Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> WELL, WELCOME TO EVERYONE. AND THE LAST TWO MONTHS HAVE
BEEN RATHER BUSY. I HAD A RATHER BUSY SPEAKING
SCHEDULE. IT WAS GRADUATION TIME OF THE
YEAR AND I NORMALLY TRY TO ACCEPT AS MANY INVITATIONS AS I
CAN. OCCASIONALLY WHEN GRADUATIONS
-- I KNOW ONCE THIS YEAR I WAS ASKED TO BE AT TWO GRADUATIONS
THAT HAPPENED TO BE ON THE SAME DATE AND IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF
THE STATE. SO I COULDN'T QUITE DO ALL OF THAT, BUT I WAS ABLE
TO GO TO SADDLEBACK AND COMPTON COLLEGE TO DELIVER THE
GRADUATION ADDRESS. SADDLEBACK WAS KIND ENOUGH TO
GIVE ME AN HONORARY DEGREE. SO NOW I CAN CLAIM TO BE AN
ALUMNUS OF CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
AND WE ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WHERE WE HAD THE
CHANCELLOR'S CIRCLE. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT
"THE CHANCELLOR'S CIRCLE IS." IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
VISIT A COLLEGE. WE INVITE INDIVIDUALS OR
COMPANIES WHO GIVE TO THE FOUNDATION AND THEN WE ALSO
INVITE NEIGHBORING COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORING
ACADEMIC SENATE PRESIDENTS TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MEET TOGETHER. AND WE HAD A COUPLE OF VERY
FINE CHANCELLOR'S CIRCLES. ONE AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE
AND THE OTHER COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS.
IN BOTH INSTANCES I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF
THE FACILITIES, WHICH INDICATES HOW GREAT IT IS THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO PASS BOND MEASURES. WE'RE IN HARDSHIP AS A RESULT
OF OPERATING BUDGETS A LOT OF TIMES, BUT MANY OF OUR COLLEGES
AS A RESULT OF THE 55% RULE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS BOND
MEASURES. AND THAT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY
HELPFUL. I ALSO SPOKE AT A NATIONAL
MEETING. I GOT A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE
COLLEGE BOARD MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO.
WE DID MAKE SOME REAL PROGRESS LEGISLATIVELY AND CERTAINLY
WHEN VICE CHANCELLOR GARCIA SPEAKS, SHE WILL TALK ABOUT
THAT. OUR SENATE BILL 1456, WHICH IS
THE KEY BILL AS FAR AS OUR STUDENT SUCCESS TASK FORCE IS
CONCERNED. AS YOU KNOW IT DID MAKE ITS WAY
THROUGH THE SENATE RATHER CONVINCINGLY AND WE WENT BEFORE
THE ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND FORTUNATELY, WE
GAINED PASSAGE THERE, 7-1. AND SO IT WILL GO TO THE
ASSEMBLY FLOOR AND THEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
WE DID A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS, AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH VARIOUS
FACULTY GROUPS. WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT SOME
AMENDMENTS AND FORTUNATELY THE ACADEMIC SENATE CAME OUT IN
FAVOR OF THE BILL, 1456. AND CFT DECIDED TO BECOME
NEUTRAL. WE STILL HAD SOME OPPOSITION
FROM FAC AND CTA, BUT WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET THE BILL
THROUGH THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
AND IT WILL NOW GO TO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND TO
THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR. WE WERE ABLE TO VISIT WITH THE
CHAIR OF APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND HE DIDN'T
INDICATE THAT HE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS OR HAD ANY PROBLEMS
WITH THE PARTICULAR BILL. BUT, OF COURSE, NOTHING IS DONE
UNTIL IT'S DONE. SO THAT IS ALL WE CAN SAY.
