Minutes are not final until approved by the Board of Regents at the June 2007 meeting

Transcription

1 Minutes are not final until approved by the Board of Regents at the June 2007 meeting BOARD OF REGENTS* and its CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION Aspen Building, Sarah Winnemucca Hall Western Nevada Community College 2201 West College Parkway, Carson City Thursday, March 15, 2007 Members Present: Others Present: Dr. Stavros Anthony, Chair Mr. Cedric Crear Dr. Thalia M. Dondero Mrs. Dorothy S. Gallagher Mr. Ron Knecht Mr. James E. Rogers, Chancellor Mr. Bart Patterson, Chief Counsel Dr. Jane Nichols, Vice Chancellor Mrs. Crystal Abba, Assistant Vice Chancellor Ms. Linda Heiss, Director of Institutional Research Mr. Neil Woolf, Research Analyst Dr. Paul Killpatrick, President, GBC Dr. Fred Maryanski, President, NSC Dr. Philip Ringle, President, TMCC Dr. Arthur Byrd, CCSN Dr. Carlos Campo, CCSN Dr. Jeff Foshee, CCSN Mr. Richard Hinckley, CCSN Dr. Michael Richards, CCSN Ms. Judy Stewart, CCSN Ms. F. Anne Zemek de Dominguez, CCSN Dr. Bill Albright, DRI Mr. Greg Bortolin, DRI Dr. Chris Maples, DRI Ms. Carol Ford, GBC Ms. Lynn Mahlberg, GBC Dr. Mike McFarlane, GBC Dr. Jim LaBuda, NSC Dr. Francine Mayfield, NSC Dr. John Adlish, TMCC Dr. Juanita Chrysanthou, TMCC Ms. Heather Graham, TMCC Dr. Jowel Laguerre, TMCC Ms. B.J. North, TMCC Dr. Hal Berghel, UNLV Dr. Michael Bowers, UNLV (CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 06/21/07) Ref. CDS-1, Page 1 of 6

2 Cultural Diversity and Security Committee Minutes Page 2 Others Present: (continued) Dr. Juanita Fain, UNLV Mr. Richard Linstrom, UNLV Dr. Rebecca Mills, UNLV Dr. Ron Smith, UNLV Dr. John Frederick, UNR Ms. Robin Gonzalez, UNR Ms. Connie Capurro, WNCC Ms. Andrea Doran, WNCC Mr. Dennis Cobb, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept. Faculty senate chairs in attendance were Dr. Linda Uhlenkott, GBC; Dr. William Robinson, UNLV; and Dr. Michelle Rousselle, WNCC. Student government leaders in attendance were Mr. Jonathan King and Mr. Anthony Williams, ASTM. Chair Stavros S. Anthony called the meeting to order at 10:43 a.m. with all members present except Regents Gallagher and Knecht. 1. Approved-Minutes The Committee recommended approval of the minutes from the January 25, 2007 meeting (Ref. CDS-1 on file in the Board office). Regent Dondero moved approval of the minutes from the January 25, 2007 meeting. Regent Crear seconded. Motion carried. Regents Gallagher and Knecht were absent. 2. Information Only-Report on the Chancellor s Diversity Roundtables - Chancellor James E. Rogers reported on the series of roundtable discussions that he has hosted over the past year. Chancellor James E. Rogers reported that approximately three years ago various minority groups in Las Vegas began approaching him with concerns that the institutions of higher education in southern Nevada were unresponsive to the needs of minorities. In an effort to reconnect the System to the community in which it operates, Chancellor Rogers began hosting a series of monthly luncheon meetings which gave the institution presidents an opportunity to discuss diversity initiatives at their campuses. The meetings started with approximately attendees and have grown to about 50. Chancellor Rogers stated that each of the presidents has been very responsive, and the discussions have helped to solve some of the issues that exist between the System and the minority communities in Las Vegas. He will continue to host the meetings once a month as long as there is an interest in them. Chair Anthony encouraged Chancellor Rogers to bring forward any issue in which the Committee may be interested. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 06/21/07) Ref. CDS-1, Page 2 of 6

