1 1 2 3 4 SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 5 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING 6 7 March 30, 2006 8 8:30 A.M. 9 10 11 Selden Campus, 12 Farmingville, New york 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2 1 2 3 A P P E A R A N C E S: 4 William D. Moore 5 Walter Hazlitt 6 David Ochoa 7 Dennis McCarthy 8 Belinda Alvarez-Groneman 9 Dr. Shirley Pippins 10 Avette Ware 11 John Kominicki 12 Frank Trotta 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 3 1 2 MR. MOORE: Rise for the pledge. 3 Dennis will lead us. 4 (Whereupon, all rose and recited 5 the pledge of allegiance.) 6 My eyesight isn't what it should 7 be. I want to welcome all of you. 8 Thank you for being here and sharing in 9 the meeting. 10 I need a motion. 11 MR. TROTTA: So moved. 12 MR. KOMINICKI: Second. 13 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 14 (Whereupon, all responded in the 15 affirmative.) 16 We've got a short little list of 17 resolutions, just six. I'll entertain a 18 motion to approve 2006.17 through .22 19 inclusive. 20 MR. OCHOA: So moved. 21 MR. KOMINICKI: Second. 22 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 23 (Whereupon, all responded in the 24 affirmative.) 25 You'll note that item four was the 4 1 2 credit card policy formally put in 3 place. It was something we talked about 4 for a long time. Never an issue with 5 what is going on here. 6 MR. MCCARTHY: I have a question 7 on the technology resolution. 8 MR. KOMINICKI: Number three. 9 MR. MCCARTHY: I had one question 10 on that. Technology and guidelines. 11 When you have to access somebody's 12 computer, why the necessity of a legal 13 affairs officer? 14 They need not be present, do they, 15 at the time of the access? 16 MS. KREITZER: -- 17 MR. MCCARTHY: That is the way the 18 policy reads, the person has to be 19 present. I thought that was a bit of 20 overkill. Legal affairs must be 21 present. I don't think that's -- 22 MS. KREITZER: We can be sure we 23 can use any information we gather from 24 it, make sure we can attest to the way 25 it was accessed and that the person -- 5 1 2 MR. MCCARTHY: Why is that 3 necessary? 4 MS. KREITZER: If the person 5 accessing -- we have to be able to say 6 with certainty when it was accessed, it 7 wasn't altered. It is just another 8 level of -- 9 MR. MCCARTHY: Seems like another 10 level of -- I don't know why that is 11 necessary. 12 The basic premise here is it is 13 our computer, right? 14 MS. KREITZER: Yes. 15 MR. MCCARTHY: If it is our 16 computer, we should have access to that 17 computer. I think that is the way it 18 works outside. That is the way it works 19 everywhere. 20 MR. KOMINICKI: This is like 21 having a witness as to what information 22 or material on the -- 23 MR. MCCARTHY: Having a witness to 24 opening up your own -- 25 MR. KOMINICKI: What there is at 6 1 2 the time we go in there, right? 3 MR. MCCARTHY: I'm saying this is 4 not the way it is done everywhere else. 5 I thought it was a step beyond. 6 MR. TROTTA: Why is that 7 necessary? 8 MS. KREITZER: It is just another 9 layer of protection. It is quite common 10 in public institutions to do it this 11 way. Not the private institutions, I 12 realize that, but it is quite common in 13 public institutions. 14 And this was a policy that we 15 worked through with all different groups 16 at the college to come to an agreement 17 upon. 18 MR. MOORE: Having already done 19 one massive resolution, do you want to 20 pull this one out and hold it and chew 21 on this? 22 MR. MCCARTHY: I just don't 23 understand why it is necessary, because 24 I think it goes against the basic 25 premise that it's our system. 7 1 2 DR. PIPPINS: I think that concept 3 in an academic situation might be 4 slightly different. We can pull it and 5 discuss it. 6 MR. MOORE: Why don't we do that? 7 MR. KOMINICKI: Take the example 8 of you have a staff member who has been 9 accused of some sort of E-mail sexual 10 harassment and we want, staff wants to 11 access this person's computer. In my 12 company we would make sure the human 13 resources director was there as an 14 expert witness basically to attest to 15 the information that they discovered was 16 actually there and not altered in any 17 way. 18 Kind of a chain of evidence kind 19 of thing. 20 MR. MCCARTHY: That would make 21 sense. I don't know. Take the example 22 somebody is not available and you have 23 to get access into their computer. 24 We're not talking about a sexual 25 harassment case, a legal matter or 8 1 2 misuse of the system. We're talking 3 about a misuse of their computer space. 4 What we're talking about is the 5 president's office or a department head 6 has to get into somebody's computer. 7 What I see is somebody has got to 8 contact legal affairs. If they can't be 9 there, I don't understand. I think it 10 is overkill. 11 I would imagine if it was 12 something that had to do with that, with 13 a legal matter or sensitive issue or 14 human resources type issue, that 15 certainly, that we would have the 16 understanding that we better have 17 somebody from legal affairs there. 18 DR. PIPPINS: Unfortunately these 19 things almost always end up being -- 20 that is the problem. You move to the 21 left or to the right a little bit. 22 We can pull it out but, I mean -- 23 MS. KREITZER: We wouldn't have a 24 reason to go into somebody's computer 25 unless we anticipated there was 9 1 2 misconduct or some kind of security 3 breach. In academia -- it is different 4 in the private sector where you can do 5 an investigation and monitor what 6 employees are doing. 7 You don't do that in academia. If 8 we needed to get into their computer, we 9 would have to notify them we were going 10 to do that. You wouldn't need me for 11 that, but if it is misconduct or a 12 security beach, we make sure all bases 13 are covered. 14 MR. HAZLITT: Would this have 15 possibly eliminated the problem a couple 16 of months ago where one of the social 17 security numbers popped up on the 18 Internet? 19 MS. KREITZER: The revision was to 20 allow us access in the event of a 21 security breach. This is very similar 22 to the formal policy. This was revised 23 to allow access for it to deal with a 24 security breach. 25 When that happened, there were 10 1 2 inadequacies in the policy resolved. 3 This is to address those. 4 MR. MOORE: I'm going to ask that 5 we pull this out from action for the 6 moment because I do have a concern about 7 -- 8 MR. HAZLITT: I move that it be 9 tabled. 10 MR. TROTTA: We already voted on 11 it. Do you have to withdraw it? 12 MR. MOORE: Motion to withdraw the 13 item? 14 MR. KOMINICKI: So moved. 15 MR. MOORE: Item number three, 16 2006.19, and we'll table that item. 17 MR. KOMINICKI: So moved. 18 MR. HAZLITT: Second. 19 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 20 (Whereupon, all responded in the 21 affirmative.) 22 I have a concern that I want to 23 share with you but I don't know if it is 24 something to be discussed in executive 25 session or on this. I'll talk with 11 1 2 Eileen but I'm glad you held up on that. 3 MR. KOMINICKI: Are we going to do 4 the pledge again now? 5 MR. MOORE: Ground Hog's day. 6 I'll entertain a motion to recess the 7 Board of Trustees meeting and convene 8 the Board of Directors meeting of the 9 Association. 10 MR. HAZLITT: So moved. 11 MR. TROTTA: Second. 12 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 13 (Whereupon, all responded in the 14 affirmative.) 15 Motion to approve the Board of 16 Directors February sixteenth minutes? 17 MR. OCHOA: So moved. 18 MR. KOMINICKI: Second. 