Members present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina N. Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle R. Tumminello (via Zoom); Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr.; Devin Keller; and Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
I. Call to Order, Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
The meeting was called to order at 3:59 p.m.
II. Welcome and Introductions, Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien welcomed everyone to Anne Arundel Community College’s (AACC) first Board of Trustees public session meeting for this fiscal year. She highlighted the expansion of the Board from eight to ten members, emphasizing the benefits of increased diversity and geographical representation. Dr. Chien stressed the Board's role in setting College policies, fiscal oversight, and ensuring the College's continued relevance and viability. She expressed confidence in the Board and the President's team to work together to achieve these goals.
A. Board of Trustees Member Jennifer Pastrone
Dr. Chien welcomed new Board of Trustees member Jennifer Pastrone. Ms. Pastrone is the executive director of Seeds 4 Success, a nonprofit in Annapolis, providing after-school mentoring programs to children and youth from pre-kindergarten to college and career. She brings over 20 years of education and nonprofit management, and she currently serves on the Anne Arundel County Childhood Taskforce. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a Master of Education from Lehigh University, and AACC is pleased to have a Board member representing Southern Anne Arundel County.
B. Board of Trustees Member Roxana Rodriguez
Dr. Chien introduced new Board of Trustees member Roxana Rodriguez, who is a successful business entrepreneur, with an expertise in hospitality management. She is the co-founder of Caliente Grill, a restaurant known for its authentic Latin experience and significant community involvement. She is passionate about community service and has dedicated more than 25 years to volunteering and advocating for the Latino community, schools, and organizations. She is a champion for cultural diversity and inclusion among community leaders, and currently serves on the Board of Leadership Anne Arundel as well.
C. Board of Trustees Member Anelle R. Tumminello
Dr. Chien welcomed new Board of Trustees member Anelle Tumminello, a retired teacher/administrator, writer and presenter. She developed content, training and assessment programs for school systems, government, corporations, juvenile facilities and private and nonprofit organizations. One of her roles was supervising Anne Arundel County Public Schools' English for 10 years, writing curriculum, evaluations, educational philosophy, manuals and programs. She is a graduate of Baltimore City Public Schools with a Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Fine Arts from Bennington College. She is also a lifelong learner at AACC.
D. Board of Trustees Student Member Devin Keller
Lastly, Dr. Chien welcomed Devin Keller, the new Student Member of the Board of Trustees. He served in the U.S. Army for eight years, and during his service, he developed and honed his leadership and organization skills, built relationships and effectively managed teams and projects. Mr. Keller is studying information assurance and cybersecurity at AACC, and currently serves as a Black Male Institute mentor. He is committed to advocating and representing the student voice on the Board of the Trustees.
III. Roll Call and Approval of the Agenda, Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien asked for the roll call and approval of the agenda. By motion of Mr. Ulvila, seconded by Ms. Moore, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the agenda.
IV. Approval of 2024-2025 Full-Time Faculty Tenure Track and Term Appointments
A. Approval of the 2024-2025 Full-Time Faculty Tenure Track and Term Appointments (Action Item) – Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner asked the Board to approve the full-time faculty tenure track and term appointments for 2024–2025, which included twelve new faculty members. Funding for the requested faculty appointments will come from the Division of Learning operations budget, which has been confirmed by the Business and Financial Resources Office that the fiscal year 2025 base budget and assumptions approved by the Board of Trustees include sufficient funding to support this request.
By motion of Mr. Ulvila, seconded by Ms. Price-Jones, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees approved the full-time faculty tenure track and term appointments.
B. Introduction of New Faculty – Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner introduced the new faculty to the Board: Dr. Karen Barber, Art History; Kathryn Blood, Nursing; Dr. Hannah Bredar, English; Jameson Coopman, Biology; Louis King, Jr., Business Management; Dr. Christopher MacDonald, Kinesiology; Heather Mason, Nursing; Rhianna Moyer, Nursing; Juli Pastrana, Nursing; Dr. Nicholas Shaman, Psychology; Lonni Summers, J.D., Legal Studies; and Andrew Yolleck, Physics.
V. Consent Agenda
Dr. Chien presented the Consent Agenda. Ms. Moore moved to approve the Consent Agenda, which was seconded by Ms. Stanton-Buttrom. A roll call was taken of trustees to determine their vote, and the Board of Trustees approved the Consent Agenda, with three abstentions (Ms. Pastrone, Ms. Rodriguez, and Ms. Tumminello):
• Approval of the Minutes of the June 18, 2024, Board of Trustees Public Session.
• Approval of the Minutes of the June 18, 2024, Board of Trustees Closed Session.
VI. Board Committee Reports
A. Reports for September
1. Audit & Finance Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
Ms. Price-Jones stated the Audit and Finance Committee met via Zoom on September 4 and discussed the fiscal year 2024 audit, the committee's roles and responsibilities, accounting procedures, and regulatory updates. The committee also reviewed the fiscal year 2024 financial status report and the status of the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust.
Ms. Christina Bowman, Principal, from CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP presented an overview of the planned fiscal year 2024 audit, including scope of services and deliverables; audit approach, plan, and timing; risk assessment; and regulations and auditing updates.
The committee also received updates on the implementation of a new accounting standard and the College's information security and business continuity programs. College staff provided updates on the implementation timeline for a new accounting standard from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The committee will continue to receive updates on the implementation of the new standard at future meetings.
The committee was also notified by College staff that Moody’s had recently contacted the College to update information related to the College’s bond rating, and a meeting is scheduled later this fall. The last update Moody’s reaffirmed its A2 rating, with a stable outlook, for the College.
The committee then discussed the fiscal year 2024 operating budget status report. The anticipated annual results project a balanced budget with the college operating within existing resources.
Lastly, the committee received an update on the status of the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust, which as of June 30, 2024, has approximately $28.1 million set aside for costs associated with retiree health benefits. It was also noted that in July, the county made an additional $1.1 million contribution to the trust on behalf of the College for fiscal year 2025. This is the 5th county-funded contribution to the trust and positive demonstration of the county’s support to address this liability going forward.
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for October 9, where the committee will review the results of the audit and draft financial statements.
2. Board Policy Oversight Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
Ms. Price-Jones reported that the Board Policy Oversight Committee met via Zoom on August 19 to review two new policies, and one interim policy. The Grade Appeals Policy and Student Grievance Policy were presented to the Board as information items, and they will be presented as action items at the October Board meeting.
The Board currently does not have a Grade Appeals Policy. This new policy establishes a consistent, fair, prompt, impartial and equitable process by which students may seek review of final grades assigned in classes. The Board currently does not have a Student Grievance Policy. This new policy establishes a process for students and student groups to express and resolve grievances with any College employee in a prompt, fair, and equitable manner.
Ms. Price-Jones stated that the committee also requested consensus from the Board to delegate authority to the President to revise the current Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy and create an Interim Nondiscrimination Policy. The Board currently has an Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy. However, there is a need to be in compliance with applicable law and regulations, and the College has identified a gap or omission that creates an immediate risk or vulnerability for the College. There were no objections from the Board.
Ms. Price-Jones presented the three policies for approval: the Animal Policy, Disability Accommodations Policy, and the revised Procurement Policy.
The Board currently does not have an Animal Policy. This policy describes the circumstances that employees, students, and visitors to the College are permitted to bring animals into College buildings or on College property. Per the Board’s Policy on the Development of Policies and Procedures, general counsel and AACC staff have reviewed the Policy. The College’s constituency groups have reviewed this Policy and provided feedback, which has been incorporated into the final draft. If the Board of Trustees approves the Policy, it will become effective on the date it is published on the College’s website after it is approved by the Board. By motion of Ms. Moore, seconded by Ms. Tumminello, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the adoption of the Animal Policy.
The Board currently does not have a Disability Accommodations Policy. This policy describes the rights for employees, applicants, students, and visitors to request and receive disability accommodations in accordance with the College’s policies and relevant laws and regulations regarding Disability Accommodations, including but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Per the Board’s Policy on the Development of Policies and Procedures, general counsel and AACC staff have reviewed the Policy. The College’s constituency groups have reviewed this Policy and provided feedback, which has been incorporated into the final draft. If the Board of Trustees approves the Policy, it will become effective on the date it is published on the College’s website after it is approved by the Board.
Mr. Keller moved to approve the Disability Accommodations Policy, which was seconded by Ms. Stanton-Buttrom. Mr. Chaudhry commented that there were quite a few new policies, and asked about the process the Board uses to review current policies, and determines what policies are needed. The Board Chair asked if Ms. Monica Rausa, Special Assistant would like to respond. Ms. Rausa shared that there is a comprehensive list of Board policies, and the Board Policy Oversight Committee reviews that list with the President, General Counsel, and the President’s leadership team to identify gaps and prioritize them, considering new federal and state legislation and other factors as well. Mr. Chaudhry appreciated the clarification about the process. A roll call was taken of trustees to determine their vote, and the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the adoption of the Disability Accommodations Policy.
The committee recommended revising the Procurement Policy. This policy was last updated in 2014. The revision included increasing the threshold for Board approval from $100,000 to $250,000 and updating the format in accordance with the Policy on the Development of Policies and Procedures. The rationale for increasing the threshold was to streamline the procurement process and improve efficiency. This revised policy has also been reviewed by the Facilities Committee. Per the Board’s Policy on the Development of Policies and Procedures, general counsel and AACC staff have reviewed the Policy. If the Board of Trustees approves the Policy, it will become effective on the date it is published on the College’s website after it is approved by the Board. By motion of Mr. Ulvila, seconded by Mr. Chaudhry, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees approved the revised Procurement Policy.
3. Budget Committee – Sandra E. Moore, Committee Chair
Ms. Moore reported that the Board Budget Committee met via Zoom on September 5 and discussed collective bargaining, the lockdown drill, benefits open enrollment, fiscal year 2025 Budget Committee meeting topics, and the fiscal year 2024 Financial Status Report. Beginning this fiscal year, the Board’s Human Resources committee will not meet, and any human resources-related topics will be discussed at the Budget Committee meetings.
Collective bargaining training for the full Board is planned for later this fall. The lockdown drill is planned for September 17. This is the second annual drill which is required by state law. The
College community has been notified and a training video has been provided so that the College community knows what to expect during the drill. For the Human Resources topics, it was noted that the College’s employee benefits open enrollment period will be October 14 through the 31. The College participates in a benefits pooling agreement with the county and library, with benefits and plan design determined by the county.
Lastly, the committee reviewed the final fiscal year 2024 operating budget status report. It was noted that this report is subject to final year-end closing adjustments. The annual results show that tuition and fee revenue and other income exceeded the budget due to increased enrollment and higher interest rates earned on cash balances. The College ended the year with a balanced budget, operating within existing resources consistent with prior projections.
The committee discussed the planned fiscal year 2025 budget committee meetings and topics to be discussed at each meeting. The meetings are aligned to ensure the committee has a budget proposal and supporting information for the full Board budget workshop scheduled for February 13, from 8:30 to noon. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for November 8.
4. Facilities Committee – Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr., Committee Chair
Mr. Ulvila stated that the committee met via Zoom on September 3 and discussed the 2026 Facilities Master Plan and reviewed a high-level written document that will guide the development of the plan. Mr. Ulvila will serve as the Board’s representative on the Master Plan Steering team, which oversees the development of the plan. This team includes College leadership and a representative from each of the employee constituency groups, reflecting the committee’s commitment to shared governance. The Facilities Committee and the full Board will have an opportunity to review the draft plan later next calendar year, and the plan will be presented to full Board for approval at the January 2026 meeting.
The committee also discussed the list of future procurements for fiscal year 2025 and noted that the list reflects the change in the Board’s revised procurement policy. Lastly, the committee received an update on Campus Projects, specifically the county’s Broadneck Trail project, Florestano and Dragun building renovations, and the gym roof project. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for October 1.
5. AACC Foundation – Dr. Nadine Chien, Lead Liaison
Mr. Keller shared a thank you letter from a student for a scholarship. With all the new members on the Board of Trustees, Dr. Chien described the partnership between the AACC foundation, their board, and the College. She reported that as of August 29, 2024, the AACC Foundation’s fundraising total was just over $490,000 in gifts and commitments. This fiscal year, the Foundation has a goal to raise $2 million for the following initiatives: Nursing scholarships, HelpLink, HelpLink for Nursing, Workforce Development scholarships and equipment for Health Sciences.
B. No Reports for September
1. Board Development Committee – Shahbaz Chaudhry, Committee Chair
VII. President’s Report – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
A. Information Items
1. College Updates – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Dr. Lindsay reported that Convocation was on August 21 to start the new academic year. There was an engaging guest speaker, who demonstrated the use of AI to identify issues facing higher education, and Convocation ended with an employee luncheon, which was a great way to reconnect and spend time with colleagues.
Dr. Lindsay was pleased to report that as of Monday, September 9, the College was at 3,028.6 full-time equivalent (FTE), which was up 4.8% from last year. The College exceeded its final target by 43.6 FTE for the fall. The retention rate of 60.5% was slightly higher than last year as well. Dr. Lindsay congratulated the faculty and staff for all of their efforts.
Dr. Lindsay shared that the School of Science, Technology and Education received a $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to increase student participation in undergraduate research. The goal is to improve student retention and success in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and to create a research-intensive summer experience program geared toward high school students.
She noted that the annual Service Awards Celebration was on September 4, where AACC honored faculty and staff celebrating work anniversaries in 5-year increments all the way up to 40 years of service at the College.
Lastly, September 6 was AACC Night at the Bowie Baysox baseball game. Athletic Director Duane Herr had the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch of the game. In addition to Duane participating, one of the College’s former student athletes, Shane Emerson, who now works for the Bowie Baysox, caught Duane’s pitch.
Dr. Lindsay shared that also included in the Board materials are information items for each month’s meeting, including the AACC Workforce Dashboard, which highlights demographics of the College’s employees; talking points for Board members for the community; the capital projects status report; and the police and public safety report.
