Thursday, June 26, 2014
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Members present: Kathy Bigham (Chair), Karl Folkens, Jane LaRoche, Susan Smith-Rex, Bob Thompson,
Donna Glenn Holley, Janet Smalley, Ashlye Wilkerson , Don Long, Glenn McCall, Tim
Hopkins, Don Long, Scott Talley.
Members absent: Mitchell Zais, Tim Sease
Representatives present: Christopher Aubrie, Student Representative; John Bird, Faculty Representative
Representatives absent: None
Others present: Faculty and staff of Winthrop University, Anna Douglas of The Herald. Andrew Kiel
of WRHI, Mia Massey of CN2, John Evans and Eric Phillips of WSOC, Thomas Wilson and
Tony Burbeck of WCNC, Addarell Gadson of the Johnsonian, and Randy Imler (Trustee-elect).
The Board of Trustees met on Friday, June 26 on the campus of Winthrop University,
Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Chair Kathy Bigham called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. She thanked all for attending
the meeting.
Ms. Mary Beth Hughes gave public comment. She spoke in support of the presidency of
Dr. Comstock Williamson asking the Board to consider giving the president a second
chance.
Approval of Minutes
Sue Smith-Rex moved to accept the minutes of May 9, 2014 meeting as written. Jane
LaRoche seconded. The vote was unanimous. Tim Hopkins moved the minutes of June 13,
2014 meeting be approved as written. Donna Glenn Holley seconded the motion. The vote
was unanimous.
Executive Session
Janet Smalley moved the Board meet in executive session for the purposes of considering
the Causes for Termination previously provided to the President and invited the Student
Representative, the Faculty Representative, the Provost, the Secretary to the Board,
and Trustee-elect Randy Imler into the session. Scott Talley seconded the motion.
As the vote was unanimous, the Board moved into executive session at 9:18 a.m.
Return to Public Session for Action on Presidential Contractual Matters
Upon return to public session, Glenn McCall moved the Board terminate the President's
employment effective immediately pursuant to 10.1.2 of her Employment Contract upon
a finding in the judgment of the Board that the President had engaged in actions and
omissions that were undertaken or omitted knowingly, and would tend to bring public
disrespect, contempt, or ridicule upon the university. Chair Bigham stated the record
would show that pursuant to 10.1 of the President's Employment Agreement, the president
was provided written notice of the basis for the alleged Cause and given a reasonable
opportunity to be heard by the Board but declined the opportunity. Ashlye Wilkerson
seconded the motion. There was no discussion.
With a show of hands and by a vote of 13 to zero (with two Trustees absent) the motion
carried. The president's employment was terminated immediately.
Glenn McCall moved that Debra Boyd, Provost and Acting Chief Executive Officer be
appointed Acting President. Bob Thompson seconded. There was no discussion. The motion
carried unanimously.
Chair Bigham read the following statement "The actions finalized today have been difficult,
yet are based on extensive and detailed factual inquiry, with our ultimate focus on
two questions: Whether the evidence supported findings of Cause for Termination of
the President's Employment Agreement, and what is best for Winthrop University's future?
As to the first question, the Board determined the evidence in its judgment was clear
and convincing that Cause exists to warrant immediate termination.
As to the second question, stewardship of a public university is a special trust that
requires great attention to the perspectives of the general public, as well as to
those of students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors.
Whenever legitimate concerns arise, it is important-- first to trustees and then to
the public -- that questions be addressed factually and as fully with the public as
the university's legal obligations will allow. That is especially important for a
public university. Not everyone may agree with every decision made or action taken
in the day-to-day operations of a university. Yet public trust, like Board trust,
requires that true and sincere openness guide all responses in regard to who made
key decisions and how those decisions were reached.
Candor and trust between the President and the Board are crucial for this university,
and any university, to thrive. And once candor and trust are irretrievably broken,
decisions must be made to chart a different course.
We believe the actions we have taken once again have aligned Winthrop with those long-held
values, and therefore, are in the best interest of Winthrop's future.
