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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 1/12/2010 *Please Note: The following Summary Minutes record only the actions taken by the City Council and do not record individual comments. The Summary Minutes have not been approved by the City Council. The official copy of the Glendale City Council Minutes, which do include individual comments, is available, after adoption by the City Council, in the Glendale City Clerk's Office, 5850 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale, Arizona. ri`i l GLEE SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 6000 W. Olive Avenue Building — Life Science 273 January 12, 2010 12:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Elaine M. Scruggs, with Vice Mayor Manuel D. Martinez and the following Councilmembers present: Joyce V. Clark, David M. Goulet, Steven Frate, Yvonne J. Knaack, and H. Philip Lieberman. Also present were: Pam Kavanaugh, Assistant City Manager; Cathy Gorham, Deputy City Manager, and Pamela Hanna, City Clerk. Members of Glendale Community College Administration present: Dr. Velvie Green, President, Alberto Sanchez, Vice President of Student Affairs, Jean Abel, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Greg Rogers, Vice President of Information Technology and Interim Vice President of Administrative Services, and Patricia Rhodes Vogel, Director of Institutional Advancement. Mayor Scruggs called the meeting to order and thanked Glendale Community College for the opportunity to meet. Self-introductions followed. INFORMATIONAL MEETING HOSTED BY GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Dr. Green presented an overview of Glendale Community College's (GCC) current partnerships with other local, state, and out-of-state colleges and organizations. She noted the partnerships between GCC and the City and encouraged even higher levels of partnerships. Mr. Alberto Sanchez, Vice President of Student Affairs, presented an overview of the college. Glendale Community College has a college-credit enrollment of about 17,000 day and evening students. Glendale Community College welcomes students of all diverse backgrounds, goals, ages, abilities, and learning styles. The college student's demographic make-up was explained and trends were highlight such as increased Hispanic enrollment, the predominance of female students, and majority of students are enrolled part-time in daytime classes. GCC makes available to students many financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, federal grants and loans. Specifically, the total number of federal aid applicants this academic year exceeded 19,000 students up to the date of the meeting and the amount of financial aid dispersed this academic year up to the date of the meeting was more than $25 million. Mayor Scruggs commented on her surprise that the majority of students were part-time and in daytime classes. Mr. Sanchez responded that the cost could be one factor; tuition is $71 .00 a credit hour. He noted the typical student is recently graduated from high school, still living at home and not employed. Councilmember Goulet questioned whether fewer students, who live off-campus are full-time. Mr. Sanchez noted in contrast, some students are full-time students and employees. Mayor Scruggs commented on her daughter's experience with the dual track programs, high school students can earn college credit. Ms. Jean Abel, Vice President of Academic Affairs, explained some specifics of the dual track co-enrollment program, noting the classes can be on-site or on-line. Mayor Scruggs asked about the on-line student programs. Ms. Abel noted currently students can't earn a full degree with on-line classes at GCC. Ms. Jean Abel, Vice President of Academic Affairs, explained the good articulation agreements they had with other colleges. She indicated that in most cases all college courses will transfer to a university or another college if the student keeps the same major. She stated they had been able to form two new recent agreements with NAU. Together, they started communication and elementary programs where students can finish their junior and senior year with NAU on the GCC college campus that have been very successful. Councilmember Knaack asked about clubs and association programs. Ms. Abel stated they had over 50 clubs that were very active. She indicated the students were very involved, so much so that they even attended on Friday nights. She noted many were community involvement driven. Vice Mayor Martinez asked if they were also involved with ASU. Ms. Abel explained they had a good relationship with ASU and provided details on the programs student can follow to transfer credits to ASU. She indicated that ASU had recently created a 2 new program this year called the MAPP program. MAPP is an acronym that stands for the Maricopa-ASU Pathways Program. The MAPP is a tool that outlines a prescribed sequence of classes for you to take at the community college to prepare for your desired degree at ASU. The MAPP outlines all of the specific classes required for your ASU degree. There is also a degree built into it and the necessary grade point average that has to be