TMCnet News
Oliveira honored for service to TSC [The Brownsville Herald, Texas](Brownsville Herald (TX) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 22--The Texas Southmost College Board of Trustees approved the execution of a contract for up to $1 million in outsourced information technology services with an Austin-based consulting firm at a Monday night meeting. The action was another crucial step in the community college's journey to end its partnership with the University of Texas at Brownsville. Moments before, the board also said goodbye to longtime trustee David Oliveira, an adamant opponent of the UTB-TSC split. The split made Monday's vote on an IT contract necessary. Trustees also approved final results from the board election this month in which voter turnout was only 2.05 percent. Trustees voted to officially declare Reynaldo Garcia and Ramon Champion Hinojosa new board members. They are to be sworn in at the next board meeting on May 31, officials said. As the Herald first reported in September 2011, IT services are some of the many assets that became intertwined as the partnership developed. On Monday, TSC President Lily Tercero said the college is aiming for state of the art technology. The contract will require a budget amendment, said Chet Lewis, TSC vice president for finance and administration. "We do have the funds available," Tercero said. In a presentation to the board Lewis eventually recommended Austin's Dynamic Campus firm and said TSC's focus would be developing a system that supports student success and accountability. He also presented the advantages and disadvantages of options other than outsourcing, such as an in-house process and sharing services. He said UTB currently holds the data for TSC students. The $1 million price tag is for phase one of creating a new TSC system, which includes the creation of a new TSC website, the provision of network services such as email and phone, a help desk and a cloud, or protected Internet connection, for the school's data. The phase will take place May 30 to Dec. 30. "We do anticipate that this will be costly," Lewis said. "We still have some budgetary issues that we have to address." Tercero said the process must be developed in phases because of the partnership. There are still discussions that must occur for adjustments to the partnership agreement, Lewis said. Board Chairman Francisco "Kiko" Rendon said TSC is paying UTB for these services and must do so until TSC reaches operational separation in fall 2013. It was acknowledged that the timeline is tight. Richard Middaugh, Dynamic Campus senior vice president, said the system must be structured to be fully prepared for TSC's first fall as an independent school. Lewis said the request for proposal that TSC sent out for the IT services contract only received two responses by March 20. He said this was not surprising considering that TSC required fixed costs. There will be future costs as well, including the price for a remote data center to hold TSC data. Middaugh said his firm, which was created in 2000 and has 60 current clients in higher education, will move people here to work for TSC. He also said the company will hire about 17 people and try to employ locals. He said Dynamic Campus doesn't sell products, making it objective. "We're contracting for outcomes," Middaugh said. He added that TSC's position of starting "anew" is attractive to the company. "That is very interesting and intriguing for us," he said. Lewis said TSC's IT services are an important backbone for the school. "We've got one time to get this right," he said. Earlier in the meeting during public comments, the president of the UTB-TSC staff senate spoke to the trustees, seeming to allude to TSC's hiring process. This is another crucial step for the community college coming soon. David Marquez said the separation at first led to confusion and uncertainty, but that current faculty and staff are at the ready to work for the community. "There was never any doubt about the work we do and why we do it," he said. At the start of the meeting, Oliveira spoke to the audience about his 18 years of service on the board. His father, Arnulfo L. Oliveira, served as president of TSC and what then Pan American University at Brownsville from 1971 to 1977. "Some of my most wonderful memories are the time I spent on this campus," Oliveira said. Tercero and Trustees Adela Garza, Juan "Trey" Mendez, Robert Lozano and Rene Torres said they respected Oliveira and thanked him for his service with a resolution in his honor. A resolution recognizing Trustee Roberto Robles, who served 14 years on the board, also was presented. Robles was absent from the meeting, as he has been for the past several TSC board meetings. Oliveira thanked many individuals. He spoke briefly about the sometimes heated exchanges that occurred as discussion of ending the UTB-TSC partnership occurred. "Well it's been contentious at times, but I certainly hold no grudges or ill will towards any of you," he told his fellow board members. Lozano, as other trustees also said, told Oliveira he would be missed, but the legacy of what he helped build would stay. "The Oliveira name will always be on this campus," Lozano said. ___ (c)2012 The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Texas) Visit The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Texas) at www.brownsvilleherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |