May 17, 2021 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting

1. Roll Call
 

2. Invocation
 

3. Approval of Minutes
 

4. Communications
 

5. Audience to Patrons and Petitions
 

6. Information Items
 

6.A. Enrollment Reports.
 

6.A.1. Community Education Courses. The Director, Community Education, reports the attached enrollment and participant hours for April 2017-2021.
 

6.A.2. Center for Business/Industry Training. The Director, Center for Business/Industry Training, reports the following enrollment and participant hours for April 2017-2021.
 

6.B. Report of Taxes Collected. Attached is the report of taxes collected for the month of April 2021.
 

6.C. Report of Unfilled Positions. The Vice President, Human Resources, provides the attached report on vacant positions that are currently being advertised. 
 

6.D. New Teachers for Community Education Program. There are no new teachers to report for the Community Education Department for the month of April 2021.
 

6.E. Fund Development Report. The Vice President, College Advancement, provides the attached report on fund development activities of the Brazosport College Foundation for the months of April and May 2021.
 

6.F. Emergency Planning Update. The Vice President, Human Resources, and Director, Campus Safety & Chief of Police, provide the attached update on emergency planning from May 1, 2020 to present.
 

6.G. Dual Credit Update. The Dean, School & College Partnerships, provides the attached update on Brazosport College’s dual credit program.
 

6.H. ACE it Update. The Dean, Student Services, provides the attached update on the ACE it program.
 

6.I. Budget for Adult Education and Literacy Program. The Director, Business Services, provides the attached communication regarding notification from the Houston-Galveston Area Council of additional funding for the EL Civics portion of the 2020-2021 Adult Education and Literacy Program in the amount of $32,413.

The President, under authority granted by the Board, has approved this recommendation.
 

6.J. Presidential Search Update. The search process is in its early implementation stage with one of the first completion items being the development of a Presidential Search webpage that can be accessed at https://www.brazosport.edu/presidentialsearch/.  The first progress report can be found at that site and is attached to this agenda.  Also attached to this agenda is a proposed draft Timeline in relation to the Presidential Search process.
 

6.K. Law Enforcement Academy Graduation. The Law Enforcement Academy Graduation will be held on Friday, May 28, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. in The Clarion at Brazosport College.  Due to safety concerns surrounding the global pandemic, this will be an invitation only event with a limited and socially distanced audience.
 

6.L. Special Board Meeting. Chair, Carolyn Johnson, is calling a Special Board Meeting to be held remotely via Zoom on Monday, June 7, 2021, at 6:30 p.m.
 

6.M. BC Foundation Gator Classic. Due to inclement weather, the Brazosport College Foundation Gator Classic, presented by Freeport LNG, has been rescheduled for Friday, June 25, 2021. The Blue Jacket Social, chaired by Courtney Birdsong, has been delayed due to the global pandemic and will return in April 2022.  

The Golf Tournament, chaired by Jay Gibson, will be held Friday, June 25, 2021, at the Wilderness Golf Course. The planning committee is meeting to determine the best format for the rescheduled tournament, either a shotgun start or scheduled tee times. Along the course, players will have an opportunity to participate in a variety of skills challenge holes as well as enjoy delicious cuisine prepared and served by area corporations.  The tournament will feature a helicopter ball drop. Individuals can purchase ball drop tickets and view the ball drop through Facebook Live.
 

6.N. 2021 CCATT Annual Conference and Board of Trustees Institute. The Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT) and the Texas Success Center will jointly host the CCATT Annual Conference and the Board of Trustees Institute (BOTI) which has been set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 16-18, 2021, at The Westin Hotel at The Domain Austin, TX. Members of the Board of Regents are encouraged to attend with Dr. Millicent Valek, President. Registration for the conference is to be made through Kasie Guthrie, Executive Assistant to the President.
 

6.O. ACCT Annual Leadership Congress. The 2021 ACCT Annual Leadership Congress is scheduled for October 13-16, 2021 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego in San Diego, CA. The theme of this year’s Congress is: Community Colleges: Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Members of the Board of Regents are encouraged to attend the conference with Dr. Millicent Valek, President. Registration is to be made through Kasie Guthrie, Executive Assistant to the President, no later than Friday, August 6, 2021, to ensure a lower rate for the conference and hotel. Presentation proposals are due by Friday, July 2, 2021.  More information on the ACCT Leadership Conference can be found at: https://www.congress.acct.org/.
 

6.P. Board Policy Review. At the Board Workshop on February 13-14, 2009, Regents initiated a systematic review of Board policy.  It was suggested that a number of Board policies be included for review as part of each monthly agenda.  Questions regarding the referenced policy may be addressed to the President prior to the meeting for clarification and/or discussion.

The attached policies, DJ (LEGAL) and DJ (LOCAL), regarding employees’ assignments, work loads, and schedules can be found at: https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/215?filename=DJ(LEGAL).pdf and https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/215?filename=DJ(LOCAL).pdf.  
 

6.Q. Brazosport College Calendar. The Brazosport College Calendar for May 28, 2021 through August 23, 2021 is attached.
 

7. Reports/Presentations
 

7.A. Peer Recruiters' Annual Report. A presentation of enrollment activities for 2020-2021 will be made by the Peer Recruiters. The Peer Recruiters are a unique College department comprised of six part-time peer recruiters that are also Brazosport College students. Five of the recruiters represent a local high school in our service area, and the sixth recruiter represents our non-traditional student population.
 