ALSO THE BILL BY SENATOR LIU, WHICH HAD TO DO WITH GIVING
SOME ADDITIONAL ABILITY OF CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE TO APPOINT
VICE CHANCELLORS AND I, OF COURSE, POINT OUT QUICKLY THAT
IT WON'T EFFECT ME AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH I TESTIFIED IN FAVOR OF
THE BILL. BECAUSE THAT BILL WON'T GO INTO
EFFECT UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, IF PASSED OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY VOTE
WITH A VOTE OF 64-2. I HAD A VERY INTERESTING
MEETING WITH GOVERNOR BROWN. ABOUT TEN DAYS AGO, WHEN I WAS
ON MY WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO TO DO THE SPEECH THAT I INDICATED
BEFORE THE COLLEGE BOARD CONFERENCE, MY CELL PHONE RANG
AND FORTUNATELY I WASN'T DRIVING.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND I ANSWERED THE PHONE AND THEY
SAID, "WOULD YOU HOLD FOR THE GOVERNOR?" THE GOVERNOR WANTS
TO MEET AND TALK ABOUT ONLINE EDUCATION. SO THAT WAS AN
INTERESTING INVITATION TO TALK ABOUT IT.
HE HAS BECOME VERY INTERESTED IN THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT
ONLINE EDUCATION MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO. SO WE SET UP A MEETING
AND LAST WEEK I INVITED BARRY RUSSELL AND PATRICK PERRY TO
JOIN ME AND WE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND JULIE HENDERSON
AND WE HAD A VERY INTERESTING MEETING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE
IN THE AREA OF ONLINE EDUCATION AND ALL OF THE POSSIBILITIES.
THE GOVERNOR IS AWARE THAT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION, THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAS TAKEN MORE LEADERSHIP IN TERMS OF
ONLINE EDUCATION. I POINTED OUT THAT OVER 9% OF
THE COURSES THAT WE OFFER NOW ARE ONLINE AND ABOUT 23% OF THE
STUDENTS IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES TAKE AT LEAST ONE ONLINE
COURSE. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE
POSSIBILITY OF ONLINE EDUCATION. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE
PRESENCE OF THE TWO VICE CHANCELLORS, WHO KNEW SO MUCH
ABOUT ONLINE EDUCATION AND SHARED THAT WITH GOVERNOR BROWN.
I'M NOT POSITIVE OF WHERE THAT MAY GO, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS AN
ENCOURAGING SIGN. AND I KNOW THAT THIS BOARD HAS
ON OCCASION BEEN QUITE INTERESTED IN ONLINE EDUCATION.
SO THAT HAS HAPPENED AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THE
GOVERNOR AS HE WISHES ON THIS ISSUE.
THE RESULTS OF THE ACCREDITATION REPORT JUST CAME
OUT AND UNFORTUNATELY THE CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO
RECEIVED A SHOW OF CAUSE REPORT. AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TRIED
TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ANY COLLEGE THAT RECEIVES THAT KIND
OF SANCTION. I VISITED ACTUALLY THE COLLEGE
OF THE REDWOODS, IF YOU RECALL, A FEW MONTHS AGO, TO HELP THEM.
AND THE CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO HAS ACCEPTED OUR
OFFER TO SEND IN AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS VERY
HELPFUL IN TERMS OF GIVING A FINANCIAL AN
INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL READ AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE CONCERNS
EXPRESSED IN THE ACCREDITATION REPORT AND WE'LL REMAIN OPEN TO
DO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN TO HELP COLLEGES.
I SERVED AS CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE SOME YEARS AGO TO
LOOK INTO ACCREDITATION. WE MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION AND MADE SOME IMPACT, NOT ALL OF
THEM DID, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION IS A
TOTALLY INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION.
WE DO HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE THAT WE SEND THERE, VICE
CHANCELLOR RUSSELL SERVES ON THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION, BUT
OF COURSE, HE SERVES WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENTIALITY.
BUT WE ARE ALWAYS READY TO BE AS HELPFUL AS WE CAN BE IN
TERMS OF COLLEGES AND IN TERMS OF THE SANCTIONS THAT MIGHT BE
GIVEN. I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH
CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS AND IF MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT MY COMMENTS, I WOULD BE GLAD TO SHARE WITH YOU.
