June 6, 2002
Dunlap-Roddey Room, Johnson Hall
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Members present: Skip Tuttle (Chair), Larry Durham, Bob Gahagan, A. Watts Huckabee, Mary Jean Martin, Glenda Pittman Owens, Jane Shuler, Bob Thompson, David White and Anthony J. DiGiorgio (ex officio).
Members absent: Anne Kay Hall, Sanita Savage Frazier
Representatives present: Jim Johnston, Faculty Conference Chair
Staff present: Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board.
The Board of Trustees met on Thursday, June 6, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. in the Dunlap-Roddey Room, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Skip Tuttle called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
Executive Session
Bob Thompson moved that the Board go into Executive Session for discussion of personnel matters and that the Faculty Representative be invited to participate. Mary Jean Martin seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously by voice vote. The Board convened in Executive Session.
Open Session
Chairman Tuttle announced that the Board had met in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters and considering possible personnel action but stated that no action had been taken.
Adjournment
The Board adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board
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June 7, 2002
Dunlap-Roddey Room, Johnson Hall
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Members present: Skip Tuttle (Chair), Larry Durham, Sanita Savage Frazier, Bob Gahagan, A. Watts Huckabee, Mary Jean Martin, Glenda Pittman Owens, Jane Shuler, Bob Thompson, David White, and Anthony J. DiGiorgio (ex officio)
Members absent: Anne K. Hall
Representatives present: Jim Johnston, Faculty Conference Chair; Andrew Markners, Council of Student Leaders Chair
Staff present: Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board
Guests present: Polly Ford, Hugh Hadsock, Jr., Reggie Lloyd, students, faculty, staff, and media representatives
The Board of Trustees met on Friday, June 7, 2002 at 1:00 p.m. in the Dunlap-Roddey Room, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Chairman Skip Tuttle called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. He welcomed recently elected trustees Polly Ford, Hugh Hadsock, Jr., and Reggie Lloyd. He also recognized Andrew Markners as the newly elected Chair of the Council of Student Leaders and Marilyn Smith as the recently elected Faculty Conference Chair.
Approval of Board Minutes of April 12, 2002
Jane Shuler noted that the draft minutes reflected her as present at the April meeting when in fact she was absent. Bob Thompson moved to approve the Minutes as corrected. Mary Jean Martin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously by voice vote.
Resolutions Honoring Departing Trustees
Bob Thompson moved, seconded by Glenda Owens, that the Board approve the following Resolutions collectively:
Resolution Honoring Jane Clinge Shuler for Meritorious Service on the Winthrop University Board of Trustees
Resolution Honoring Anne Kay Hall for Meritorious Service on the Winthrop University Board of Trustees
Resolution Honoring David Altman White for Meritorious Service on the Winthrop University Board of Trustees
Resolution Honoring Elmer Thomas Crowson for Longstanding Service to Winthrop University
This motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. Chairman Tuttle expressed the Board's appreciation for the contributions and services rendered by each of the departing trustees, noting that they would be greatly missed and that their continued involvement with the University would be welcomed.
Resolution Honoring Outgoing Faculty Representative
David White moved, seconded by Bob Thompson, that the Board approve the following Resolution:
Resolution Honoring Dr. James Johnston for Meritorious Service to the Winthrop University Faculty Conference and the Winthrop University Board of Trustees
This motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. Chairman Tuttle expressed the Board's appreciation for the candor, humor, and insight offered by Dr. Johnston during his term and expressed confidence in Dr. Smith in this role.
Resolution Honoring Outgoing Chair
Bob Gahagan moved, seconded by Jane Shuler, that the Board approve the following Resolution:
Resolution Honoring Harold Pulliam Tuttle, Jr. for Meritorious Service as Chair of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees
Bob Gahagan expressed the Board's appreciation for the manner in which Chairman Tuttle had articulated issues and guided the Board during his term.
Report of the Executive Committee
Chairman Tuttle reported that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees met in Rock Hill during the afternoon of May 22, 2002. He stated that the Executive Committee reviewed and discussed several matters and but took no formal action.
Chairman Tuttle also reported that the Executive Committee had an Executive Session for discussion of personnel and contractual matters and that no action was taken in the Executive Session.
Chairman Tuttle reported that Larry Durham had been asked by Governor Hodges to serve as the teaching sector representative to the Commission on Higher Education and that Larry Durham would continue to serve as a Winthrop trustee in that capacity. Chairman Tuttle offered congratulations on behalf of the Board.
Chairman Tuttle also reported that the General Assembly had passed the legislation restructuring the geographic representation of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees and that the Governor had signed this legislation into law.
Agency Head Evaluation
Chairman Tuttle reviewed the Agency Head Evaluation Process established by the Agency Head Salary Commission. He reported that the Executive Committee had reviewed the President in its Executive Session on May 22 in accordance with this process and the Board bylaws and had discussed their review with the full Board during the Executive Session on June 6.
Resolution Regarding 2001-2002 Performance Evaluation of President Anthony J. DiGiorgio
David White moved, seconded by Mary Jean Martin, that the Board approve this Resolution. It was approved unanimously by voice vote.
Resolution Regarding Contract for President Anthony J. DiGiorgio
Jane Shuler moved, seconded by Bob Gahagan, that the Board approve this Resolution. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote.
President DiGiorgio expressed his appreciation for the Board's confidence.
Report of the Academic Affairs Committee
Resolution to Confer Emeritus Faculty Status
Bob Thompson offered this Resolution in the form of a Motion from the Academic Affairs Committee. The Resolution passed unanimously by voice vote.
