Attending: John M. Crisp, Mike Gadell, Homer Garza, Noe Guerra, Dolores Huerta, Mattie Marcum, William Mareth, Vickie Natale, Mary Peña, Jim Pierce (Chair), Lisa Welch.

Not Attending: None

Others Attending: Kay Carroll, Mike Dunton, Berta Flores, Pete Flores, Ismael Garcia, Jo Ann Luckie, Charles Miller, Jenny Mohundro, Rosa Linda Reynoso, Maryann Williams.

The Self-Study Plan: Chair Jim Pierce distributed to the committee a draft of the first half of the Self-Study Plan and said that he would distribute the rest of it by the end of May or early June. He requested that Committee members return their comments on the first half to him within the next two weeks.

The Survey: Pierce said that the Principal Committees should develop the survey questions that they will need for the fall survey and turn them in to him by the end of June for review by the Steering Committee. He said that the Steering Committee would hold a workshop on the survey in late May or early June for the chairs of the Principal Committees. Vickie Natale and Pierce will put the questions into their final form. Employees who are on campus will be surveyed in August; the others will be surveyed in early September. The results of the survey should be back to the committees by mid- to late September. Pierce said, however, that the Principal Committees should begin working on the other parts of their reports that do not depend on survey data. Vickie Natale distributed copies of the five surveys that DMC used during its last Self-Study, as well as surveys from Laredo Community College and community colleges in Houston.

Additional Discussion: Pierce distributed copies of the SACS Handbook for Peer Evaluators to the Steering Committee and Principal Committee Chairs who were present; he said that he would send them to the other Principal Committee Chairs, as well. Natale distributed to the Steering Committee copies of the Institutional Effectiveness Unit Plans and reported that the unit plans were being considered by the Council on Institutional Effectiveness. She said also that she has developed a form for evaluating progress with the unit plans. Pierce pointed out that institutional effectiveness will be an important consideration for all of the Principal Committees, not just the Institutional Effectiveness Committee.

The Physical Resources Committee: Liaison Homer Garza presented an overview of the work of the Physical Resources Committee (Section 6.4 of the Criteria). He pointed out that the nine "must" statements in the committee's section of the Criteria cover the buildings and equipment on both campuses, as well as the "master plan" for the institution. Natale said that the master plan is produced by the coordinating architect and approved by the Board. Charles Miller pointed out that the master plan applies to both campuses and that it is updated regularly to accommodate instructional needs. Pierce said that the Physical Resources Committee should consider whether the unit plans will require changes in the master plan. Mike Gadell suggested that the committee might consider Coordinating Board criteria for classroom space requirements. Natale said that the Coordinating Board does not have space requirement criteria for community college classrooms but that she has worked from their criteria for institutions similar to DMC. She added that the committee will need to consider the recent construction and remodeling and advised caution about using the Coordinating Board model, since it is based on peak enrollment and DMC's numbers are currently down. Gadell pointed out that the committee will need to consider whether "must" statements regarding "equipment" in its area of the Criteria will overlap with those that the Computer Resources and Services Committee is examining.

Garza asked (in connection with 6.4.2) about the existence of a document for scheduling and monitoring maintenance. Natale said that a maintenance schedule document was presented to the Board last year. Pierce said that this is an area where the committee may want to spot check adherence to the maintenance schedule, pointing out that the committee is responsible only for assessing whether the schedule is being followed. Maryann Williams asked about the criteria for determining compliance, and Pierce said that spot checks with appropriate personnel would be one way of determining compliance.

In connection with 6.4.3 (Safety and Security), Natale said that the committee should consider documents that are being developed for both campuses regarding safety. Pierce said that Joe Alaniz, having just returned from a site visit in North Carolina, might be a good consult regarding safety and physical facilities and Natale suggested talking with architect Jack Solka.

Closing Discussion: Pierce said that in the fall the Steering Committee will continue discussing the responsibilities of the Principal Committees. He reminded the Principal Committee Chairs about the need to develop survey questions and about the workshop in late May or early June regarding the survey. He recommended that Principal Committees review the Self-Studies of other campuses; he has five available for checkout. A Self-Study office will be set up in late summer or early fall on the fifth floor of the library.

Next Steering Committee Meeting: Fall 1998.

Minutes prepared by John M. Crisp.