February 6-8, 2004
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Minutes of Meeting of the Board of Trustees
Friday, February 6, 2004
Members present: Mary Jean Martin (Chair), Kathy Bigham, Larry Durham, Karl Folkens, Bob Gahagan, Polly Ford, Glenda Owens, Sanita Savage, Bob Thompson, Skip Tuttle, and Anthony J. DiGiorgio (ex officio).
Members absent: None.
Representatives present: Marilyn Smith, Faculty Council Chair; Richard Fowler, Council of Student Leaders Chair
Board Staff present: Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board
Others present: Leland Cox, Dan Jones, Donna Tinsley, Janet Smalley, and Winthrop University faculty and staff.
The Board of Trustees met on Friday, February 6, 2004 at 3:45 p.m. in the Baruch Room in Joynes Hall on the campus of Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Mary Jean Martin called the meeting to order at 3:45 p.m
Approval of Board Minutes of November 7, 2003
Polly Ford moved, seconded by Larry Durham, to approve the minutes as presented. This motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
Report of the Executive Committee
Chair Mary Jean Martin welcomed trustees and guests to the beginning of the annual retreat. She noted three special guests in attendance who were unopposed candidates for three trustee seats to be elected by members of the General Assembly. She introduced Janet Smalley, Donna Tinsley, and Leland Cox.
Chair Martin reported that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees met on campus on January 20th, reviewing and discussing several matters and taking action on one item. She reported that the committee had passed a motion recommending that the Board adopt a Resolution in Support of the Textile Corridor Master Plan. She noted that the committee would not ask the Board to vote on the Resolution at this time. Instead, she stated, the Board would be reviewing the Textile Corridor Master Plan within the context of the University's overall plan during our Retreat discussions and the Board would be asked to consider acting on the Executive Committee's recommendation later in the weekend.
Chair Martin reported that the vast majority of the materials reviewed by the Executive Committee at its January meeting had been provided to Board members or had been reviewed in the draft minutes of that meeting that had already been circulated. She also reported that the Executive Committee also had an executive session for discussion of personnel and contractual matters and that no action was taken in the executive session.
Report of the Academic Affairs Committee
Bob Thompson reported that the Committee approved the minutes of its November 2003 meeting and received an update on the status of accreditation site visits.
Report of the Finance Committee
Skip Tuttle reported that the Committee approved the minutes of its November 2003 meeting.
Report of the University Relations Committee
Glenda Owens reported that the Committee approved the minutes of its November 2003 meeting.
Report from the Chair of Faculty Conference
Faculty Conference Chair Marilyn Smith reported that each college has been working on revising their programs to fit with the new general education requirements. She also noted that a Faculty Salary Policy and Procedures policy, that included a recommendation for how merit raises are distributed, was circulated last year. Several concerns were raised, so Academic Council is reviewing the merit raise policy. Some of the specific concerns relate to how faculty are rated and compared to each other, and the long term nature of some faculty work.
Marilyn Smith reported that the General Education Committee and Academic Council have passed, after much review and discussion, a policy and procedure for transferring courses to Winthrop that count for the writing components. She noted that the Faculty Concerns Committee has met with President DiGiorgio to discuss how the University College will operate, summer school salaries, and parking. In addition, she reported that the Task Force on Integrity has begun meeting, investigating issues, and gathering information. Dr. Smith reported that the President had appointed an ad hoc committee to determine whether Winthrop freshmen should all read a common book during the summer prior to entering the university. She noted that the Committee discussed issues, gathered information from faculty and students, discussed more, and decided to endorse having a common book to use primarily in Welcome Week and ACAD 101. She reported that the Common Book Committee and the ACAD 101 Committee are working on selecting the book for 2004.
Report from the Chair of the Council of Student Leaders
Student Representative Richard Fowler reported that the Council of Student Leaders had a one day retreat at the Shack to refocus and regroup on its goals for the upcoming semester as well as to introduce the new members of the Council. He reported that the Council reviewed the structure and processes of the Council as well as the Constitution, in order to ensure that everyone was aware of the reason for dissolving the Student Government Association. The Council also concentrated on rethinking some of the goals and most importantly the processes for the upcoming semester.
Richard Fowler reported that the Voter Registration Committee will continue to host forum and debates centered on local, state, and national issues while continuing to educate people on requirements to become registered in York County. He also reported that the Weekend Retention Committee had been more appropriately named the Student Involvement Committee to better reflect the nature of the Council's goals. This semester, the Council wants to focus more on getting students involved instead of providing activities on the weekends, something that DSU already does. We believe students stay at Winthrop because they get plugged into something and want to stay. Focusing our efforts on clubs and organizations as well as service learning, will in time, improve weekend retention and the overall involvement of Winthrop students.
Richard Fowler reported that the Student Center Committee has also been renamed to the University Center Committee to more accurately depict the essence of the new center. He noted that the Council met with the architects earlier this semester to view the preliminary drawings and discuss any concerns. Overall, he reported, the Council was impressed by the designs the architects had to present. The Committee will continue to seek student input as the designing phase proceeds.