Provost Debra Boyd has been appointed as Acting President of Winthrop University."
Chair Bigham recessed for lunch at 12:13 p.m. with plans to return at 1:00 p.m.
Public Session was resumed at 1:10 p.m.
Chair Bigham introduced Mr. Gary Williams, Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols, local developer
Skip Tuttle, Director of the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation Stephen Turner,
and Tim Elliot of Sora-Phelps for a presentation of the Knowledge Park Initiative.
While the master plan is still in the development stage, ultimately the goal for the
area is to build 19 buildings over the next 12 years. Plans include over 500 beds
in student housing, 70 units dedicated to active adult/senior housing, a museum focused
on the history of the Bleachery and the Anderson car company, a boutique inn with
conference space, over 160,000 square feet of office space, a food market along with
other restaurant and retail spaces, and reasonably priced rental home properties.
Resolution to Honor Mr. Robert Thompson for Meritorious Service to Winthrop University
Karl Folkens made a motion with a second from Donna Glenn Holley to honor Bob Thompson
for his many years of service to the Board. The motion carried unanimously.
Janet Smalley read the resolution as follows:
"WHEREAS, Winthrop University with immense appreciation, does hereby acknowledge,
commend, and honor the 19 years of distinguished service of Mr. Robert Thompson as
a member of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees; and
WHEREAS, each time he was asked to serve in a leadership capacity including Board
chair and committee chair, Robert accepted without hesitation and using his unique
abilities of humor, enthusiasm, patience, persistence, and positivity thereby ensuring
Winthrop University continued its tradition of outstanding service to its students,
the Rock Hill community and the State of South Carolina; and
WHEREAS, by facilitating significant gifts from Springs Industries and establishing
The Robert and Norma Thompson Endowment, he has set a worthy philanthropic example
for others to follow; and
WHEREAS, he has employed his community spirit and his resolute commitment to educational
advancement with many years of service to higher education and the State of South
Carolina including roles as Chair of the Winthrop Foundation, member of the Winthrop
University Board of Visitors, board member of the S.C. Technical College System representing
the state superintendent of education, board member of the Culture and Heritage Foundation,
and board member of the S.C. Council on Economic Education, and the Winthrop Board
of Trustees, he is admired for the time and talent benevolently given;
THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of Winthrop University does
hereby gratefully acknowledge the tireless dedication, vigorous advocacy, and steadfast
determination that Robert Thompson has demonstrated on behalf of higher education
in general and Winthrop in particular;
AND, presents today from the students, staff, faculty, and Board this citation as
a testament to his longstanding achievements and devotion to education."
Bob, along with his wife Norma Thompson, thanked the Board for this special honor.
He stated that Winthrop is a stronger, viable university and it will survive well
into the future. He thanked his colleagues on the Board for this honor and the many
hours of service they give to the university.
Statement of Strategic Priorities
Chair Kathy Bigham read a statement identifying the strategic priorities to be used
as a guide for the work of the university during Academic Year 2014-15.
"The Board of Trustees maintains the utmost confidence in the University's leadership
and its capacity to continue enhancing the Winthrop Experience by:
Increasing student enrollment, retention, and degree completion;
Continuing to support excellence in academic and student life programming;
Enhancing the work environment for faculty and staff; and
Expanding not only Winthrop's role as a partner in the region's economic growth but
also the number of Winthrop supporters inspired to invest in the University's future.
Resolution to Set Tuition/Fee and Room/ Board Fee Schedule for AY 2014-15
Committee chair Glenn McCall brought forth a motion to accept a resolution requesting
a 2.84% increase in Tuition and Required fees for In-State and Out-of-State students.
Donna Glenn Holley seconded the motion.
Due to other pressing matters facing the Board, the Committee on Finance did not meet
as scheduled. Instead, Chair McCall met with members from the administration and Vice
Chair Karl Folkens also participated in some discussions about tuition and related
matters.
