D. Moore, 16 Chairman, 2004-2009, and a member from 17 2001 to 2009. 18 "In recognition of your exceptional 19 leadership as Chairman, your selfless 20 efforts" -- oh, my God -- "to advance 21 the mission and autonomy of the college, 22 a steadfast captain for the college's 23 Middle States Reaccreditation, leading 24 the creation of the Sayville and 25 Riverhead Downtown Centers, the college 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 20 2 applauds your dedication and 3 incomparable executive style with that 4 has consistently benefitted the entire 5 college community. We are indebted to 6 you" -- really? Na -- "for your 7 exemplary leadership and wish you 8 continued success and happiness in the 9 years ahead of you." 10 We really do. 11 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you. 12 (Applause) 13 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: In 14 appreciation, we spent 25 bucks for the 15 plague. 16 (Laughter) 17 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you. 18 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: 19 Congratulations, really. 20 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you. 21 Picture, Walter. 22 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: You noticed 23 I put a clean shirt on for this today? 24 (Photographs taken) 25 TRUSTEE MATTACE: Thank you from 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 21 2 the board. And as soon as I can get 3 everybody to sign the card, I'll get you 4 the card. 5 (Laughter) 6 TRUSTEE MATTACE: We'll work it 7 out. We'll work it out. 8 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you. Thank 9 you for everything. 10 TRUSTEE ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: I'd just 11 like him to open up what's inside the 12 bag on behalf of the board. 13 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. 14 TRUSTEE ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: I 15 thought it's very appropriate for -- we 16 thought it was very appropriate. 17 TRUSTEE PONTIERI: Depending on if 18 you like it or not, whether it's "we" or 19 not. 20 (Laughter) 21 CHAIRMAN MOORE: (Complying) 22 TRUSTEE OCHOA: That is cool. 23 TRUSTEE ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: It's not 24 just a coffee mug. 25 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Oh, wonderful. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 22 2 (Laughter) 3 CHAIRMAN MOORE: I'll make sure the 4 kids can read the label up top. 5 (Laughter) 6 CHAIRMAN MORE: No, that's very 7 cute. Thank you. It's not a necktie. 8 (Laughter) 9 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Well, I want to 10 thank you all. I don't have much to 11 say. 12 To have a college with professors 13 and staff and administration that work 14 as hard and do as much, makes it a piece 15 of cake for someone like me to go out 16 and say what a great place this is. I'm 17 an easy chillia because you all do it. 18 It's not my work, its your's. So thank 19 you for making that part of my job easy. 20 Talking to communities, the high 21 school students, the guidance 22 counselors, it was always easy to say 23 this is a great place to send students. 24 And the stories like we've had this 25 morning, and we've heard those over the 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 23 2 years, it's nice success stories 3 happening here. 4 Something changed out there in the 5 air, the reputation of this place 6 skyrocketed. I remember doing a -- I 7 guess you call it a charrette or some 8 such fancy thing when you sit down and 9 you have a -- a community assessment of 10 yourselves, and it happened just when 11 Dr. Pippins first arrived. And the 12 board was part of that process, and we 13 had all kinds of -- we -- we were 14 describing what the community sense was. 15 It really was what our sense was. I 16 mean, you always say, The community 17 says, the community says. It was -- it 18 was what we were saying. And it wasn't 19 great stuff. 20 And two years later, the same 21 organization came back and took an 22 assessment, and we were like eagles 23 flying around, could do no wrong. It 24 was an amazing turnaround. And that -- 25 that just -- it's taken off, and 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 24 2 momentum is going, and I don't think 3 it's going to slow down one bit. So 4 that made the part easy. 5 To my fellow board members, you 6 have no idea how little I knew, how 7 unprepared I was, and what an 8 extraordinary opportunity this has been 9 for me to learn. I've grown, I know it, 10 in the chair, from the experience of 11 just serving in this capacity. So, to 12 you, I thank you. 13 Forget what I've done on my side. 14 It was an incredible opportunity. I did 15 not know that I had whatever skills I 16 brought to it to have (sic), but you 17 helped form them, shape them, and 18 develop them. So I owe you all a bit of 19 gratitude for putting your trust in me, 20 because -- 21 I went home the first time when it 22 happened and I told to my pastor and to 23 my wife, I said, I got no idea what I'm 24 doing there. I sit there and -- I said, 25 I got no clue. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 25 2 And they gave me a pat on the back 3 and said, Go back next month. 4 So that's the extent of my remarks. 5 I really want to thank you for the 6 opportunity, and carry on the good work. 7 I mean, there's -- there's a new page 8 coming with a new president and search 9 going on. A lot of opportunities, a lot 10 of challenges. What I told George 11 today, at any point in time there are 12 challenges. And if you don't have 13 challenges, then you're not doing 14 anything. Then you're flat. 15 So I look forward to another page 16 in the chapters of this college with a 17 new president and the turnover in the 18 board as new members come through and 19 new opportunities to serve and new 20 contacts and connections. 21 It's not -- it's not farewell. I'm 22 in Southold, I'm not leaving. 23 So it's been a real pleasure. 24 Thank you. 25 (Applause) 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 26 2 CHAIRMAN MOORE: I know we have a 3 little bit more work to do, but -- 4 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: Doctor, 5 would you like to say a few words on 6 behalf of -- 7 DR. PIPPINS: Yes. 8 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: -- this 9 auspicious occasion, of which you really 10 are a part of. 11 DR. PIPPINS: I came to say a few 12 words. 13 Bill's a nice person, but he 14 lies -- 15 (Laughter) 16 DR. PIPPINS: -- he knew an awful 17 lot. And, you know, it -- the baton, in 18 a sense, has been passed from one person 19 to the next. 20 You may not remember this, but when 21 I first met with Sal, he said, you know, 22 some interesting things and shared some 23 of the challenges. But he said, there's 24 at least one person who I share the 25 vision in terms of how a board should 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 27 2 operate, and he gave me that book that 3 you drove me crazy with all the time I 4 was here. 5 So Bill really knew a lot. 6 And, as he said, it's made easy by 7 the people you work with. 8 There is no way I could have done 9 the job that I did as president without 10 you. In fact, I probably would not have 11 lasted as president if you had not 12 become board chair. The day you became 13 board chair, I practically stood on top 14 of my desk and danced, because I knew it 15 would be wonderful. 16 And one of the things I love most 17 about Bill is that he had an incredibly 18 strong moral confidence so that we could 19 work together. Whenever I'd go a little 20 bit this way, he'd push me back. You 21 know, he really went that way so we 22 could push each other back. And we 23 joked about being two preachers' kids at 24 both ends of the table. 25 So I thought, if you'd come 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 28 2 forward, that I would just like to 3 present to you something -- so you can't 4 get rid of me, I'm on your wall, and it 5 says, Never underestimate the power of 6 two preachers' kids. 7 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Oh, that's great. 8 (Laughter/Applause) 9 DR. PIPPINS: I liked it so much, 10 I had one made for me, too. 11 (Laughter/Applause) 12 CHAIRMAN MOORE: That's great. 13 SECRETARY KANE: Two preachers' 14 kids. 15 DR. PIPPINS: For such a time as 16 this; right? 17 CHAIRMAN MOORE: That's right. 18 Thank you. 19 (Applause) 20 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Okay. It's all 21 yours. I think we're onto -- 22 TRUSTEE ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: Item -- 23 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: Well, 24 what I'd like to do, we have one more 25 presentation. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 29 2 Dr. Jeff Kluewer from college 3 governance has a presentation to the 4 chairman. 5 PROFESSOR KLUEWER: Thank you, 6 President Gatta. I appreciate the 7 opportunity to address the board. 8 I'm representing the college-wide 9 faculty governance body. You -- many of 10 you may not know us, we're only three 11 years old, and we represent the -- the 12 faculty at all three campuses as they 13 express their recommendations and 14 opinions about academic and student 15 affairs. And we feel that we would not 16 exist but for your leadership. 17 Which, in the first place, brought 18 us President Pippins. In my 35 years 19 here, the best president we've ever had. 20 And she brought with her a very 21 different attitude and a different model 22 of how faculty and administration should 23 work with each other. And that legacy 24 of corporation we -- we owe, we believe, 25 to you. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 30 2 And I wanted to let you know that 3 just two weeks ago the college also did 4 something historic. For the first time 5 there was a joint brief -- college brief 6 that went out to the community from, 7 jointly, the administration and faculty 8 governments. 9 Executive Vice President McKay, who 10 is thoroughly committed to the new model 11 and the new way -- the new culture that 12 President Pippins has brought to us, he 13 and I jointly sent out a brief about the 14 planning -- the development of the 15 college's next Title III grant. And the 16 result of that was, just last week, 17 80 people came, on I think the only 18 sunny day in June -- 19 (Laughter) 20 PROFESSOR KLUEWER: -- to -- to 21 take part in a planning session that is 22 going very, very well. And whether we 23 get the Title III grant or not, we have 24 a new model for collaboration between 25 faculty and administration. And that, 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 31 2 too, is part of your legacy. 