>> LET ME JUST MAKE A COMMENT, MEMBER MACDOUGALL.
I SHARE THE CHANCELLOR'S CONCERN AND WILLINGNESS TO
ASSIST SAN FRANCISCO CITY COLLEGE.
AND AS PART OF THAT, I THINK IT'S
INCUMBENT UPON THIS BOARD TO EXPRESS THAT CONCERN, SEE WHERE
WE CAN BE HELPFUL. BUT FURTHERMORE, MAYBE AT OUR
SEPTEMBER MEETING, IF I COULD ASK THE CHANCELLOR AND STAFF, I
THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A BOARD UNDERSTAND
EXACTLY WHAT THE SITUATION IS IN SAN FRANCISCO. WHAT OUR
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPTIONS ARE MOVING FORWARD, IF
PROGRESS IS NOT MADE. AND AT THE SAME TIME, ARE THERE
THINGS WE AS A BOARD CAN DO TO WORK WITH THE CHANCELLOR AND
STAFF TO HELP. SO I WOULD ASK THE CHANCELLOR, IF MY
COLLEAGUES AGREE HERE TO COME BACK WITH SUCH A PRESENTATION
AT OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING. FURTHERMORE, AS CHAIR OF THE
BOARD, I AM GOING TO WORK WITH THE CHANCELLOR TO SCHEDULE A
MEETING TO GO UP TO SAN FRANCISCO AND IT'S OUR LARGEST
COLLEGE, 90,000 STUDENTS. I CERTAINLY WANT TO EXPRESS ON
BEHALF OF OUR BOARD, OUR CONCERN, OUR INTEREST, OUR
WILLINGNESS TO HELP. SO IF YOU DON'T OBJECT, CHANCELLOR?
>> SURE. >> IF THOSE SUGGESTIONS ARE
AMENABLE, I WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE.
>> MEMBER MACDOUGALL. >> A COMMENT ON YOUR
SUGGESTION, WHICH I CONCUR WITH FULLY, BUT THE CHANCELLOR
MENTIONED TWO OTHER COLLEGES THAT WERE IN A SHOW-CAUSE
POSITION. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CONTINUE
TO BE IN THAT POSITION, BUT IF THEY ARE, THEY SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THAT SEPTEMBER REPORT AS WELL.
THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SYSTEM, IF A COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
ONE OF OUR COLLEGES LOSES ITS ACCREDITATION WILL BE
SUBSTANTIAL. AND AS A BOARD, I DON'T THINK
WE CAN JUST RECOGNIZING THAT IS AN INDEPENDENT PROCESS, BECAUSE
OF THE IMPACT UPON OUR SYSTEM, IF ACCREDITATION IS LOST WE
CANNOT JUST SIT BY WHILE THIS PROCESS IS OCCURRING.
I FULLY AGREE, BUT I THINK IF CUESTA FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE
OTHER INSTITUTION ARE IN THAT POSITION, THEY SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THAT REPORT. >> CHANCELLOR?
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER MACDOUGALL.
LET ME INDICATE TO YOU THAT I BELIEVE THAT BOTH CUESTA AND
COLLEGE OF REDWOODS CERTAINLY IT'S A SERIOUS BLOW IN ANY
COLLEGE LOSES ITS ACCREDITATION. WE KNOW THAT OCCURRED SOME
YEARS AGO AT COMPTON COLLEGE AND WHEN THAT DOES OCCUR, THEN
IT BECOMES NECESSARY, IF POSSIBLE, FOR THAT COLLEGE TO
COME UNDER ANOTHER COLLEGE, BECAUSE CERTAINLY IT COULD BE
DISASTROUS IF THAT HAPPENS. I WOULD SAY ON JANUARY 1ST,
2009 THE FIRST DAY I WAS CHANCELLOR OF THIS SYSTEM I
MADE A TRIP TO SOLANO COLLEGE AND MEETING WITH THEIR BOARD OF
TRUSTEES, THEY TOOK STEPS AND AT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE
ACCREDITING COMMISSION, THEY WERE REMOVED FROM THE SANCTION
OF SHOW-CAUSE. WE WERE OF COURSE HAPPY WITH
THAT OUTCOME. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH
COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS AND THE NEW PRESIDENT APPOINTED SHORTLY
AFTER THAT SANCTION. SHE IS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF
MENDICINO COLLEGE AND I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED AS A LISTENED
TO THE ACADEMIC SENATE AND ALL OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS, THAT THEY WERE TAKING SOME VERY
QUICK STEPS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DIDN'T LOSE
THEIR ACCREDITATION. THEY ARE SUCH AN ISOLATED
COLLEGE THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO
HAVE ANY OTHER COLLEGE TO COME IN.