2. Academic Forum/Council – Andrew Kim, Chair
Mr. Kim shared that the committees were working on goals for the academic year that will be presented at the September 12 Academic Council meeting as information items, and then be voted on in October’s Forum meeting. Each committee will have at minimum one goal that is diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and accessibility (DEIAA) related.
For the academic year, all Council and Forum meetings will be held via Zoom, except for the April Forum meeting (Convocation), which will be held in the Pascal Theater.
3. Administrative Staff Organization (ASO) – Dr. Angelo Thalassinidis, President
Dr. Thalassindis thanked the Board of Trustees for their service, support and passion. He introduced the 2024-2025 leadership team, Stacy Korbelak, vice president, Assistant Dean, Business, Economics & Entrepreneurial Studies; Lance Bowen, secretary, Dean of Science, Technology, and Education; Darian Senn-Carter, member at large, Director, Homeland Security and Criminal Justice Institute, School of Business and Law; Kevin Miller, member at large, Director of Document Services, Administrative Services; Amberdawn Cheatham, member at large, Director, Office of Student Engagement; and Kathy Campbell, member at large, Director of Technology Support Services.
4. Professional and Support Staff Organization (PSSO) – Laura Howard, Secretary
Ms. Howard was pleased to provide an update on behalf of the leadership team, president Caitlin Silver Negrón and vice president Rachel Ryckman. Plans for the upcoming year include updating the meeting structure to host monthly business meetings along with monthly professional enrichment workshops.
The first meeting was August 14 to discuss goals. The finalized goals for fiscal year 2024 will be presented to the entire membership on September 12 and shared with the Board of Trustees once approved at the October meeting.
5. Student Government Association (SGA) – Jayeim Blake, President
Mr. Blake shared that his vision as president was to create fun and memorial moments as students go through their education journey, making everyone feel welcomed and included. He highlighted some of the activities to start the new semester including Riverhawk Fest, which is a block party, that many students participated in between classes, and Donuts with Swoop (the College’s mascot) at Arundel Mills, Glen Burnie Town Center and Arnold campus. SGA is planning for the upcoming general forum, involvement fair, its senatorial election, and club applications.
6. The Faculty Organization (TFO) – Brandi R. Shepard, President
Ms. Shepard introduced the leadership team, vice president Erik Dunham, associate professor, visual arts and recorder Ken Jarvis, professor, Hotel, Culinary Arts, and Tourism Institute. This year, the theme is building community and building relationships, and they hosted the first Meet and Greet in August so faculty could meet their senators and officers.
The first meeting is scheduled for September 11, and committees will present their goals at the October meeting (Convocation). The leadership team will be focusing on streamlining and enhancing communication, from reports at meetings to weekly communications. Lastly, she shared that the leadership team and Mr. Kim are collaborating with Dr. Megan Myers and Dr. Rick Kralevich in regards to accessibility, and how to best support faculty to make course documents accessible.
7. Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) Activities – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Dr. Lindsay shared for the new trustees that the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) is the organization that serves as an advocate for the state’s 16 community colleges. The MACC Board of Directors is comprised of the president and chair of the governing board from each college, and their primary role is to establish and monitor the strategic direction for community colleges. She reported that the Board of Directors met this summer on June 25, and reviewed the MACC annual report, adopted the budget, and elected the slate of officers for the upcoming year. Dr. Lindsay noted that she will continue to serve on the MACC executive committee this year.
She attended the Maryland Council of Community College Presidents retreat on August 5-6 at Garrett College, in which Senator Guy Guzzone, Chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and Delegate Ben Barnes, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee met with the presidents, as well as the executive director of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board to discuss strategic initiatives and collaborations with MACC.
B. Action Items
1. Approval of the 2024 Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Performance Accountability Report – Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner presented the 2024 Performance Accountability Report (PAR) is an annual report required by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), which requires governing board approval.
Dr. Millner provided an overview of the PAR report including a summary of the data indicators that are aligned to the goals of the 2022 State Plan for Postsecondary Education: Access, Success, and Innovation. The report structure is defined by MHEC, which includes Student Characteristics and 28 indicators. This year, there were five prompt questions from MHEC that each institution must answer. The first four prompts were addressed in the narrative. For the 5th prompt, institutions were required to use MHEC’s template and provide a list of current and forthcoming federal grants specifically focused on student success.
By motion of Mr. Ulvila, seconded by Ms. Price-Jones, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved Anne Arundel Community College’s 2024 Performance Accountability Report for submission to the Maryland Higher Education Commission by October 1.
VIII. New Business
There was no new business.
IX. Next Board Meeting – October 8, 2024
X. Vote to Close Meeting – Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
By motion of Ms. Price-Jones, seconded by Ms. Moore, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to close the meeting to consult staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation, and discuss an investigative proceeding on actual or possible criminal conduct pursuant to Sections §§ 3-305(b)(8) and §§ 3-305(b)(12) of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code and to conduct or discuss an investigative proceeding on actual or possible criminal conduct.
XI. Adjournment
The public session was adjourned at 5:13 p.m.
A closed session of the Board of Trustees was held on June 18, 2024, at the Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Campus, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012, in the Cade Center for Fine Arts Building, Room 228. Pursuant to sections §§3-305(b)(1) and 3-305(b)(8) of the Open Meetings Act, a vote was taken to close the meeting pursuant to the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Annotated Code Section 3-305(d)(2)(i)(ii). The following Board members voted to close the session: Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr., Chair; Dr. Nadine Chien, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Rachel Gwin; Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr. (via Zoom); Sandra E. Moore, A. Joyce Price-Jones; and JaCina Stanton-Buttrom. The following Board members were present at the meeting: Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr., Chair; Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr. (via telephone); Sandra E. Moore; A. Joyce Price-Jones; and JaCina Stanton-Buttrom. Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President; Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management; Dr. Rick Kralevich, Vice President for Information and Instructional Technology; Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning; Dr. Felicia Patterson, Vice President for Learner Support Services; Dr. Tiffany Boykin, General Counsel; and Monica Rausa, Special Assistant to the President were present as well. The meeting began at 5:52 p.m. The topics discussed included consultation about pending or potential litigation. Melissa Beardmore, Dr. Rick Kralevich, Dr. Tanya Millner, Dr. Felicia Patterson, Dr. Tiffany Boykin, and Monica Rausa left the meeting at 5:25 p.m.
The Board of Trustees discussed the performance evaluation of the President. Dr. Lindsay left the meeting at 5:40 p.m. and rejoined at 5:50 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
Members present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle R. Tumminello; Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr; and Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Absent: Sandra E. Moore
I. Call to Order - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
The meeting was called to order at 4:00pm.
II. Roll Call and Approval of the Agenda - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien asked for the roll call. Nine trustees were present, one was absent, and a quorum was established. By motion of Ms. Price-Jones, seconded by Ms. Stanton-Buttrom, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the agenda.
III. Welcome and Introductions - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien welcomed everyone to the October meeting, including the faculty presenting their sabbatical reports.
IV. Sabbatical Reports - Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner thanked the Board for not only supporting the faculty sabbatical work but for continuing to celebrate and recognize their work after it has been completed. She introduced Dr. Candice Mayhill, professor of English and a faculty member at the College for 11 years. Her sabbatical work focused on the research and development phases of the Center for Liberal Arts Work (CLAW).
Dr. Mayhill shared that the CLAW is a three-part initiative focusing on the engagement and participation of students, the College, and the community surrounding the College. The project identifies a Big Question that can be answered through conversations across disciplines in the liberal arts using transformative texts. These conversations happen in the classrooms and at College and community events throughout the year. The CLAW provides a framework for positive, reflective, and ethical dialogue around Humanities-based questions.
The CLAW organizes faculty seminars and supports faculty with a different educational approach, one that supports community-based learning experiences, high impact practices, and discussion-based and seminar-style learning. These seminars and curricular workshops challenge the assumption that seminar-style instruction automatically makes all students feel welcomed and asks that faculty rethink their classroom pedagogy and practice to ensure that they are. Faculty who have completed this experience will be able to list their courses as part of the seminar-tagged classes available for students pursuing the Letter of Recognition.
Work each year begins and ends with a Read, Engage, Act Conference in the Humanities (REACH), which creates a Forum for students and faculty to share their work, findings, and inquiry from the prior academic year and, uniquely allows faculty and students to generate together, in conversation, a focus for the ensuing Big Question, which will guide seminar discussions in CLAW classes. In this, both faculty and students are invested in inquiry as a continuous, recursive process, and work together to create continuity in the College’s academic life.
Dr. Millner introduced Dr. Heather Rellihan, professor, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and a faculty member at the College for 18 years. Her sabbatical project was the production of a supplemental textbook, Act Now! A Feminist Toolkit for 21st Century Activism, which will be published by Oxford University Press, resulting from research and collaboration with two authors.
Dr. Rellihan shared that during her previous sabbatical project in fall 2015, she wrote the textbook, Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: Interdisciplinary and Intersectional Approaches, which was published by Oxford University Press in 2017. That book, now in its 2nd edition, is widely used in colleges and universities across the country and the 3rd edition will be released in 2025. ACT NOW! will be a companion textbook that will come packaged with the 3rd edition of the textbook.
ACT NOW! teaches students how to convert the content that they are learning in their women’s, gender, and sexuality studies course into action to make change around the issues that they care about in their communities. The book is divided into two sections. The first section provides an overview of activist issues and strategies around a range of topics including the environment, politics, media, immigration, and the workforce. These chapters provide an overview of the issues, a summary of specific strategies and how-to instructions for using them and highlight specific activists, with a focus on everyday people that students might identify with stories about how they made change. The second section is designed to get students to think about what they care about, what skills they have, what skills they need, and where they can be most effective.
During her sabbatical, Dr. Rellihan researched and wrote three chapters, designed three of the workbook activities, worked with her co-authors on drafts, worked with the publisher on various logistical components to the project, and edited her co-author’s work. In addition to being included as a supplement for the textbook, Introduction to Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, the publisher is working to make ACT NOW! a supplement for all the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies textbook that Oxford manages, which is about 60% of the market for colleges and universities.
The research on learning shows that the strongest motivator for students is their own organic interest. The hope is that what they are learning can help them make change in their own communities, giving them the tools and the know-how to make change around whatever issues they care about.
V. Consent Agenda
Dr. Chien presented the Consent Agenda. Ms. Tumminello moved to approve the Consent Agenda, which was seconded by Mr. Ulvila. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Consent Agenda:
VI. Board Committee Reports
A. Reports for October
1. Board Development Committee – Shahbaz Chaudhry, Committee Chair
Mr. Chaudhry reported that the Board Development Committee met on September 30. The committee reviewed last year’s activities, which included working with Strategic Communications for Board messaging and a talking points document; the annual diversity, equity and inclusion training about accessibility; a tour of the Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades; encouraging Board participation in the national Community College Trustee Survey; planning for the annual Board Retreat; and the Annual Board Assessment Survey.
The committee also reviewed the Board’s goals and tracking sheet; the Board’s Self-Assessment and summary from last year; and available training and professional development resources from the Association of Community College Trustees and Association of Governing Boards.
The committee agreed to meet quarterly and will meet after the Board Retreat on October 29 to follow-up on topics discussed and start planning the activities for the rest of the year.
2. Board Policy Oversight Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
Ms. Price-Jones reported that the Committee met on September 23 and approved one policy action request, the Protection of Minors Policy, and reviewed the list of Board approved policies.
The Board currently does not have a Protection of Minors Policy. This new Policy will establish guidelines and requirements for faculty, staff, students and volunteers, including any requirements for College recognized student clubs and organizations that operate programs or activities involving minors on campus. It will also include provisions specific to the College's robust dual enrollment program.
With the committee’s approval of this policy action request, the College will move forward with the drafting of this policy as outlined in the Policy on the Development of Policies and Procedures. After completing the full vetting process, the draft will be submitted to the Committee for review.
Ms. Price-Jones presented two policies for approval: Grade Appeals Policy and Student Grievance Policy.
The Board currently does not have a Grade Appeals Policy. This policy establishes a consistent, fair, prompt, impartial and equitable process by which students may seek review of final grades assigned in classes. In accordance with the Board’s Policy on the Development of Policies and Procedures, the policy has been reviewed by general counsel and AACC staff. The College’s constituency groups have also reviewed the Policy and provided feedback, which has been incorporated into the final draft. If the Board approves the Policy, it will become effective on the date it is published on the College’s website after it is approved by the Board.
By motion of Mr. Keller, seconded by Mr. Chaudhry, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the adoption of the Grade Appeals Policy.
The Board did not have a Student Grievance Policy. This policy establishes a process for students and student groups to express and resolve grievances with any College employee in a prompt, fair, and equitable manner. In accordance with the Board’s Policy on the Development of Policies and Procedures, the Policy has been reviewed by general counsel and AACC staff. The College’s constituency groups have also reviewed the Policy and provided feedback, which has been incorporated into the final draft. If the Board approves the Policy, it will become effective on the date it is published on the College’s website after it is approved by the Board.
By motion of Ms. Pastrone, seconded by Ms. Tumminello, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the adoption of the Student Grievance Policy.
3. Facilities Committee – Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr., Committee Chair
Mr. Ulvila reported the committee met via Zoom on October 1 to discuss October procurements, future procurements, noting that the list reflects the change in the Board’s Procurement Policy, and campus projects, specifically, the county’s Broadneck Trail project, and the gym and plant roof projects.
Mr. Ulvila is also the Board’s liaison to the 2026 Facilities Master Plan Steering Team, and he provided an update on the team’s first kick-off meeting that was held on Monday, September 23. The Steering team oversees the development of the Plan and includes college leadership along with a representative from each of the employee constituency groups, reflecting the commitment to shared governance. The committee reviewed a presentation from the consultants, JMZ Architects, who are facilitating the development of the plan, in accordance with state regulations. He noted that there will be several opportunities for the College community, including the Board, to provide input and feedback on the plan. The Facilities Committee and the full Board will have an opportunity to review the draft plan in the next calendar year. The plan will be presented to the full Board for approval at the January 2026 meeting and Mr. Ulvila will continue to keep the Board updated of the progress.
