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WINTHROP UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
February 8-10, 2002
Baruch Room, Joynes Conference Center
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Friday,
February 8, 2002
Members
present:
Skip Tuttle (Chair), Larry Durham, Bob Gahagan, Sanita
Savage Frazier, Anne K. Hall, A. Watts Huckabee, Mary Jean
Martin, Bob Thompson, David White, and Anthony J. DiGiorgio (ex
officio).
Members absent:
E. Thomas Crowson, Glenda Owens, Jane Shuler
Board Staff
present:
Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board
Others present:
Hugh Hadsock, Jennifer Stanley (The Rock Hill Herald),
and Winthrop University students, faculty and staff.
The Board of Trustees met on Friday,
February 8, 2002 at 2:45 p.m. in the Baruch Room of the Joynes
Conference Center at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Skip Tuttle called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m
Public Comment
Winthrop University student Simon Moore commented on the
need to re-establish the Student Government Association and
asked for the Board to be supportive of student efforts in this
regard.
Approval of Board Minutes of December 15, 2001
Bob Thompson moved, seconded by Mary Jean Martin, to approve
the minutes as presented. This motion passed unanimously
by voice vote.
Resolution in Honor of Dr. Gloria Godfrey Jones, Margaret
M. Bryant Professor
Skip Tuttle reviewed the criteria for selection of the
Margaret M. Bryant Professor and announced that Dr. Gloria
Godfrey Jones had been designated as the Bryant Professor for
the next four years. Bob Thompson moved and seconded the
adoption of this Resolution and it was adopted unanimously by
voice vote. Chairman Tuttle read the Resolution and made a
presentation to Dr. Gloria Godfrey Jones. Dr. Jones
thanked the Board and commented that she would not have been
able to receive this recognition without a Department Chair and
a Dean who encourage excellence.
Report of the Executive Committee
Chairman Tuttle reported that the Executive Committee of the
Board of Trustees met in Rock Hill during the afternoon of
January 30, 2002. He stated that the Executive Committee
reviewed and discussed several matters but took no action.
Chairman Tuttle noted that highlights of
the Committee’s meeting included a positive report on the
progress of legislation to restructure the Board’s membership.
He also reported that President DiGiorgio had been asked to
Chair the Commission on Higher Education’s Strategic Plan
Implementation Task Force and that Trustee Bob Thompson had been
invited to serve as a business representative on the same Task
Force. Chairman Tuttle reported that the University’s
Capital Campaign would be extended for one year, that
applications for admissions have increased 23%, and that the
process for rezoning all university property
“Office/Institutional” has been completed by the City of
Rock Hill.
Report of the Academic Affairs Committee
Bob Thompson reported that the Committee had met and
approved the minutes of its November meeting. He also
reported that the Committee had given support for the
distribution to the full Board of a memorandum authored by Bob
Thompson regarding General Education. Bob Thompson noted
that he hoped the memorandum would be a basis for discussing
General Education issues during the course of the Retreat.
Report of the Finance Committee
Mary Jean Martin reported that the Committee had met and
approved the minutes of its November meeting. She also
reported that there were no other items on the Committee’s
agenda.
Report of the University Relations Committee
Bob Gahagan reported that the Committee had met but that
there was not a quorum and so the minutes of its November
meeting would have to be approved at the Committee’s April
meeting. He also reported that there were no other items
on the Committee’s agenda.
Report from the Chair of Faculty Conference
Faculty Conference Chair James Johnston welcomed the Board
members to campus and stated that he would save his remarks
related to General Education and faculty compensation until
those issues would be addressed during the Retreat.
Report from the President
President DiGiorgio reported that much of the Retreat would
be devoted to discussing continued growth in a qualitative way.
He reviewed the status of the state budget, noting that it
appeared there would be no cuts announced in February but that
it is still possible additional rescissions would be called for
before the end of the fiscal year. He also reported on the
status of lottery funds legislation and the Governor’s
proposal to fund endowed chairs at the state’s research
universities. He also noted the efforts underway to
convert USC-Beaufort into a four-year institution, possibly
without approval being required from the General Assembly.
President DiGiorgio reported on the real
decline in state funding support for higher education over the
past twelve years and how the state’s financial situation
would have to inform the Board’s discussions during the course
of the Retreat. He reviewed the history of the financing
of the Sims Science Building as an example and invited Board
members to tour the new facility during its Open House following
the Board meeting.
Old Business
There was no Old Business.