3 Cultural Diversity and Security Committee Minutes Page 3 2. Information Only-Report on the Chancellor s Diversity Roundtables (continued) Regent Crear thanked Chancellor Rogers for organizing the meetings and providing the community with access to System officials. Dr. Jane Nichols, Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, stated that the next Committee meeting will include a presentation on inclusive education and diversity in the classroom. 3. Information Only-Request for Information from the January 25, 2007 Committee Meeting - In response to the Committee s request, staff presented information that included the following: A. A summary of UNR s policies and practices related to recruitment and retention of minority faculty (Ref. CDS-3a on file in the Board office); and B. UNR, TMCC and WNCC statistics on campus crime pursuant to the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Crime Statistics Act (20 USC 1092) (Ref. CDS-3b on file in the Board office). Chair Anthony directed attention to the information presented in the reference material. There were no additional questions or comments from the Committee. 4. Approved-Handbook Revision, Background Checks for Child Care Workers The Committee recommended approval of a new Board policy (Title 4, Chapter 3, Section 40) regarding background checks for child care workers. Regents Gallagher and Knecht entered the meeting. Mr. Bart Patterson, Chief Counsel, reported that current background checks of NSHE child care center employees include the printing of fingerprints onto a card which is then scanned by the state and sent to the FBI for clearance. The FBI check is considered to be the best available today; however, results can be delayed for up to 60 days primarily because of the time it takes for the state to scan the fingerprint cards. If the System had the capability to digitally impose the fingerprints at the time they are taken, it would take just 5-7 days to receive a report. State law allows a person to begin working as soon as they have submitted their application and fingerprints. The objective of the proposed policy (Ref. CDS-4 on file in the Board office) is to fill the gap that occurs between the time when a person starts working and when the results come back from their background check. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 06/21/07) Ref. CDS-1, Page 3 of 6

4 Cultural Diversity and Security Committee Minutes Page 4 4. Approved-Handbook Revision, Background Checks for Child Care Workers (continued) Chief Counsel Patterson reviewed the following options presented in the policy: 1) allow the person to begin working under the supervision of another employee whenever children are present; 2) pay a national firm to conduct a background check in 3-5 days, although it would not be quite as thorough as the FBI check that occurs later; or 3) have the person obtain a Sheriff s work card. Chief Counsel Patterson noted that option three is actually a longer process and can be removed from the policy proposal at the request of the Committee. Chief Counsel Patterson reported that the state has received a federal grant to place digital scanning equipment at state entities. He recommended that the police departments at UNR, UNLV and CCSN explore the possibility of obtaining that type of equipment through the grant. Regent Dondero inquired about the liability of the campus if an incident should occur before a background check has been completed. Chief Counsel Patterson replied that there is always a potential liability issue; however, having another employee present at all times does significantly reduce the risk. Regent Dondero then inquired about the cost to the campus if something were to happen. Chief Counsel Patterson replied that a cap of $50,000 would apply in most situations, but the greater liability would obviously be the impact on the child. Chair Anthony asked whether the NSHE child care centers have sufficient staffing resources to ensure that their employees are properly supervised. Chief Counsel Patterson replied that he believes there is sufficient staffing. Ms. Carol Ford, Center Director, GBC, reported that every center has a handbook and follows the procedure of having two teachers in the classroom at all times. With regard to background checks, Ms. Ford noted that the Department of Health and Human Services is trying to speed up the clearance process. Chair Anthony asked whether the proposed policy is workable. Ms. Ford replied that it is. Chair Anthony then asked whether all of the centers will use a uniform application for employment. Ms. Ford replied that GBC uses its own application for screening purposes, and then has preferred candidates complete the application provided by the state. Chair Anthony observed that the policy states the application will ask about convictions, arrests involving child abuse, current use of illegal drugs, prior employment for the past ten years and professional references. Ms. Andrea Doran, Center Director, WNCC, stated that the application provided by the Department of Health and Human Services already includes all of that information. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 06/21/07) Ref. CDS-1, Page 4 of 6