4. AACC Foundation – Dr. Nadine Chien, Lead Liaison
Mr. Keller shared a thank you letter from a student for a scholarship. Dr. Chien reported that as of September 30, the AACC Foundation’s fundraising total is just over $550,000 in gifts and commitments.
Dr. Chien shared that last year, the Foundation received a $1.7 million gift from the estate of Ethel Williams to endow the Future Nursing Professionals Scholarship. The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County selected the Ethel Groh Webster Williams Trust as the winner of this year’s Legacy Award for Planned Giving. The AACC Foundation partnered with Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation and the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation, to nominate trust for this award. Ms. Williams’ legacy and generosity will be honored at the Community Foundation’s Celebration of Philanthropy Luncheon on October 30.
She reported that the AACC Foundation Fundraising Strategy Committee met in September to explore a multi-year goal to raise funds for the Future Nursing Professionals Scholarship that will substantially expand the talent pipeline for nurses in the community. Approximately 45% of AACC’s nursing students are eligible for federal Pell grants; however, about 20-25% of nursing students fall just outside Pell eligibility requirements who have significant financial need and receive very little financial aid. These students would greatly benefit from a significant expansion in donor funding for the Future Nursing Professionals Scholarship.
B. No Reports for October
1. Audit & Finance Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
2. Budget Committee – Sandra E. Moore, Committee Chair
VII. President’s Report – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
A. Information Items
1. College Updates – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Dr. Lindsay was pleased to report that the fall enrollment is up 2.6% for full-time equivalent (FTE) 2.6% and 2.9% headcount compared to last fall. Dr. Patterson will provide an in-depth enrollment report update at the November Board Meeting.
Dr. Lindsay shared that the College received the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, which is a national honor that recognizes institutions that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive campus environment. The College has received this honor in 2015, 2016, and 2017, and this award reflects the continuous and intentional efforts of the faculty and staff to create a sense of belonging at AACC.
The College is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and the committee has organized some wonderful events, including art exhibits, cooking demonstrations, and weekly meals to go, thanks to the College’s Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Department. The College also participated in the Hispanic Health Festival on Saturday, September 28 at Annapolis High School. Dr. Lindsay had the honor of accepting on behalf of the College funding for 2024-2025 Hispanic Scholarship, which will provide deserving students the opportunity to pursue their educational goals at AACC.
On September 16, the Maryland Department of Labor and AACC’s Adult Education Office hosted a kick-off event at the College celebrating a state-wide effort to engage Marylanders who have passed three of the four sections of the GED test. Dr. Lindsay was pleased to welcome Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu and State Assistant Secretary for the Division of Workshop Development, Erin Roth, and it was a great way to start National GED Day and the beginning of Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
On October 3, the College hosted the Ratcliffe Foundation and had the opportunity to provide an update on AACC’s programs. The Ratcliffe Foundation has been a generous partner for more than 20 years and the College is grateful for their support.
Ms. Moore and Dr. Lindsay will be presenting with Dean Elizabeth Appel at the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress on October 24 in Seattle, Washington. The presentation will discuss how the College has navigated challenges to expand its nursing program with a focus on equitable student outcomes, to help address significant workforce shortages in Maryland.
On October 9, Dr. Lindsay will be presenting at the American Association of Community Colleges Future Leaders Institute about “Building a Highly Effective Team.” This Institute provides training opportunities for aspiring community college administrators, and Dr. Lindsay is honored to present. Dr. Tiffany Boykin and Dr. Kellie McCants-Price presented at this Institute as well.
Dr. Lindsay announced that AACC will be hosting an Open House for the community on October 9 from 5-7 p.m. at the Health and Life Sciences Building and the Student Union Building. Over 60 programs will be represented, and in addition, Admissions, Financial Aid and other support services will be available as well.
2. Strategic Communications Update – Dan Baum, Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Mr. Baum presented an update on the College’s Strategic Communications. He discussed the importance of integrated marketing communications and the challenges of navigating the rapidly evolving media landscape. He emphasized the need for high-quality design, consistency, creativity, and engaging messages to stand out amidst the clutter. Mr. Baum also highlighted the principles of paid, earned, shared, and owned media, noting that strategic communications does not outsource any of its creative work. He discussed the College's advertising strategy, which includes a brand message, program focus, and seasonal variations, and noted a 14% increase in website traffic and a 47% increase in visits to the credit application page. Mr. Baum also mentioned their outsourcing of media purchasing to an agency and the use of a dashboard to track campaign performance. Strategic Communications received their 92nd award in approximately ten years which was the Award of Excellence at University and College Designers Association (UCDA) Conference for IDEA Lab graphics.
3. Academic Forum/Council – Andrew Kim, Chair
Mr. Kim reported that there was an Academic Council Meeting on Thursday, September 12. He discussed some of the work of the committees, including accessibility initiatives, and reviewing the Academic Forum Charter. The next Academic Forum meeting is on Thursday, October 10.
4. Administrative Staff Organization (ASO) – Dr. Angelo Thalassinidis, President
Mr. Thalassinidis reported the first ASO General Membership meeting of this fiscal year was held on October 1. Members had the opportunity to discuss the proposed goals, Dr. Scott Cooper presented about Transfer Studies, and other updates. The next meeting will be held on January 15.
5. Professional and Support Staff Organization (PSSO) – Caitlin Silver Negrón, President
Ms. Silver Negrón reported PSSO held its first standard business meeting on Thursday, September 12. At this meeting, members received updates about the new and improved intranet site and the Center for Professional Development; and discussed goals for the year, which will be shared with the Board at the November meeting. Additionally, PSSO hosted its first professional enrichment workshop, open to all constituency groups, on September 25 about filing an incident report. The next business meeting will be on October 15. The Professional Enrichment Workshop for the month will be on October 24 in a hybrid format and will focus on Growth Mindset.
6. Student Government Association (SGA) – Jayeim Blake, President
Mr. Blake reported that the SGA spent most of September planning and scheduling. It held its first general forum event on September 13, which was an educational gathering for clubs and organized an involvement fair event on September 17, which clubs and students gathered on the quad to recruit. He also announced that with the recent addition of new Vice President of Finance, SGA now have six out of seven executive board seats filled.
7. The Faculty Organization (TFO) – Brandi R. Shepard, President
Ms. Shepard reported that there had been two TFO meetings, on September 11 and convocation on October 1. Goals of the committees were submitted and approved at the meetings, highlighting a few from each committee. The TFO officers presented their goals for the academic year, which include creating a collaborative, inclusive, and collegial environment. The next TFO meeting is scheduled for November 7.
8. Maryland Association of Community Colleges Activities (MACC) – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
AACC will be hosting the MACC Board of Directors meeting on Wednesday, October 30 in CADE 219. At that meeting, the Board will be asked to approve the draft 2025 MACC Legislative Initiatives.
B. Action Items
1. Approval of the Draft 2025 Maryland Association of Community Colleges Legislative Initiatives – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Dr. Lindsay presented the draft 2025 Maryland Association of Community Colleges Legislative Initiatives, which sets forth the community colleges’ priorities for inclusion in MACC’s Legislative Initiatives for the 2025 General Assembly session.
The draft 2025 MACC Legislative Initiatives, developed by MACC staff and presented and reviewed by the community college presidents, includes items for legislative action at the state level on issues that affect the well-being of Maryland’s community colleges and the thousands of students they serve.
With the Board’s approval of the draft 2025 MACC Legislative Initiatives, an affirmative vote will be cast on behalf of the College to approve the Legislative Initiatives at the October 30, 2024, meeting of the MACC Board of Directors.
By motion of Mr. Ulvila, which was seconded by Mr. Chaudhry, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the draft 2025 MACC Legislative Initiatives as presented.
VIII. New Business
There was no new business.
IX. Next Board Meeting – November 12, 2024
X. Vote to Close Meeting – Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
By motion of Ms. Price-Jones, seconded by Ms. Stanton-Buttrom, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to close the meeting to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and to conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters that relate to the negotiations pursuant to Sections §§ 3-305(b)(7) and §3-305(b)(9) of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland.
XI. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:04pm.
A closed session of the Board of Trustees was held on September 10, 2024, at the Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Campus, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012, in the Cade Center for Fine Arts Building, Room 228. Pursuant to sections §§3-305(b)(8) and 3-305(b)(12) of the Open Meetings Act, a vote was taken to close the meeting pursuant to the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Annotated Code Section 3-305(d)(2)(i)(ii). The following Board members voted to close the session: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle Tumminello (via Zoom); and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. The following Board members were present at the meeting: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; Anelle Tumminello (via telephone); and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President; Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management; Dr. Rick Kralevich, Vice President for Information and Instructional Technology; Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning; Dr. Felicia Patterson, Vice President for Learner Support Services; Dr. Tiffany Boykin, General Counsel; Andew Little, Associate Vice President for Learning Resources Management (left at 5:30 p.m.); and Monica Rausa, Special Assistant to the President were present as well. The topics discussed included an investigation of possible criminal fraud against the College, and consultation about pending or potential litigation. The meeting began at 5:20 p.m. and ended at 5:58 p.m.
Members present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom (via Zoom); Anelle R. Tumminello; Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr; and Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
I. Call to Order - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.
II. Roll Call and Approval of the Agenda - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien asked for the roll call. Ten trustees were present, and a quorum was established. By motion of Ms. Moore, seconded by Ms. Price-Jones and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the agenda.
III. Welcome and Introductions - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien welcomed everyone to the November public session meeting, including the faculty presenting their sabbatical reports.
IV. Sabbatical Reports - Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner thanked the Board for not only supporting the faculty sabbatical work but for continuing to celebrate and recognize their work after it has been completed. She introduced Dr. Timothy Mayhill, assistant professor of English.
Dr. Mayhill’s sabbatical focused on the creation and development of the Center for Liberal Arts Work (CLAW). The CLAW aims to engage students, faculty, and the surrounding community in interdisciplinary dialogues, explored through transformative texts. This initiative promotes a seminar-style, discussion-based pedagogy across general education courses, fostering student leadership, active learning, and the development of a comprehensive e-portfolio. The CLAW also includes partnerships with local institutions for student transfer pathways and ongoing faculty development.
V. Consent Agenda
Dr. Chien presented the Consent Agenda. Ms. Price-Jones moved to approve the Consent Agenda, which was seconded by Mr. Ulvila. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Consent Agenda:
VI. Board Committee Reports
A. Reports for November
1. Audit & Finance Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
Ms. Price-Jones reported that the committee met on October 9and the primary focus was the presentation of the fiscal year 2024 audit report, which was prepared by the College and audited by CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP. The auditors issued an unmodified or clean opinion on the financial statements with no adjustments required. Ms. Christina Bowman from CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP confirmed that there were no issues during the audit process, and she praised the College’s management for their preparation.
During the meeting, the committee was made aware of a minor issue noted in the federal grants audit report, which has already been addressed by the College. The issue did not affect financial aid or require the repayment of funds. The committee also reviewed the fiscal year 2025 operating budget status, which indicated that the College is operating within its available resources. Future budget reports will be provided to the Budget Committee, as the Audit and Finance Committee’s work for the year is complete. Ms. Price-Jones stated that this would be the last scheduled meeting unless a special meeting is requested.
i. Acceptance of FY 2024 Audit Report (Action Item)
Ms. Tumminello moved to accept the Audit Report, which was seconded by Ms. Pastrone. The Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the College’s fiscal year 2024 financial statements audited by CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP based on the recommendation of the Board of Trustees Audit and Finance Committee.
2. Board Development Committee – Shahbaz Chaudhry, Committee Chair
Mr. Chaudhry reported that the annual retreat of the Board of Trustees was held on October 29. The retreat was facilitated by Dr. Debbie DiThomas, a consultant from the Association of Community Colleges Trustees and former community college president. The retreat focused on key topics such as the role and responsibilities of trustees, governance versus administration, and effective communication. The retreat provided an opportunity for trustees to connect, welcome new members, and explore best practices for effective board governance.
3. Board Policy Oversight Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
Ms. Price-Jones reported that she and Ms. Moore met on October 30 to discuss reviewing the specific Board policies considered at the annual retreat, including possible steps to streamline current policies and improve the Board’s process for reviewing and approving new or amended policies to strengthen the Board’s governance framework.
On November 11, the committee met to review one interim policy action request, the Interim Protection of Personally Identifiable Information Policy. Due to recent changes in state law, public higher education institutions are required to adopt policies addressing remedies for individuals affected by breaches of personally identifiable information. While the College has information technology requirements for privacy, it does not have a Board approved policy.
The committee recommended delegating authority to the president to create this interim policy, ensuring compliance with state law. Additionally, the committee decided to meet monthly to continue policy discussions and reviews.
4. Budget Committee – Sandra E. Moore, Committee Chair
Ms. Moore reported that the committee met on November 8 and welcomed Chris Trumbauer, Senior Policy Advisor to the County Executive and Budget Officer, for an update. Mr. Trumbauer expressed the county's continued support for the College and highlighted the strong relationship between the county and the College’s budget team. While county revenue projections are not expected until December, Mr. Trumbauer shared that limited uncommitted revenues are anticipated for fiscal year 2026, which poses challenges given state funding cuts in fiscal year 2025.
The committee reviewed the fiscal year 2025 operating budget projections as of October 31. Although the results were preliminary, the budget is projected to remain balanced, with higher-than-expected tuition and fee revenues due to increased enrollment. However, rising utility rates in the plant operations and maintenance category were expected to exceed the budget, with staffing turnover and temporary salary savings offsetting these costs.
The committee also received an update on the Moody’s ratings process for the bonds issued by the AACC Foundation for the Arundel Mills building. The College participated in a call as part of the annual surveillance process and expects receiving results later this month.
The committee reviewed the preliminary guiding principles and base assumptions for the fiscal year 2026 budget development and provided feedback.
5. AACC Foundation – Shahbaz Chaudhry, Lead Trustee Liaison
Mr. Keller shared a thank you letter from a student who received a scholarship.