I CALLED GAIL STORK, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF CUESTA COLLEGE.
HE INDICATED THE STEPS THAT THEY WERE TAKING, AND I FELT
RATHER CONFIDENT THAT I DID OFFER THE POSSIBILITY OF MY
GOING THERE. HE DIDN'T MENTION -- HE
DIDN'T TAKE ME UP ON THAT PARTICULAR OFFER, BUT HE
OUTLINED IN SOME DETAIL WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND IT SOUNDED
QUITE ENCOURAGING. SO I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
AS I SAID IN THE PAST, I GUESS THERE IS NO NEED FOR ME
REITERATING WHAT I HAVE SAID BEFORE.
I HAVE FELT THAT THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION,
ALTHOUGH THEY ARE CERTAINLY WITHIN THEIR AUTHORITY, HAVE
MAYBE ON OCCASION BEEN TOO PUNITIVE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN
BETTER HAD THERE BEEN SOME PRELIMINARY STEPS TAKEN.
BUT THAT IS NOT MY -- YOU KNOW? THE ONLY FREEDOM THAT I
POSSESS IS THAT I'M NOT ACCREDITED. SO I CAN BE RATHER
STRAIGHTFORWARD IN WHAT I HAVE HAD TO SAY ON OCCASIONS, BUT
THAT IS STILL NOT MY PURVIEW. AND SO IT'S NOT THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS, AS A BOARD, YOU DON'T EXERCISE OVERSIGHT OVER
THE ACCREDITATION COMMISSION. IT'S AN INDEPENDENT
ORGANIZATION AND IT WAS INTENDED THAT WAY INCIDENTALLY.
THERE ARE SIX REGIONAL ACCREDITING COMMISSIONS, AS YOU
MAY KNOW AND THEY ARE ALL -- THEY CONTAIN A GROUP OF
COLLEGES THAT IN TURN ARE INVOLVED IN THE APPOINTMENT OF
SOMEONE TO THE ACCREDITING COMMISSION.
I HAVE IN MY DISTANT PAST, I WAS CHAIR OF THE ACCREDITING
COMMISSION. BUT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT ERA.
I KNOW AT LEAST 17 OR 18 YEARS AGO, AND IT JUST SO HAPPENED
THAT DR. MACDOUGALL SERVED AS CHAIR OF THAT COMMISSION. SO
BOTH OF US KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ACCREDITING COMMISSIONS,
BUT I WILL SIMPLY STATE MY PAST EXPERIENCE AND I WILL INDICATE
MY CONSTANT INTEREST IN DOING WHAT WE CAN TO HELP COLLEGES
WHEN THEY FACE A SEVERE SANCTION AND WILL CONTINUE TO
DO SO. >> SO MEMBER MACDOUGALL, I
THINK YOUR SUGGESTION IS A GOOD ONE.
AND I THINK WE WOULD BE WELL-ADVISED TO ALSO KNOW SOME
OF THE SPECIFICS ABOUT CUESTA AND I BELIEVE IT'S SISKIYOU,
CORRECT? >> NO, REDWOODS.
>> REDWOODS. SO IF WE COULD DO THAT, I THINK WE WOULD BE
WELL-SERVED. OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR
THE CHANCELLOR? >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
YOUR CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR.
AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION, DID HE SAY ANYTHING, LIKE HE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO MORE? OR HE IS PLANNING ON A VISION?
