Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.
Thompson Conference Room | Tillman Hall
Winthrop University | Rock Hill, South Carolina
Committee Members Present: Glenn McCall, Kathy Bigham (via Zoom), Ed Driggers (via Zoom), Tim Sease (via Zoom), John Brazell (via Zoom), David McDonald (via Zoom), Gary Williams
Committee Members Absent: None
Winthrop Staff Present: Edward A. Serna (President), Tammie Phillips (Acting Secretary to the Board and Executive Director), Joseph Miller (VP for Enrollment Management and Marketing), Jenni Lewis (APV for Fiscal Services/Controller) Hannah Small (Asst. to the Acting Secretary to the Board and Office Coordinator), Judy Longshaw (News and Media Services Manager)
Guest: Clark Vilardebo (Editor, Johnsonian)
The Board of Trustees Executive Committee met on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Winthrop University in Thompson Conference Room.
Roll Call to Establish Quorum
Tammie Phillips took the role of the Executive Committee and confirmed a quorum of the committee.
Public Notice
The meeting agenda was posted on the Winthrop University website with proper notice of the meeting. The meeting was held in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Chair Glenn McCall thanked Clark Vilardebo of the Johnsonian for attending.
Call to Order and Invocation
A quorum being present, Chair McCall called the meeting to order, welcomed all present both in person and virtually, and gave an invocation to begin the meeting.
Remarks from the Chairman
Chair McCall thanked the Office of Finance and Business Affairs for closing on the
Courtyard and restructuring the finance report.
Approval of Executive Committee Minutes of February 13, 2025
Trustee Gary Williams moved to approve the minutes. The vote was unanimous in favor of the minutes of the February 13, 2025, meeting as written.
Budget Update
Jenni Lewis updated the Executive Committee on the financial report as of March 31,
2025. In tuition & fees, scholarships, and operating expenses, actual revenues have
exceeded the full FY25 budget by $564K. With last year's 8% reduction in tuition,
this is good news. Additionally, summer revenue has yet to be recorded. Scholarships
are over budget by $4.6M YTD and holding constant. Other expenditures (salaries, fringe
benefits, facility maintenance, and supplies) YTD are slightly outpacing expectations
at 81% spend-to-budget. For Foundation support and related scholarships, outside gifts,
and revenue-generating projects, budgeted revenues have been exceeded by $299K and
expenses are favorably at 46% of budget. Capital appropriations are on track at 76%
of budget. Revenues from tuition assigned to debt service have surpassed the FY25
budget by $481K and will increase with summer session.
AVP Lewis also reported the initial FY26 Budget has been submitted and will continue to be analyzed and fine-tuned to balance the budget while optimizing dollars and opportunities. In addition to the Cabinet's review, the Office of Finance and Business Affairs is overseeing a budget committee, made up of faculty and staff leaders, that is conducting both high-level and detailed review as well.
Enrollment Update
Joseph Miller provided an update on the Summer and Fall 2025 priority registration. Undergraduate Summer priority registration is currently up 4% over this point in time last year (593 vs 570), with Graduate Summer registration up 11% from this point in time last year (476 vs 430) -- for an overall 7% lead over this date last year (1,072 vs 1,003). Fall undergraduate priority registration is currently 11% ahead of this point in time last year (1,630 vs 1,474). Overall, Fall registration is up 11% over last year (1,720 vs 1,544) and 8% over two years ago (1,720 vs 1,600). Approximately 60% of eligible returning students have already registered for Fall.
He reported Fall Admittances are 8% ahead of last year and Enrollment Deposits are 21% ahead of last year. He ended his report stating current Summer Orientation registrations are 23% ahead of this time last year.
Strategic Plan Update
President Serna reported the dashboards have been updated and uploaded on the portal.
Planning and Review for the April Board Meeting
Chairman McCall reviewed the itinerary and agenda for the April Board of Trustees
meeting. Each chair present provided a brief overview of the areas the vice presidents
will cover.
Executive Session--pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-70(a)(1) and (2) for the purposes of discussion of employment matters and contractual items related to Winthrop University
Trustee Gary Williams moved with a second from Trustee David McDonald to move into executive session pursuant to South Carolina Ann. §30-4-70(a)(1) and (2) for the purposes of discussion of employment matters involving certain present university employees and contractual items related to Winthrop University. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
President Edward Serna, Tammie Phillips and Hannah Small were invited to remain for the executive session.
Trustee Gary Williams moved to end executive session. Trustee David McDonald seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous to end executive session.
Chair McCall reported that no action was taken during executive session and thanked all in attendance.
Adjournment
Hearing no objections, Chair McCall adjourned the meeting at 11:05 a.m.