achieved for the program. Students are also locked into a specific tuition cohort while at ASU, which provides a reduced tuition rate. Additionally, students may be eligible for specific merit scholarships once at ASU. She noted that students who follow this path were usually more successful than students who started their education at universities as freshmen. Councilmember Clark asked how much a student can save while using programs such as MAPP. Ms. Abel stated they could save approximately $4,000 dollars a year. Vice Mayor Martinez commented that tuition at ASU West was $3,400 a semester. Ms. Abel stated they also had honor classes, which pay for tuition for students that have maintained a high GPA throughout a semester. Ms. Abel indicated GCC now has approximately 19,500 students in the fall semester. Additionally, assessments are being done to measure how well a student is prepared for college. Classes have to be taken if an incoming student needs help with math or English in order to help prepare them for the transition to college. Councilmember Knaack asked how well students were prepared after high school. Ms. Abel indicated that students in general were not doing well in reading and math. She added that English and language skills were also not where they should be. Councilmember Clark asked if they offered remedial classes. Ms. Abel responded yes. She added they also offered a math remedial class at the ASU West campus. Mayor Scruggs asked if the High School Advanced Placement (AP) students were more prepared. Ms. Abel stated the AP students were very well prepared. Mayor Scruggs commented on how she had become aware of how many people had poor writing skills and at times cannot believe the extent of how much those skills had diminished. Ms. Abel remarked how text messaging has not helped matters. Ms. Abel explained how they witness students taking developmental classes at GCC and celebrate when they watch them graduate. She indicated they often hear from the student after they graduate from a university and get their new job. Mayor Scruggs discussed how GCC's 5% honor roll percentage seems comparable to any university. Ms. Abel agreed. Councilmember Clark asked how well private and homeschooled children were prepared. Ms. Abel stated that most private school students were very well prepared and did an exceptional job. She noted that homeschooled students have really flourished and do an excellent job as well. 3 Councilmember Goulet asked if there has been any areas were there has been an explosion of interest for students regarding economic or environment sources. Ms. Abel stated one of the programs they were looking at was solar energy. She indicated that some of the faculty is doing internships with the APS Salt River project. Additionally, they have a curriculum and offered only a few courses since the demand was still unknown. She explained they were waiting for when employers decided they need a specifically train workforce in a career. However, until then, they will continue to add courses slowly. She discussed other areas such as nanotechnology, health care and medical imagery. Additionally, they were always reviewing existing programs to find ways to refresh and modify them. She noted they will continue their partnerships with Ford, GM and Chrysler. She indicated that since the job market has slowed, so has their ability to add new programs. Councilmember Goulet commented on the green movement's potential impact on education and career choices. Councilmember Lieberman asked if they still had the GI bill. Ms. Abel replied yes. She stated the new version was so much better with additional benefits. She indicated that the new GI bill benefits can be passed on to a spouse or child. Councilmember Lieberman explained his experience with the old GI bill and its benefits. Vice Mayor Martinez remarked that he would not be sitting at this meeting if weren't for the GI bill. He related his experiences on how he went to Phoenix College and later received his degree. Mayor Scruggs discussed the availability of jobs and the student's ability to obtain a degree in a job market that was being outsourced. She asked if anything was being done to help students choose a career that will be viable in the future. Ms. Abel explained they have a lot of programs in Career Services which help students find the right career opportunity. They present jobs that still have growth potential and steadiness. She stated they have advisory committees for all of their occupational programs. These committees look at future trends and career evolution. She thanked the Council for their partnership and support of the Glendale Public Service Facility, which had been a success. Ms. Abel added that advisors encourage students to explore career options. He stated GCC students received general education skills such as writing, math and language that will help them with job training once they move on in their careers. Mayor Scruggs commented on her experience with the Mayor's Youth Commission members and how young people think about career choices. Dr. Green said community colleges were able to adapt to change, retool and be flexible to address career trends. Ms. Abel noted they were committed to helping the student be successful anyway they can. Ms. Abel commented on GCC's extensive art collection. She stated they will be touring the library and viewing the collection today. She indicated that years ago the district used to put aside a small amount of money for art in public places. However, they have not been able to add anything to the collection in over four years. 