The Winthrop University Board of Trustees gathered last week for their quarterly meeting, and they heard about exciting happenings on the Winthrop campus as we continue to move forward on the second phase of our strategic plan, Winthrop: United in Excellence. One of the key reports at the full board meeting on Oct. 30 was more about our plans to build a new residence hall to house 400 students.
Board members heard from Associate Vice President for Facilities James Grigg that the new 95,000-square-foot residence hall will be built on Cherry Road where two aging high-rise residence halls – Wofford and Richardson – were demolished in 2024. Construction on the new four-story building would start next year with a goal to open for residents by the end of 2027. The design features double rooms with pods of private restrooms in close proximity, as well as lounges, kitchens and study rooms.
A second residence hall has been designed to be built adjacent to the new facility as part of phase two, along with the possibility of a new dining hall in the same vicinity.
As I have said, the need for more on-campus housing comes at a time when demand is great, enrollment is climbing and the university is attracting students interested in our new (some are the first in South Carolina) and existing degree programs. As you know, a number of our students are housed at CampusWalk in partnership with Walk2Campus Properties. Our contract with them ends in 2027.
In other news from the two days of meetings, board members:
Voted to award an honorary doctorate at the Dec. 20 Commencement Ceremony to the late Glenn McCall, the board’s chairman who passed away this summer.
Directed Facilities Management to work with the state to dispose of empty lots at 226 Sidney Street and at 642 College Avenue.
Awarded the Dalton fire alarm replacement to the low bidder, Farmer Construction, for $347,670.
Approved the fiscal year 2025 financial and single audit report, the purchasing card State-mandated audit report, and the accounts payable internal audit report.
Voted to return $1.8 million to department budgets for fiscal year 2026 due to enrollment increases and the extra money brought in by attracting more students.
Approved a resolution honoring Lisa Cowart, vice president for human resources, who retired this fall after 20 years with the university.
Voted to elect Kathy Bigham to serve as board vice chair.
Heard updates on the new career center, the tuition transparency initiative, the strategic plan, and an upcoming capital campaign, among others.
Approved a consent agenda containing 16 resolutions previously passed by the board.
For the last item above, I want to share that these were prior matters addressed in board meetings, as Board Chairman Joel Hamilton noted. Most, if not all, of these topics were on the agendas and discussed in open public sessions. “They came before the Board as Committee recommendations and fell under the Board’s consent agenda often, a term used by the prior Board Secretary and General Counsel in the same manner. The Board actions have been challenged in court by the very same prior General Counsel who also served as the Board’s Secretary, even though, upon information and belief, all these agenda items and votes were conducted and prepared exactly as he did and were carried out as he had done when he was Secretary to the Board.
“The Board believes its prior actions were taken in compliance with the Board’s bylaws and applicable law, including the South Carolina FOIA. Nevertheless, in an abundance of caution and to neutralize the allegations in our prior Secretary’s lawsuit, the Board will now address these issues again, allow any public comment, and proceed to a vote to approve and ratify those actions.”
You can read more about last week’s board action in the resolutions that have been posted online. Thank you for your interest in the activities of the
Winthrop University Board of Trustees.
Sincerely,
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