19 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 20 (Whereupon, all responded in the 21 affirmative.) 22 For the Association, we've got 23 three resolutions. Any questions on any 24 of these three? 25 Give us any reason to stop and 12 1 2 question anyone? 3 All okay? 4 MR. OCHOA: I move to approve 5 2006.A3 to 2006.A5. 6 MR. MOORE: Second? 7 MS. ALVAREZ-GRONEMAN: Second. 8 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 9 (Whereupon, all responded in the 10 affirmative.) 11 MR. MOORE: We have a finance 12 report of the Association. Any comments 13 that we need to have made as to that? 14 MR. KIRSCHNER: Paul 15 K-I-R-S-C-H-N-E-R. 16 You have the report showing the 17 balances and funds. Right now we are in 18 good shape. We are working on some 19 questioned areas to prevent any deficits 20 in any one category. 21 I don't know if you've had a 22 chance to review it. If you have any 23 questions. 24 MR. MOORE: It came in our 25 packets. 13 1 2 MR. KIRSCHNER: The first page has 3 the three campuses. Behind it has child 4 care and Peconic Cafe. 5 Thank you. 6 MR. MOORE: Thank you. 7 Ready to change hats again? I'll 8 entertain a motion to adjourn the Board 9 of Directors Meeting and reconvene the 10 Board of Trustees meeting. 11 MR. HAZLITT: So moved. 12 MR. OCHOA: Seconded. 13 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 14 (Whereupon, all responded in the 15 affirmative.) 16 We're up to item J. 17 MR. STEIN: I would like to talk 18 about the current year and then go into 19 the budget presentation, what we see for 20 next year. 21 As far as the current year, in 22 your packet you have the monthly report 23 as of the end of February. In that 24 report you'll see that on the 25 expenditure side we are projecting 14 1 2 spending about three hundred thirty 3 thousand dollars less than our bid. 4 At this moment and on the revenue 5 side, we are about forty five thousand 6 dollars under budget on revenue. 7 At the next meeting on April 8 twentieth, we will have the update on 9 this as of the end of March and we'll 10 give you more information with respect 11 to that. The budget for next year, as 12 you may know, every year at this time we 13 take a look at what we see for the 14 following year. 15 For our 2006-2007 fiscal year, we 16 had received instructions from the 17 County Executive to deliver that budget 18 on April fifteenth. We wrote a letter 19 to the County Executive requesting a 20 change to submit it on April 21 twenty-first since the next board 22 meeting is April twentieth and that is 23 the meeting at which time you will 24 approve the budget. 25 I received verbal affirmation of 15 1 2 that from the budget director of the 3 County who told me that the twenty-first 4 would be fine. I haven't seen anything 5 in writing yet. 6 The budget for 2006-2007 is one 7 that offers a number of challenges. 8 Before you, I've handed out a gray book 9 which you can follow along. I would 10 appreciate it. Excuse me. 11 Before we get to the gray book, 12 Dr. Pippins wanted to make a few 13 comments with respect to next year's 14 budget. 15 DR. PIPPINS: Before that, I 16 wanted to ask Vice-president Gatta to 17 provide an update to the Board about the 18 success at the State level. 19 As he rises to that occasion, I 20 would like the thank him for his 21 leadership in that area and the 22 leadership of our union for being there 23 in New York, having our voices heard and 24 making a difference over time and some 25 of you sitting around the table lobbied 16 1 2 with us. 3 I appreciate that. Share with the 4 group. 5 MR. GATTA: Over the past several 6 months, we as a team, including our 7 student trustee, attended a number of 8 functions in Albany and we very much 9 appreciate Avette's assistance with 10 this, including attending the SUNY day 11 the beginning of March. 12 Working with Frank, I want to 13 thank the Association, the Guild and all 14 of the other unions who have had some 15 success in advancing projects for the 16 college; one, the State capital 17 appropriation bill. 18 You may recall that last year we 19 received a little over seven million 20 dollars which was half the State's share 21 for the new science and technology 22 building to be built on this campus. As 23 part of the negotiations this year, the 24 governor did not include the additional 25 or the other seven million dollars in 17 1 2 State funds. 3 And in the first pass in the State 4 budget, that money was not included. 5 However, with the conference committee 6 working over the past a couple of weeks, 7 we were successful in having the senate 8 and assembly include funding in that 9 budget that will be adopted over the 10 next day or two and going to the 11 Governor. 12 Barring a veto, that funding 13 should be in place, which is about a 14 little over seven million dollars in 15 addition to that, and we owe a great 16 deal of thanks to Senator Lavalle and 17 Senator Flanagan and Assemblywoman 18 Eddington in helping us get that funding 19 for our Eastern campus. 20 We were successful in securing 21 some funding within the State capital 22 program appropriations for equipment for 23 the new culinary center for Riverhead. 24 That builds on the two hundred fifty 25 thousand that we previously received 18 1 2 form Senator Lavalle's efforts. 3 We also received two hundred 4 seventy-three thousand dollars for a new 5 fire system, fire suppression system for 6 this campus, so all tolled about eight 7 million dollars of additional capital 8 program funds are flowing to the College 9 over the next year or next few years as 10 the science building is built. 11 On the operating side, the 12 Governor included a hundred dollars per 13 FTE for the College. The legislature 14 lay slated seventy-five for each 15 student. Next year an anticipated 16 additional hundred seventy-five per FTE 17 helps the State in the right direction 18 in terms of their one third share of our 19 operating budget. 20 We also secured some funding for 21 the economic development which is 22 helpful as we continue to expand the 23 nursing program and technical programs 24 at the College, and Chuck will give you 25 an estimate of what that will be. That 19 1 2 is another very helpful component for 3 next year's budget. 4 TAP aid was fully restored and 5 just one other item. We've been 6 successful over the past few years in 7 securing the maximum amount of contract 8 course aid. That's aid that goes to 9 help business train and re-train 10 employees. 11 Last year the maximum was a 12 hundred thousand dollars. We got about 13 ninety-nine thousand out of a million 14 state wide. The legislature doubled 15 that. Potentially next year, to two 16 million. We're hopeful if we can be 17 aggressive and work with companies in 18 the community, we might be able to 19 access an additional hundred thousand 20 dollars beyond where we are now. 21 Things are looking good. However, 22 as was evidence in today's Newsday which 23 Chuck reported to me as I walked in the 24 door, the Governor has some concerns 25 about the levels of spending so we'll be 20 1 2 spending the next couple of weeks seeing 3 what happens. 4 If there is anyone that you know 5 on the second floor in Albany, it 6 wouldn't hurt to express your support 7 for our projects and higher education in 8 general. 9 DR. PIPPINS: Thank you. 10 I would -- in presenting this 11 budget today, I would like to walk you 12 through the shorter version that is 13 about twenty-nine pages. You have that 14 and a longer version. The longer 15 version includes anything you would ever 16 want to know, but the shorter has key 17 points. 18 I would characterize this budget 19 as an essential needs budget, a budget 20 that requests the resources and puts in 21 place a strategy to bring this 22 institution up to the level of 23 excellence we set as a goal. 24 In making the presentation, if 25 you're talking to a legislator, any 21 1 2 donors and they want to know is this a 3 good investment, is it paying off, I 4 could say to anyone that these 5 investments in Suffolk County Community 6 College are paying off and that the 7 College continues to be an excellent 8 investment and strategy investment for 9 the County. 10 We would emphasize to the 11 community that although we're facing 12 challenges, the College continues to 13 address priorities identified not only 14 by the College but also by the County. 15 Prior to coming to the County and 16 asking for help, we have done our part 17 to assure we have gotten additional 18 resources. Despite those efforts, we 19 continue to need the help of the 20 County. 21 We're asking that the County join 22 the Governor and State legislature and 23 step up to the plate and move us forward 24 in terms of a formula under which higher 25 education was designed to function; one 22 1 2 third State, one third County, one third 3 tuition, and we thank Senator Lavalle 4 for his leadership in getting that 5 progress in this area by the State. 6 New York State has agreed to 7 increase tuition as George mentioned 8 with a hundred seventy-five per FTE 9 which equates to an increase of seven 10 point four four percent. We're asking 11 the County -- I'm asking the Board ask 12 that the County come forward with the 13 same level of increase of seven point 14 four four percent. 15 The good news in contrast to how 16 that might be characterized, that 17 equates to, for the average property 18 taxpayer, an additional forty-three 19 cents a month. One of the Ammerman 20 faculty members said this is about the 21 cost of a postage stamp. 22 Forty-three cents also brings you 23 a lot, I hope the headlines will say. 24 In supporting the County, we've 25 addressed the health care issue, 23 1 2 expanded the nursing program. It is the 3 largest in New York State. 4 We're supporting economic and work 5 force development in the Sayville and 6 Riverhead projects. The issues of work 7 force development in addition to the 8 work that is continually done by the 9 continuing ed department, we have a 10 grant coming in for the HVAC program 11 with the oil heat industry. 12 We play a key role in reversing 13 the brain drain on Long Island and we 14 all know -- young families I was going 15 to say but I think middle class families 16 are leaving the Island five times the 17 national rate. 18 They can't afford to live here. 19 The work we do in giving opportunity to 20 acquire the skills they need for well 21 paying job helps them stay on the Island 22 and support working families by 23 providing high quality affordable 24 education. 25 They can get their first two years 24 1 2 at college and go to the most 3 prestigious institutions in the 4 country. I've been sharing the story 5 about getting off the Long Island 6 Railroad with my daughter and hearing 7 that voice of a student saying Dr. 8 Pippins. I turned around. It was a 9 graduate of the Grant campus. 10 He was on the railroad with his 11 luggage on his way to N-Y-U. That is 12 really the story of the work that the 13 College does. 14 As we seek to help our students 15 with student success, support the work 16 force and economic development, we 17 encounter obstacles; limited resources, 18 increasing expenses, varying levels of 19 State and local support and aging 20 facilities. 21 In some cases in our classrooms we 22 don't compare to some of the poorest 23 school districts on Long Island. An 24 example, we're about to renovate the 25 Islip Arts building and when we finish 25 1 2 that renovation, we'll put forty year 3 old furniture back in those classrooms. 4 In contrast to what is being used 5 at institutions, a lot of work is done 6 in teams. You have tables with 7 computers. That is what should be in 8 our classrooms. We need other 9 technology. 10 The core is the contrast between 11 the growth of enrollment and funding. 12 While the enrollment has grown two point 13 seven five percent, State aid has 14 increased by four point four four 15 percent, County aid per FTE decreased 16 three point one percent, full time 17 tuition has gone up twenty eight point 18 three three and the total budget has 19 gone up twelve point nine nine percent. 20 You can see where that would 21 create a problem and the chart below is 22 another version of that. The result is 23 that in contrast to the goal of one 24 third, one third, one third, our 25 students are carrying almost forty-four 26 1 2 percent of the cost of higher education 3 in this community. 4 In this current environment of 5 enrollment growth and changes in 6 technology, we have significant needs; 7 the learning resource center on the 8 Grant and Eastern campus, a sports and 9 health facility on the Eastern campus. 10 I can almost take the science lab at 11 Ammerman off because it looks like that 12 is getting funding. 13 Athletic fields, and I would 14 emphasize the need to invest in 15 infrastructure in terms of maintaining 16 buildings. 17 We need to invest in terms of 18 infrastructure, in terms of maintenance, 19 clerical support and also in terms of 20 other human resources. The list would 21 include outdated equipment, forty year 22 old classroom equipment, outdated 23 laboratories. That would be the top of 24 the list of needs. 25 When I looked at the budget for 27 1 2 the various campuses, some alone were 3 coming in with lists of needed equipment 4 amounting to over three million 5 dollars. That is how far behind the 6 curve we are in terms of equipment and 7 technology. 8 When we talk to the donors or 9 legislature or any group, it is 10 important to say we've done our part 11 before we came to you and asked for 12 help. We can say that here we put 13 together an integrated planning model 14 that connects our strategic plan with 15 vision operational plan. 16 All managers have goals against 17 which they're evaluated. That starts 18 with the Board evaluating the president 19 and moves down through the organization, 20 internally reviewing program enrollment, 21 conducting assessments of programs, 22 monitoring class size, comparing 23 ourselves to peers as necessary. 24 Externally we continue to respond 25 to the needs of the County, of business, 28 1 2 to families and the community. The good 3 news again is that we have an 4 independent economic impact study that 5 demonstrates that the College is 6 stimulating the local economy, 7 leveraging taxpayer dollars, generating 8 a return on a good investment, 9 increasing individual earning 10 potential. I'm reading that whole 11 slide. 12 One of my favorite slides is the 13 fact in eight point four years the 14 taxpayers in this community get a high 15 quality, affordable transfer education 16 for children and grandchildren, a 17 skilled work force and a one hundred 18 percent return on their investment. 19 There is no other investment like 20 an investment in higher education. Look 21 at the next slide. You see another 22 value returning to this County. If a 23 student comes to Suffolk and completes 24 his first two years, transfers to any of 25 these institutions and others, that 29 1 2 student that I saw getting off the train 3 at Penn Station, his family saved 4 fifty-six thousand dollars by coming to 5 us for the first two years, for Hofstra 6 thirty-three thousand, Saint Joseph's, 7 sixty thousand nine hundred eight. 