Winthrop University
Board of Trustees Executive Committee
Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.
Thompson Conference Room | Tillman Hall
Winthrop University | Rock Hill, South Carolina
Committee Members Present – Trustees Joel Hamilton (Chair via Zoom), Kathy Bigham (Vice-Chair), David McDonald (via Zoom), Janet Smalley (via Zoom) and Gary Williams (via Zoom)
Committee Members Absent – Trustees Randy Imler and Tim Sease
President’s Cabinet Present – President Edward Serna, Kevin Butler, Amanda James and Tammie Phillips
Other Attendees Present – Ellen Wilder-Byrd and Parker Pickerign
(Only attending Trustees, President Serna, President’s Cabinet, Board Staff, and others presenting or participating in the meeting are noted as attendees).
The Board of Trustees Executive Committee met on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at Winthrop University in Thompson Conference Room.
Roll Call to Establish Quorum
Secretary Phillips took the roll 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).
Call to Order and Welcome
A quorum being present, Chair Hamilton called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed all present both in person and virtually.
Approval of Executive Committee Minutes of April 16, 2026
Chair Hamilton called for a motion to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2026, meeting. Trustee Williams moved; seconded by Trustee McDonald. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
Budget/Finance Update
Mr. Butler presented the FY2026 financial report which projects finishing the fiscal year adding about $5 million back into net position. He then shifted to the FY2027 budget and reported the initial gap was $2.6 million, which was resolved at the Cabinet budget retreat. Enrollment is expected to increase for in-state undergraduates and non-resident undergraduates. A balanced budget will be presented to the board that funds $1.15M of new initiatives, leaving $154K unbudgeted. He will make a formal request to place the unbudgeted amount into the institutional contingency fund. He discussed a likely increase in the fringe benefits rates in FY2028 and the impact it may have on the budget. He provided details on a request from ACE Solutions, VV2, LLC to provide a temporary park and ride lot consisting of 500 parking spaces in Legion Lot. The short-term lease would be at a rate of $180K per year for three years and would contain a convenience clause for either party with 6-month notice. He discussed the project vs contract approval process, noting the Strategic Planning and Facilities Committee currently approves contracts and not projects. Given that we have several large projects underway, this approach may slow the progress of these projects, or we may be required to have many called board meetings as a result. The bylaws state that the committee recommends the capital improvement plan and any material changes to it with new projects of $250K or more or changes to capital projects exceeding $100K. Mr. Butler’s recommendation is to revisit the discussion about how that committee can better assist the university moving forward with regard to capital projects.
Action Item
Trustee McDonald called for a motion to approve a Resolution to Lease Real Property
to ACE Solutions, VV2, LLC. Trustee Williams made a motion to approve the resolution,
seconded by Trustee Smalley. Motion approved by unanimous vote.
Enrollment Update
Dr. James shared exciting news regarding enrollment. She reported Fall 2026 enrollment
continues to trend positively, with growth across nearly every major indicator. Summer
enrollment is up 129 students (+8%) and 593 credit hours (+6%), while Fall registration
is up 394 students (+11%), including a strong 38% increase in graduate enrollment.
Credit hour production remains robust, increasing by nearly 4,000 hours (+8%) year-over-year.
Freshman recruitment continues to lead the way, with admits up 5.2% and deposits up
2.6%, while transfer recruitment continues to gain momentum as the summer progresses.
Overall deposits remain slightly ahead of last year (1,261 vs. 1,257), driven largely
by freshman growth. Orientation engagement also remains strong, with total registrations
exceeding last year's pace and freshman participation continuing to increase. Overall,
the enrollment story remains one of sustained growth, strong student demand, and positive
momentum heading into the fall semester. Dr. James also reported on a partnership
with EAB to evaluate how Winthrop is represented across six major AI platforms. This
work will help ensure prospective students receive accurate, up-to-date information
when searching about the university. Insights from this project will inform website
content enhancements and strengthen the messaging being shared about our campus, student
experience, and institutional strengths.
June Board Meeting
Chair Hamilton reviewed the itinerary and agenda for the June Board of Trustees meeting.
Each committee chair submitted an agenda, including a brief overview of the areas
the vice presidents will cover.
Other Business
No new business was discussed.
Adjournment
Chair Hamilton called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Bigham moved, seconded by Trustee Williams. The vote was unanimous to adjourn the meeting. Chair Hamilton adjourned the meeting at 10:49 a.m.