New Business
Chairman Tuttle introduced Hugh Hadsock to the Board, noting
that Mr. Hadsock is one of the two candidates for two seats on
the Board to be elected by the General Assembly. Chairman
Tuttle stated that Mr. Hadsock had been invited to attend the
Retreat and welcomed him.
Recess
At 3:20 p.m. the Board recessed until Saturday, February 9
at 9:00 a.m. The Board members toured the newly renovated
Sims Science Building on the afternoon of Friday, February 8.
In the evening the Board members attended a dinner at the home
of Trustee David White and a theatre production on the campus of
Winthrop University. The Board took no actions during
these events.
Saturday, February 9, 2002
Members
present:
Skip Tuttle (Chair), Larry Durham, Bob Gahagan, Sanita
Savage Frazier, Anne K. Hall, A. Watts Huckabee, Mary Jean
Martin, Jane Shuler, Bob Thompson, David White, and Anthony J.
DiGiorgio (ex officio).
Members absent:
E. Thomas Crowson, Glenda Owens.
Board Staff
present:
Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board
Others present:
Hugh Hadsock, Karl Folkens, Chrissie Needham, Jennifer
Stanley (The Rock Hill Herald) and Winthrop University
staff.
The Board of Trustees met on Saturday,
February 9, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. in the Baruch Room of the Joynes
Conference Center at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Skip Tuttle called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
He introduced and welcomed Karl Folkens noting that Mr. Folkens
is one of the two candidates for two seats on the Board to be
elected by the General Assembly. Chairman Tuttle stated
that Mr. Folkens had been invited to attend the Retreat.
Chairman Tuttle also introduced Chrissie Needham, Chair of the
Council of Student Leaders, and noted that Ms. Needham had been
invited by the Executive Committee to attend the Retreat to
offer a student perspective on issues under consideration.
Chairman Tuttle noted that the Board would
be considering many issues related to growth and the Board’s
responsibility to accommodate growth opportunities.
“Campus Development and Growth”
President DiGiorgio reviewed the facilities needs addressed
in the past year, including projects that had been completed and
those that remain in progress. He then made a presentation
to the Board outlining facilities needs and funding sources,
noting capital projects with funding expectations and those
needs where funding had not been identified or obtained.
Trustees encouraged the President to proceed with the plans and
timelines as outlined. The President noted that he would
keep the Board updated on the progress of individual items and
come to the Board for action as appropriate in the
implementation of the plans outlined.
Stephen Turner, Director of the Rock Hill
Economic Development Corporation (“RHEDC”), then joined the
meeting and made a presentation to the Board regarding the
progress of the Old Town Renaissance project and the next steps
to be considered, including planning for light rail service and
other ideas related to refurbishing and developing the
“Textile Corridor” area between the Winthrop University
campus and the downtown area of Rock Hill.
Executive Session
Larry Durham moved that the Board go into Executive Session
for discussion of contractual matters. Mary Jean Martin
seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously by voice
vote. The Board then convened in Executive Session. No
actions were taken in Executive Session. David White
moved, seconded by Bob Thompson, that the Board return to Open
Session.
Resolution Delegating Authority to
Executive Committee to enter into Cooperative Planning Agreement
David White moved, seconded by Bob Gahagan,
that the Board delegate authority to its Executive Committee to
work toward, and make a final determination on, a Cooperative
Planning Agreement with the RHEDC and other appropriate parties
along the lines and terms presented for consideration during the
Executive Session. The motion was approved unanimously by voice
vote.
Lunch Recess and Bus Tour
Members of the Board then took a lunch recess, followed by a
bus tour of the campus and surrounding area. No actions
were taken during these events.
“Ventures” Update and Review of Growth Implications
President DiGiorgio made a presentation to the Board
updating progress in the past year on initiatives for the
University. Among the topics on which he reported were how
the University was sustaining excellence through maintaining
accreditations, making final decisions about revising the
General Education curriculum, taking steps to renew the
intellectual climate of the campus, revitalizing existing degree
programs, and exploring new degree programs. The President
also outlined progress in the areas of infusing global
perspectives, technology and leadership throughout the Winthrop
community and educational experience. President DiGiorgio
concluded by discussing the need to create dedicated revenue
streams for quality enhancements in the areas of faculty and
staff salaries and professional development, technology, and
capital projects.
President DiGiorgio then made a
presentation regarding data on recent growth and the costs
associated with projected or potential growth in terms of
staffing, facilities, and related matters.
Recess
The Board recessed until Sunday, February 10 at 9:00 a.m.
During the evening of Saturday, February 9 members of the Board
of Trustees attended a dinner at the Winthrop Coliseum and then
attended a Men’s Basketball Game. The Board took no
actions during these events.