8 That is a value we provide to the 9 citizens of this County. Moving forward 10 in terms of retention, we have a success 11 program that helps students prepare for 12 the rigorous curriculum they will have 13 here at Suffolk County Community 14 College. 15 We don't always talk about 16 effectiveness in an academic setting but 17 I have to talk about that. Our goals 18 are tied to the strategic plan. Each 19 one of our managers who put budgets 20 forth include cost avoidance and savings 21 strategy, developing human resources and 22 most importantly in this fiscal climate, 23 we are diversifying our funding base. 24 You can see that with work we're 25 doing with grants foundation, strong 30 1 2 partnerships with oil heat industry, 3 hospitals and other corporate entities. 4 The 2006-2007 budget is fiscally 5 prudent, joins the State and County in 6 full partnership working to achieve that 7 one third commitment, and I told people 8 -- I was talking to Judy who is doing 9 our Middle States report. She looked at 10 my button and asked what does that 11 mean? 12 Forty three cents more a month. 13 You will have the opportunity to expand 14 access and opportunities hold tuition 15 increases to the cost of living. It's 16 an investment in Suffolk County as we 17 continue our progress towards creating a 18 state of the art learning environment. 19 Invest in rebuilding of the 20 infrastructure. 21 We are beginning to rebuild our 22 reserves and provide a high quality 23 transfer education for citizens. 24 I'll stop there and turn this over 25 to Chuck. 31 1 2 The State, we're anticipating, 3 will increase their contribution by 4 seven point four four percent. We're 5 asking the leadership of the County to 6 step up to the plate and do the same and 7 increase this contribution by seven 8 point four four percent. 9 We would be able to hold tuition 10 increases to the cost of living about a 11 hundred twenty dollars a year on a full 12 time basis and in addition to that, we 13 would be able to invest six hundred 14 thirty-five thousand dollars in 15 infrastructure, distribution and 16 equipment, five hundred in the reserve 17 funds and we've taken significant 18 dollars over the years. 19 We're below where we need to be in 20 investment in the infrastructure, the 21 support system for the teaching 22 environment and learning environment at 23 the College. Safety and security, the 24 infrastructure team will be a team of 25 people who do renovations. 32 1 2 We won't have to out source a lot 3 of that work. Clerical support, support 4 for economic success and culinary arts 5 program. 6 I'll turn it over to Chuck. 7 MR. STEIN: That concludes the 8 entertainment portion. 9 DR. PIPPINS: I have no interest 10 in entertaining you. I want you to 11 learn this so you can answer questions 12 when asked. 13 MR. STEIN: Now we get into some 14 details. 15 The first chart in the gray book 16 talks about our ten year FTE analysis, 17 and you see that we've in ten years 18 increased FTE's approximately thirty 19 five hundred which is a significant 20 growth for the College. 21 Again, for those who are 22 interested in a visual presentation, 23 that will reflect it in a visual sense. 24 By taking a look at the current 25 year tuition levels -- I have all the 33 1 2 other community colleges listed here -- 3 we fall just about in the middle. We 4 are just about at the average. 5 That's a significant 6 accomplishment when you consider the 7 fact that Long Island is a high cost 8 area and since eighty-five percent of 9 our expenditures fall into the area of 10 personnel and employee benefits and you 11 consider where we live, accomplishing a 12 tuition level at almost the State 13 average is quite an accomplishment. 14 Specifics with respect to tuition, 15 going back to 2001, 2002, we were at two 16 thousand four hundred thirty a year 17 working up to where we are two thousand 18 nine hundred ninety dollars a year. I 19 wanted to go through the budget 20 highlights with you. 21 Taking a look at our collective 22 bargaining agreements that have already 23 been negotiated and those are being 24 negotiated as we speak, we are 25 estimating about three and a half 34 1 2 million dollars of additional 3 expenditures in the 2007-2008 year. 4 We also, in taking a look at the 5 current budget, you see we are somewhat 6 out of line in terms of adjunct and 7 overload expenditures so we in next 8 year's budget made those adjustments. 9 The next item I think is important 10 to discuss, that is the estimated cost 11 of health insurance. It is important to 12 note that this estimate is based upon 13 what we have in our current year's 14 budget. 15 We still have not received the 16 adjusted rates for health insurance for 17 this year. We did receive rates in 18 January which is the when they're 19 adjusted every year. However, the rates 20 that came over were incorrect. Why? 21 Because it would have placed the 22 College in a significant budget hole. 23 You may recall a year ago when the 24 County was talking about changing the 25 system, I cautioned the Board and said 35 1 2 I'm not yet convinced of the savings. 3 I'm still not convinced of the savings. 4 But at any rate, for our estimates 5 for next year, we use what was placed in 6 our budget, in the budget adoption 7 process last year and we've been 8 informed to include a twelve percent 9 increase for next year. 10 So what you see is a twelve 11 percent increase over what was placed 12 into our budget. We requested more last 13 year, but it came down in the budget 14 process. I want to point that out. 15 It's an important issue. 16 As you know, the lease start up in 17 Riverhead is scheduled for June 2007, so 18 we have the money in there to begin 19 that. The enterprise technology system, 20 as you know, is a multi year program 21 started last year, and we've informed 22 you of the process, and that is about a 23 million more in the 2007-2008 budget. 24 That was the highest year of the 25 implementation. Dr. Pippins mentioned 36 1 2 positions. I'll get to those expenses; 3 about four hundred thirty-five 4 thousand. We're estimating increased 5 energy costs of three hundred thousand 6 because of increased technology. 7 The large building which is now at 8 the East campus, the new building at 9 West campus will be using more energy 10 and as Dr. Pippins mentioned, there are 11 some vital equipment and infrastructure 12 needs beyond our normal course of 13 business that we are including in here; 14 six hundred four thirty-five. 15 There are additional miscellaneous 16 expense items. One of them, for 17 example, one of the transfers to the 18 County fund is for Worker's Comp which 19 is going to be about two hundred 20 twenty-five thousand for next year. How 21 will we fund all of this? 22 Dr. Pippins mentioned that New 23 York State is stepping up to the plate 24 and giving us a seven point four four 25 percent increase in our base State aid. 37 1 2 That will bring us from twenty-three 3 fifty per FTE to twenty-five twenty-five 4 per FTE and provide almost three million 5 dollars additional money. 6 We are not changing our fee 7 schedule, but based upon the results of 8 this year, we see additional fees and 9 other revenue sources coming in. The 10 beginning portion of that is the 11 agreements with the hospitals whereby 12 they are providing funding for the 13 nursing staff in our nursing program. 