A special meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska State Colleges System was held via video-conference on Monday, July 16, 2001.

In compliance with the provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 84-1411, printed notice of this meeting was mailed to each member of the Board of Trustees. In addition, copies of such notice were sent to the presidents of the State Colleges, Associated Press, and selected Nebraska newspapers. We, each of us, hereby acknowledge due and sufficient service to the above, the foregoing notice of the time and place and object of said meeting, and agree to meet in said meeting at the time and place presented.

Board Members attending:
Richard Halbert, Falls City
Steve Lewis, Lexington
Sheryl Lindau, Wayne
Jeff Renner, Bellevue
Larry Teahon, Chadron

Student Board Members present:
Tammie Mundil, Peru State College

NSC Office Staff participating:
Stan Carpenter, Executive Director
Larry Schultz, Associate Executive Director for Academic Affairs & Legal Services
Jean Dale, Associate Executive Director for Administration & Finance
Sheri Irwin, Public Relations Director
Kim Rauscher, Administrative Assistant

Others attending:
Thomas Krepel, President, Chadron State College
Ben Johnson, President, Peru State College
Sheila Stearns, President, Wayne State College
Ed Hoffman, Vice President for Administration, Chadron State College
Linda Jacobsen, Vice President for Administration and Finance, Peru State College
David Fuller, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Wayne State College
Carolyn Murphy, Vice President for Administration & Finance, Wayne State College
Dave Wagaman, Budget Analyst, State of Nebraska
Hal Stearns, spouse of Sheila Stearns
John Axtell, KQSK Radio, Chadron

CALL TO ORDER

Board Chair Renner called the special meeting to order at 10:30 a.m.

The meeting agenda for July 16 was approved as presented.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 18-19 MEETING

Minutes of the June 18-19 meeting were approved with one correction. Voting aye: Halbert, Lewis, Lindau, Renner and Teahon. Voting nay: None. Student Opinion aye: Mundil.

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION

Academic and Personnel Committee

System Lobbyist Contract

A motion to approve the appointment of Bruce Cutshall to serve as lobbyist during 2001-02 for the Nebraska State Colleges System at a fee of $25,000 was unanimously approved. Voting aye: Halbert, Lewis, Lindau, Renner and Teahon. Voting nay: None. Student Opinion aye: Mundil.

Fiscal and Facilities Committee

A motion to approve the design development documents for the Library/Old Gym project was unanimously approved. Voting aye: Halbert, Lewis, Lindau, Renner and Teahon. Voting nay: None. Student Opinion aye: Mundil.

A motion to approve a contract with R.L. Fauss of Fremont, NE for the Ramsey Theatre Renovation/Addition project at a fee of $2,046,300 was unanimously approved. Voting aye: Halbert, Lewis, Lindau, Renner and Teahon. Voting nay: None. Student Opinion aye: Mundil.

A motion to approve the selection of Leo A. Daly of Omaha, NE as engineer for the Energy Plant project in the amount of $329,340 including reimburseables was unanimously approved. Voting aye: Halbert, Lewis, Lindau, Renner and Teahon. Voting nay: None. Student Opinion aye: Mundil.

A motion to approve the Wayne proposal to name the west portion of Peterson Fine Arts Building as the (Donor Family Name) Performing Arts Center was unanimously approved. Voting aye: Halbert, Lewis, Lindau, Renner and Teahon. Voting nay: None. Student Opinion aye: Mundil.

A motion to approve the following Chadron change order was unanimously approved. Voting aye: Halbert, Lewis, Lindau, Renner and Teahon. Voting nay: None. Student Opinion aye: Mundil.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ITEMS

Strategic Planning

Executive Director Carpenter reported he met with Trustees Kosman and Lindau along with Public Relations Director Irwin to outline the process for the Board’s strategic planning. Four meetings will be scheduled in October, November (in conjunction with the Wayne Board meeting), January, and February (in conjunction with the Lincoln Board meeting). Approximately 30 representatives from the colleges and the system office will provide input on priorities the Board should address during the next couple of years. Representatives will include presidents, vice presidents, public relations officers, faculty, and system office staff. In addition, an outside consultant will present a broad perspective of higher education, and an expert on Nebraska will discuss state trends.

Executive Director Carpenter also reported on the possibility of a special legislative session this fall to address revenue shortfalls. Trustee Lewis requested that the colleges and system office prepare tentative contingency plans to address a possible budget cut.

ADJOURNMENT