Sunday, February 10, 2002
Members
present:
Skip Tuttle (Chair), Larry Durham, Sanita Savage Frazier,
Bob Gahagan, A. Watts Huckabee, Mary Jean Martin, Jane Shuler,
Bob Thompson, David White, and Anthony J. DiGiorgio (ex
officio).
Members
absent:
E. Thomas Crowson, Anne K. Hall, Glenda Owens.
Board Staff
present:
Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board
Others present:
Hugh Hadsock, Karl Folkens, Jennifer Stanley (The Rock
Hill Herald), and Winthrop University staff.
The Board of Trustees met on Sunday,
February 10, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. in the Baruch Room of the Joynes
Conference Center at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Skip Tuttle called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
General Education
President DiGiorgio and Faculty Conference Chair Jim
Johnston reviewed recent developments and discussions related to
revising the General Education curriculum. Bob Thompson
reviewed the memorandum that he had brought to the Academic
Affairs Committee, noting that he had circulated the memorandum
to give the Board an opportunity to once again state its support
for the process and a desire to see it come to a timely
conclusion reflecting the original goals and principles.
There was discussion of how the Board should formally express
this view and questions regarding the timeline for
implementation of the revised curriculum assuming its adoption
during Spring 2002. Bob Thompson offered language for a
resolution as follows:
Whereas, the core
curriculum represents Winthrop University’s values and beliefs
which it wishes to transmit to the young people with whom we are
entrusted; and
Whereas, the Board of
Trustees of Winthrop University wishes to reaffirm the
importance of the General Education curriculum to Winthrop’s
aspirations for distinction;
Therefore let it be
resolved that the Winthrop University Board of Trustees applauds
the progress to date by our faculty; encourages and supports the
process established by the faculty for General Education reform;
reaffirms our belief in the principles and objectives involved;
and urges timely movement toward this important goal.
Bob Gahagan moved formal adoption of this
Resolution by the Board. The motion was seconded by Mary
Jean Martin and adopted unanimously by voice vote.
Compensation and Professional Development
President DiGiorgio reviewed the context of Winthrop
University’s salaries, noting that state increases had not
kept up with the consumer price index over the past dozen years.
He stated that it was clear that the Board could not
realistically look to the state for funds to redress this
situation and suggested consideration be given to developing a
dedicated revenue stream for this purpose. There was discussion
regarding the recent study of faculty salaries conducted by
members of Winthrop’s faculty and the need to examine salaries
by discipline, not simply by institutional average due to the
differing program mix at various universities. There was
also discussion of the role to date of the Futuresteps
initiative and how this effort might be folded into a new
approach to funding salaries and professional development.
There was then a discussion of the need to distribute any new
funds according to merit rather than “across the board” and
a need to make increases related to faculty promotion more
significant. Finally, there was discussion as to the
proper charge for the Board to give to the President so that he
could prepare recommendations for the Board’s consideration.
The following Resolution was then proposed:
Whereas, the Board
of Trustees of Winthrop University continues to actively support
the qualitative advancement of the University; and
Whereas, the Board
of Trustees of Winthrop University wishes to support additional
quality enhancements that will lead to the achievement of
distinction by the University in the forms of:
·
A dedicated revenue stream for increased support
for faculty and staff salary improvements and professional
development opportunities;
·
Continuation of dedicated revenue streams for
technological advancement and support of selected capital
projects not funded through state capital bond bills or
auxiliary fees and revenues;
Therefore let it be
resolved that the Winthrop University Board of Trustees charges
the President of Winthrop University to develop alternative
plans to determine the ways and means through tuition and
revenue policies and by productivity gains that would accomplish
those ends.
Bob Gahagan moved that the Board formally
adopt this Resolution. Bob Thompson seconded the motion,
which was approved unanimously by voice vote. President
DiGiorgio advised that he would update the Board at its April
meeting and bring forward a plan for consideration at the
Board’s June meeting.
Board Self-Assessment
The Board discussed several issues related to its own
activities and its relations with various University
constituencies. Suggestions included continuing to provide
comparative data with peer institutions on a wide range of
criteria, reconstituting the Board of Visitors with an emphasis
on geographic diversity, considering revisions to the Board’s
committee structure and locations for Board meetings,
encouraging individual trustees to develop strong working
relationships with members of their local legislative
delegations, annualizing Board/legislator workshops, and
developing additional opportunities for trustees to interact
with students.
Adjournment
Bob Gahagan moved, seconded by Bob Thompson, that the Board
adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote
and the Board adjourned at 11:35 a.m.
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