Mr. Chaudhry reported as of October 30, the AACC Foundation had raised over $733,000 in gifts and commitments for the fiscal year. The funds are being allocated to three main initiatives: Nursing Scholarships, HelpLink for Nursing, and Workforce Development Scholarships. To date, $156,000 has been raised for Nursing Scholarships, $60,000 for HelpLink/HelpLink for Nursing (which provides emergency assistance for students), and $52,000 for Workforce Development Scholarships to support both credit and non-credit programs.
Additionally, Mr. Chaudhry shared that he looked forward to attending his first AACC Foundation Board of Directors meeting on November 20 as the new Lead Trustee Liaison.
6. ACCT Leadership Congress Report – Sandra E. Moore, Trustee
Ms. Moore reported that she attended the 2024 Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress in Seattle from October 22-25 with Dr. Lindsay, Elizabeth Appel, Dean, School of Health Sciences), and Monica Rausa Special Assistant to the President. As a member of the ACCT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, Ms. Moore participated in discussions with legal counsel regarding the impact of state legislation on DEI initiatives. Many states have passed laws requiring the removal of DEI references in colleges, threatening funding cuts. The committee focused on finding ways to support affected colleges while avoiding financial risks.
Ms. Moore, Dr. Lindsay and Ms. Apple presented a session on the expansion of the College's nursing program. In addition to DEI-related sessions, Ms. Moore attended an orientation session for new trustees, which featured innovative ideas that could benefit the Board. As the College’s voting delegate, she also attended regional and national business meetings. Ms. Moore encouraged her colleagues to consider attending future ACCT conferences for valuable networking and learning opportunities. Lastly, she shared a flyer and encouraged trustees to participate in a national survey from ACCT.
B. No Reports for November
1. Facilities Committee – Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr., Committee Chair
VII. President’s Report – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
A. Information Items
1. College Updates – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Dr. Lindsay shared that she and colleagues participated in several key events in October. She and Dr. Millner attended the League for Innovation Fall Board meeting (Oct. 15-17) in Dayton, Ohio, to review strategic updates. On October 24, Dr. Lindsay, Ms. Moore, and Elizabeth Appel presented at the Association of Community College Trustees Leadership Congress in Seattle, highlighting the College's nursing program expansion and commitment to equitable outcomes. The College hosted the annual Anne Arundel County Public Schools Principals Breakfast on October 29, where high school principals learned more about the President’s Opportunity Scholarship and met some of the previous recipients. Dr. Lindsay and Vollie Melson attended the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County’s Celebration of Philanthropy Awards on October 30, where the Ethel Groh Webster Williams Trust was nominated for the Legacy Award for supporting healthcare services and education.
Dr. Lindsay was proud to announce that AACC was ranked # 3 in the nation by Intelligent for the Best Community Colleges of 2025, based on rankings from U.S. News & World Report and data from the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Lindsay also celebrated the success of AACC’s Women’s Soccer team, which won the East District and will compete in the National Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, starting November 17.
AACC celebrated Veterans Appreciation from November 4-16, honoring veterans and their families. The annual Veterans Appreciation Ceremony took place on November 7 at the Veterans Memorial Garden, where names of military-affiliated faculty, staff, and students were read aloud. Additionally, the College is celebrating Native American Heritage Month with curated resources in the Truxal Library to highlight Native American history and culture.
2. Enrollment Update - Dr. Felicia Patterson, Vice President for Learner Support Services and Cassandra Moore, Director of Enrollment Development & Admissions
Dr. Patterson and Ms. Cassandra Moore presented the fall 2024 Credit Enrollment report. Dr. Patterson noted the head count represents the actual number of students enrolled in credit courses and the data was as of September 28. The College experienced an increase in headcount of 2.9% or 323 students this fall compared to last fall and an increase of 80 FTE (full-time equivalent) or 2.6%. FTE is the sum of credits for all enrolled students divided into 30 credits; 30 credits is considered a full-time load in a fiscal year.
Regarding new and returning students, there were 8,358 returning students this fall, which is an increase of 513 students (6.5%) compared to fall 2023, and 3,123 new students, which is a slight decline of 190 students from fall 2023. When analyzing the students by age, ages 18 and under comprise 14.5%; ages 18-19 are 25.4%; ages 20-24 are 27.5%, ages 25+ are 32.5%, ages 30-39 are 11%, and ages 40+ are 11.5%.
Regarding full-time versus part-time, 74% of students attend part-time, and 26% attend full-time. Students are taking an average on 7.9 credits. The College’s fall credit headcount by gender remains consistent with national trends, as 37.9% of students are male versus 62.1% female.
Regarding fall credit minority students, 47.9% of students identify as non-white. The data shows that 4,946 of students report as Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Native American, Alaska Native or other multiracial, which is based on all credit students minus non-US citizens, and those who did not report a race or ethnicity. The College uses the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) definition for race and identity.
The breakdown of enrollment of credit students by race and ethnicity were as follows: 46.8% white; 19.2 % Black/African American; 16.6% other/unknown; 12.9% Hispanic/Latino; and 4.4% Asian. There were 56.9% of students taking at least one online course in the fall, and 16.4% of students taking at least one hybrid course.
An analysis of the number of students by place of residence using zip code area helps the College know if there is opportunity for increased enrollments. Cohort retention rates term to term remain consistent; 60.7% fall-to-fall and 73.9% fall-to-spring.
Ms. Cassandra Moore reported on high school students who are dually enrolled in AACC. There was an increase in fall 2024 of early college dually enrolled students. There were 1,690 students in the Early College Access Program, which is an increase of 195 students or 13%. AACC has experienced a decline in other dual enrolled students of 328 or 83%. Other dually enrolled include non-Anne Arundel county students, home instruction, and private schools. The change in enrollments is largely attributed to the financial support legislated by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Overall, the College has 133 fewer dually enrolled students this fall.
Ms. Cassandra Moore shared the preliminary draw rate, 21.9%, which is the number of recent high school graduates from Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) who are attending Anne Arundel Community College in fall 2024.
The Admissions and Enrollment Development Office actively collaborates with AACPS high school counselors to promote student success. Efforts include high school information sessions, weekly virtual Early College Access Program/Dual Enrollment sessions, and student drop-in hours. The Admissions and Enrollment Development Office also participates in community stakeholder teams and conducts personalized enrollment sessions to guide students based on their career and personal interests. Additionally, the College hosts an annual counselor's conference for AACPS counselors to highlight new majors, programs, and resources that support early college participation and student success.
3. Strategic Plan Update – Monica Rausa, Special Assistant to the President
Ms. Rausa presented an update on the College’s strategic plan, Engagement Matters II: Excellence through Innovation (FY 2021-FY 2025).
The strategic plan has three primary goals: entry and engagement, progress and growth, and retention and completion. The four objectives are excellence, engagement, innovation, and resources, with strategic activities under each objective to guide the work. Progress is measured through 40 key performance indicators (KPIs), which reflect the efforts at the unit and department level. The Board approves the goals, objectives, strategic activities and KPIs of the strategic plan.
Ms. Rausa noted that Dr. Patterson and Ms. Cassandra Moore shared many of the KPIs that are updated each fall, and other KPIs were included in the Maryland Higher Education Commission Performance Accountability Report, which the Board approved in September.
Ms. Rausa highlighted the overall course success rate, which reflects students earning a grade of "C" or higher. The course success rate for spring 2024 remained at 76%. Additionally, the College saw an increase in awards (degrees and certificates) in fiscal year 2024, which reflects progress towards completion.
The current strategic plan ends June 30, 2025, and the College has started the planning for a new four-year plan. That process will include environmental scans and data analysis at national, regional, and local levels; brainstorming sessions with the President’s Cabinet and the Strategic Planning Council; and Riverhawks Roundtables, which will be facilitated activities to receive input from faculty, staff, and students. The planning process will continue through December and January, incorporating feedback into the draft plan. In February, the draft plan will be shared in open forums to the College for additional input. The final draft will be endorsed by the Strategic Planning Council in April, presented to the Board as an information item in May, and as an action item in June. The new plan will be effective July 1, 2025.
4. Academic Forum (AF)/Council – Andrew Kim, Chair
Mr. Kim provided an update on meetings attended since the last Board report, which included a variety of gatherings such as The Faculty Organization (TFO) Fall Convocation, multiple Academic Forum leadership meetings, and an Academic Forum meeting. These meetings covered discussions ranging from faculty service to leadership collaboration, with significant involvement in TFO and Council Advisory to the President (CAP).
Efforts are underway to fill vacant positions on various committees, with the Academic Forum assisting TFO in this process. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to update the Academic Forum Charter, addressing concerns around membership inclusivity and committee work assignments. An ad-hoc committee completed updates to the syllabus template. Goals for the Academic Forum and its committees were approved at the October meeting.
5. Administrative Staff Organization (ASO) – Dr. Angelo Thalassinidis, President
Dr. Thalassinidis reported that members at large regularly meet with ASO members from their respective divisions to address various concerns and initiatives. The executive committee hosts monthly open sessions, where topics raised by constituents are discussed in detail.
For a service program, the committee decided to collaborate on creating "Winter Warm Up" Kits. On October 25, ASO hosted a policy review for the most recent policy and procedure shared with the College community to provide opportunity for feedback. The next ASO General Meeting is scheduled for November 20.
6. Professional and Support Staff Organization (PSSO) – Caitin Silver Negrón, President
Ms. Silver Negrón reported the finalized goals and objectives for fiscal year 2025 were approved at the October business meeting. Key goals include enhancing professional development opportunities for members, increasing engagement in both PSSO and College-wide activities, and leveraging technology to support personal and professional growth. Objectives to achieve these goals involve collaborating with Human Resources to track professional advancement, improving committee reporting processes, offering workshops on wellness and technology, and hosting events focused on accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
This month, the PSSO leadership team visited members at Glen Burnie Town Center and Arundel Mills locations, offering refreshments to foster a sense of connection outside the main campus. These visits aim to increase engagement with remote members. Additionally, PSSO hosted professional enrichment workshops on Growth Mindset and Burnout, Self-Care, and Violence Prevention, attracting 38 attendees for the first and a strong response for the second?? (were there 3 workshops?).
The leadership team has also been meeting with the College vice presidents to better understand their roles and how to collaborate effectively. Looking ahead, the PSSO's final meeting of the calendar year will be held on December 11, featuring updates from the president and vice presidents.
7. Student Government Association (SGA) – Jayeim Blake, President
Mr. Blake reported updates on recent and upcoming initiatives. SGA, in collaboration with the Office of Student Engagement, hosted the "Cozy Cider" event featuring apple cider, fall treats, and a pumpkin painting activity, attracting over 100 students.
To support student well-being, SGA partnered with the Health and Wellness Center for a wellness event aimed at helping students de-stress during the midterm season. Looking ahead, SGA is planning additional events, including “Spill the Tea with SGA” and “Stress Fest,” to help students prepare for finals. Additionally, SGA is closing applications for new senator positions to encourage leadership and student involvement on campus.
Mr. Blake concluded by expressing gratitude to the Board of Trustees for their continued support and emphasized the SGA’s commitment to fostering a positive and engaging environment at AACC.
8. The Faculty Organization (TFO) – Brandi R. Shepard, President
Ms. Shepard reported the TFO Fall Convocation on October 1 was the first hybrid meeting, with 109 virtual attendees and 14 in-person. Key updates included the approval of motions allowing all TFO members to vote and the approval of the May 2024 meeting minutes.
The TFO committees provided several work updates. The Compensation Committee aims to raise AACC faculty salaries to the top two in the region and recommended a 9% increase for fiscal year 2026. They are also working on issues related to independent study and honors contracts. The Promotion and Tenure Committee is reviewing sabbatical applications and addressing difficulties with the G: Drive process. The Online Policies and Practices Committee is improving accessibility for online learning and developing a faculty survey. The Shared Governance Committee is updating policies and creating a simplified summary for future TFO discussions.
Ms. Shephard shared some faculty highlights and outlined the leadership team’s goals for the academic year, including focusing on fostering a collaborative, inclusive environment, improving the equated credit system, and advocating for faculty mentoring.
9. Maryland Association of Community Colleges Activities (MACC) – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
The MACC Board of Directors met on October 30 and approved the MACC Legislative Initiatives for the 2025 General Assembly. As the legislative session approaches, talking points will be prepared to highlight key priority issues for the Board members.
Additionally, the annual MACC Trustee Leadership Conference is scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis, with more details to be shared as they become available.
VIII. New Business
There was no new business.
IX. Next Board Meeting – December 10, 2024
XI. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:30pm.
A closed session of the Board of Trustees was held on October 8, 2024, at the Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Campus, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012, in the Cade Center for Fine Arts Building, Room 207. Pursuant to sections §§3-305(b)(7) and 3-305(b)(9) of the Open Meetings Act, a vote was taken to close the meeting pursuant to the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Annotated Code Section 3-305(d)(2)(i)(ii). The following Board members voted to close the session: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle Tumminello; and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. The following Board members were present at the meeting: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle Tumminello; and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President; Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management; Dr. Rick Kralevich, Vice President for Information and Instructional Technology; Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning; Dr. Felicia Patterson, Vice President for Learner Support Services; Dr. Tiffany Boykin, General Counsel; Garrett Wozniak, Attorney, Isler Dare; and Monica Rausa, Special Assistant to the President were present as well. The topics discussed included obtaining legal advice regarding collective bargaining. The meeting began at 5:10 p.m. and ended at 5:35 p.m.
A session of the Board of Trustees was held on October 8 at Pursuant to Maryland Code, General Provisions Article § 3-104, the Board met to carry out an administrative function. The following board members were present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle Tumminello; and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President; Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management; Dr. Rick Kralevich, Vice President for Information and Instructional Technology; Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning; Dr. Felicia Patterson, Vice President for Learner Support Services; Dr. Tiffany Boykin, General Counsel; and Monica Rausa, Special Assistant to the President were present as well. The topic discussed included an overview of historical projects, as it relates to the Board’s statutory powers and duties under Md. Code, Educ., § 16-101 et. seq. The meeting began at 5:40 p.m. and ended at 5:55 p.m.
