Dear Colleagues:
It was nice to see and talk with so many of you at Wednesday’s fun faculty/staff holiday gathering and last week’s festive and well-attended tree lighting. I am so glad that we could hold these in-person events this year to celebrate the holidays and the end of this successful semester. Like so many of you, Alison and I love this joyful time of year!
Before we depart for winter break, I’d like to touch on a few items of interest...
New Interim Athletic Director
During yesterday’s Board of Trustees called meeting, trustees voted to confirm my
recommendation to appoint current Volleyball Head Coach Chuck Rey as interim athletic director. Chuck has an excellent reputation and is viewed as
someone who is genuinely committed to Winthrop and our student-athletes. In addition
to having coaching experience, Chuck also has business experience. He has agreed to
serve during the time that we search for a permanent athletic director. That search
will be launched in January and will be chaired by Kimberly Faust. We will engage
the coaches, staff, student-athletes, Eagle Club members and others in the search
process with final candidates selected in March so that the president-designee can
meet them and be involved in the final selection. Thanks again to Chuck for his willingness
to serve during this leadership transition.
Other Board Action
Also yesterday trustees requested that our 2022-23 fiscal year budget be drafted with no tuition increase in an effort to keep the Winthrop experience affordable for students and families. Additionally, the trustees approved a number of memorandums of understanding and contracts, required by the recent board bylaws changes.
Opportunity to Serve
I hope you read the Dec. 6 e-mail sent by Kevin Sheppard, our new Title IX coordinator and ADA compliance officer. Kevin is requesting the campus community’s assistance to fill roles that are vital to the Title IX process. Individuals who fill these roles will share the administration’s commitment to addressing all forms of sexual misconduct in a trauma-informed, sensitive approach, providing a fair and equitable process to all faculty, staff and students. Prior knowledge or experience with Title IX is not necessary as training will be coordinated through the Title IX Office. Positions available include the following: advisors, investigators, appeal decision makers and respondent resource committee members. For more information on these positions, please reach out to Kevin at sheppardk@winthrop.edu. It takes all of us to keep our campus safe, and I appreciate the campus’ on-going commitment to the well-being and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
December Commencements
As I noted in November’s update to you, we will hold two Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 18. At 11 a.m., we will celebrate our 2021 graduates and their accomplishments, and then at 3 p.m., we will hold a belated Commencement ceremony for our 2020 graduates who did not get to experience an in-person Commencement because of COVID-19. I’m looking forward to double the celebration later this month, and I hope you’ll join me in congratulating our new and recent graduates, as well as attending the ceremonies if you can.
My holiday wishes are that we all enjoy a peaceful and restful winter break and greet the New Year in good health and spirits, ready to take on the spring semester.
With warm regards,
George
George W. Hynd
Interim President
