Accreditation - Hartnell College!!

Institutional Self Evaluation – 12-05-12
only by persons with a particular interest in the topic, say, the Accountability Report, and so
a robust discussion and learning session can occur. (IV.B.38). A quorum of Board members
has attended each of these workshops, with topics including shared governance, the budget,
the Brown Act, the discontinuance process, and accreditation (IV.B.39). Depending on the
nature of the topic, the presenters may be Hartnell personnel, outside experts, or both.
Board development also occurs during onsite workshops, through training at CCLC
conferences, and at an annual retreat. Board members are encouraged to attend conferences
designed to educate trustees, and require that members report back on what they learn so that
all members may benefit from the conference attendance of any one member.
The importance of and commitment to the Board‘s education, including orientation, is
enshrined in Board Policy 2740, which states that the Board is committed to ongoing
development and continuous improvement, and that it ―recognizes the necessity for members
to engage in educational and development opportunities as well as assessment and
reflection.‖
Orientation for new Board members is conducted at an annual retreat scheduled the January
following a board election (IV.B.40). At least one new Board member has been elected in
each cycle, and orientations are held regularly and in public. According to that Board policy,
at these retreats, the Board will ―consider accomplishments and challenges and goal setting.‖
Each new member is invited to initially meet with the superintendent/president, given
packets of materials containing the current budget, recent meeting agendas and minutes, and
other training documents. Trustees are invited to regular meetings with the
superintendent/president on matters relating to the operations of the college.
Board policy 1200 (IV.B.41) defines the seven trustee areas. Elections are staggered
(IV.B.42) and held in odd-numbered years: elections in district areas 1, 2, and 3 are held at
the same time, and elections in districts 4, 5, 6, and 7 are held two years later.
In the last six years, two vacancies occurred when the sitting Board member moved out of
the District. In 2007, the Board member moved four months before the election date, and his
seat was left vacant until the regularly-scheduled election was conducted. In the 2008 case,
there was a year left in the vacating trustee‘s term, and so the Board decided to appoint a new
trustee to fill the remaining year of the term. Because a policy for filling such vacancies did
not exist, the Board followed Election Code (IV.B.45) in recruiting applicants for the
position, interviewing four applicants in a public forum, and selecting a trustee from that pool
(IV.B.43). However, some community members executed a successful recall effort, the
appointee was removed after serving at only one meeting, and one of the other applicants was
elected to the position (IV.B.44). Nine months later, he successfully defended his seat in the
general election.
Self Evaluation
Board development is a clear priority for this Board, enshrined in Board policy and
manifested in new member orientation and regularly monthly Board Development
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