A session of the Board of Trustees was held on October 29 at Pursuant to Maryland Code, General Provisions Article § 3-104, the Board met to carry out an administrative function. The following board members were present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Shahbaz Chaudhry; Devin Keller; Sandra Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Anelle Tumminello; and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President was present as well. The topic discussed included an overview of the Board’s goals, as it relates to the Board’s statutory powers and duties under Md. Code, Educ., § 16-101 et. seq. The meeting began at 12:00 p.m. and ended at 4:00 p.m.
Members present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Devin Keller; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle R. Tumminello; Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr; and Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Absent: Shahbaz Chaudhry
I. Call to Order - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
The meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m.
II. Roll Call and Approval of the Agenda - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien asked for the roll call. Nine trustees were present, and a quorum was established. By motion of Ms. Tumminello, seconded by Ms. Price-Jones and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the agenda.
III. Welcome and Introductions - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien welcomed everyone to the December public session meeting, including the faculty presenting their sabbatical reports.
IV. Sabbatical Reports - Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner thanked the Board for their continued support of faculty sabbaticals. She introduced Scott Cooper, Professor of World Languages.
Mr. Cooper shared that the purpose of his sabbatical was to collect archival materials and advance his dissertation on bilingual education in nineteenth-century Baltimore for his doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Mr. Cooper conducted extensive research at archives including the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province, De La Salle Christian Brothers, St. Vincent Archabbey, and others. Additional materials were provided by archivists from Chicago and San Antonio.
From January to June 2024, Mr. Cooper participated in the sabbatical program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He presented a talk on transglobal musical influences in Baltimore’s Mar Thoma community at the Godfrey Diekmann Center Graduate Symposium. He also utilized the Alcuin Library’s extensive resources on German American educational institutions, which greatly supported his research and writing.
He conducted further research at the Maryland State Archives and Zion Church archives in Baltimore. Mr. Cooper’s research highlights how grassroots political organizations influenced bilingual education policies in nineteenth-century Baltimore, emphasizing the need for supportive structures that avoid subtractive bilingualism. This work has direct relevance to Anne Arundel County’s efforts to support multilingual learners. Sharing his findings with the Departments of World Languages and English Language Learning at the College will enhance current instructional resources and initiatives like the summer bridge program for English learners.
Dr. Millner introduced Dr. Rachelle Tannenbaum, Professor of Psychology, a faculty member at the College for 24 years.
Dr. Tannenbaum had the privilege of planning a conference centered on teaching introduction to psychology, one of the most widely enrolled college courses. Introductory psychology presents a unique opportunity to cultivate critical thinking and a nuanced understanding of human behavior among students from diverse fields. However, many faculty face challenges in teaching this broad survey course, particularly part-time instructors who often lack access to professional development. Recognizing this need, Dr. Tannenbaum dedicated her sabbatical to organizing a specialized conference to address these gaps.
The planning process involved extensive coordination with multiple campus departments, and she secured a $2,500 grant from the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP). She consulted with directors of related conferences for insights on marketing, scheduling, and speaker recruitment. Collaborating with STP, she arranged for speakers to publish their presentations in an annual Teaching Tips e-book. Additionally, she developed a survey to assess the pedagogical needs of psychology educators and created a conference website to serve as a long-term resource for teaching materials. To guide future events, she compiled a comprehensive conference planning manual.
The first MAESTRO Psych (Mid-Atlantic EducatorS of InTRO) conference took place on April 12, 2024, at AACC, with 26 attendees from 14 institutions across three states. It featured a keynote address by Dr. Dana S. Dunn, eight short talks on innovative teaching strategies, and four group discussions on key topics like grading and academic integrity. The event welcomed part-time instructors and graduate students, fulfilling a key objective to provide accessible professional development. Generous funding covered meals, materials, and a complimentary copy of Transforming Introductory Psychology, further reducing barriers for participation.
Participants’ feedback highlighted the value of interactive discussions, practical demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Comments reflected appreciation for the supportive and resource-rich environment, particularly from newer instructors and graduate students preparing for faculty roles.
The dedicated time and resources enabled Dr. Tannenbaum to not only execute a successful conference but also plan for its future iterations and create tools to facilitate similar events. This project was a collaborative achievement, made possible by the guidance and assistance of her colleagues, department, administration, and the Board of Trustees.
V. Consent Agenda
Dr. Chien presented the Consent Agenda. Mr. Ulvila moved to approve the Consent Agenda, which was seconded by Ms. Pastrone. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Consent Agenda:
• Approval of the minutes of the November 12, 2024, Board of Trustees Public Session; and
• Approval of the award of contract for phase three installation of conduit and fiber cabling to Bluestar Technologies Inc., of Baltimore, Maryland in an amount not to exceed $358,802.
VI. Board Committee Reports
A. Reports for December
1. Budget Committee – Sandra E. Moore, Committee Chair
Ms. Moore reported the Board Budget Committee met via Zoom on December 5 to discuss various topics, including human resources matters, updates on the fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget implications, and progress on the FY 2026 budget. The College received the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the FY 2025 budget. The committee congratulated Sue Callahan, Budget Director, and the team members from Strategic Communications, Planning Research and Institutional Assessment, and the President’s Office for their contributions to this achievement.
The committee received an update on key human resources issues, such as compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime wage exemption, employment offers and job posting disclosure requirements, safety measures for high temperature working conditions, and Maryland’s family and medical leave insurance benefit program. Additionally, the committee was informed about Moody’s affirmation of the College’s A2 rating with a stable outlook, with further details to be shared in a forthcoming Board update.
Financial discussions included a review of the operating budget, the tuition stabilization fund balance, and multi-year projections. The committee revisited budget guiding principles and priorities discussed in a prior meeting and reviewed a draft of the FY 2026–2031 Capital Budget, which will be presented to the Facilities Committee. The committee will continue its work on the FY 2026 budget, with the next meeting scheduled for January 9.
2. AACC Foundation – Devin Keller, Liaison
Mr. Keller shared a thank you letter from a student who received a scholarship. He reported that as of December 5, the AACC Foundation’s fundraising total was just over $1.06 million in gifts and commitments.
During the past month, the Foundation has received several five and six-figure gifts from donors who wish to remain anonymous. These donations supported the Future Nursing Professionals Scholarship and the HelpLink program, both of which are essential resources for AACC students.
B. No Reports for December
1. Audit & Finance Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
2. Board Development Committee – Shahbaz Chaudhry, Committee Chair
3. Board Policy Oversight Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
4. Facilities Committee – Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr., Committee Chair
VII. President’s Report – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
A. Information Items
1. College Updates – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Dr. Lindsay shared that she attended the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Fall Board meeting November 13-15. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, she chairs the Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues and serves on the Directors and Membership Services Committee. On December 4, Dr. Lindsay participated in the restaurant management capstone dinner, an interactive dining experience hosted by the College’s Culinary Arts students. She thanked the Board members who attended the event. On December 6, she, and Dr. Richard Faircloth hosted the AACC Retirees Luncheon, an event honoring the College’s retirees' outstanding service. On December 10, the College hosted the Maryland Latinos Unidos Pathways to Progress Summit. This important event promotes Latino leadership, civic engagement, education, and representation across Maryland.
Dr. Lindsay congratulated Dan Baum and the Strategic Communications team for earning four awards for design and video work from the University and College Designers Association and the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. These achievements highlight their excellence among hundreds of national submissions.
The College community has demonstrated their generosity this holiday season in many ways. The Administrative Staff Organization organized a Warmup Drive to support international students with winter clothing kits; the Office of Student Engagement sponsored a Food Pantry Drive to stock shelves for the holidays; the Professional and Support Staff Organization and Facilities staff collected donations to support Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina; and the Public Safety Office held its annual Toys for Tots drive, with drop-off locations at Arnold, Glen Burnie Town Center, and Arundel Mills.
Dr. Lindsay is looking forward to celebrating with faculty and staff at holiday events scheduled for December 16 at the Arnold campus and December 17 at Arundel Mills and Glen Burnie Town Center. She is grateful for the College’s dedicated and passionate community and proud of their shared accomplishments this year.
2. Strategic Technology Roadmap Overview – Dr. Richard Kralevich, Vice President, Information and Instructional Technology
Dr. Kralevich provided an update on the Division’s Strategic Technology Roadmap (STR), highlighting key initiatives, progress on the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) implementation, and recent information security enhancements. The STR prioritizes mission-critical technologies, enhances institutional security, replaces obsolete systems, and enables disciplined fiscal management. The STR comprises 11 strategic initiatives, including supporting enrollment management, advancing digital accessibility, transitioning to the cloud, modernizing desktops and virtualization, and strengthening domain management. The College has made significant progress on deferred maintenance and technology upgrades since pre-pandemic levels.
The major initiative is the Colleague SaaS Project. This migration to a cloud-based system aims to modernize the College’s enterprise resource planning system into a scalable, resilient ecosystem. The SaaS model will enhance security, user experience, and operational efficiency. The Board approved the project in June 2023. Phase 1 – Project Initiation and Phase 2 – Planning and Discovery are complete. The College is currently in Phase 3 – Modernization Readiness, and Phase 4 – SaaS Migration, is scheduled for early 2025, with a full system go-live planned for December 2025. This project represents thousands of collaborative hours between divisions.
The College is also shifting its information security model to a vendor-driven, security information framework that will strengthen risk mitigation, optimize business continuity, and enhance incident response. This approach aligns with institutional goals while being more cost-effective and comprehensive. Additionally, the Information and Instructional Technology Division is undergoing a “2.0” optimization to improve efficiency, address gaps, and better align with institutional needs. Key changes include forming a Cloud and Endpoint Solutions department and adding instructional designers to boost accessibility support.
Dr. Kralevich noted that digital transformation is disruptive, but with continued patience and collaboration, the College can build a robust technology foundation for future success.
3. Continuing Education and Workforce Development Update – Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner highlighted the School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD), which serves diverse learners, including those seeking high school credentials, personal enrichment, professional skill upgrades, and entry-level workforce training in trades and healthcare. With over 36,000 enrollments in FY 2024, CEWD functions like a "college within a college," integrating student services, business operations, and curriculum development.
In the first half of FY 2025, CEWD created 88 new courses, offered 2,953 sections, responded to 1,058 student inquiries, and processed 5,796 registrations. CEWD staff oversee all phases of enrollment, from course creation to student retention. Noncredit enrollment is growing steadily, especially in senior and multilingual learner programs, as well as workforce development in trades and healthcare. Weekly enrollment tracking shows a slight increase in FY 2025 full time equivalent (FTE) compared to FY 2024.
The Hotel Culinary Arts & Tourism Institute (HCAT) credit programs enrolled 191 students this fall, demonstrating continued growth. Dr. Millner noted that noncredit HCAT enrollments are tracked separately. Contract credit enrollments, including partnerships with the Department of Defense and local fire departments, fluctuate based on community demand.
The demographics of CEWD students reflect Anne Arundel County’s population, with 57% identifying as white, 14% Black/African American, and 10% Hispanic. Students range from young children in summer camps to seniors over 100, with 47% of learners aged 61–80. Students in courses for career preparation or advancement are considered completers, and in FY 2024, there were 1,658 completers.
Since launching in January 2022, the Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades has enrolled 814 students across programs in electrical, HVAC, carpentry, welding, and mechanical technologies. Total enrollment stands at 2,402, with apprenticeships and new programs continually expanding offerings.
Dr. Millner shared a success story of one of the Clauson Center students, and highlighted one of the student speakers at the 26th High School Completion Ceremony, which recognized students who have obtained a high school credential through completion of the National External Diploma Program or passed the GED exam.
4. Academic Forum (AF)/Council – Dr. Shelley DeBlasis, Parliamentarian
Dr. DeBlasis reported the Academic Council held its second meeting of the 2024-2025 Academic Year on Thursday, November 14. Several committees provided updates on their activities. The Academic Integrity Review Committee, co-chaired by Dawn Ryan, reported handling 23 cases so far this year. Dr. Megan Myers, co-chair of the eLearner Success Committee, shared progress on electronic textbook accessibility. Dr. Mary Holden-Musser from the CoTL Subcommittee on High Impact Practices announced that accessibility has been added to the committee’s goals, and a professional development course on high impact practices will be offered next semester.
The Council unanimously approved a motion from the Educational Policies and Curriculum Committee to accept several course proposals that had successfully completed the review process. Additional reports included presentations on the Planning, Research and Institutional Assessment Office’s Data Literacy Initiative, and workshop series; Dr. Felicia Patterson’s review of the Fall 2024 FTE report and upcoming registration dates; and Chair Andy Kim’s update on his Academic Council membership project.
The next Academic Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 12 at 3:30pm via Zoom, and the Academic Forum will meet virtually on Thursday, January 23 at 3:30pm.
5. Administrative Staff Organization (ASO) – Dr. Angelo Thalassinidis, President
Dr. Thalassinidis reported that ASO held its general meeting on November 20 and voted on the goals for the year. This year, ASO is transitioning from members at large model to representation by division. He highlighted other events, such as the Policy Lunch and Learn. The next general meeting is scheduled for January 15.
6. Professional and Support Staff Organization (PSSO) – Caitin Silver Negrón, President
Ms. Silver Negrón reported on new initiatives and engagement efforts implemented in the fall semester. A new meeting model was launched, featuring monthly business meetings and professional enrichment workshops to offer flexible learning opportunities. Workshops have been planned for both fall and spring, and the model will continue into the next semester. Additionally, a streamlined committee reporting process has improved communication and clarity, receiving positive feedback from participants.
On December 11, PSSO will host its final meeting of the year, focusing on updates from the president and vice presidents. The Engagement Committee has organized a winter event featuring crafts and informal networking. The PSSO also sponsored a drive to support Hurricane Helene victims in North Carolina, led by Rick Moorer and Jay Byrd from AACC Facilities, and Mr. Moorer will personally deliver the collected items to local charities later this month.
