Coordinating Board for Higher Education Meeting Minutes 09-26-06

Coordinating Board for Higher Education
Minutes of Meeting
September 26, 2006

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) met via conference call at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 26, 2006.

Members present were:

Kathryn Swan, Chair
David Cole
Lowell C. Kruse
Duane Schreimann
Gregory Upchurch
Earl Wilson, Jr.

Members absent were:

Martha Boswell
Jeanne Patterson

Others present were:

Martha Davis, Executive Search Consultant, The Davis Group
Matthew Franck, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Peter Lyskowski, Missouri Attorney General's Office
Jim Matchefts, Assistant Commissioner and General Counsel, MDHE
Brenda Miner, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner, MDHE

Discussion of Appointment of Interim Commissioner of Higher Education

With the presence of a quorum established, Chair Kathryn Swan called the meeting to order. Chair Swan met with individually with senior staff on Monday, September 26 to discuss their thoughts about the board potentially appointing an interim commissioner of higher education. Chair Swan noted that she had distributed these notes to the board for their review. Board members briefly discussed their concern for stability and leadership within the department. Board members also discussed the need to move aggressively to successfully complete the search for a permanent interim commissioner in time for the next legislative session.

Search consultant Martha Davis provided the board with an update on the progress related to the permanent commissioner search process. The board agreed that a more detailed discussion regarding the permanent commissioner search will be held during the board work session on Wednesday, October 11.

Mr. Duane Schreimann moved that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education proceed aggressively toward successfully completing the permanent commissioner search, continue the operation of the Department of Higher Education under the current senior staff leadership, with Robert Stein serving as Acting Deputy Commissioner with assistance from Martha Davis to define the role, responsibilities, and scope of the Acting Deputy Commissioner position. Mr. Gregory Upchurch seconded the motion and it passed with the following vote:

Member -- Vote

Martha Boswell -- Absent
David Cole -- Aye
Lowell Kruse -- Aye
Jeanne Patterson -- Absent
Duane Schreimann -- Aye
Kathryn Swan -- Aye
Gregory Upchurch -- Aye
Earl Wilson, Jr. -- Aye

Mr. Kruse emphasized the continued need to prepare the department to be attractive to the very best candidate by reaching an agreement with key legislators and the governor's office relating to the role of the department and the need to rebuild the department with both FTE and additional funding.

Adjournment

There being no further business to discuss Mr. Duane Schreimann moved for adjournment, Mr. Earl Wilson, Jr. seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:22 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Brenda Miner
Executive Assistant to the Commissioner