7.B. Endowment Investment Update. Mr. Shannon Willems, AB Bernstein, will provide information on the performance and allocation of the College endowment funds. Mr. Willems’ presentation is attached.
 

7.C. Compensation Presentation. The Vice President, Human Resources will present an analysis and recommendation to the Board of Regents on proposed salary increases for FY22. These proposed compensation increases will be an action item at the Board’s meeting in June.
 

7.D. President's Report. 
-College Update
-Legislative Update
-Regents' Visibility
 

8. Unfinished Business
 

8.A. Proposed Amended Board Policy - DIAA (LOCAL) - Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation - Sex and Sexual Violence. The Vice President, Human Resources, recommends adoption of amended Policy DIAA (LOCAL) regarding employees’ right to be free from sexually-related discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.  Attached is a copy of the proposed amended policy with existing policy language appearing as regular text, new language in underlined red font, and deleted language in red font with a strike-through.   

This proposed amended policy is presented for second reading and adoption.
 

8.B. Proposed Amended Board Policy FFDA (LOCAL) - Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation - Sex and Sexual Violence. The Vice President, Human Resources, recommends adoption of amended Policy FFDA (LOCAL) regarding students’ right to be free from sexually-related discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.  Attached is a copy of the proposed amended policy with existing policy language appearing as regular text, new language in underlined red font, and deleted language in red font with a strike-through.  

This proposed amended policy is presented for second reading and adoption.
 

9. New Business
 

9.A. Presidential Search Committee Approval. As part of the presidential search process, the Board is asked to appoint a 13-15 member search committee.  Board Vice Chair, Mr. Robert Perryman, is serving as Chair of the Presidential Search Committee with membership to include representatives from the Board, College faculty and staff, student body, BC Foundation, and community members.  

Mr. Perryman and Dr. Valek have contacted a representative group of individuals to gauge their willingness to serve in this capacity and are now recommending the attached list of nominees.   

It would be appropriate for the Board to approve the Brazosport College Presidential Search Committee membership.
 

9.B. Property Insurance Renewal. The College engaged Bob Lazarus, the Principal of RWL Group, independent risk management and insurance consultants, to oversee our property and liability insurance RFP.  Bob Lazarus has provided his report and an analysis of our current coverage compared to the renewal coverage, which is attached.

It is recommended that McGriff, Seibels, and Williams of Texas, Inc. be approved for our property insurance in the amount of $718,773 in one-year increments for a period of five years, with the first period beginning on May 28, 2021 through May 28, 2022. 

It is recommended that USI/Neal be approved for our liability insurance in the amount of $81,315 in one-year increments for a period of five years with the first period beginning on May 28, 2021 through May 28, 2022.  

The total amount recommended for the first year for property and liability insurance is $800,088. This is a difference of $206,374 when compared to the prior year.  The largest difference is due to a two-fold increase for the property insurance. The largest increase was caused by the College’s increase in appraised value of $25 million for a 22.32% increase. The actual appraised value of the College increased from $112 million to $137 million, for a 22.32% increase. The other increase was caused by a rate increase of 7.4% for our commercial insurance, which is well below the market increases of 15-20%.

It would be appropriate for the Board to approve the property insurance with McGriff, Seibels & Williams of Texas, Inc., and the liability insurance with USI/Neal for a minimum of a one (1) year period.
 

9.C. Dow Chemical Company Tax Abatement Request.  Attached is a Court Order from the Commissioners’ Court of Brazoria County granting approval of a Dow Chemical Company tax abatement for a term of seven (7) years at 100% abatement of eligible real and personal properties in the Dow Chemical Company Reinvestment Zone No. 21-02 at the Dow Plant A site in Freeport, TX.  Also attached is the College tax abatement application.

The Dow Chemical Company proposes to invest $157,000,000 and create 16 jobs in Brazoria County to construct a new Methylene Diphenyl Diioscyanate (MDI) separation plant that will produce a range of chemical derivatives products.  Isocyanates are used to produce flexible, rigid, and molded foams that serve a wide variety of societal needs such as mattresses, carpet backing, footwear, adhesives, sealants, coatings and much more. The project anticipates 35 construction jobs at the start of construction, 270 construction jobs at the peak, and will finish the project with 100 construction jobs. Dow has considered other counties within Texas and locations in Louisiana for constructing this new plant.

The Brazosport College Tax Abatement Review Committee (TARC) met with representatives from Dow Chemical Company to discuss their tax abatement application on April 13, 2021 and determined that the request met the requirements included in the Brazosport College tax abatement guidelines.

In accordance with State of Texas Tax Code 312.217(d), the abatement request was posted on the Brazosport College website on April 14, 2021 for the required 30-day posting period.  

It would be appropriate for the Board to approve this tax abatement request.
 

9.D. Financial Report. The Vice President, Financial Services & CFO, provides the attached financial report for April 2021. 

It is recommended that the Board accept the financial report.
 

10. Executive Session

The President requests an Executive Session as provided in the Texas Government Code, Section 551.074.

For the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear complaints or charges against a public officer or employee.

-To discuss employment terms, duties and transition plan for President.

Open Session

Action on Items Discussed in Executive Session

Consideration and action, if any, regarding items discussed in Executive Session.  (Those listed under Executive Session in this notice.)