Looking ahead, PSSO is collaborating with Vice President Kralevich to create a technology-focused training series for spring. A recent survey gathered input on desired technology topics, and these responses will shape upcoming professional enrichment offerings. Other workshops unrelated to technology have already been scheduled for spring, with details forthcoming. The spring semester will kick off on January 29, with a casual welcome-back event to reconnect members after winter break. Regular monthly meetings and workshops will resume afterward, continuing efforts to serve and engage PSSO members effectively.
7. Student Government Association (SGA) – TJ Majors, Executive Vice President
Mr. Majors reported that SGA recently organized several events to engage the student body. At the General Forum on November 22, 17 clubs attended, and Vice President Beardmore presented an update on the Facilities Master Plan, followed by a student question and answer session. SGA also took part in the Health and Wellness Center’s Stress Less Fest on December 4 and hosted its Holiday Hangout event on December 5, a two-hour gathering in the SUN Dining Hall.
Key highlights from the Fall 2024 semester include the Amplifying Student Voices event on October 5, where members learned about diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies to support the community. SGA strengthened cross-campus connections, joined the Impact and Excellence Awards Planning Committee, and maintained regular collaboration between the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Leadership office.
To improve accessibility, SGA introduced a Virtual Suggestion Box on the student engagement platform, the Nest, and created a shared email for easier communication with student representatives. Mr. Majors stated that SGA remains committed to supporting students and addressing their concerns and is looking forward to a great spring semester.
8. The Faculty Organization (TFO) – Brandi R. Shepard, President
Ms. Shepard reported that TFO met on December 4 to continue efforts to celebrate scholarly work. Members also received an update from TFO representative to the Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee. The TFO leadership continues to meet monthly with administrators and Human Resources to discuss a variety of issues and initiatives that affect faculty welfare status and work environment. Ms. Shepard thanked the trustees that attended the culinary arts capstone dinner and highlighted some of the work of faculty members. Professor Lindsay McCullough and Chris Mona hosted an event for students to print posters encouraging students to vote. Dr. Seth Miller, Dr. Tammy Domanski and Dr. Lauren Gillespie in biology received a $600,000 National Science Foundation Grant to support undergraduate research.
9. Maryland Association of Community Colleges Activities (MACC) – Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Dr. Lindsay reported that the MACC Trustee Leadership Conference and Legislative Reception is scheduled for Monday, January 27, at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis. The conference provides an overview of MACC’s 2025 legislative agenda and insight into federal issues impacting community colleges. New trustees will have the opportunity to learn about key legislative priorities, while the reception will allow Board members and College leadership to engage with Anne Arundel County elected officials.
VIII. New Business
There was no new business.
IX. Next Board Meeting
The next meeting will be the Board Budget Workshop, February 13, 8:30am – 12:00pm, and the next public session meeting will be February 25, at 4:00pm.
X. Vote to Close Meeting – Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
By motion of Mr. Ulvila, seconded by Ms. Pastrone, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the vote to close the meeting to consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation pursuant to the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Section 3-305(b)(8) and (d)(2)(i)(ii) of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code.
XI. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m.
Members present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle R. Tumminello; Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr; Devin Keller; Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
Absent: Shahbaz Chaudhry
I. Call to Order – Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
The Board Budget Workshop was called to order by Dr. Chien at 8:30 a.m.
II. Roll Call and Approval of the Agenda – Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien asked for the roll call and approval of the agenda. By motion of Mr. Ulvila, seconded by Ms. Tumminello, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the agenda.
III. Budget Workshop
A. Proposed FY 2026 Operating Budget
Ms. Beardmore stated that the budget workshop is an informal interactive session to allow trustees to ask questions about the budget. The Board is not voting on the budget at the workshop; but will vote to approve the budget at the Board Public Session on February 25. Feedback received at the workshop will be incorporated into the budget presentation on February 25. Then, the approved budget request will be submitted to the County Executive by March 1.
The College’s budget presentation to the County Executive is on March 24. There is a limited number of in-person attendees for this meeting; Dr. Lindsay, Andrew Little, and Melissa Beardmore will attend. The Board is invited to attend this meeting virtually. The County Executive presents his budget on May 1, which is when the College will learn how much funding it receives. The College then presents to the County Council, which must vote on the budget on or before June 15.
Ms. Beardmore stated that the College’s mission focuses its work and provided context to the proposed FY 2026 Operating Budget to show how the College reviews and assesses the effectiveness of investments in resources.
The FY 2025 Financial Operating Budget Status Report is shared regularly with the Budget Committee and the Audit and Finance Committee. As of December 31, the operating budget status report shows the College is operating within a balanced budget for the current year, and all areas are projected to be within their appropriation authority. Student tuition and fees are projected to exceed the budget by 4% due to increased enrollment in the summer and fall semesters. The increase is projected to continue into the winter and spring semesters.
As a result of the revenue over attainment and projected expenditure savings, the College is projecting to add an additional $622,000 to the Tuition Stabilization Fund (TSF) rather than spending $4.3 million in the FY 2025 budget. However, this may change before the end of the fiscal year.
The projecting expenditure savings is primarily due to savings in salaries and benefits along with estimated savings in non-compensation expenditures. The estimates will change as the College fills positions and have future resignations and retirements.
The College is projecting to be over budget in plant operations and maintenance due to colder weather temperatures, snow removal, and increased utilities rates. While the College does participate in a consortium for gas and electric, there are increases in distribution rates. Ms. Beardmore noted that the College will not overspend its budget; however, it is projecting to make a transfer from the instruction category to cover the deficit in plant operations and maintenance, which will require County Council approval.
Ms. Moore asked if the proposed legislation regarding Baltimore Gas and Electric rates would affect the consortium. Ms. Beardmore responded that the legislation is focused primarily on residential services. The College will keep the Budget Committee informed with any updates but anticipates asking the County Council for approval of the transfer in May and June to cover the utility’s deficit.
Mr. Keller asked whether the County has to approve the entire budget when their revenue contribution is projected to be 38%. Ms. Beardmore responded that the County gives the College appropriation authority to spend the funds in the total budget, and if the College wants to spend a dollar more, it must receive appropriation authority first.
Andrew Little, Associate Vice President for Learning Resources Management, shared a quick environmental scan of external and internal factors and their potential implications. At the College, there is a growth in headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments, with a stabilization of dual enrollment. There is growth in the adult student population (age 20 and above), and Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino students.
The College is anticipating challenges. While nationally the number of 18-year-olds graduating from high school is declining, this has not affected the College yet. However, the College is expecting this anticipated enrollment cliff may be a factor in the years to come. Additionally, there is the shifting perception about the value of higher education, and the College needs to shift programming efforts to respond to that perception.
Operationally, there are inflation costs, changes with the new federal administration, supply chain challenges when looking at capital projects, competition in an evolving labor market and constrained staffing resources. However, the College’s focus is on the students, and retention continues to improve, graduation rates are consistent and higher compared to other institutions.
Dr. Chien asked how the College is factoring external factors, such as negative perceptions about higher education and proposed changes at the federal level regarding the Department of Education in the environmental scan. Ms. Beardmore responded that that College has created a response team with functional experts, similar to the development of the emergency management team to respond to COVID, to address these issues. The structure is in place to respond appropriately, to get accurate information during this chaotic time, and have a thorough and thoughtful approach with the focus on student success.
Ms. Beardmore briefly reviewed the College’s mission, vision, and assessment. The purpose of the budget is to help accomplish the strategic goals of completion. The College demonstrates budget efficiency and accountability. The Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) provides data of comparative information, which is accessible on its website. The College holds itself to high standards and was recently awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for FY 2025. The College has received this honor each year since the inaugural award in FY 2017 (except for FY 2023 due to COVID). Ms. Beardmore thanked and recognized Sue Callahan, budget director, for all her efforts to pursue this award.
The College uses several measures to understand how resources are being allocated as compared to other Maryland community colleges. The College invests in what is important: the College has the third highest percentage of operating budget spent on instruction at 47%, the highest percentage of operating budget spent on instruction and academic support at 64% and tied for fourth lowest tuition of all sixteen Maryland community colleges.
Regarding affordability, the Pell Grant maximum award is estimated to fully cover tuition, fees, and books for eligible students. Through the AACC Foundation, private scholarship donations continue to supplement financial aid for students by almost $2 million for FY 2025. Ms. Beardmore stated that while the budget includes a $5 in-county tuition rate increase, textbook affordability initiatives are projected to save students an annualized equivalent of $5 in tuition.
Ms. Moore shared that she just returned from the Association of Community College Trustees National Legislative Summit and the number one concern for students is the cost of textbooks. Ms. Beardmore added that the publishers set the prices of the textbooks, not the bookstore, and the College has a direct digital access program for digital course materials. Digital course materials are 44% cheaper on average, which is another way of making things more affordable for the students.
Ms. Beardmore highlighted cost containment examples such as Project Sunburst (carport solar panels), the energy consortium, vacant position elimination, part-time faculty savings, and other programs. Part-time faculty cost savings has been the largest source of cost containment as enrollment has declined and the College is more efficient in scheduling towards student demand. The College has also reallocated positions and funds this year in support of critical strategic initiatives.
Ms. Beardmore provided an update on the FY 2025 compensation program, which is 85% of the College’s budget. Compensation has been the focus of new funds in budget, as the College continues to compete for talent post COVID and compensation is important. The success of the College is due to its talented faculty and staff.
The College has a history of examining administrative practices, which supports the Middle States institutional assessment concept. In FY 2015, the Board set a goal to review compensation systems to support the hiring and retention of quality faculty and staff. The current compensation system was created by the faculty compensation committee and staff compensation committee with the goals of transparency, ease of implementation, consistency, and equity. However, to maintain the fidelity of the system, adequate funding is required.
Adequate funding means enough funding to keep pace with the increasing labor market between 2-3%. If salary increases do not increase more than in the labor market each year, employees will not be able to move through the salary range within the system. Key data points were considered in the development of the budget, which includes a 6% compensation pool for faculty and staff. The faculty compensation committee requested 9% pool, and the staff compensation committee requested 5% pool; however, with the Governor’s budget, 6% is the best the College can afford to maintain the fidelity of the program.
Ms. Beardmore presented a high-level summary of the proposed FY 2026 budget, $145,163,100, which is an increase of $6,239,400 from FY 2025. The majority of that increase is in support of compensation.
Ms. Beardmore reviewed base adjustments category for increased costs associated with existing services and activity due to inflation. Base adjustments included utilities of $610,000, revenue offsets of $128,408 and miscellaneous adjustments of $32,965 for a total of $771,373.
In 2005, the Board set a goal for faculty salaries to be in the top three of Maryland’s large community colleges. The recommendation is a 6% compensation pool, which total compensation and benefits adjustments of $5,194,322. Wage adjustments for part-time faculty are subject to collective bargaining negotiations. Other items include adjusting the part-time faculty budget to FY 2025 projections, health insurance, retirement, faculty and staff promotions, turnover adjustment, and salary changes FY 2025 new hires.
Dr. Chien asked about employment benefits liability, and net liability increase as there was an increase for the FY 2025 budget but much lower projected for the FY 2026 budget. Ms. Beardmore clarified that number refers to Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB), which is the future liability for when employees retire from the College and the College pays a portion of their medical and other benefits. The Government Accounting Standards Board requires institutions that follow government accounting standards rules to recognize future liability in the current year. That future liability is predicted by actuaries who issue a study including future assumptions. The liability is projected to decrease by $35 million next year.
Ms. Beardmore continued to discuss the legal and regulatory compliance component of the budget, which includes projected bank and audit fees, and institutional insurance for a total of $55,000.
Funding for strategic and operational initiatives is $218,705. Next year, the goal is to focus on the dental hygiene program along with other non-compensation expenses in support of the program.
Ms. Beardmore presented the proposed revenue for the FY 2026 operating budget. State funding for the College is determined through the Cade funding formula, which ties a percentage of the annual state aid allocated for full-time equivalent (FTE) at select University System of Maryland institutions to the state aid granted per FTE to the community colleges. Ms. Beardmore highlighted the funding challenges through the years with the Cade funding model, as percentages should be 29%; last year, it was 25.5%; and this year, it is 27.2%.
For the College in FY 2026, the proposed Cade funding is $43,559,700, which is an increase of $433,700. In addition, the College receives $200,000 from the State for the Regional Higher Education Center at Arundel Mills.
The State’s 2025 budget and the included Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BFRA) reduced the funding percentage to 26.5% resulting in a $837,000 reduction in State funding compared to 2024 for AACC, and questioning the future of the model going forward.
The County has been the College’s discretionary funding partner. The proposed FY2026 budget request to the County is $55,550,300, with a $3 million increase request to help fund the compensation increase.
The College’s contribution to the budget comes through tuition and fee revenue. The proposed FY2026 budget revenue for tuition and fees is $39,981,500, which includes a tuition rate increase of $5. The increase in total tuition and fee revenue in FY 2026 is $2,783,200 from the FY 2025 budget and based upon flat credit enrollment projections.
Mr. Ulvila asked Ms. Beardmore to explain what a $1 increase in tuition relates to in terms of total revenue. Ms. Beardmore explained when the College raises tuition by $1, it is approximately $233,000 in more revenue. There was discussion about whether the state will introduce legislation to formally change the Cade funding percentage tie. Dr. Chien and Ms. Beardmore responded that the community college funding model is being examined by the state; however, they are unsure if there will be any legislation proposed to change it.
With the focus on affordability for students, Dr. Chien asked how this tuition increase would be perceived by the County and if the tuition rate is negotiable. Ms. Beardmore responded that the Board sets and approves the tuition rate for the College. However, based upon discussions with the County, there is an expectation to have an increase. Ms. Moore added that when the Budget Committee met with County officials, the message was clear. The trustees all agreed that affordability for students is their number one priority.
Ms. Beardmore went on to explain the affordability index, focusing on how the College's tuition and fees for full-time students compare to both the median household income and each county’s income. The College’s percentage remained the same at about 4%.
Ms. Pastrone expressed her appreciation for keeping the tuition affordable. She works with young adults that cannot afford other options, who attend Anne Arundel Community College and have a great experience. Ms. Beardmore also mentioned the opportunities for scholarships, federal financial aid, and other resources to assist students.