3 And just as a final thing, I wanted 4 to remind you of a board meeting several 5 years ago where you passed out brochures 6 from the Fellowship of Reconciliation. 7 And I think your intention was to -- to, 8 perhaps, have a board workshop and a 9 retreat. I don't know if that happened 10 or not, but it had an impact on the -- 11 on the faculty governance members who 12 were there that day. 13 And we, at the time, were writing 14 our bylaws. One of our functions and 15 obligations is to resolve disputes among 16 the campus governance bodies as they 17 occur. And we -- we have embodied in 18 our bylaws the values and principles of 19 the fellowship. And we feel that that, 20 too, is -- is part -- part of your 21 legacy at the college. 22 And I do -- we do have something 23 for -- we have a -- we have a book for 24 you that is modestly titled "How to 25 Change the World." 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 32 2 (Laughter) 3 PROFESSOR KLUEWER: It just -- it 4 tells the story of -- of what are called 5 social entrepreneurs around the world 6 who have initiated new ideas in their 7 communities and have transformed them, 8 and we think you probably belong here in 9 some way. 10 And we -- we have an inscription 11 that's to you from the college-wide 12 faculty governance body thanking you for 13 helping to change our world. 14 Thank you. 15 (Applause) 16 CHAIRMAN MOORE: My, my. That's 17 over the top. 18 (Laughter) 19 PROFESSOR KLUEWER: Thank you. 20 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: For the 21 record, is it under $75? 22 (Laughter) 23 PROFESSOR KLUEWER: We're okay. 24 We're okay. 25 TRUSTEE OCHOA: That's great. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 33 2 (Photograph taken) 3 PROFESSOR KLUEWER: Thank you. 4 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: 5 Congratulations. 6 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Good. 7 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: Well, let 8 me begin my report by just relaying one 9 story, and the board may recall this 10 and -- and some may not, but it's 11 something that I certainly will never 12 forget. 13 When we were in the process of 14 trying to develop the facility that 15 we're sitting in today, there were 16 forces -- certain forces that did not 17 want this project to happen. There were 18 some individuals who put out 19 misinformation which questioned the need 20 for the facility, the way it was 21 structured, the way it was being 22 developed, and it was all 23 misinformation. 24 To his credit, to his -- speaking 25 to his character, Bill Moore stood up, 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 34 2 stood up not just for the project and 3 for the community, but also stood up to 4 set the record straight when it came to 5 me personally. 6 So, Bill, I thank you for your 7 leadership, for your -- for your moral 8 fiber, and that's something that I will 9 always remember and appreciate. 10 Thank you. 11 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you, George. 12 (Applause) 13 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: I just 14 have a few items to report on. 15 Not to belabor the capital budget 16 issue, but I want to thank the members 17 of the board who played a very strong 18 role in advocating for the restoration 19 and the advancement of these projects. 20 Many of them are long in the making. 21 The fitness facility -- Health and 22 Fitness facility for the Eastern Campus 23 has been on the drawing boards for close 24 to 30 years, and it is finally coming to 25 fruition. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 35 2 I also want to thank -- and I did 3 in my all-college brief, thank members 4 of the college community, the executive 5 deans, the faculty association, students 6 and individual faculty members for their 7 appearance and testimony before the 8 legislature. That project will begin 9 design next year. So within six months 10 from today, seven months from today, 11 that project will be moving. 12 I also want to thank the county 13 executive and the legislature for 14 approving $350,000 for security 15 notification, and also for some 16 additions for lighting on walkways for 17 additional security on our campuses. 18 A major coup, and we're moving forward 19 very positively in terms of facilities 20 development. 21 I would ask you to "save the date" 22 of September 2nd -- the morning of 23 September 2nd. Our new chancellor, 24 Nancy Zimpher, will be visiting Suffolk 25 County Community College. We have sent 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 36 2 out, I believe, save the date notes, or 3 if we haven't, we will send them out by 4 tomorrow to the broader community. It 5 will be a full morning program. The 6 details -- some of the details are yet 7 to be identified; however, we will be 8 cutting the ribbon on the new Workforce 9 Development Technology Center that day 10 at the Grant Campus. So that would be 11 the highlight of the day, and we would 12 hope that all trustees could attend. We 13 will be inviting all of our local and 14 state elected officials and 15 representatives of both the business 16 community and the broader community to 17 be part of that celebration. 