14 That is the bulk of that 15 increase. Dr. Pippins mentioned we're 16 requesting the County to step up and 17 meet the challenge that the State put 18 out in terms of support, and that will 19 provide two point seven million 20 dollars. The estimated net proceeds 21 from tuition at a hundred ten for full 22 time, fifty five per semester and five 23 dollars per credit, is almost a million 24 eight. 25 That ties into the CPI which was 38 1 2 three point six percent in February. 3 This money, the revenue exceeds 4 expenditure amount by five hundred 5 thousand dollars. That is the five 6 hundred thousand that we're looking to 7 put back into the reserve fund to 8 replenish it. 9 The national average is a five 10 percent figure which would require us to 11 be somewhere around seven and a half 12 million. We are far below that and this 13 will be a step in the right direction. 14 The positions that Dr. Pippins 15 mentioned are in two groups here. The 16 first group are the positions that we 17 fund. There are three public safety 18 officers that we're including in there. 19 We've been talking about this for a 20 number of years. 21 Public safety is a major issue on 22 three campuses, and it is important we 23 address this. The facilities people 24 that Dr. Pippins mentioned are going to 25 be centrally located, like a team of 39 1 2 individuals that can go to various 3 locations to assist in addressing 4 issues. 5 The clerical positions are 6 absolutely important. For years we've 7 not filled a number of these positions, 8 and there are areas where we have 9 buildings with no clerical support and 10 we're starting to address this issue. 11 One of the positions will be starting in 12 June 2007 at the culinary arts in 13 Riverhead, as well as a full time PA 14 nurse at the culinary arts facility 15 starting in June 2007. 16 Of course, the College success 17 program which has been a success and 18 requires some expansion, and we need a 19 counselor in that area. The second 20 group are the positions that we have to 21 put in the budget but that are fully 22 funded by the agreements with the 23 hospitals. 24 Technically we have to place it in 25 the budget, but we just wanted to point 40 1 2 these out so you can see that according 3 to the agreements we've reached with the 4 hospitals that they're paying for, we'll 5 have a full time nursing position with 6 respect to the Good Samaritan agreement, 7 a full time nursing position with 8 respect to the agreement with Mather, 9 Brookhaven and Eastern Long Island 10 hospitals. 11 We already have two full time 12 nursing positions on board that -- 13 because this last agreement with Saint 14 Charles, Saint Catherine of Sienna and 15 Central Suffolk came about at the start 16 of the fiscal year, I think in October 17 or November and they started in January, 18 incorporated them into grant lines for 19 this year, but we have to formalize it 20 in next year's budget with proceeds from 21 the agreement to pay for that. 22 MR. OCHOA: Chuck, out of 23 curiosity, is hiring one full time 24 nursing position starting in September 25 2006 contingent upon funding by the Good 41 1 2 Samaritan Hospital? Two years from 3 today the hospital decides it can't 4 afford this position, are we making a 5 commitment to them to keep that 6 position? 7 MR. STEIN: We have a contractual 8 arrangement with them for this funding. 9 They agreed to a six year agreement as 10 well as the other hospitals. 11 MR. OCHOA: At the end of six 12 years, the colleague -- are we making a 13 commitment to that colleague to continue 14 as a full time nursing colleague in that 15 position? 16 MR. STEIN: Good stewardship would 17 have us sitting down with the hospitals 18 long before the sixth year comes and 19 addressing the issue with the hospital a 20 significant time prior to that. 21 MR. OCHOA: Your answer would be 22 it is not contingent on funding by a 23 third party? 24 MR. STEIN: What I'm saying is 25 that probably at least a year before the 42 1 2 end of the current agreement, we will be 3 addressing the issue with the hospital 4 to determine whether or not they want to 5 continue. 6 If they don't want to continue, 7 then we'll make some determination. 8 MR. KOMINICKI: Do we have to eat 9 the position if the program goes away? 10 MR. STEIN: If the program goes 11 away, I assume you don't have the need. 12 If you don't have the need, then you 13 have to address the issue of the 14 position. 15 DR. PIPPINS: There is nothing in 16 terms of health care that indicates that 17 need is going to go away. 18 MR. STEIN: Over the next five 19 years, about twenty-five percent of the 20 current nursing work force will be 21 retiring. Given that status, I would 22 think that there will be a continuing 23 need here. 24 As has been pointed out, we gave 25 this Board and the County a multi year 43 1 2 evaluate have approach to project 3 lighthouse. This is the total cost. 4 MR. KOMINICKI: Can we go back to 5 health care? You're essentially saying 6 that the change from Vytra to whoever 7 they're using now yielded no savings for 8 us? 9 MR. STEIN: Last year when the 10 budget was approved in August, there was 11 a change to the amount we requested for 12 health care. That was based upon an 13 analysis that had been done for the 14 County. 15 The budget figure for health care 16 was reduced by about one point four 17 million. When we got the new rates in 18 January, we were somewhat shocked 19 because that would have cost us at least 20 seven hundred thousand more had we 21 abided by those rates. 22 In your packet, you have not 23 received a request to approve a payment 24 since then. We contacted the budget 25 office and budget review office of the 44 1 2 legislature and everyone said that can't 3 be right. We asked for the revised 4 rates. We still have not received 5 them. 6 I have to prepare a budget. At 7 the moment I'm using the base figure of 8 what was budgeted for this year, and we 9 were informed to increase next year's 10 amount by twelve percent. 11 MR. KOMINICKI: It is a twelve 12 percent increase on the possible one 13 point four million in savings? 14 MR. STEIN: I don't know. Right 15 now it is the twelve percent increase on 16 what I have in the budget. 17 MR. KOMINICKI: Which is their 18 reduced number? 19 MR. STEIN: Right. I think there 20 is an agreement on all sides in the 21 County that the rates have to be 22 adjusted. I don't have them yet. 23 Until I get them, the only hard 24 number I have is what is in this year's 25 budget. I'm hopeful very soon we will 45 1 2 get that information. 3 There have been discussions with 4 County personnel and they're working on 5 it. We're waiting to get the results. 6 MR. KOMINICKI: How about the 7 County's assertion that they're limited 8 by law to a four percent increase? Are 9 we ignoring that and saying we need 10 seven point four four? 11 MR. STEIN: Dr. Pippins said we're 12 requesting what we believe is necessary 13 to run this institution and certainly in 14 the past, the County has seen fit to 15 exceed the four percent. About four 16 years ago I believe, five years ago, the 17 County provided a nine point seven 18 percent increase to the College. 19 I have to say something. It is 20 important. I hope that people hear it, 21 including Newsday. Sometimes we get 22 hung up on percentages. We lose sight 23 of what we're really talking bout here. 24 What we're talking about here is forty 25 three cents a month. 46 1 2 That is what we're asking for. I 3 don't know how to stress it any more 4 than that. 5 MR. KOMINICKI: Did you get that, 6 Rick? 7 MR. MCCARTHY: What is the 8 enrollment this year? Why is it still 9 estimated? 