March 3, 2023 Minutes SSE Board
Minutes
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mr. Monir Ahmed
Ms. Ashley Blaylock
Dr. Ming-Tung “Mike” Lee
Mr. Neil Markley, Ex-Officio
Dr. Karen Moranski
Dr. Mario Perez
Mr. Clayton Trent
Dr. John Urbanski
Mr. Fred Vaske
Ms. Amanda Visser, Ex-Officio
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Ms. Nataly Hernandez
Dr. Gerald Jones
Dr. Kyuho Lee
Dr. Anastasia Tosouni
OTHERS PRESENT:
Ms. Jessica Way
Mr. Steve Higginbotham
22.26 Call to Order
Mr. Ahmed called the meeting to order at 2:32 pm.
22.27 Approval of the December 9, 2022 Minutes
The minutes from September 30, 2022 were provided to the Board via email prior to the meeting. The minutes were approved unanimously with no changes.
22.28 President’s Report
Dr. Lee reported our focus is on retention and balancing the budget. The enrollment situation in the state of California is such that community colleges have experienced 2 years of declining enrollment. They are seeing a comeback. The situation in the CSU is that overall, we are seeing 6% decrease. SSU has been decreasing for 4 years. We did have a high fall to spring retention, one of the highest in the CSU. Fall 2023 is the key to our future success. We have received fewer applications than last year but the admit number is higher. We are reaching out to local school districts to put agreements for guaranteed admission in place. We are doing the same with community colleges in this area, the valley, and southern California. We continue to work to put our name in student/parent minds since we are 2nd from the bottom on the list of CSUs when they apply and one can only pick four. For the first year students we are offering housing scholarship. Drs. Lee and Moranski travelled to LA and met with 10 community colleges
22.29 University Report
Dr. Moranski reports that we are focusing on international efforts by creating twenty $5K scholarships for both undergrad and grad students. This opportunity for scholarship is also available for those out of the WUE states. Six guaranteed admission MOU’s have been sent out. We continue our work with local districts such as Cotati Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Windsor. The Academic Master Plan process is well under with 3 core groups. We are planning for growth but need to really work to find those students. We can’t do things the way we used to.
22.30 Vice President for Student Affairs Report
Dr. Jones was absent. No report given.
22.31 Associated Students Report
Mr. Trent reported elections are underway with every position filled and many contested. Two students are going to CSSA this weekend.
22.32 Report from SSU Vice President for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer and Chair of SSE Board of Directors
Mr. Ahmed reports VSIP program netted roughly 49 positions. 45 additional positions are vacant due to natural attrition. University held positions and have only released some very key positions. This will now affect how we provide services to each other. All of this while keeping our eye on infrastructure issues that can come from a 60-year-old campus. Working with CO to try to find funding for these issues. Fairfield Osborn Preserve project back underway.
22.33 Chief Operating Officer’s Report
Mr. Markley will be reviewing the Seawolf Bundle in a bit. Marketing team is doing a great job. We do have reductions in work force with the 100 vacancies, many are in A&F with half in facilities. We are working on how we continue to do our work while others can’t provide service at the same level. Legislation going through for any CSU or Auxiliary going through a contractor, they have to hire union employees. Legislation is pretty broad, so we are seeking clarification as it relates to contracted caterers and/or food trucks. Housing numbers are looking strong which is a good indicator for enrollment and SSE financials. University Store sales up in the non-textbook sales. Textbooks have continued decline year over year – which is standard for the industry. Working on licensing to create another revenue stream for the university. On Fridays, if you wear you SSU gear – you can get 20% in our dining venues. Two-day Grad Fair was successful. In Dining Venues, running mostly on target. We continue to have staffing challenges, nothing like last year though. Food trucks will be returning March 13. Met with GMC BOD to brainstorm ideas for the use of Prelude. Director position has been open for almost a year now. We will be continuing this search to get the right person.
22.34 Chief Financial Officer’s Report
Ms. Visser reviewed the financial statements as of the end of January. Overall coming in positive on the bottom line. Our assets, both current and noncurrent, are at $8.6 million. Our liabilities are all current liabilities and sit at roughly $3.2 million. With $5.2 million in current assets, this does allow for $2 million in liquid assets. Conversation followed regarding the land and identifying its use.
22.35 Seawolf Bundle Presentation
Mr. Markley presented the Seawolf Bundle presentation. This was slated to be implemented in Spring 2023 but pushed to Fall 2023 in order to get all of the information out and work with campus partners. This project helps to remove cost barriers around learning materials, especially as it comes to those taking classes with higher dollar materials. All required material included in tuition at a per unit cost. Physical materials will be picked up in the University Store and digital materials will be available on Canvas. This is an opt out program from 30 days prior to first day of class through 30 days after classes start. We will be 2nd in CSU to adopt, following San Diego State. The trend is that the adoption rate increases as the program is implemented. Overall revenue will be neutral to positive for SSE.
22.36 Strategic Plan Update
With only five minutes left in this meeting, Mr. Markley would like to ask the we move the business items up in the next agenda so that we have time to review the strategic plan at the next meeting.
22.37 Other Non-Action Items
Dr. Moranski reminded us that Seawolf Decision Day is on April 22. We are working to get deposits prior to the event.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:28 pm.