5 Cultural Diversity and Security Committee Minutes Page 5 4. Approved-Handbook Revision, Background Checks for Child Care Workers (continued) With regard to the application itself, Chief Counsel Patterson stated that the institutions can choose to incorporate the additional information into the standard application form that is used by all departments or create a supplemental form specifically for the child care centers. Ms. Doran noted that most head teachers at WNCC s child care center are classified staff and, therefore, use the state application. A greater percentage of center staff are part-time employees and follow a separate application process. Regent Gallagher moved approval of the proposed policy on background checks for child care workers. Regent Knecht seconded. Motion carried. 5. Information Only-Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Research and Operations Center (ITFF/ROC) - The Co-Directors of the ITFF/ROC, Dr. Hal Berghel, Associate Dean, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, UNLV, and Deputy Chief Dennis Cobb of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) made a presentation describing this equal partnership between UNLV and LVMPD to create technology that may be used to help prevent and prosecute identity theft and financial fraud. Chair Anthony reported that he served as chair of the Governor s public safety task force and identity theft was identified as one of the three most serious issues facing the state. Dr. Hal Berghel, Associate Dean, UNLV, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Research and Operations Center (Ref. CDS-5 on file in the Board office). Deputy Chief Dennis Cobb, LVMPD, demonstrated the CardSleuth software application and scanner which is designed to support human decision making. When scanned, a valid credit card will register a green light. If the information on a credit card is not good, a buzzer will sound and the scanner will register a red light. Deputy Chief Cobb stated that the software also allows for the encryption of a person s picture into the bar code on the back of their driver s license so it cannot be modified. Other potential uses include the creation of special credentials for use during crisis situations or special events. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 06/21/07) Ref. CDS-1, Page 5 of 6

6 Cultural Diversity and Security Committee Minutes Page 6 5. Information Only-Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Research and Operations Center (ITFF/ROC) (continued) Regent Crear asked if the project has been well received within the police department. Deputy Chief Cobb replied that there are many people who recognize the value of the project. Development of the software and scanner is about 80% complete; however, the production side of the project is still very complex. Deputy Chief Cobb reported that Senator Ensign s office earmarked funds that were used to provide technology to LVMPD detectives so they could capture and share information with UNLV. In addition, both UNLV and the LVMPD Foundation provided funding for the project. Regent Dondero asked what is needed to complete the project. Deputy Chief Cobb replied that increased visibility, money and time are needed. Chair Anthony asked if there is anything the Committee can do to provide assistance. Deputy Chief Cobb replied that space is a concern. The lease on the building that currently houses the project expires in July. Chair Anthony asked Chancellor Rogers to look into the lease issue and determine if the System can provide assistance. Chief Counsel Patterson asked how the issue of technology transfer is addressed within the joint project. Chief Deputy Cobb replied that there is no precedent. The issue of technology transfer will have to be addressed along the way. Dr. Berghel noted that the patent is jointly held between UNLV and LVMPD. Chief Counsel Patterson stated that he was just informed by Mr. Richard Linstrom, Vice President and General Counsel, UNLV, that his office is working with LVMPD s counsel to determine how the technology might transfer into an actual commercial venture. 6. Public Comment None. 7. New Business Regent Dondero suggested that Dr. Berghel and Chief Deputy Cobb make a presentation to the Nevada Development Authority (NDA) on the Identity Theft and Financial Fraud Research and Operations Center. Chancellor Rogers offered to explore the possibility with the NDA. The meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m. Scott G. Wasserman Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Regents (CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 06/21/07) Ref. CDS-1, Page 6 of 6