10 MR. STEIN: We still have the 11 summer and you still have some students 12 can withdraw, so this is our best 13 estimate at this point in time is we 14 will finish this year with sixteen 15 thousand four hundred thirty FTEs. 16 Here is the option. We're talking 17 about CPI level increases, what we need 18 for equipment and infrastructure items 19 and adding money to the reserves. That 20 means we'll get about one point eight 21 million from the tuition increase, two 22 million eight hundred seventy-five 23 thousand from the State, two point seven 24 million from the County which translates 25 into a hundred sixty-five dollars per 47 1 2 FTE as compared to the hundred 3 seventy-five increase in the State. 4 Extra money is going to the 5 equipment and reserves. If we look 6 below, the impact would be that the 7 State provides two thousand five hundred 8 twenty-five per FTE and equivalent base 9 the County would be providing two 10 thousand three hundred eighty dollars 11 per FTE. 12 In the gray book you'll see a 13 break down of what this budget does 14 comparing the current year to the 15 requested, and what it shows is that we 16 are requesting an overall five point 17 nine three percent increase in the 18 budget eight million four hundred 19 seventy-six thousand. 20 A significant portion of that, as 21 I mentioned earlier, is personnel and 22 employee benefits area. If you look at 23 the dollars, that is where it is; 24 supplies and material lines. That is 25 where much of the enterprise system 48 1 2 money is. That million increase, most 3 of it is in there. 4 This is an interesting chart for 5 those who complain about tuition being 6 high. Students are picking up a big 7 burden. My answer is let's bring 8 everyone to a third the way it is 9 supposed to be. 10 If everyone wanted a third, the 11 County would have to come up on the 12 current year budget with eleven point 13 one million, the State with eight point 14 four, the student share would drop 15 fifteen point one million which 16 represents about nine hundred eighty in 17 tuition. 18 If the County or State were to say 19 to us you can't increase the tuition, my 20 answer is fine, step up to the 21 responsibility of the one third that you 22 were supposed to do. We have expenses 23 and a budget to balance. 24 This system was built on three 25 equal partners. Let everyone step up to 49 1 2 the plate. Students have. Now we're 3 asking the others to. 4 The last page basically points out 5 where the revenue aspects would be. I 6 think it is important to just say the 7 time has come for the partners to step 8 up. The College has done a job over 9 these last years in trying to hold down 10 the expenses as much as possible. 11 We have among the lowest operating 12 expense that you can find. I mean, 13 compared to our closest rival in 14 community colleges, we're about -- we 15 have a budget about thirty million 16 less. We run three campuses with less 17 money. I think we have to recognize 18 that the College continues to run 19 frugally. 20 The problem is there are things 21 that need attention. We ask for the 22 Board's support in this budget and we 23 ask for the County's support as well. 24 Any questions? 25 MR. KOMINICKI: How much of an 50 1 2 impact is our reserve issue going to 3 have on accreditation? 4 MR. STEIN: It is an issue. They 5 will ask a question about that along 6 with everything else and it is something 7 that we should be concerned about. 8 There is one statement I wanted to 9 make that I didn't. These numbers are 10 all fluid at the moment. We have to 11 wait and see what happens at the State 12 level. We don't know if there is going 13 to be any veto, what impact that would 14 have. 15 Certainly understand that these 16 numbers are fluid and will change. 17 Getting back to the question, it is an 18 issue, something that has to be 19 addressed. 20 MR. MOORE: Any other questions or 21 comments? 22 MR. HAZLITT: With the turnout we 23 have here this morning, we can go along 24 with charging for breakfast. 25 MR. OCHOA: The presentation is 51 1 2 excellent and very informative. I think 3 it's a budget that is important, frugal 4 and merits our support. 5 There are parts of this campus 6 that I have visited during my tenure on 7 the Board that remind me of third world 8 institutions in terms of the crumbling 9 rate, decay and deferred maintenance. 10 It's just a sad moment to go into 11 a classroom, as Dr. Pippins described, 12 to know that it has got nineteen fifty 13 eight furniture as opposed to furniture 14 that is computer fitted and retrofitted 15 to allow us to go into the twenty-first 16 century of instruction. 17 I'm not at all -- I don't find it 18 difficult to support and encourage our 19 support for this budget. But I also 20 want to share the flip side, something 21 that was brought to my attention last 22 night at a meeting I attended in 23 Patchogue. 24 In my community are citizens of 25 that community who just said to us the 52 1 2 budget being proposed today for that one 3 school district is at thirty percent and 4 I think all of us are very aware that a 5 third to quarter of school budgets are 6 failing and I share that insight. 7 We need to make the case to have 8 complete support by the County Executive 9 and the legislature and it may mean 10 doing things we normally would not do; 11 either buying full page ads in the 12 Newsday or community newspapers, 13 becoming more involved as trustees in 14 advocacy beyond visiting the County 15 Executive. 16 I do know it is going to be a very 17 difficult task to convince the 18 legislature or the County Executive to 19 respond in a positive way to what I 20 think is going to pass this table when 21 we get all the information in. 22 This whole issue of so many 23 budgets in the community failing and 24 increases is something that is part of 25 the whole. It is so fresh in my mind as 53 1 2 I saw Chuck's excellent, and Dr. 3 Pippins', presentation. You have 4 overcome some barriers. 5 It is going to be very hard to 6 achieve our goal. We have to be united 7 in that and find ways to think out of 8 the box as trustees and do things we 9 haven't done in the past to be more 10 effective advocates because when others 11 do it, the Guilds or employees of the 12 district, there is a sense of 13 self-interest which is justified. 14 When we do it, it is in the 15 public's interest. We respect the 16 public, so I don't have a suggestion on 17 specifics but we might give it thought 18 as we move into the stages of advocacy 19 to support students, staff, faculty of 20 the College and increases across the 21 board. 22 DR. PIPPINS: We started some 23 information sessions with the campus 24 community and student government and 25 students and you're right that it is a 54 1 2 big education issue, because the average 3 person has no understanding of how the 4 community College budget is funded or 5 what the impact of any changes would be. 6 So the challenge will be to get 7 people to read the details and 8 understand them. I had meetings at 9 Ammerman, one at East, one at Grant. 10 They were to standing room only 11 audiences except East which had a larger 12 space. 13 Faculty and staff are on board in 14 terms of having information they can 15 carry out to the community and I hope 16 you all will do the same. Let people 17 know why it is so vital, what it means 18 and the limited impact a progressive 19 step would be. 20 I did invite Senator Lavalle to 21 join us on April seventeenth for a press 22 conference to announce our request and 23 support it and he has agreed to join 24 us. I hope all of you will be there on 25 April seventeenth, ten AM here. 55 1 2 MR. MOORE: Any other comments on 3 this presentation to you? 4 I think the argument made was 5 compelling. I would ask that the Board 6 pick up the suggestion of David's. We 7 become strong advocates. 