DID YOU GET ANYTHING AT THE END OF THAT CONVERSATION?
>> YES, WE INDICATED THAT WE WOULD PRESENT A PROPOSAL TO HIM
INVOLVING ONLINE EDUCATION AND HOW IT COULD BE MORE
EFFECTIVELY USED IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA.
AND AS I SAID, I WAS ENCOURAGED BY HIS REALIZATION THAT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAD MORE INVOLVEMENT IN ONLINE EDUCATION.
I THINK HE HAS SOME CONSIDERABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH
INDIVIDUALS FROM THE SILICON VALLEY, AND HE BELIEVES THAT
ONLINE EDUCATION HAS A -- WELL, I WOULD SAY AN INCREASING
FUTURE IN HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE THREE OF US CERTAINLY
AGREED WITH THAT PARTICULAR. SO HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TO
INDICATE WHAT WE THINK MAYBE THE FUTURE IS AND I WOULD
THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE -- I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT, AND
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD WANT TO TACKLE OR PROPOSE
IN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR. AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT FORM THAT
WOULD TAKE. BUT WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY
THE FACT THAT HE LOOKED TO US FOR LEADERSHIP IN ONLINE
EDUCATION AND I WOULD SAY A SURPRISING TELEPHONE CALL, YOU
KNOW? IF YOU ARE RIDING ALONG IN THE CAR AND SOMEBODY SAID
CHANCELLOR, WOULD YOU HOLD FOR THE GOVERNOR?
OF COURSE I QUICKLY SAID YES. BUT THAT IS NOT A CALL I GET
EVERYDAY. I WILL PUT IT THAT WAY.
>> DID HE MENTION IF HE IS ALSO GOING TO TALK TO THE UC
AND CSUS ABOUT THIS EFFORT? >> I THINK HE WOULD WANT TO
BRING THEM INTO THE DISCUSSION. I THINK HE WAS REALLY, FRANKLY,
AWARE THAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAD EXERCISED MORE
LEADERSHIP AND WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL MORE ONLINE EDUCATION AND
MORE EXPERIENCE IN ONLINE EDUCATION THAN EITHER OF THE
OTHER TWO INSTITUTIONS. BUT SURELY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT
HE DID NOT INTEND TO SIMPLY INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
I THINK THIS WAS MORE OF AN EXPLORATORY IDEA.
AND WE WERE GLAD TO BE PART OF IT.
>> THANK YOU. >> MEMBER BIELANSKI?
>> JUST TO ADD INTO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ONLINE
EDUCATION. I WOULD HOPE AND CLEARLY STAFF
HERE, VICE CHANCELLORS, WOULD BE PART OF THAT, I ASSUME.
DEVELOPING A PROPOSAL. BUT THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST AN
EDUCATION OR A CLASS EXPERIENCE ONLINE, BUT ALSO THE FULL BLOWN
NEED FOR STUDENT SERVICES, TOO, ET CETERA, THAT NEEDS TO BE
PROVIDED TO ONLINE STUDENTS. SO THAT THEY ARE GETTING THE
FULL GAMETE OF SERVICES THAT A STUDENT IN FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES
WILL GET ON CAMPUS AND I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION IS DOING WITH DISTANCE EDUCATION WOULD GET
INCLUDED IN THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION.
>> IT CERTAINLY WOULD. AND THAT WAS ONE THING THAT WE
MADE VERY CLEAR, THAT ONLINE EDUCATION IN ORDER TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, HAS TO HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT.
THAT THERE HAS TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TUTORING AND,
IN FACT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH LINDA THOR, LINDA THOR IS
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE FOOTHILL DE ANZA DISTRICT.
BUT LINDA THOR SERVED FOR OVER A DECADE AS PRESIDENT OF RIO
SALIDA COLLEGE IN PHOENIX, WHICH IS KNOWN AS A LEADER IN
ONLINE EDUCATION. IN FACT, THEY HAD ALL OF THE ONLINE
EDUCATION IN THE MARICOPA DISTRICT.
