Earlier this week we hosted the Board of Trustees on campus for its regularly scheduled fall meeting. The board was energized by the work the campus is undertaking and impressed with the drumbeat of progress that is evident in recent successes. They heard from me about the implementation of the 12 initiatives for Phase 1 of the strategic plan, Winthrop: United in Excellence.
They voted on several important resolutions, including one authorizing the administration to move forward with acquisition of the Courtyard residence hall from the Winthrop University Real Estate Foundation. The acquisition requires approval by the Joint Bond Review Committee and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority. Both will consider the request in early 2025. The current financing for the residence hall is set to mature in August 2025 with $9.5 million debt currently outstanding. The Courtyard, which opened in 2003, is one of our most popular residences, housing upperclassmen and honors students in suites of two or four bedrooms.
Trustees also supported a request by the Council of Student Leaders (CSL) to return the organization’s structure to a Student Government Association (SGA) which had been the structure before 2002. With the change, Winthrop students will move from voting only for two leaders (the chair and vice chair) to voting for 19 elected positions, including a parliamentarian. Another 15 students will be appointed to represent designated university groups and additional committees will be created to address student concerns and to promote student initiatives.
CSL Chair Sean Pennington said this change will allow Winthrop’s student governance to align with models used by high schools, other colleges and state government.
In other action, the board also:
· Voted to approve up to $3.85 million of additional operating budget for the 2025 fiscal year;
· Agreed to the proposed new or updated course fees for 12 courses in the spring 2025 semester;
· Accepted the results of the 2024 audit by its independent auditor; and
· Approved a resolution honoring Robby Sisco ’80 of Florence, South Carolina, for his six years of meritorious service to the board as the Congressional District 7 representative.
Visit the Board of Trustees website to read more about the above action. Thank you for your interest in the activities of the Board of Trustees.
Edward
Edward A. Serna
President