8 We did it last year when we stated 9 in our budget message there was a budget 10 we could support and one we couldn't 11 and, I think, we're going to be asked to 12 do it again. 13 I sat with Trustee Hazlitt last 14 week and we had a cut through on the 15 presentation. The question was cut to 16 the chase, get to the bottom line. That 17 is where it was said how is this place 18 funded? That is where it came up with 19 the understanding forty three cents per 20 month on taxpayers. 21 You're right to sit there and say 22 we're looking for a seven point four 23 four percent increase from the County. 24 In a vacuum, it sounds like a scary 25 number because the average person, the 56 1 2 town's portion of the tax bill is very, 3 very minimal, yet we talked about six or 4 eight percent increases in town spending 5 across the whole tax bill. 6 We want to get down to brass tacks 7 and show what the impact is. This is a 8 hell of an investment. One cannot be 9 embarrassed standing up for the College. 10 This is a budget this College 11 believes it needs to have to function. 12 We shouldn't be ashamed of stepping up 13 and proceeding proudly with what has 14 gone on here. I think it is my turn. 15 MR. MCCARTHY: I think you should 16 as members of a Board, you should always 17 wear the institution on your sleeve. 18 You have to. I appreciate David's 19 comments about being the advocate. 20 I think the question out there 21 about the increase in school districts 22 in mind, it is fifteen percent in the 23 school budget. I believe that 24 forty-three cents a month is important 25 if we have to understand it is forty 57 1 2 three cents a month on top of what now 3 that these taxpayers are funding. 4 One of the very strong parts of 5 last year's budget presentation was when 6 we were able to show the legislature and 7 the County Executive what we had done 8 here as a first rate institution in it's 9 operation. What we've done to increase 10 revenues and lay that out for the 11 legislature. 12 We're not out there asking for 13 seven point four percent because that is 14 what we want this year. We want seven 15 point four percent on top of what we 16 have already done in savings here, in 17 streamlining management, in other 18 programs to increase revenues, to make 19 this a more efficient operation. 20 I think it is very important that 21 we take this preliminary budget and go 22 forward with a very strong presentation 23 of what we've done in the last year, 24 what we have a plan to do in the years 25 ahead that is going to mitigate just a 58 1 2 rising cost of running an operation. 3 DR. PIPPINS: In the fuller 4 presentation of the budget, our example 5 is the fuller presentation has cost 6 savings strategies from each of the 7 departments. It's just longer. 8 You're right. 9 MR. MCCARTHY: We have to get that 10 into dollars and cents. 11 MR. STEIN: I think it is 12 important to point out we are -- we're 13 different than a school district. The 14 most important point is what we're 15 asking for combined with what the 16 taxpayers on their tax bill currently 17 pay for the Community College. If you 18 put them together, it is a dollar a 19 month. 20 If you want to make any comparison 21 to school districts, use that. I would 22 love to only pay a dollar a month for my 23 school district. I'm not. We've done 24 normal things here at the College to 25 deliver excellent services and hold down 59 1 2 the impact on the taxpayers. 3 What we're asking for now is 4 infinitesimal. 5 MR. MCCARTHY: I'm just asking 6 that we be very clear in making that 7 presentation. I think it will be a lot 8 more productive across the street. 9 MR. MOORE: Any other comments? 10 (Whereupon, there was no 11 response.) 12 Item K, I will take the 13 opportunity to introduce to the Board 14 Ted Klubinski, Director of Development 15 and Alumni Affairs. Look to ourselves 16 as a Board of Trustees and showing how 17 we support this institution. 18 MR. KLUBINSKI: I want to thank 19 you for the opportunity to make the 20 first public official announcement that 21 we're going to kick off he second annual 22 fund campaign. 23 The annual fund is year round, on 24 going. This year we are going to 25 introduce payroll deductions which is a 60 1 2 nice option, a painless way for faculty 3 and staff to give our three campuses 4 employees to have a present for a week 5 or so. 6 The chairman has very generously 7 pledged a gift so we also have the 8 foundation board providing their gifts 9 as well Hazlitt. Thank you very much 10 and if we can get a hundred percent 11 participation from our boards, that will 12 filter down to faculty and staff as we 13 go out to alums and the greater 14 community for the College. 15 Thank you for the opportunity to 16 say hello. 17 DR. PIPPINS: I would like to 18 share a special story. One person I've 19 been working on for two a half years at 20 a recent board foundation meeting, 21 Walter made a nice donation in advance 22 of the start of the campaign. 23 I want to thank him for that and 24 for playing a leadership role in this 25 process. It made my heart feel good I 61 1 2 was able to connect with him and get 3 this donation after two and a half 4 years. 5 MR. MOORE: One question. The 6 payroll deduction is not limited to the 7 College campus. I would think that we 8 could hit -- I do believe that there are 9 alumni of this institution scattered all 10 about the County payroll. 11 I would hope that information 12 about the payroll deduction goes beyond 13 or immediate campus and touches all of 14 our supporters out there. 15 DR. PIPPINS: We had the 16 conversation at the foundation board 17 meeting. We're preparing ourselves for 18 a major gifts campaign in years to 19 come. As Mr. Moore indicated, you have 20 to have a hundred percent of your boards 21 before you can go out and conduct a 22 campaign. 23 We need a hundred percent from the 24 foundation board, Board of Trustees. We 25 can count on that with Walter and Bill 62 1 2 as leaders. 3 MR. KOMINICKI: Forty-three cents 4 a month you need, right? 5 MR. MOORE: To pay up now. 6 We'll start there. 7 Observations? 8 MR. OCHOA: Are we going to 9 receive an invitation or -- 10 MR. OCHOA: Or a subpoena. 11 MR. KOMINICKI: Thanks, David. 12 MR. MOORE: I do want to 13 acknowledge the work of trustee, Avette 14 Ware. She has been very active in 15 getting the College community aware of 16 budget issues and concerns and getting 17 the student community to participate and 18 let their concerns be known to 19 officials. 20 Thank you for those particular 21 efforts. 22 We got some good news and you may 23 have noticed past president Sal LaLima 24 is in the room. The court case came 25 down a week and a half ago or so 63 1 2 involving litigation that Sal was suing 3 on some benefits. 4 The court came out in favor of the 5 salary position the trustees had 6 supported and the important part for the 7 College to be aware, it affirmed in the 8 decision the authority of the Board of 9 Trustees as relates to relationship with 10 employees. 