THEY SAID THEY HAD AN 85% COMPLETION, WHEREAS MOST ONLINE
IS SOMETHING AROUND 50%. >> IT'S LOW.
>> AND SHE SAID THE MAIN REASON WAS THAT THEY HAD A FULL
SUPPORT SYSTEM. IN FACT, THEY HAD A 24/7 ANSWERING SERVICE,
AND SHE TOLD ME SURPRISINGLY THAT THE HIGHEST VOLUMES OF
THEIR CALLS OCCURRED BETWEEN 12:00 MIDNIGHT AND 2:00 A.M.
>> WOW. >> SO YOU KNOW, ALL OF US
KNOW, AND CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR IS AWARE OF THAT, THAT
ONLINE EDUCATION IS NOT A MAGIC BULLET.
BUT IT IS NEVERTHELESS CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO BE
CONSIDERED IN THE FUTURE. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING
ABOUT IT, AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT IN A WAY THAT
RECOGNIZES HOW IT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND HOW IT CANNOT BE
SUCCESSFUL. AND SO I WOULD ASSURE EVERYONE
HERE, ALTHOUGH I PROBABLY WON'T BE AROUND TO SEE IT, THAT WE
WOULD BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENED ON A BROAD SCALE, WE WOULD HAVE
A LOT OF DISCUSSION. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO
UNDERSTAND THAT I'M SIMPLY REPORTING THIS AS WHAT I THINK
MAY BE AN ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT AND ONE THAT WE CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE
PREMATURE, CERTAINLY, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A CERTAIN
DEGREE OF CONFIDENTIALITY IN THE SENSE THAT I JUST THOUGHT
THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN INTEREST
THERE. I DON'T THINK THE LAST THING I
THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD WANT IS FOR TO US SUDDENLY ANNOUNCE
SOME KIND OF DISCUSSION AND THEN DECIDE WELL, HERE IS THE
WAY WE'RE GOING TO SET IT UP AND ALL OF THAT SORT OF THING.
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN SOME EXPLORATORY
DISCUSSIONS; BUT YOU CAN BE REST ASSURED THAT WE'RE NOT
ABOUT TO JUMP ON A BANDWAGON AND COME UP WITH A FULLY
DEVELOPED PLAN. THAT IS A LONG WAY OFF.
BUT I THINK THE FACT -- I WANTED TO SIMPLY NO. 1,
COMPLIMENT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES FOR THE FACT THAT THEY
HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN INNOVATION AND FOR MANY YEARS I MIGHT ADD.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DID YESTERDAY.
WE HAVE LOTS OF COLLEGES THAT HAVE TAKEN LEADERSHIP LIKE
COASTLINE COLLEGE, FOR INSTANCE DOWN IN THE COAST COMMUNITY
COLLEGE. AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER
COLLEGES. SO THIS IS NOT A -- THERE WOULD BE A LONG WAY
BETWEEN AN IDEA AND IMPLEMENTATION.
BUT IT'S WORTHWHILE TO RECOGNIZE THAT EVEN AT A LEVEL
OF GOVERNOR BROWN, THAT THERE IS INTEREST IN ONLINE EDUCATION.
I THINK WHAT I WOULD ADVISE IS THAT AS I WOULD ADVISE ABOUT
ALL INNOVATION, THAT WE EMBRACE INNOVATION, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE
THAT IT'S WITH COMPLICATION, WITH DIFFICULTY.