Richard Fowler reported that the Academic Integrity Committee is distributing a survey to a representative group of students to generate ideas on how to enhance academic integrity throughout the Winthrop community and address issues such as the inconsistent applications of penalties for academic dishonesty. He also reported that Dinkins Student Union and the Resident Students Association were also sponsoring a significantly revised Homecoming that would telescope the events into Friday and Saturday, highlighted by a community party on Peabody Field, Tent Town Extravaganza, a step show, and a men's basketball game.
Report from the President
President DiGiorgio reported that a positive draft report had been received from the accreditation team reviewing the Theatre program and a report has not yet been received from the team reviewing the Dance program. He noted that the Small Business Development Center had passed its review and that site visits are planned in April for Sports Management and Health & Physical Education.
The President briefed the Board on the University's move to student and employee identification numbers that are not Social Security numbers in order to enhance privacy and security measures. He also noted that the Faculty-Staff portion of the capital campaign and the Milestones to Distinction video presentation had earned University Advancement awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.
President DiGiorgio reported that the University had received a gift of $100,000 from Irwin Belk in support of the construction of the intercollegiate track, whose oval will bear his name in honor of the gift. In addition, the President noted, Mr. Belk has contributed funds for the development and installation of a bronze sculpture of Winthrop's eagle mascot. The sculptor for the project is Jon Hair and the likely place for its installation is the proposed McBryde Circle.
President DiGiorgio briefed the Board on the current status of key public policy issues. He reported that the Governor's Budget calls for reductions in phone charges and travel costs and a Higher Education Price Index cap on tuition of approximately 2.5%. He also reported on Governor Sanford's offer to state universities to become non-profit private institutions, noting that the proposal had received very little interest or support from the General Assembly.
The President also reported on the introduction of a bill that would establish a College and University Board of Regents, noting that it was scheduled for hearings at a House subcommittee but that when no sponsor appeared, the bill was held over until April 1, 2004. President DiGiorgio then briefed the Board on The Life Sciences Act which has been amended to also include portions of The South Carolina Research University Infrastructure Bond Act, and The Venture Capital Investment Act. This bill would authorize the University of SC — Sumter to move from a two-year campus to a four-year campus and offer degrees at will, authorize a four-year culinary arts program at Trident Technical College, and require that no regional campus of the University of South Carolina could be closed or phased out without the General Assembly's approval. In addition, he reported the bill would require institutions to report to the Governor and General Assembly annually their in-state/out-of-state undergraduate enrollment, what the policy on out-of-state enrollment is and how it was adopted. This bill also authorizes an increase in S.C. debt limit from 5.5% of general fund revenues to 6.0%, creating an additional projected $250 million in capital bond capacity of which 88% ($220 million) would be for new construction related to research initiatives at the three research universities. The President also reported that the remaining 30 institutions would receive the remaining 12% ($30 million,) for "deferred maintenance" only, to be distributed according to deferred maintenance needs and FTE enrollment. He noted that Winthrop's share of these funds is projected to be $2.8 million.
Old Business
There was no Old Business.
New Business
There was no New business.
Executive Session
Bob Gahagan moved, seconded by Bob Thompson, that the Board go into Executive Session for discussion of contractual, personnel, or legal matters. As part of the motion, the candidates for trustee seats (Dr. Cox, Ms. Tinsley, and Ms. Smalley) along with the faculty and student representatives were invited to participate in the discussion. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. The Board then convened in Executive Session. No actions were taken in Executive Session. Larry Durham moved, seconded by Polly Ford, that the Board return to Open Session.
Recess
At 5:30 p.m. the Board recessed until Saturday, February 8 at 9:00 a.m. In the evening the Board members attended a reception and dinner with members of the Community Builders, a group of civic and educational leaders from Rock Hill and York County. This event took place at the Tuttle Dining Room in McBryde Hall, followed by comments from guest speaker Aims McGuinness, co-author of a recent report on higher education policy for the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. The Board took no actions during these events.
Saturday, February 7, 2004
Members present: Mary Jean Martin (Chair), Kathy Bigham, Larry Durham, Karl Folkens, Bob Gahagan, Polly Ford, Glenda Owens, Sanita Savage, Bob Thompson, Skip Tuttle, and Anthony J. DiGiorgio (ex officio).
Members absent: None.
Representatives present: Marilyn Smith, Faculty Council Chair; Richard Fowler, Council of Student Leaders Chair.
Board Staff present: Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board.
Others present: Leland Cox, Donna Tinsley, Janet Smalley, Winthrop University faculty and staff, and Wendy Bigham of The Rock Hill Herald.
The Board of Trustees met on Saturday, February 7, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in the Baruch Room of the Joynes Conference Center at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Mary Jean Martin called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
President's Task Force on the Nature and Character of the University
Chair Mary Jean Martin and President DiGiorgio welcomed Dr. Keith Benson, Dr. Vanessa Hill, Dr. Cheryl Fortner-Wood, Dr. Michael Lipscomb, Dr. Bill Rogers, and Dr. Seymour Simmons as representatives from the Task Force. President DiGiorgio provided an overview of the purposes for and history of the project. Brien Lewis then presented an update on the activities of the Task Force and responses from across campus that had lead to the finalization of the Task Force's Report on the Nature and Character of the University.