Ms. Beardmore continued with the sharing the proposed FY 2026 budget revenue for transfers and other income. Total is $6,071,600, which includes transfers from the Tuition Stabilization Fund (TSF) of $3,309,600; auxiliary fund transfers of $1,000,000, and other income of $1,762,000. The projected TSF FY 2026 budget request balance of $13,718,838, is within the Board goal of 5-10% at 7.3%.
Overall, for the proposed FY 2026 budget, the funding source by percent of revenue is the State 30%, County 38% and College 32%.
Ms. Beardmore provided an update on OPEB, which relates to health insurance, prescriptions, dental and vision coverage for retirees. Pre-funding this liability helps to reduce the College’s expenses compared to its peers. By creating a trust, in which contributions have been made by the County and College, the plan assets are $30.86 million as of September 2024. The College’s total contributions to date are $9.51 million and total County contributions are $10.74 million.
Ms. Beardmore explained that by law, the College is required to submit a budget for all of its funds. Auxiliary, enterprise, and restricted funds must be managed with a goal to be self-supporting. The budget is approved by the County Council in total, and the FY 2026 budget request for auxiliary, enterprise and restricted funds is $42,342,300 which would be appropriated.
B. Multi-Year Budget Planning Tool
Mr. Little discussed the multi-year budget planning tool, which is not intended to be a budget request. It is a tool for planning and illustrative purposes to make long-term assessments about decisions made today around key assumptions for estimates over the next five years. A single year should not be looked at in isolation. It is looking at the five-year trend, whether it is sustainable in that model.
The baseline scenario for revenue assumes a 3% increase in state funding, a 3% increase in County funding, small incremental increases in tuition and fees, although the College expects to see a variation in those line items every year.
The baseline scenario has other income as decreasing due to declining interest rates. For the tuition stabilization fund, while in FY 2026, the College is budgeting $3 million for support, for the planning tool, $2 million is the number included in the model. For auxiliary transfer, while the College is budgeting $1,000,000 in FY 2026, for the planning tool, $250,000 estimate.
When reviewing expenditures, the College does not expect to see significant new initiatives coming forward in future budgets. The College has been good at making reallocations to fund priorities. There are no new initiatives included in the projections. There are general projections for compensation, an average of 3%; however, the current environment does not support that. Given these variables, the College is in good shape, relatively speaking, until 2031 based on those assumptions.
However, there are other items, such as the Time to Care Act, which will be state law, to consider and see how those impact the budget. Currently, savings in the current year are being used for essential technology upgrades and maintenance; this may not be sustainable in the future.
By changing the revenue and expenditure assumptions, the College uses this tool to have long-term conversations with the Budget Committee. The tool also reinforces the College must continue its work analyzing operations to save costs in the operating budget and allows the College to be proactive rather than reactive, with the opportunity to develop contingency plans for the various scenarios.
C. FY 2026 – 2031 Capital Budget
Ms. Beardmore presented the proposed FY 2026 – 2031 capital budget. The College is required to submit a current year request, FY 2026, plus five out-years due to the multi-year nature of many of these projects. Generally, new construction and renovation projects are eligible for up to 50% state funding. The operating budget and the capital budget will be approved by the Board on February 25.
The Dragun science building renovation is a comprehensive renovation of the entire building. The cost estimated came in at almost double what was initially approved. The scope and budget were reduced by eliminating the building addition. The removal of the addition means that the math faculty will remain in the existing location and look at potential options in the Facilities Master Plan.
Ms. Moore asked if funding for the Dragun building would cover new equipment. Ms. Beardmore responded that the funding would cover the equipment and redesign of the internal space. There will be new furniture, fixtures, and equipment along with the interior renovation.
Regarding the Florestano renovation, previous funding for this project allowed the College to complete the 4th floor Learning Innovation Center. The next phase of the project will allow the College to complete the renovation of the first three floors for a one-stop student services center.
With the completion of the Florestano renovation, the Student Services building will be vacated. The Student Services building will be renovated and include event space for students, Student Engagement offices, and student life offices. While funded by the County, the timeline was pushed out, so this building will sit vacant unless something changes.
Regarding the Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Institute (HCAT) relocation, the HCAT building in Glen Burnie is owned by the County, and over the years, it has experienced severe settlement issues. After discussions with the County, the College determined that relocating the Glen Burnie HCAT location and Humanities HCAT functions into a single location at the Arnold campus would be the most sensible and cost-effective solution. This would be an addition to the Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades building.
The Math building renovation was included in the 2021 Facilities Master Plan Update and is currently being revaluated as part of the 2026 Facilities Master Plan.
The College is requesting $725,000 for campus improvements, which covers unexpected emergencies that require immediate attention as well as high priority deferred maintenance issues.
Funding of $259,000 is requested for upgrading walkways, roads, and parkway projects. FY 2026 funding will be used to repair and replace deteriorated concrete walks and brick paver areas at locations at the Arnold campus.
Systemics projects are higher-level deferred maintenance projects funded every other year. The College is requesting $2,574,024 in FY2026 from the County to replace the Careers Center (CRSC) building roof as the existing roof product is failing.
The College is not requesting new funding for FY 2026 for Information technology enhancements. However, it is requesting $450,000 to support the multi-year project to replace and improve the campus fiber infrastructure that has been in place since 1996.
IV. FY 2026 FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
Mr. Ulvila, the Board representative to the Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee, commented on depth of the analysis for the ten-year Facilities Master Plan. Ms. Beardmore shared that the presentation will be a high-level update on the Facilities Master Plan progress. The Board will have the opportunity to provide input on the draft plan when it is complete and will vote to approve the final plan before it is submitted to the State in January 2026.
She shared that the College is required by the State to complete a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan every 10 years. The last plan was approved and submitted in 2016, with an update in 2021 to align with how the County funds the College’s projects. The State outlines what is included in the master plan by topics, categories, data and benchmarks, and how the College collects and records the data.
The Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee, which includes the Board liaison and representation from each constituency group, as well as an Operations Team, manages the project. The draft plan will be shared in open forums to the College community in April.
Ms. Beardmore introduced the Facilities Master Plan consultants, Ms. Jean Stark and Ms. Sarah Mojzer of JMZ Architects. Ms. Stark commented that they worked on the College’s 2016 master plan and the 2021 update so they were pleased to be a part of the 2026 facilities master planning process.
Ms. Stark discussed the project team, which included a cost advisor on this project, for preliminary cost estimates, and access to the engineering firm that the College hired to conduct a full facilities condition assessment study.
Ms. Stark described the five-step process that started in September 2024 and will continue through January 2026, which includes understanding the institutional profile, evaluating the current state, analyzing the future needs, envisioning campus solutions, and achieving a strategic vision. This is the envision phase where the College looks at the preliminary concepts.
The scope of services included stakeholder engagement; space utilization analysis; enrollment, staffing, and space projections; integration of facilities assessment report; planning concepts and cost estimates; and implementation strategy. Ms. Stark noted that all this information is required by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) in the Facilities Master Plan, including a five-year history of where the College has been and project ten years out in the future.
Ms. Stark highlighted the guiding principles for Facilities Master Plan, and shared headcount enrollment projections from MHEC and the College. JMZ reviewed the facilities assessment and shared the building conditions report. Physical needs that need attention include creating informal learning spaces throughout campus; additional hoteling space; retire outdated/under-utilized structures; improve campus wide space utilization; relocate/collocate expanded math departments and classrooms; improve interior and exterior student engagement spaces on campus; and reduce Glen Burnie Town Center (GBTC) footprint with focus on GED, English Language Learning, continuing education/workforce development, and other credit classes.
Ms. Beardmore mentioned GBTC is a County owned building and is underutilized by the College. The HVAC system is being updated at GBTC starting summer 2025, which will take over a year to complete. The College has been looking into a potential collocation with Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation to share the GTBC space, and this partnership will be revisited after the HVAC system is installed.
Ms. Stark commented that Arundel Mills is underutilized at the moment. JMZ is meeting with the College’s teams to establish goals for the building.
Ms. Mojzer discussed the JMZ planning workshops with the President’s Cabinet on February 12 to review the planned capital project timelines for proposed projects and determine priorities. She also reviewed the project timeline for first three floors of Florestano, Dragun, HCAT, Student Services Building (SSVC), and relocation of the Math department.
Ms. Mojzer showed the Board a conceptual plan for SSVC and Student Union (SUN) buildings, along with three Math consolidation concept options with Math labs, classrooms, and offices all in one area. The three buildings reviewed for the Math relocation were the Careers, Humanities, and Center for Applied Learning and Technology (CALT) buildings. The results of a survey showed 72% of the President’s Cabinet were in favor of moving Math to the Careers building due to the varying level of complexity.
Mr. Keller suggested a food option in the CALT building to increase student activity. Ms. Stark mentioned the challenge of getting a vendor for that space and the health department’s regulations have changed since the Chick-fil-A used the space. There would need to be a fair amount of work necessary to provide infrastructure to have a café there. There is potential in the future for a café in the Math building and they could have a satellite location in CALT, such as coffee, tea, and grab and go type of space or maybe even a high-level vending machine area. Ms. Beardmore emphasized the challenge of getting vendors in CALT when presenting the data and schedules.
Ms. Mojzer presented the concept for the Math building once Math is relocated. This included the Learning Resources Management staff from the Resource Management (RESM) building moving to the second floor and relocating the bookstore and adding café on the first floor.
Ms. Stark presented SUN building renovation concepts. If the bookstore was relocated to the Math building, the dining area could be relocated to the bookstore’s current location. The dining area could be renovated into meeting and event space by removing the columns that exist now. moving the Campus Current newspaper and Amaranth journal to the second floor of the SUN building. The President’s Cabinet second major capital project preference was the renovation of the lower level of the gym for improvements for students and staff. This project would also include facilities maintenance items.
Another capital project concept includes renovation on the library’s first floor and reutilize half of the Technology Learning Center space due to it being underutilized by students. The first option is to relocate tutoring from Careers Building to the library. President’s Cabinet preferred another option, which would create additional study rooms as the next priority small project.
Ms. Mojzer shared President’s Cabinet selections for their top five projects. For Student and Community Engagement, they supported additional study/social spaces, the possibility of a food truck on west campus, and better outdoor gathering spaces. For Building and Site, modernize systems; update/standardize instructional environment/equipment; and modernize building, efficiency, aesthetics, and accessibility projects were preferred. For Academic Programs, expanding offering at Clauson Center for Invocation and Skilled Trades and providing air conditioning was the top option.
Ms. Mojzer and Ms. Stark finished the update by reviewing the preliminary project cost estimates for renovations from now until 2037, and the facilities maintenance cost estimates. The next steps include receiving updated cost estimates based upon the feedback from the President’s Cabinet, and developing an implementation plan.
V. ADJOURNMENT
The Board Budget Workshop adjourned at 11:57 a.m.
Members present: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Devin Keller; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom (via Zoom); Anelle R. Tumminello; and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr.
Absent: Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President
I. Call to Order - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
The meeting was called to order at 4:00pm.
II. Roll Call and Approval of the Agenda - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Before the roll call, Dr. Chien shared that Dr. Lindsay was not able to attend the public session. Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management, was representing the College during her absence.
Dr. Chien also shared that Trustee Shahbaz Chaudhry resigned from the Board of Trustees. Mr. Chaudhry shared that due to unforeseen circumstances, he was not able to dedicate the necessary time and attention to this role, and believed it was in the best interest of the College for him to step down. The Board thanked him for his service and wished him all the best.
Dr. Chien asked for the roll call. Nine trustees were present, and a quorum was established. By motion of Ms. Moore, seconded by Ms. Price-Jones and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the agenda.
III. Welcome and Introductions - Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
Dr. Chien welcomed everyone to the February public session meeting.
IV. Consent Agenda
Dr. Chien presented the Consent Agenda. Mr. Ulvila moved to approve the Consent Agenda, which was seconded by Ms. Moore. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Consent Agenda:
V. Board Committee Reports
A. Reports for February
1. Board Development Committee – Anelle R. Tumminello, Committee Chair
Dr. Chien announced that Trustee Tumminello has assumed the role of Committee Chair for the Board Development Committee following the departure of Mr. Shahbaz.
Ms. Tumminello shared that the committee met on February 6 to discuss key topics, including debriefing from the October 29 board retreat, planning for the Board’s annual training, development of the Board’s annual self-assessment, and other planning activities for the rest of the year. The committee discussed the opportunity to have training on selected topics supportive of the College’s mission, vision, values and goals. They propose having this training in March. The committee outlined the self-assessment process, including determining timing and structure of the self-assessment, reviewing, and revising the Board’s goals, evaluation of the President and setting the President’s goals for the next year, and establishing a timeline for updates from the President.
The next steps will be for the committee to review prior assessments and develop the survey in March, administer the survey in April, and review the results and revise the Board’s goals in May.
2. Board Policy Oversight Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
Ms. Price-Jones reported that the committee met on January 21 and February 17 to review two policies, three policy action requests, and discuss recommendations for a tie vote.
The Employee Performance Management Policy and Shared Governance Policy were presented to the Board as information items and will be presented to the Board as action items at the March Board meeting. The Board currently does not have an Employee Performance Management Policy. This Policy establishes a fair, equitable, and consistent approach to addressing unacceptable behavior, actions, or inactions, including potential discharge.
The Board currently does not have a Shared Governance Policy. This Policy establishes a transparent governance framework that defines roles, responsibilities, and accountability in decision-making across the College’s institutional constituencies. It ensures informed input on policy development and strategic planning while meeting accreditation standards and supporting the College’s mission, vision, values, and goals.
The committee approved a Policy Action Request to review the Board of Trustees Policy on Trustee Emeritus Status, including the time frame for which a former Board of Trustees member is eligible for Emeritus Status. The policy was last updated in 2008.
The committee requested consensus from the Board to delegate authority to the President to create an Interim Campus Hazing Policy, and an Interim Leave Policy. She noted that the Board can delegate authority to the President to approve a policy on an interim basis when urgent action is required, and the time frame does not allow for completion of the full review and approval processes.