Bob Thompson reported that the Academic Affairs Committee had received and shared with the full Board information on distance education goals that had been generated in response to a suggestion from the accreditation reaffirmation visiting team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Bob Thompson also reported that the Committee had received positive initial reports from the accreditation site visits for Art & Design and Music and that the formal reports for each are due soon.
Bob Thompson further reported that the Committee had held discussions on classroom space needs, academic advising, and orientation. He also reported that the Committee had received a presentation on Professional Development Schools from the Richard W. Riley College of Education. He noted that since 1993 Winthrop faculty and student interns have worked with fifteen schools with very positive results and a desire to broaden the program.
Report of the Finance Committee
Mary Jean Martin reported that the Finance Committee had reviewed the budget, noting that some of the specifics of it were still in progress dependent on the size of the freshman class. She noted that the Committee had reviewed the range of increases in fees at other South Carolina institutions, the need to cover the state budget rescissions sustained during the past year and likely to occur in the coming year, and the Board's stated policy of funding the Quality Enhancement Initiatives. Based on these factors the Committee recommended approval of the operating budget and increases in tuition and fees.
There was discussion amongst the trustees and the President regarding the state budget for the coming year, the increased support for students and their families as seen in the funding of scholarships through lottery revenues, and the impact of the proviso allowing institutions of higher education to raise tuition by the Higher Education Price Index ("HEPI") plus $250.
Resolution Regarding the Tuition and Fee Schedule and Operating Budget for 2002-2003
Mary Jean Martin offered the Resolution in the form of a Motion from the Finance Committee. The Resolution passed unanimously by voice vote.
Mary Jean Martin also reported that the construction on the Courtyard project is well underway and that it is expected to be completed by January 2003. She noted that pre-bids for the construction of the new tennis facility were underway and that the renovations at the Coliseum, Wofford, and Richardson were scheduled to be done during the coming summer. She reported that the repaving of Jasper Street and the renovations and refurbishments in Bancroft were also slated to be completed during the summer and that the facilities department was to be commended for its work.
Report of the University Relations Committee
Bob Gahagan reported that the Committee had reviewed the status of admissions and orientation, noting that all indicators pointed to the largest entering class in Winthrop history without diminishing the quality of the student body. He also reported that the Committee had received a presentation on Financial Aid indicating that two-thirds of Winthrop graduates have $16,000 in debt but that 90% of incoming freshmen were likely to have a LIFE scholarship.
Bob Gahagan also reported that the Committee had been updated on the progress of the Capital Campaign, which has reached a total of $24 million to date. He also reported that the Committee had received a year-end report from the Athletics Department including a positive review of GPAs and graduation rates for student-athletes. Bob Gahagan noted that even with strong showings in both measures the athletic department plans to hire a full-time academic coordinator.
Report of the Committee on Nominations
Jane Shuler reported the following slate of officers for the 2001-2002 Board term in the form of a recommendation from the Committee on Nominations: Bob Gahagan for Chair, Mary Jean Martin for Vice Chair, and Glenda Owens for Secretary. Chairman Tuttle asked if there were any other nominations from the floor. There were none. Jane Shuler moved, seconded by Bob Thompson, that the slate presented by the Committee on Nominations be accepted. The motion was passed unanimously by voice vote. Bob Gahagan thanked the Board for the honor of serving as Chair and expressed his appreciation to his predecessors. Chairman Tuttle expressed the Board's gratitude to the newly elected officers for their willingness to serve.
Report from the Chair of Faculty Conference
Faculty Conference Chair Jim Johnston reported that there had been substantial progress on two major goals. He reported on the approval by Faculty Conference of the framework of a revised General Education curriculum but reminded the Board that this was just the end of the beginning. He also noted that work was proceeding on the salary issue with both the Salary Study Committee and the Productivity Task Force presenting reports to the President. He stated that the Board's action on the budget was a positive step to address this issue.
Report from the Chair of the Council of Student Leaders
Andrew Markners reported that the Council of Student Leaders was working with the Vice President for Student Life and the Dean of Students on a constitution that would strengthen relationships, promote student welfare, and support the administrative purposes of student government. He stated that a main point of this effort to encourage student participation through organizational and college representation. He noted that the objective was to have a proposal for consideration by the Board at its fall meeting. Skip Tuttle expressed appreciation from the Board for the efforts of the members of the Council.
Report from the President
President DiGiorgio reviewed Winthrop's Performance Funding results, noting that it was one of only two institutions in the teaching sector to receive an "exceeds standards" rating and that the score of 2.78 was only .07 shy of a rating of "substantially exceeds standards". He also noted that Winthrop is the only four-year institution to receive the "exceeds" rating in each year that it has been offered under the Performance Funding process.
President DiGiorgio also reported that the legislative session had concluded by leaving the Election Day closure requirement in place and by establishing a joint legislative committee on taxation. He reported on the encouraging progress being made by the "Higher Education for Higher Purposes" group of statewide university leaders. He noted that the next steps for the group include a survey of the public vision for higher education and forming relationships with existing entities and coalitions including the Chamber of Commerce and the Palmetto Initiative. The President reported that key goals include developing a more consistent and predictable method of funding capital projects and developing statewide library and database links.
President DiGiorgio concluded that the past academic year had been an extraordinary one and that progress had been made on every front through the joint efforts of a great many people.
Old Business
There was no Old Business.
New Business
There was no New Business.
Adjournment
David White moved, seconded by Jane Shuler, that the Board adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote.
Minutes submitted by Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board