11 Congratulations to the College for 12 defending its position, asserting 13 autonomy and the court agreed with us. 14 You may have seen in the paper 15 over the last month articles about the 16 Islanders and County property, College 17 property, different ideas floating 18 around. I'm going to ask that the 19 College put together a work force team 20 to look at the existing facilities and 21 resources we have as far as land 22 available, things like that and work 23 with the sponsor. 24 A lot of conversations are 25 happening. If we look at the strategic 64 1 2 plan, I think it is important we work 3 with sponsors. George, if you would 4 work with Dr. Pippins and reach out to 5 the County and put together a team to 6 discuss visions and goals for the 7 resources we have, I think that would be 8 a great thing. 9 A few things for executive 10 session. That wraps up my comments for 11 you. 12 Round table time. Anyone else 13 have something they wanted to toss on 14 the table, now is the time. 15 MR. MCCARTHY: In speaking with 16 trustee emeritus John Foley, he hasn't 17 been getting verbatim minutes. Maybe we 18 could make a point to get him copy of 19 the minutes. 20 MR. MOORE: Big news. Hopefully 21 Trustee Foley and others are able to 22 access the computer Internet. I do 23 understand that our agenda, resolutions, 24 attachments are all now available on 25 line on the College web site so we can 65 1 2 save paper there, and I do believe 3 verbatim minutes are on line. 4 So anywhere you got a computer or 5 Internet access, do it that way. 6 DR. PIPPINS: We did mail them to 7 him yesterday. 8 MR. MOORE: He can read them on 9 line if he is in the twenty-first 10 century. 11 MR. MCCARTHY: A braver person 12 than I will carry that message. 13 MS. WARE: I wanted to mention we 14 had the town hall meeting that the 15 student government association on 16 Ammerman campus hosted. It was held 17 March fifteenth. 18 How excited the students were. 19 Walter and Ernie were both there and 20 they were very impressed by that. It 21 was a good meeting. 22 Just to elaborate on the letter 23 writing campaign, I did have a copy of 24 the letter to pass around. The students 25 -- it was a good feeling to see how 66 1 2 interested and concerned they were in 3 speaking with them about the budget 4 issues and as Dr. Pippins highlighted, 5 if you don't have the knowledge, you 6 don't know how to react. 7 Many of the students have been 8 complacent because they've had no 9 information. Since they're being more 10 informed, I think it would be a good 11 time. If we move forward, we can get 12 the support of students to get involved 13 actively. 14 MR. HAZLITT: That was an 15 interesting meeting. They voiced a lot 16 of concerns. As I walked in, I was 17 wearing this red sweater and two of the 18 students sitting in the back said look 19 at this sweater this guy's wearing. 20 I said well, you know, the 21 vice-president is going to be in town. 22 I don't want to take any chances. You 23 got to make sure you stand out. 24 DR. PIPPINS: Walter gave quite an 25 eloquent speech. He was in rare form. 67 1 2 MR. MOORE: I'll be attending the 3 NYCCT trustees symposium this weekend in 4 Saratoga to be pitching our funding 5 crunches on SUNY levels and trustee 6 funding efforts. We'll bring that back 7 you to guys and share that at the next 8 meeting. 9 DR. PIPPINS: Vice-president 10 Araneo is on one of the panels although 11 they left her off the panels. 12 MR. TROTTA: We got a survey on 13 returning student survey results. The 14 top, the number one question decided to 15 attend another college seems to be 16 across the board on all of the campuses. 17 Between twenty-six and thirty one 18 percent said they decided to attend 19 another college. Do we have any details 20 on that? 21 MS. BRAXTON: We have a complete 22 listing because we do a graduate follow 23 up survey on all students. We would 24 have the actual numbers. 25 Many times one of the issues that 68 1 2 we've been discussing, students come to 3 us for a host of reasons, not always 4 they want to finish two years. They 5 come to us and transfer to other 6 institutions, but we consider that they 7 met their goal, completed their 8 particular accomplishment. 9 We're trying to get others to 10 understand that that was their 11 objective. They met that and moved on. 12 That is why you see that number. 13 MR. TROTTA: Obviously I'm 14 thinking in terms of the majority came 15 for a two year period which is not the 16 case. 17 How does that compare to other 18 institutions? 19 MS. BRAXTON: In terms of 20 community colleges, we're right on 21 target with that. 22 MR. TROTTA: You can get details? 23 MS. BRAXTON: I can provide that 24 to you. 25 MR. TROTTA: That was really 69 1 2 good. I appreciate that. 3 MS. BRAXTON: We're currently 4 doing this survey for this semester in 5 terms of why. When we see something on 6 those surveys that we feel we need to 7 address, we put a plan of action in 8 immediately to address a concern that we 9 might not have realized until we got the 10 results. 11 DR. PIPPINS: My priority was 12 really the budget presentation. I 13 wonder if Vice-president Gatta could 14 talk with the Board about plans for 15 legislator appreciation day. 16 MR. GATTA: For the past two 17 years, we've hosted both County and 18 State and invited federal 19 representatives to come to each of the 20 three campuses depending on their 21 district on days in the spring while we 22 still have students on campus. We 23 attempt to schedule it at a time when 24 they're in recess, on a day when we know 25 they're not in session or scheduled to 70 1 2 be. 3 This year we've scheduled the 4 Eastern campus for Monday, April 5 seventeenth at noon and then the Grant 6 campus and Ammerman on the eighteenth. 7 Grant would be eleven and Ammerman would 8 be at two. We welcome participation 9 from the Board. 10 It gives us an opportunity to 11 thank all of our elected legislative 12 representatives for their assistance in 13 things we talked about earlier today; 14 capital projects, operating budget, all 15 sorts of endeavors, special 16 appropriations that helped us in 17 Sayville and Riverhead. 18 If the Board would like to attend, 19 we will be sending information out to 20 you formally. 21 DR. PIPPINS: That would conclude 22 the President's report. 23 MR. MOORE: Okay. The budget was 24 a big deal today. I don't think there 25 is any other public business coming out 71 1 2 of executive session. One is an update 3 on collective bargaining agreement 4 litigation, update and contract 5 negotiation matter. 6 I'll entertain a motion to enter 7 executive session. 8 MR. TROTTA: I make a motion. 9 MR. MOORE: Second? 10 MR. KOMINICKI: Second. 11 MR. MOORE: All in favor? 12 (Whereupon, all responded in the 13 affirmative.) 14 DR. PIPPINS: I would ask that the 15 members of my cabinet meet me in this 16 corner for a second. 17 MR. STEIN: Is it the wish of the 18 Board that we proceed with the budget 19 that was presented? 20 MR. MOORE: Before we go to 21 executive session, we didn't take that 22 vote. I didn't hear any dissents, 23 sounds or screams. I think the Board 24 would be -- we don't need a resolution 25 to proceed. 72 1 2 That being said, sense of the 3 Board? 4 MR. OCHOA: Informative. 5 Thanks Chuck. 6 (TIME NOTED: 10:30 A.M.) 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 73 1 2 3 4 CERTIFICATION 5 6 7 8 I, DONNA L. SPRATT, a Notary 9 Public in and for the State of New 10 York, do hereby certify: 11 THAT the foregoing is a true and 12 accurate transcript of my 13 stenographic notes. 14 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have 15 hereunto set my hand this 13th day of 16 April 2006. 17 18 19 --------------------------------- 20 DONNA L. SPRATT 21 22 23 24 25