In order to comply with federal regulations, the President must establish an Interim Campus Hazing Policy by June 23, 2025. The Stop Campus Hazing Act requires inclusion of hazing statistics in annual security reports, and the implementation of hazing policies, including measures specifically focused on hazing prevention.
The committee also requested consensus from the Board to delegate authority to the President to create an Interim Leave Policy. The Committee originally approved this Policy Action Request on September 6, 2023, to respond to the Time to Care Act and to clarify leave provisions among and across constituency groups. The College would like to revise this Policy Action Request to create an Interim Leave Policy, as the current annual and sick leave process does not align with the System due to a Software Migration. The new process must be implemented by July 1.
Lastly, Ms. Price-Jones reported that as a follow-up to the Board’s Retreat in October, the committee discussed recommendations for addressing tie votes. In reviewing the bylaws, and consistent with Roberts Rules of Order, an affirmative vote requires the majority of the entire Board, except when amending the bylaws, which requires 2/3 vote. In the event of a tie vote, the motion will fail as a majority vote is required for passage.
3. Budget Committee – Sandra E. Moore, Committee Chair
Ms. Moore reported the committee met on January 9 and January 30.
The fiscal year (FY) 2025 operating budget status report as of December 31, 2024, reflected the results of the fall semester, and the preliminary projections for spring. As noted at the Board Budget Workshop, the projections show an overall balanced budget, with the Plant Operations and Maintenance functional area projected to exceed the current appropriation authority due to increased utility rates and snow removal costs. Overall expenses are projected to be under budget primarily due to staff turnover and benefit savings from open positions. In some areas, these savings are offset by strategic year-end purchases identified during the FY 2026 budget development process.
At both meetings, the committee discussed and provided feedback on operating budget scenarios for FY 2026, and the assessment of those scenarios in the achievement of previously agreed-to guiding principles and priorities. The committee also reviewed the proposed FY 2026-2031 capital budget.
Ms. Moore provided some comments regarding the proposed FY 2026 operating and capital Budgets for approval by the Board. In addition to multiple committee meetings, the full Board reviewed the budget at the Board Budget Workshop. That workshop included detailed presentations from the College regarding the FY 2026 operating budget request; the auxiliary, enterprise, and restricted fund appropriation authority; and the FY 2026 - FY 2031 capital budget request.
During the workshop the Board engaged in discussions with the College regarding the budgets, high level trends facing the College, anticipated revenues and expenditures, and the key assumptions and projections contained in the multi-year budget planning tool, acknowledging the significant and uncertain fiscal challenges due to changes at the federal level. The committee also noted the limited revenues available from state and county sources to support the operating costs necessary for ensuring institutional success, and the resulting need for the College to continue its cost containment efforts.
The College’s FY 2026 planning and budget development process focused on reallocating resources in support of initiatives developed under the plan to directly impact student completion. This budget also includes additional funding to support several initiatives related to the key priorities of attracting and retaining quality and diverse faculty and staff, strategic initiatives in support of student success, and legal and regulatory compliance. The proposed budget represents an overall expenditure increase of 4% or $6.2 million compared to the FY 2025 budget.
Ms. Moore shared that the Board appreciates and values the dedication and quality of the faculty and staff who serve AACC students. Knowing that the College’s quality programs and reputation for innovation and excellence are because of its faculty and staff, the budget includes a pool of funds for compensation and benefit increases in support of the Board approved compensation policy. This includes $5.2 million in funding for compensation and benefits including a 6% compensation pool.
After thoughtful consideration and debate, the budget includes a recommendation of a $5 in-county tuition rate increase, representing a 3% increase in tuition and fees. Despite this necessary adjustment, the continued and expanding use of lower-cost course materials will help offset this increase.
The Governor’s FY 2026 budget included a $434,000 or 1% increase in state funding for the College, partially restoring the reduction in funding received in FY 2025. To help offset the continued lag in state funds, the College is requesting a modest increase of $3 million from the County. The focus of the FY 2026 Capital Budget is on deferred maintenance projects, and the renovation of existing buildings to provide innovative spaces to support students. The FY 2026 capital budget will allow the College to complete the construction phase of the renovation of floors 1-3 of the Florestano building and begin the construction phase of the much-needed renovation to the Dragun Science building.
Mr. Ulvila moved to approve the FY 2026 College Operating Budget, which was seconded by Mr. Keller. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the FY 2026 College operating fund budget request in the amount of $145,163,100 and the auxiliary, enterprise, and restricted funds appropriation authority in the amount of $42,342,300 and authorized the President to submit the request to the County Executive. The Board of Trustees reserved the right to revisit the budget after the state and county funding amounts have been finalized.
Ms. Price-Jones moved to accept the FY 2026-2031 Capital Budget, which was seconded by Ms. Pastrone. The Board of Trustees unanimously accepted the FY 2026-2031 capital budget request.
4. AACC Foundation – Dr. Nadine Chien, Liaison
Mr. Keller shared a thank you letter from a student who received a scholarship.
Dr. Chien shared that she had assumed the role of Lead Liaison for the AACC Foundation with the departure of Mr. Chaudhry.
Dr. Chien reported that as of February 15, the AACC Foundation’s fundraising total was over $1.85 million in gifts and commitments. This fall, a retired faculty member and her husband donated a condominium to the Foundation as a charitable contribution. The condominium was sold in December and proceeds from this six-figure gift supported a scholarship and AACC’s HelpLink program. In addition, the Foundation has received several generous gifts to support the Future Nursing Professionals Scholarship. To date this fiscal year, approximately $485,000 has been raised for this initiative and over $255,00 has been raised to support HelpLink and the HelpLink Fund for Nursing.
The AACC Foundation would like to thank the members of the AACC Board of Trustees who have given so generously this year and encourages any members who have not donated to consider a gift of support before June 30. When 100% of the Board gives, it sends a strong message to the community that the Board is truly invested in the College and the students. The Foundation is extremely grateful to all the donors who are supporting AACC students and programs through their generous giving.
5. Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) National Legislative Summit Report – Sandra E. Moore, Trustee
Ms. Moore recently attended the ACCT National Legislative Summit in Washington, DC, as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. After discussion of the risks and benefits, the members decided to change the name of the committee to the Impact and Success committee, which would allow colleges in states that have already eliminated DEI programs to remain members of ACCT. Ms. Moore will attend a meeting on February 28 to assist with the development of a mission statement.
Ms. Moore attended meetings on ACCT legislative priorities, including Pell grant funding, job training, technical education, SNAP access, and the Farm Bill. Key issues included addressing the Pell grant shortfall, eliminating its taxation on housing funds, and expanding its use for short-term training. Discussions also covered the Dream Act for Dreamers’ legal status. Colleges are encouraged to ask their representatives to support the bipartisan House Community College Caucus.
B. No Reports for February
1. Audit & Finance Committee – A. Joyce Price-Jones, Committee Chair
2. Facilities Committee – Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr., Committee Chair
VI. President’s Report – Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management
A. Information Items
1. College Updates – Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management
Ms. Beardmore highlighted the enrollment for the spring semester, as full-time equivalent (FTE) is up 3.5%, and headcount is up 3.7% from this time last year.
She was pleased to announce that AACC was selected to participate in the Maryland Transfer Student Success Intensive with the Aspen Institute. This is a year-long program that helps community colleges and four-year institutions improve transfer student outcomes.
Ms. Beardmore congratulated the recipients of the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Zeitgeist Award: Stephanie Smith-Baker, Program Coordinator for the School of Health Sciences-Medical Coding Program, and Kenneth Gilliard, Student Success and Retention Advisor for the Student Achievement and Success Program. They will be honored at the College’s Impact and Excellence Awards Ceremony in April.
She shared that the College is joining the community to celebrate Black History Month. Several events were planned throughout the month including art exhibits, cooking and dancing demonstrations to inspire, educate and promote engagement in meaningful discussion.
2. New Programs and Certificates – Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner presented the new Emergency Medical Technician certificate program. This certificate was created to address the unmet need for emergency medical technicians and prepares entry level emergency medical responders with a pathway to paramedic training.
Dr. Millner noted that the program consists of coursework that already has full-time faculty and part-time instructors in place. As a result, there are no additional resources required to offer this program, except for the cost associated with providing additional faculty coverage should enrollments grow. Increased enrollment would potentially require new part-time faculty contracts at the current cost of $1,203 per faculty load hour as needed. She will present the new Emergency Medical Technician certificate as an action item to the Board at the March meeting.
3. Academic Forum/Council – Andrew Kim, Chair
Mr. Kim reported there were multiple meetings with College and constituency leadership in January and February, with more planned. Key efforts include collaborating with Dr. Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning to present academic program review results to faculty and staff, with a dedicated Academic Forum meeting on March 26 in the Kauffman Theater. He is also focused on committee service planning, adjusting the Academic Forum charter, and expanding membership.
4. Administrative Staff Organization (ASO) – Dr. Angelo Thalassinidis, President
Dr. Thalassinidis reported that ASO held a policy review and two draft charter changes meetings, with the general meeting postponed to February 26.
He also invited Dr. Darian Senn-Carter to discuss his children's book, The Boy Who Dreamed Big, which celebrates individuality and autism as a superpower. The book, written and illustrated by Dr. Senn-Carter, sold out on its first day.
5. Professional and Support Staff Organization (PSSO) – Rachel Ryckman, Vice President
Ms. Ryckman reported that PSSO started the year actively, hosting a fireside chat and Welcome Back events to connect with constituents. The leadership team is collaborating with the Center for Professional Learning to relaunch the PSSO mini-conference, Professional Development Day, on April 2, offering in-person, hybrid, and virtual sessions on various topics.
PSSO will continue monthly business meetings, enrichment workshops, and leadership election preparations for FY 2026. A virtual Q&A event will help streamline the nomination process.
6. Student Government Association (SGA) – NO REPORT
7. The Faculty Organization (TFO) – Brandi R. Shepard, President
Ms. Shepard reported that TFO met on February 5, with the next meeting on March 6. TFO continues celebrating scholarly work, featuring Professor Matt Klos’s painting sabbatical on American isolationism. He shared his experiences at Towson University, Shasta Community College, and has been invited to present in South Korea this summer.
TFO regularly invites Dr. Lindsay and Vice Presidents to provide updates. In February, Dr. Lindsay discussed FTE headcount and federal compliance efforts. Dr. Kralevich presented on the Colleague SaaS modernization project, with faculty requesting a simplified attendance reporting system.
TFO leadership provides faculty with regular FTE and retention data and is working with the Planning, Research, and Institutional Assessment office to create short educational videos on enrollment and funding impacts. Committee updates include compensation practices for independent study, accessibility improvements, and revisions to the Promotion and Tenure manual. The Adjunct Faculty Affairs Committee seeks a name change to Part-time Faculty Affairs, and the Faculty Mentoring Ad Hoc Committee aims to become permanent.
Ms. Shepard congratulated Simon Ward and his contributors for winning first place in the College Media Association Pinnacle Award for Amaranth, AACC’s student art journal. Additionally, Professor Jen Lara’s Engagement Coach Training Program remains the only community college program with International Coach Federation Level 2 Accreditation, having trained over 600 coaches. She is currently on sabbatical exploring new coaching approaches to elevate and enhance the program.
8. Maryland Association of Community Colleges Activities (MACC) – Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management
Ms. Beardmore reported that the annual MACC Trustee Leadership Conference and Legislative Reception at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis was held last month. At the conference, there were presentations from the American Association of Community Colleges, Achieving the Dream, and discussion about the MACC legislative agenda. One of AACC’s students, Sparsh Verma, was the featured keynote speaker. Ms. Beardmore thanked the board members who were able to attend the event.
On Thursday, February 13 (the same day as the Budget Workshop) thirteen students and five staff participated in MACC’s Student Advocacy Day. This was a wonderful opportunity for the students to speak directly to their elected officials, share their personal stories, and express their gratitude for the continued support for community colleges.
The MACC Legislative Committee continues to meet every Monday to discuss the legislation introduced in this session and other topics affecting community colleges.
B. Action Items
1. Approval of the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar – Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning
Dr. Millner presented the proposed 2025-2026 Academic Calendar for the Board’s approval. Ms. Tumminello moved to approve the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar, which was seconded by Mr. Keller. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar for inclusion in appropriate College publications.
VII. New Business
There was no new business.
VIII. Next Board Meeting
The next public session meeting will be March 11, at 4:00pm.
IX. Vote to Close Meeting – Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair
By motion of Ms. Tumminello, seconded by Mr. Ulvila, and a roll call taken of trustees to determine their vote, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the vote to close the meeting to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and to conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters that relate to the negotiations pursuant to Sections §§ 3-305(b)(7), 3-305(b)(9) and 3-305 (d)(2)(i)(ii) of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Code.
X. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:51pm.
A closed session of the Board of Trustees was held on December 10, 2024, at the Anne Arundel Community College Arnold Campus, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012, in the Cade Center for Fine Arts Building, Room 228. Pursuant to sections §§3-305(b)(8) of the Open Meetings Act, a vote was taken to close the meeting pursuant to the General Provisions Article of the Maryland Annotated Code Section 3-305(d)(2)(i)(ii). The following Board members voted to close the session: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Devin Keller; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle R. Tumminello; and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. The following Board members were present at the meeting: Dr. Nadine Chien, Chair; A. Joyce Price-Jones, Vice Chair; Devin Keller; Sandra E. Moore; Jennifer Pastrone; Roxana Rodriguez; JaCina Stanton-Buttrom; Anelle R. Tumminello; and Lawrence W. Ulvila, Jr. Dr. Dawn Lindsay, President; Melissa Beardmore, Vice President for Learning Resources Management; Dr. Rick Kralevich, Vice President for Information and Instructional Technology; Dr. Tanya Millner, Provost/Vice President for Learning; Dr. Felicia Patterson, Vice President for Learner Support Services; Dr. Tiffany Boykin, General Counsel; and Monica Rausa, Special Assistant to the President were present as well. The topic discussed included consultation about pending or potential litigation. The meeting began at 5:18 p.m. and ended at 5:33 p.m.