News from the Higher Learning Commission’s site visit Feb. 1-2 was announced at the Board of Trustees first full meeting of the semester on Feb. 3.

Chair Adele Phelan noted that the HLC committee is planning to recommend the commission approve all three master’s programs, and extended thanks to all who worked on the development of the programs. President Stephen Jordan followed up by saying the commission will not make the final approval until April, but in the meantime their feedback has been constructive.

“They gave us very thoughtful suggestions,” says Jordan, who announced that the committee is requesting two reports from the College.

The first one due in September 2011 would require the College address a few items, including additional assessment work in the accounting program and the development of a graduate council that would report to the provost on current and future master’s programs. The second report due December 2012 would address revenue sources to cover costs of academic programs as well as scholarly expectations for faculty in the program.

Jordan also announced that he will be a part of Gov. Bill Ritter’s newly established strategic planning committee, which has four subcommittees, including sustainability, pipeline, accessibility and mission. Jordan will serve on the “mission” subcommittee, which is tasked with “identifying the proper role, mission and governance structure of the various components of the state’s system of higher education.” One of the issues they are looking at is how higher education institutions can be public but with the flexibility of private institutions, which would require statutory changes. There was a lengthy discussion about this direction.

Jordan reported that Colorado Concern, a 24-year-old organization committed to sustainable business growth and protecting the economic health of Colorado’s business community, has designated “the future of higher education as its single most important issue to take on.”

Space Concerns
In response to Jordan’s report on the increase in enrollment numbers, Trustee William Hanzlik requested more information on the campus’ ongoing space issues. Metro State and CCD have had to rent space in the Starz Film Center theaters as well as hold class in conference rooms across campus. “We are the only 4-year school that talks about being at capacity from eight in the morning until 10 at night,” says Jordan, who also pointed out classroom needs for the Science Building.

He says that while the lab space is abundant in the Science Building addition, classroom space is limited. This will be addressed in a year once renovations to old Science Building, which has lots of classrooms, are completed. “It’s more important now than ever to begin planning for a second building in the Neighborhood.”

Approvals and Resolutions
During the meeting, the Board also approved an amendment to the Handbook for Professional Personnel, which allows faculty to see and respond to all items added to their dossier with all correspondence becoming part of the record; a study abroad program to Ethiopia, scheduled for March 17-28 under the African and African American studies program; and slight revisions to the FY 2009-10 operating budget.

The Board also adopted and passed a resolution regarding an assessment of the College name, which will determine the name’s contribution to the College’s vision, loyalty, brand and image. The name assessment will be conducted internally and externally by Sector Brands and reported back June/July 2010.

Other Business
A new location on campus is being proposed for The Hotel Learning Center. “We have had a slight bump in the road, but with the help of AHEC, UCD, CCD, our partners Mortenson Construction and Sage, we hope the new sight will be approved quickly in order to stay on track for ground breaking in December of this year,” says Chad Gruhl, chair of the College’s Hotel Learning Center Task Force.

The proposal, which has the HLC being built where the Auraria tennis courts are currently, needs to be approved by the Auraria Board of Directors, who will not review the change until their Feb. 24 or March 24 meeting.

Also later this spring, Student Government Assembly will vote on RTD price increases for Eco Passes.

Phelan and Jordan will sit on a panel at the Association of Governing Boards' 2010 National Conference on Trusteeship from March 19-23. The panel is called “Can This Marriage be Duplicated: A Conversation About Successful Boards/CEO Relationships.”