4 Mr. Greg Rogers, Vice President of Information Technology and Interim Vice President of Administrative services and Planning, noted on a 1997 survey of how much GCC employee's contributed to the city's economy. It was found they contributed $20 million a year. He stated he had taken that same study and multiplied it times the inflation rate and increases in employees and had come up with a contributing figure today of $34 million. However, GCC's contribution of an educated workforce was the most valuable and not included in the nominal calculations. Mr. Rogers discussed the highlights of the tour of they would be taking. He also invited them to the Grand Opening of the Public Safety Science Building at 8:00 a.m. this Thursday. He referred to the master plan provided and how it reflected the reality of their commitment to the college and the City of Glendale. He also referred to a PowerPoint slide show presentation, provided for review in their packet. He suggested that the project outlined, the Quad City Manufacturing Laboratory (QCML), was created to address a situation similar in several aspects to the present Luke Air Force Base situation. The QCML vision and purpose is to provide advanced manufacturing process development and associated training, which will assure the sustainability of the Rock Island Arsenal/Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center and regional Manufacturing base. The process developed in the QCML project provided a forum for regional educational institutions to align, participate and find solutions key to manufacturing success. Councilmember Frate remarked that these types of programs help economic development. He added the medical field also offered great opportunities to drive economic development. Mr. Rogers agreed. He discussed the medical database the President was initiating which could bring federal grants or contracts to the state. Mayor Scruggs commented on the F-35 jet situation at Luke Air Force Base. She asked if GCC had any involvement concerning the Base. Ms. Able explained they had some educational involvement with them. Mayor Scruggs stated she will meet with a commander at the Base and get back to GCC on how they can be of further be assistance. Ms. Able agreed. She added she would appreciate Mayor Scruggs speaking on their behalf and hopes to be able to have more opportunities to help Luke Air Force Base. Mr. Rogers discussed how public transportation had exploded in recent years. Mayor Scruggs questioned Mr. Rogers regarding students' usage of public transportation. Councilmember Frate remarked on city budget cuts and how bus routes could be affected. He noted that Phoenix had already cut services. Mayor Scruggs commented that these days nothing was safe. In response to a comment by Mayor Scruggs regarding the city's free parking garage and retail facility in the downtown, Dr. Green expressed the possibility of GCC utilizing these facilities in the future. Mayor Scruggs asked if the college would use the space for classes. Dr. Green explained the potential usage would be for adult classes. 5 Mayor Scruggs thanked the GCC staff for a great presentation. She stated the Council greatly appreciated the close partnership the college had with the city. Mayor Scruggs departed the meeting at 2:10 p.m. The group proceeded to tour the GCC facilities beginning in the Life Science Building, visiting the Biology Laboratory. Dr. Philip Fernandez, Department Chair for Biology presented lab specimens including plastic models and plasticized cadaver elements. He explained significant characteristics. Registered Nurse, Melinda Gardner offered information on the Simulation Laboratory nurses training program including a demonstration of their animated computerized patients. Traveling south along the GCC Central Mall the next location visited was the John F. Prince Library Media Center. Dr. David Rodriguez, Department Chair for Library outlined the building's history, additions and amenities. The scope of the Library's programs was discussed including the prestigious art exhibit. The newly renovated Business Building was the next location, Mr. Chuck Jeffery, Director of Planning, gave an overview of the buildings history, up-grades, and function today. The final location visited was the Student Union Building; Mr. Jeffery reviewed the up-grades and additions to the building. He described the amenities available to students. Although specific locations were highlighted on the tour, GCC Director of Institutional Advancement Patricia Rhodes Vogel, and other GCC staff shared information about various other locations on campus. Additionally, Dr. Green invited anyone back for an individual tour. ADJOURN MENT There being no further business, Vice Mayor Martinez adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m. 6