I DON'T THINK WE EVER NEED TO BE IN A POSITION OF DIGGING IN
OUR HEELS AND SAYING DON'T CHANGE, DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING;
WE'RE PERFECT THE WAY WE ARE. AND SOMETIMES UNFORTUNATELY WE
GIVE THAT KIND OF MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC, LIKE, DON'T TELL US
ABOUT ANY KIND OF REFORM OR ANY KIND OF INNOVATION.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY THAT WE'RE
GOING TO EMBRACE EVERY BRAND-NEW IDEA WITH ABSOLUTE
UNANIMITY. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO AT LEAST MY VIEW AND WHETHER I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF A
COLLEGE OR IN THE POSITION OF BEING CHANCELLOR IS TO SAY YES,
WE'RE IN FAVOR OF INNOVATION. YES, WE'RE IN FAVOR OF LOOKING
AT NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS, BUT WE ALWAYS DO IT WITH A LOT
OF CAUTION AND A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
AND OF COURSE, I CAN'T HELP, BUT REFER TO THE FACT THAT OUR
STUDENT SUCCESS TASK FORCE WAS INVOLVED FOR A WHOLE YEAR IN
DISCUSSING WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.
WE HAD TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND WE HAD A WEBSITE AND WE STILL
DIDN'T END UP ANSWERING EVERYBODY'S QUESTIONS, BUT THAT
IS THE WAY YOU GO ABOUT ANY KIND OF INNOVATION OR CHANGE.
I THINK ONLINE EDUCATION CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT WE
MENTIONED IN THE STUDENT SUCCESS TASK FORCE.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT
EDUCATION 20 YEARS FROM NOW, ALL OF US WOULD RECOGNIZE WELL,
ONLINE EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE PART OF THAT.
WITH COMPUTERIZATION AND TECHNOLOGY AS A PART OF ALL
FACETS OF LIFE, CERTAINLY EDUCATION IS NOT GOING TO
ESCAPE. AND IF WE SIMPLY SAY, WELL WE
WON'T ENGAGE IN THAT IN ANY WAY, I THINK THE PARADE WILL
PASS US BY. BUT
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE DON'T HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY WHO SAYS
EVERY NEW IDEA IS PERFECT AND WE'LL JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON
BEFORE WE GO THROUGH. I HOPE IN ALL OF THIS I
ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. >> I HAD A SIMILAR
CONVERSATION WITH THE GOVERNOR AND HE ACTUALLY THINK THAT THE
COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE FUTURE.
AND HE WOULD LOOK TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
HE HAS GREAT RESPECT FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND ALSO THE
FACT THAT WE ARE ON THE FRONT. THAT WE HAVE DIVERSE
POPULATIONS. WE HAVE OPEN DOORS AND HE IS
VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND EXCUSE
ME FOR SAYING IT, BUT HE IS FIXATED ON THIS KIND OF
EDUCATION. AND IT IS THE EDUCATION OF THE
FUTURE. EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID WAS
ACCURATE. BUT I THINK THAT HE REALLY
ADMIRES THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THINKS THAT WE WILL BE THE
INSTITUTIONS THAT CAN CHANGE, AND ARE WILLING TO MAKE THOSE
CHANGES. WE'RE NOT AS RIGID AS SAY THE
UC SYSTEM OR EVEN THE CSU SYSTEM. SO HE HAS A GREAT
RESPECT FOR US IN WHAT WE DO, AND I WANTED TO JUST COMPLIMENT
YOU AND HIM. BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS
WELL-DESERVED. >> MEMBER MACDOUGALL?
>> I HAVE A COMMENT AND A REQUEST.
THE COMMENTS IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO VERY MUCH THANK THE
CHANCELLOR FOR HIS REPRESENTATION AND LEADERSHIP
FOR THE SYSTEM. YOU OUTLINED HIS VISITS TO A
NUMBER OF COLLEGES TO SPEAK AT GRADUATION, THE WORK THAT HAS
TAKEN PLACE LEGISLATIVELY AND THE WORK TAKING PLACE FROM A
FUNDRAISING STANDPOINT WITH BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF PERSONAL COMMITMENT AND TIME
AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS, CHANCELLOR, FOR YOUR
EXCELLENT WORK IN THAT REGARD. THE REQUEST I HAVE, IF IT'S NOT
TOO MUCH FOR STAFF, I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST ESTABLISH FOR
MYSELF AND MAYBE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS A LEVEL OF BASIC
UNDERSTANDING ON THE ONLINE EDUCATION.
