Dear Colleagues,
While I was unable to attend last week's Board of Trustees meetings, there was much that I would like to share with you in case you were unable
to be there as well or were unable to tune in via Zoom.
We celebrated some special people who have contributed in major ways to our community.
First, the Close family and its related foundations were honored with a resolution acknowledging their longstanding support of Winthrop student success through the
Close Scholars program, Close Exploration, Global Close Scholars, and the Close Junior
Year Study Abroad Program. Family representatives Claude Close, the grandson of the
late Anne Springs Close and Springsteen Foundation board member, and Michele Lineberger,
the executive director of the Springs Close Foundation, were in attendance at the
meeting. Secondly, a resolution passed that praised the work of the Presidential Search Advisory Group, led by Peter
Moroni and Gloria Jones, whose dedicated efforts complemented the work of the trustees
in selecting Edward Serna as Winthrop's 12th president. Finally, Board Chair Glenn
McCall noted the recent successful on-site SACSCOC visit and provided an acknowledgment
of Noreen Gaubatz, Nancy Scurry, Kelly Scott, Meg Webber, and others across campus
without whom the reports and visit would not have been possible. Kudos to all of these
deserving folks!
Chair McCall also provided some important updates that may be of interest to you.
The Board of Trustees has authorized a study of the athletics department with the
aim of ensuring Winthrop is doing all that it can to support its teams at the Division
I level. This study by external consultants will help inform the upcoming search for
the new athletic director as well. Consultants also will be used to analyze our academic
offerings in light of market analysis, student demand, and higher education trends.
There was additional action beyond the two resolutions mentioned above:
*Tuition and fees for 2022-23 were approved, with trustees reserving the right to make changes if our budget situation in June
has changed drastically. This is not anticipated, however, and it is worth noting
that undergraduate tuition will once again remain flat. Trustees also made permanent
the discounted summer session rate that our students have enjoyed in recent years.
Read more about tuition and fees here.
*Trustees approved two new graduate degrees -- creative writing and digital writing and rhetoric -- plus modifications to the
undergraduate course sequencing in the B.S. programs in early childhood and elementary
education.
* In other action, the board accepted the recommendations of the committees on tenure
and promotion, various contracts and MOUs, and notable capital and facilities projects
including Wifi improvements, classroom AV refresh, demolition of Wofford and Richardson,
Fountain project, DiGiorgio Campus Center plaza tile replacement, and Johnson fire
alarm system replacement. Finally, trustees approved a salary offer to Beth Costner,
who was announced as new Richard W. Riley College of Education dean at the conclusion
of the meeting.
I hope you find these updates helpful. Thank you as always for your interest in the
activities of the Board of Trustees.
Sincerely,
George
George W. Hynd
Interim President