18 In terms of -- and just building on 19 Bill's comment about challenges. We 20 have some very good challenges, and 21 we're not alone in those challenges. 22 Community colleges across the country 23 are experiencing unprecedented demand 24 and unprecedented numbers of students 25 applying for admission, and we're not -- 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 37 2 we are definitely a part of that. 3 At the SUNY Presidents' meeting 4 last week, my colleagues from around the 5 state reported similar very high demand. 6 Much higher than we've ever experienced 7 in the past. 8 To put it in perspective, we had 9 projected 2.75 enrollment growth -- 10 2.75 percent enrollment growth this 11 year. We will end the year closer to 12 4 percent, just shy of 4 percent. 13 Year-to-date we are up significantly 14 beyond that in terms of students that 15 have been accepted and registered into 16 classes. 17 So we are working very hard to 18 identify strategies to enhance 19 efficiencies to accommodate as many 20 students as we can. In certain 21 instances where we can, we -- we will be 22 increasing class size by two. We're 23 looking at the possibility, on a small 24 scale, to utilize our lecture facilities 25 to accommodate more students. But, 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 38 2 again, it would be on a voluntary basis, 3 it would be a faculty member that would 4 be comfortable in that setting that is 5 already delivering a lecture style, and 6 it would not hurt from the academic side 7 of the house. 8 I've called together at least a 9 dozen working groups to begin looking at 10 all aspects of college operations. And 11 that effort, which is ongoing currently 12 and we'll proceed through the summer, 13 we're hoping those groups can come back 14 to me with recommendations on both 15 short-term efficiencies and changes that 16 will allow us to accommodate the very 17 strong demand that we and community 18 colleges across the country are 19 experiencing. 20 That effort plays very well into 21 the effort that Dr. Kluewer just 22 mentioned, the Title III initiative, 23 where we're looking for funding to 24 address college-wide a number of issues 25 in that next cycle. So I view those two 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 39 2 efforts as working in tandem to the 3 benefit. 4 We're managing the master schedule 5 very closely. Capacity may be an issue, 6 but we're looking at every possibility. 7 And I will keep the board informed on a 8 regular basis, throughout the summer, on 9 exactly where we are and what actions we 10 plan to take to meet that very strong 11 demand for enrollment. 12 Just one other item. Associate 13 Dean Richard Britton's with us this 14 morning. He wanted to give you just a 15 brief update on our international 16 program for this summer. 17 Richard. 18 ASSOCIATE DEAN BRITTON: Thank you. 19 Before I begin, I just want to talk 20 about a procedural issue. The way the 21 study for our program was selected is by 22 a faculty committee. And, 23 unfortunately, we recently had to reject 24 the proposal. And it was Walter 25 Hazlitt's proposal to lead the program 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 40 2 to the beaches of the south of France. 3 So -- 4 (Laughter) 5 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: Listen, I 6 happen to be the only World War II 7 veteran here, so nobody can challenge 8 it. 9 ASSOCIATE DEAN BRITTON: We 10 started the study for our program about 11 four years ago when Dr. Canniff and I, 12 on separate occasions, had visited Stony 13 Brook's program in Rome and realized it 14 was very successful and we wanted to do 15 something like it. 16 As a community college, it's a 17 bit more challenging for us for 18 obvious reasons. That next year we had 19 a program in Rome with about eight 20 students and one faculty member; last 21 year we had programs in three countries 22 with about -- with about 60 students; 23 and this summer we're running five 24 programs, because of the economy, we 25 only have 50 students. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 41 2 But we're running programs in 3 Florence. In fact, culinary arts 4 students are on an eight-week program 5 right now in Florence. They're studying 6 Italian language and cooking for the 7 first four weeks, and the second four 8 weeks, they're working as interns in 9 local restaurants. And they'll be back 10 at the end of the summer, and we hope 11 that we'll be putting together a 12 presentation of them, you'll be able to 13 sample what they've learned. 14 We have students who are going to 15 be again in Rome this summer. 16 We have students at the University 17 of Santiago de Compostela in Spain who 18 are studying Spanish and Spanish 19 culture, Spanish cinema. 