AND I KNOW VICE CHANCELLOR PERRY HAS GIVEN REPORTS IN THE
PAST, BUT IF WE COULD LOOK AT A COUPLE OF COMPONENTS.
ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE GROWTH OVER THE LAST TEN
YEARS AND TO LOOK AT THE GROWTH FROM TWO PERSPECTIVES.
ONE IS THE STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN ONLINE OFFERINGS AND HOW
MANY ARE TAKING THEM AND NO. 2, THE NUMBERS OF OUR COLLEGES
THAT ARE OFFERING CLASSES ONLINE.
I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW IF WE HAVE
ANY FULL ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS. I KNOW THERE IS AT LEAST ONE.
THERE MAY BE OTHERS, BUT AT LEAST FOR MYSELF, I THINK
HAVING A BASE LINE OF UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE HELPFUL
AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO BE REDUNDANT ON REPORTS THAT WE
MAY HAVE RECEIVED BEFORE. BUT IF WE COULD HAVE THAT
UPDATE, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME.
>> RIGHT. I DO RECALL, PATRICK, YOU DID
MAKE A PRESENTATION -- I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THE LAST SIX
MONTHS OR SO ON THAT. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO
TROT THAT OUT AGAIN? AND IF THERE ARE SOME UPDATES, AS
MEMBER MACDOUGALL SUGGESTS, MAYBE IT WOULD BE OKAY FOR
SEPTEMBER? >> THAT IS A GOOD SUGGESTION.
>> WE DID ISSUE A COMPLETE REPORT ON SOME OF THE DETAILS
THAT MEMBER MACDOUGALL IS SUGGESTING.
WE COULD UPDATE ON THOSE. THAT IS AN EASY THING FOR US TO
DO, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE DATA. AND I AM CONFIDENT VICE
CHANCELLOR PERRY IS THE ONE THAT COULD DO THAT FOR US.
>> YES. >> I SOMETIMES SAY TO MY VICE
CHANCELLORS, FOLKS, YOU ARE AT PUPPETEERS AND I'M THE PUPPET.
[ LAUGHTER ] SO WE HAVE A SUPERB STAFF.
THEY ARE SO GOOD ABOUT GIVING ME INFORMATION AND I'M SO
DEPENDENT ON WHAT THEY DO. I THINK YOU WILL BE VERY PROUD.
I JUST MIGHT COMMENT BRIEFLY, I KNOW VICE CHANCELLOR DAN TROY
IS GOING TO GIVE A REPORT ON THE BUDGET AND HE DID REALLY
YEOMAN WORK, BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROPOSAL IN THAT BUDGET THAT
SAID OUR FUNDING WOULD BE DEPENDENT UPON HOW MUCH MONEY
WE GET FROM THESE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES.
AND WE WERE FRIGHTENED OVER THAT, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW
FOR SURE HOW SURE THAT MONEY WAS. SO WE GOT A CLAUSE IN
THERE THAT SAID IN EFFECT, THAT IF THE MONEY DOESN'T DEVELOP,
THERE IS A GUARANTEE THAT WE'LL GET THE MONEY THAT IS IN THE
BUDGET. I MEAN, IF WE GET REDEVELOPMENT
MONEY, FINE. BUT YOU KNOW, WE WANTED
SOMETHING IN THAT OTHER THAN A PROMISE.
AND FORTUNATELY, VICE CHANCELLOR TROY AND MANY OTHERS
WERE ENGAGED. I SEE SCOTT LEI IN THE AUDIENCE
AND I KNOW HE HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN TERMS OF HIS
ADVOCACY. SO WE WERE ABLE -- WE MAY NOT LIKE EVERYTHING
ABOUT THE BUDGET AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE GOOD AND BAD NEWS
WHEN HE GIVES HIS REPORT, BUT AT LEAST WE DODGED THAT BULLET.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON REDEVELOPMENT
FUNDS. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR THE CHANCELLOR? LET ME ASK ECHO MEMBER
MACDOUGALL'S THANKS TO YOU CHANCELLOR FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD
WORK OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR
CONSENT CALENDAR.