Volume XXII
Number 4

The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges took the following actions at its May 3-4, 2004, meeting:

• Resolution (Item 1) (050104) Approved a resolution commending Brian Conley (Attachment 1).
  
  
• Minutes of the Meeting (Item 2) (050204) Approved the minutes of the March 1-2, 2004, meeting of the Board of Governors.
  
  
• 2004-05 System Budget (Item 4.1) (050304) Adopted two motions on the 2004-05 system budget, as shown in Attachment 2.
  
  
• Positions on State Legislation (Item 5.1) (050404) Adopted the positions on the Consent Calendar. Adopted an oppose position on AB 2177.
  
  
• Approval of Contracts and Grants (Item 10) (050504) Approved the contracts and grants, as presented.
  
  
• Revision to the Operating Procedures of the Board of Governors (Item 11) (050604) Approved the revision to Operating Procedure, Section 36, Official Actions, as presented.
  
  
• Emergency Item for Closed Session Added an urgency item to the closed session agenda.
  

ATTACHMENT 1

RESOLUTION

Commending

Brian Conley

Whereas, Brian E. Conley has served with outstanding merit and excellence as a Member of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors since his appointment in 1999; and

Whereas, Mr. Conley has provided exceptional leadership and policy direction for the system while serving as chair of the Board committee on Equity, Diversity and Human Resources, vice chair of the committee on Legislation, member of the committees on Educational Policy and Student Services/Special Programs, and as the Board of Governors representative to the California State University Joint Standing Committee; and

Whereas, Mr. Conley has contributed invaluable knowledge, expertise, and perspectives to the Board as a publicly-elected trustee of the Rancho Santiago Community College District in Santa Ana, and as a department chair and professor of fine arts at Golden West College in Huntington Beach; and

Whereas, Mr. Conley has courageously fought for affordable and accessible higher education opportunities for all Californians by strongly opposing fee increases that are not gradual, moderate and predictable, and ensuring that students are provided with enhanced financial assistance; and

Whereas, Mr. Conley has forged beneficial bi-partisan relationships with the Legislature in an effort to vigorously protect the community colleges system from proposed budget cuts and has advocated for California's community colleges with the California Congressional delegation; and
Whereas, Mr. Conley is a proud and distinguished alumnus of Sacramento City College, which has honored him with an Outstanding Alumni Award; and now, therefore, be it

Resolved, On this 3rd day of May, 2004, that the Members of the Board of Governors thank Brian E. Conley for his leadership, vision, and warm-hearted approach to higher education and commend him for the many contributions he has made to the California Community Colleges; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board fondly extends to Brian Conley its sincerest wish for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

ATTACHMENT 2

Motions Adopted on
Budget and Finance Item 4.1

First Motion on Item 4.1:

The Board of Governors recognizes the Governor's commitment to community colleges in difficult fiscal times, and therefore views the Governor's proposed budget as the best starting point for the Legislature's deliberations. The Board of Governors specifically supports the Governor's proposed amount for equalization of $59.8 million. In addition, the Board requests the Governor and the Legislature to fund a critical supplement for enrollment growth needs and non-credit program needs. If funding from the General Fund is not available for this purpose, the Board requests the Governor and the Legislature to allocate $29 million of one-time funds from the Proposition 98 Reversion Account to substitute for an equal amount presently budgeted for a block grant for instructional equipment, facility maintenance and hazardous materials abatement. The Board recommends that the Governor and the Legislature use $27 million of the Proposition 98 ongoing funds made available by this substitution to boost funded enrollment growth from the budgeted 3% to approximately 3.65%. The Board recommends that the remaining $2 million be combined with $4 million presently budgeted for noncredit purposes. The resulting total of $6 million should be used to improve noncredit programs by increasing per-student funding of noncredit The Board of Governors supports the transfer of Partnership for Excellence funds into the general apportionment, and supports maintaining the current reporting of systemwide measures to the Legislature. The Board of Governors supports retaining the program and funding identity of the other categorical programs.

Second Motion on Item 4.1:

Recognizing the historic role that the California Community Colleges play in meeting the Higher Education Master Plan's promise of higher education access, the Board of Governors reaffirms its support for a policy under which fee increases will be gradual, moderate and predictable, with fee revenues enhancing student education. In addition, the Board of Governors opposes a "differential" fee for community colleges students who possess a bachelor's degree, due to the disproportionate effect such a fee would have on job related training.