There was a detailed discussion among Board members and Task Force members about the overall themes of the report as well as individual recommendations presented in the document. There was also discussion about how the product of the Task Force's work might be articulated with the existing Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Strategic Plan and how it might assist in the setting of institutional priorities. Board members indicated broad support for the work of the Task Force, noting that each of the recommendations should proceed through the appropriate existing avenues for development of University policies and priorities. Board members also indicated an interest in endorsing the report's Statement on the Nature and Character of the University following its consideration by Faculty Conference and the Council of Student Leaders.
On behalf of the Board, Chair Martin thanked the representatives of the Task Force for their work, noting that the report would be very helpful in bringing Winthrop University to a higher level of distinction.
Seeding the Future
President DiGiorgio presented a detailed overview of the campus and its individual facilities. He discussed the context of planning for development of the campus as being consonant with the Old Town Renaissance and Textile Corridor Master Plan processes underway in the university's host community. The President reviewed each building and area on campus, outlining plans for adaptive reuse, deferred maintenance, and proposed new construction. The President also reviewed the funding sources for each project and its current priority status given funding availability and demonstrated need. Board members indicated broad support for the comprehensive plan presented by the President.
Recess
At 4:00 p.m., the Board recessed until Sunday, February 9 at 9:00 a.m. During the evening of Saturday, February 8 members of the Board of Trustees attended a Women's Basketball Game at the Winthrop Coliseum and then a dinner at the President's House. The Board took no actions during these events.
Sunday, February 8, 2004
Members present: Mary Jean Martin (Chair), Kathy Bigham, Larry Durham, Karl Folkens, Bob Gahagan, Polly Ford, Glenda Owens, Sanita Savage, Bob Thompson, Skip Tuttle, and Anthony J. DiGiorgio (ex officio).
Members absent: None.
Representatives present: Marilyn Smith, Faculty Council Chair; Richard Fowler, Council of Student Leaders Chair.
Board Staff present: Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board.
Others present: Leland Cox, Donna Tinsley, Janet Smalley, and Winthrop University faculty and staff.
The Board of Trustees met on Sunday, February 8, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in the Baruch Room of the Joynes Conference Center at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Mary Jean Martin called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
Resolution in Support of the Textile Corridor Master Plan
Chair Martin read the resolution, which was offered as a motion of the Executive Committee and no second was required. The motion to adopt the Resolution was approved unanimously by voice vote.
Debt Capacity
Skip Tuttle asked the President to report at the next Board meeting on the feasibility of refinancing the university's existing older debts. In addition, Skip Tuttle requested that the Board be presented an overview of debt capacity in each category and how much debt capacity would come available each year for the next several years as existing debt obligations are completed.
Sharpening the Focus
President DiGiorgio reported that he had been asking Executive Officers and Executive Staff members to identify areas needing increased direction, focus, or context and to assess the cost implications in each of these. He noted that he had been calling this exercise "Sharpening the Focus".
The President reported that it was helpful to undertake this review while being mindful of the Quality Enhancements Initiative that had identified technology, capital projects, and salary improvements as driving forces for the development of the university. As the "Seeding the Future" presentation had covered the capital projects aspect, the President briefed the Board on the remaining two keys.
First, he reviewed the technology plans being developed for migration to enhanced software in two to three years time, discussed plans for increasing wireless capacity, and provided information on the potential use of internet-based long distance telephone services. The President then reported that the university expected to stay in a leadership position on faculty salaries when data is released by the Commission on Higher Education. He also discussed the need to balance salary improvements with addressing a shortfall in faculty lines. The President noted that it may be necessary to consider enrollment caps in areas where the university is not positioned to handle further growth.
The President also presented information on the feasibility of creating a Master of Social Work program, the possibility of shifting speech pathology to the Richard W. Riley College of Education as a graduate program while eliminating the undergraduate program, and revising existing programs in computer science, new media, and art and design. President DiGiorgio also discussed possible revisions to the structure of summer school salaries.
The President presented information about the impact of inflation on the library's periodical budget and noted that he may ask the Board to consider a dedicated fee to address this issue in the future.
Executive Session
Bob Thompson moved, seconded by Bob Gahagan, that the Board go into Executive Session for discussion of contractual, personnel, or legal matters. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote. The Board then convened in Executive Session. No actions were taken in Executive Session. Bob Gahagan moved, seconded by Larry Durham that the Board return to Open Session. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote.
Board Self-Assessment
The Board reviewed the results of a survey of Board members and discussed several issues related to its own activities. A recommendation on enhancing orientation for new trustees was the establishment of a "buddy system" whereby new trustees would be paired with experienced board members.
Adjournment
Larry Durham moved, seconded by Glenda Owens, that the Board adjourn. The motion was approved unanimously by voice vote and the Board adjourned at 1:25 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Brien Lewis, Secretary to the Board.
