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September 28, 2018 Minutes SSE Board of Directors

Minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:
  • Mr. Yale Abrams
  • Ms. Grace Anderson
  • Ms. Carley Chatterly
  • Ms. Christina Gamboa

MEMBERS ABSENT:

  • Dr. John Kunat
  • Mr. Gordon McDougall
  • Dr. Judy K. Sakaki
  • Dr. John Urbanski

OTHERS PRESENT:

Mr. Tyson Hill Mr. Bobby LaCour

18.00 Call to Order

Ms. Lopes called the meeting to order at 2:06 p.m. Committees were seated as attached with no objections.

18.01 Seating of the Board and Introductions

Ms. Lopes welcomed new Board Members and asked the Board to provide introductions

18.02 Committee Appointments

Committees were seated, as attached, with no objections.

18.03 Approval of the May 4, 2018 Minutes

The minutes from May 4 were provided to the Board via email prior to the meeting. Mr. Abrams moved to approve the May 4 minutes and Dr. Sawyer seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously with no changes.

18.04 Approval of the May 11, 2018 Minutes

The minutes from May 11 were provided to the Board via email prior to the meeting. Ms. Varnadore moved to approve the May 11 minutes and Ms. Gamboa seconded the motion. Dr. Sawyer asked the minutes to be changed to reflect his attendance at the May 11 meeting. No objections were heard. The minutes were approved unanimously with the change requested by Dr. Sawyer.

18.05 President’s Report

Ms. Lopes informed the Board that Dr. Sakaki had purchased a new home and was in the process of moving.

18.06 Chief Academic Officer/Provost Report

Dr. Vollendorf reported she would be incorporating the President’s report with her own. The University received approximately $2,000,000 in additional funds to better serve our students and increase progress toward degree. Seventeen new tenure track faculty have been hired for the Fall term. An Assistant Vice President for Admissions is being recruited to assist with our enrollment goals. Strategic Plan implementation continues across the campus. Dr. Vollendorf provided an update on the Stevenson Hall renovation project.

18.07 Vice President for Student Affairs Report

Dr. Sawyer gave kudos to our student leaders statewide for their efforts in supporting the CSU. Student Affairs is reorganizing their division to better serve our students. The reorganization is based on best practices, research and literature with the goal of being one of the best employers in the nation within two years.

18.08 Associated Students Report

Ms. Chatterly reported the Associated Students completed a successful voter registration drive in advance of the upcoming elections. The Associated Students has provided about $14,000 in grants to eighteen clubs and organizations this fall.

18.09 Report from SSU Vice President for Administration and Finance/Chief Financial Officer and Chair of SSE Board of Directors

Ms. Lopes reported that after a lengthy search, David Dougherty has been appointed Chief of the University Police Department. In addition, Lee Swicegood has been appointed Lieutenant. An offer has been made to fill our Director of Title IX position. Dana Twedell has been appointed Associate Vice-President for Facilities Management. We are currently recruiting for a Director of Environmental Health and Safety.
After action from the SSE Board in the Spring, and in partnership with the Housing Land Trust of Sonoma County (HLT), a faculty member has moved into the Willow Glen home. Five more Willow Glen homes have been made available for our faculty and staff. HLT has received sixteen application for those homes. Ms. Lopes reported that the University was in discussions to acquire for-rent housing units for our faculty and staff. More will be reported at our next Board meeting.

18.10 Chief Operating Officer’s Report

Mr. Markley reported the following:

  1. Charlie Brown’s Café BPI implemented recommended improvements and the team will be measuring wait times to determine if times have been reduced.
  2. Stomping Grounds has opened in the Wine Spectator Learning Center and hopefully the Board will take some time to experience it and provide feedback. The permanent alcohol license has not been approved as we are awaiting camera installation.
  3. The CSU Auxiliary Audit is underway and auditors are in the process of doing their field work.
  4. We will be working with Faculty Affairs to increase textbook adoptions by offering carrots to faculty and departments who turn their learning material orders in a timely fashion.
  5. After an extensive search, Don Lopes has been appointed Executive Chef.
  6. Charlie Brown’s Café architect for the remodel has been selected and work has begun on design.
  7. After an RFP process including Board Members, Pepsi has been selected as our beverage provider. The overall proposal was comparable to the previous contract, however we expect sales to be lower with our elimination of plastic bottles of water.
  8. A number of our offices will be moving to the Student Center storefronts to accommodate the Stevenson Hall renovation. Mr. Markley thanked the Associated Students for their collaboration on this.
  9. Megan Konieczka has moved to Tennessee and he is working on filling the position.

18.11 Chief Financial Officer’s Report

Ms. Visser reported she would be working with the Finance Committee to develop a two-year budget cycle beginning with the 19-20 budget. Much of her year-end report will covered in the discussion of the audited financial statements.

18.12 Conflict of Interest Presentation

Non-Profit Integrity Act, Compliance and Insurance
This item was presented after 18.13 as SSE Counsel Jeremy Olsan was not yet in attendance. At the completion of 18.13, and in Mr. Olsan’s abesnce, Ms. Lopes and Mr. Markley presented the letter prepared by Mr. Olsan for the Board. Mr. Markley asked Board Member to sign the letter and return to him for our records. In addition, Ms. Visser presented the Board with proof of insurance coverage as mandated by the CSU.

18.13 ACTION ITEM: Acceptance of the 2017/2018 Audited Financial Statements

This item was presented prior to 18.12. Mr. Abrams briefed the Board on the audit process as well as the auditors report. Bobby LaCour from our audit firm Aldrich presented disclosures and highlights from the audit. Mr. LaCour noted that our audit contained an unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance given by auditors. Joanie Ly moved and Christina Gamboa seconded the acceptance of the 2017/2018 audited financial statements. The Board unanimously approved.

18.14 Other Non-Action Items

None

Meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.