Mr. McCall's support for the resolution was based on this increase being the lowest
percentage increase since 2000 as well as among the lowest percentage increases of
the public institutions within our sector; the need to cover additional commitments
for FY2015; a State Mandated 2% salary increase that will cost Winthrop over $1.1M.;
increased health and retirement benefit costs expected to go up over $600,000 (not
including any costs associated with the Affordable Care Act); software escalation
costs are expected to be more than $100,000; and the expected increases in utility
and scholarship costs.
Additionally, the resolution requested a 4% increase in Room and Board fees to cover
salary, benefit, scholarship and utility costs. No funds for tuition and required
fees, or from state allocations, may be used to support the auxiliary enterprise operations
(Housing, Cafeteria, Center for Student Wellness).
The resolution delegated to the Executive Committee of the Board the authority, if
needed, to amend student fees as well as approve the operating budget on behalf of
the Full Board, depending on the time of the first meeting in the new fiscal year.
A number of Trustees commented on the motion by urging the Board to be mindful about
keeping tuition low. Following discussion, a vote was taken, and the resolution adopted
unanimously.
Resolutions to Amend the Bylaws of the Winthrop Board of Trustees
Karl Folkens presented a proposal to update the Board's bylaws through a variety of
resolutions. The first resolution was to rename the Committee on Academic Affairs
to Committee on Academic Quality, this committee's chair as requested this name change
which the Administration supports, to create a new Committee on Enrollment, and to
create a Special Committee on Athletics the members of which will be appointed pursuant
to Bylaw Article IV. A. 2. The Board Chair will appoint this committee chair who will
serve on the Executive Committee with voice but no vote. Don Long seconded this vote.
During the discussion of the motion, Scott Talley moved with a second from Janet Smalley
to amend the motion to rename the Committee on Academic Affairs to Committee on Academic
Quality and the Committee on Student Life to the Committee on Student Life and Athletics,
as well as create the new Committee on Enrollment. The vote was unanimous to amend
the first motion.
A vote on the amended motion was held with unanimous approval. Therefore the Committee
on Academic Affairs will henceforth be known as the Committee on Academic Quality
and the Committee on Student Life henceforth will be known as the Committee on Student
Life and Athletics.
The next motion by Karl Folkens was to delete the requirement that standing committees
cannot have more than five trustees in order to allow for trustees to serve on two
standing committees. And, to insert "regular" to modify Board meetings to exclude
a requirement that committees having to meet if a special meeting of the Board is
called. The motion was seconded by Bob Thompson. The vote was unanimous.
The next motion made by Karl Folkens called for the Executive Committee to review
and approve certain salary increases and multiple-year employment contracts. Scott
Middleton seconded the motion. During the ensuing discussion, an alternative option
was discussed, i.e. to establish a new standing committee on compensation.
Karl Folkens withdrew his original amendment to the bylaws, and Glenn McCall made
a motion to add a Committee on Compensation that shall be responsible to report and
recommend to the Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to changes to the executive
compensation philosophy and strategy. The Committee will review compensation of the
President and, upon recommendation of the President, the compensation of executive
officers; and such other senior academic and administrative officers as the Committee
shall designate. In addition, it shall review any extraordinary salary and payment
arrangements for University employees. The Committee shall periodically review such
other aspects of the University's compensation policy as the Committee shall elect.
The motion was seconded by Tim Hopkins. The motion passed with one vote against.
The next proposed amended to the bylaws pertained to the number of required meetings
of the Board of Trustees. Karl Folkens moved to add the phrase "at least" to the four
regular meetings of the Board. Scott Talley seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
The final proposed amendment made by Karl Folkens to the bylaws confirms the Board
shall approve recipients of honorary degrees. The motion was seconded by Ashlye Wilkerson.
The motion passed unanimously.
Adjournment
Scott Talley moved to adjourn the meeting. Bob Thompson seconded the motion. Hearing
no objections, Chair Bigham adjourned the meeting at 3:10 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Kimberly A. Faust, Secretary of the Board