20 Close to home, we have students in 21 Quebec. And while Quebec, obviously, is 22 not abroad, it's foreign enough, so that 23 becomes a valuable program for us. 24 An addition to that is that, as a 25 result of that program, we're developing 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 42 2 a relationship with a community college 3 in Quebec called the College of 4 Edouard-Montpetit. Last semester we 5 brought eight students and faculty down 6 to the Eastern Campus, and Dr. Walters 7 hosted them here. We are this fall 8 sending faculty and students there on 9 two occasions, we'll bring them back 10 down again, and this is going to lead to 11 things like joint distance and forces, 12 faculty exchanges, and virtually 13 anything else we can do. So we'll start 14 small with that and let it grow. 15 The reason any of this works has 16 only to do with the faculty who actually 17 takes the students out. They're the 18 ones who put the programs together, we 19 work out budgets with them, the office 20 supports them, and then they spend the 21 time out with them. 22 And if any of us think that it's 23 fun, these people are working 24/7 for 24 the entire time they're there. We have 25 had mild catastrophes occur when the 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 43 2 faculty members had to reach us in the 3 middle of the night and get advise on 4 what to do, but by and large, this is 5 the demonstration of the dedicated 6 faculty that Bill was talking about. 7 They're very, very good, and we're going 8 to try to continue to expand the 9 program. 10 So thank you very much. 11 (Applause) 12 INTERIM PRESIDENT GATTA: That 13 concludes my report. 14 CHAIRMAN MOORE: We do have a need 15 for executive section, and the purpose 16 is employment of a particular person and 17 litigation as well. 18 No action will be taken afterwards? 19 MS. KREITZER: No. 20 CHAIRMAN MOORE: So -- 21 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Mr. Chairman, point 22 of personal reference? 23 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Certainly. 24 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Thank you. 25 Mr. Chairman, I just want to -- I 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 44 2 know that I want to join all of us in 3 public session to commend you and thank 4 you for your stewardship and your 5 leadership. This is a day of 6 celebration, and to have Dr. Pippins 7 here just adds to the moment. 8 The election of my colleague and my 9 good friend Ernie signifies the -- the 10 importance that we, as trustees, give to 11 this responsibility. And I cannot think 12 of anyone at this board who has more 13 love and care and service to this 14 institution as a student, especially 15 involved in the foundation affairs, than 16 Ernie. And I know that trying to follow 17 you may be a tough act, but I have a 18 feeling in my heart Ernie won't have a 19 difficult time becoming our leader 20 succeeding you. 21 Congratulations, Ernie. 22 TRUSTEE MATTACE: Thank you. 23 (Applause) 24 TRUSTEE MATTACE: We've spoken many 25 times, and -- and I think you got to the 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 45 2 point where I heard my name -- they left 3 a message for you -- 4 (Laughter) 5 TRUSTEE MATTACE: -- and it ain't 6 gonna stop. 7 I hope with all my heart that I'll 8 be up to the task and follow your lead. 9 I told you before, it's been an honor 10 and a privilege working with you, and 11 this college is all about the board. 12 Thank you. 13 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you. 14 (Applause) 15 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: You know, I 16 think, Mr. Chairman, you're a very, very 17 fortunate individual. Hearing all these 18 accolades today and compliments and 19 everything usually is after you're dead. 20 (Laughter) 21 CHAIRMAN MOORE: And I still have 22 to go home and empty the dishwasher. 23 TRUSTEE OCHOA: Yeah. 24 VICE CHAIRMAN HAZLITT: Take the 25 garbage out. 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 46 2 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Empty the 3 dishwasher. 4 (Laughter) 5 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Well, thank you 6 all. 7 We do have executive section. And 8 there is no further business afterward, 9 so we thank you all for -- 10 MS. KREITZER: Make a motion to -- 11 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Ah, yes. 12 Can we make that motion for 13 executive session, please? 14 TRUSTEE OCHOA: So moved. 15 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Second? 16 TRUSTEE WARE: Second. 17 CHAIRMAN MOORE: All in favor? 18 ALL: Aye. 19 CHAIRMAN MOORE: Thank you. 20 All right. Thank you all for being 21 here. 22 (WHEREUPON, the Suffolk County 23 Community College Board of Trustees 24 meeting was adjourned at 10:29 a.m.) 25 1 SCCC Board of Trustees 6/25/09 47 2 3 4 C E R T I F I C A T E 5 6 I, THERESA PAPE, a Shorthand Reporter and 7 Notary Public of the State of New York, do hereby 8 certify: 9 That the foregoing is a true and accurate 10 transcription of the stenographic notes taken 11 herein. 12 I further certify that I am not related to 13 any of the parties to this action by blood or 14 marriage; and that I am in no way interested in the 15 outcome of this matter. 16 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my 17 hand this 25th day of June 2009. 18 19 20 21 ___________________________________ THERESA PAPE 22 23 24 25