Friday, March 13, 2020
Gold Room, DiGiorgio Campus Center
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Members present: Glenn McCall, Gary Williams, Kathy Bigham, Ashlye Wilkerson , Robby Sisco, Isaiah Venning, Jane LaRoche, Tim Hopkins, Randy Imler, Ed Driggers, Sandra Stroman, Donna Glenn Holley, Julie Fowler, Tim Sease, Janet Smalley, George Hynd (ex-officio)
Members absent: None
Representative present: Adolphus Belk, Jr., Imani Belton
Others present: Bob Breakfield, Evan Bohnen, Shelia Burkhalter, Judy Longshaw, Tammie Phillips, Kirk McSwain, Ken Halpin, Jennie Rakestraw, P.N. Saksena, Tim Drueke, Ellen Wilder-Byrd, Jack DeRochi, Meg Webber, Gloria Jones, Mark Herring, Adrienne McCormick, Justin Oates, Kimberly Faust, Lisa Cowart, Caroline Overcash, Eduardo Prieto, Matt Kreh of WRHI.
The Board of Trustees met on Friday, March 13, 2020 via teleconference on the campus of Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Chair McCall called the meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. in the Gold Room of the DiGiorgio Campus Center. He welcomed all present and delivered an invocation.
Approval of the Consent Agenda
Kathy Bigham made a motion to approve the consent agenda consisting of the minutes of the following Board meetings: February 18, 2020, January 31, 2020, January 10, 2020, December 10, 2019, and October 24 - 25, 2019. Gary Williams seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion to accept the minutes as presented.
Report from the Committee on Academic Quality
Chair Tim Hopkins reviewed the meeting of the Academic Quality Committee held earlier today. From that meeting comes a recommendation of the academic quality committee to authorize the implementation of three new academic programs for the University and the expansion of the master of arts in teaching program by adding for new certification areas.
The Committee is recommending the approval of the following resolutions:
Needing no second as the recommendation was from a committee, Chair McCall called for a vote. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
Report from the Chair of the Board
Glenn McCall thanked Bob Breakfield and the Winthrop University Foundation for working with the Board to help bring George Hynd to Winthrop. Mr. McCall thanked George Hynd for accepting the position as interim president. Mr. McCall remarked that we can see he is already making a difference within the community, with our legislators, and with faculty, staff, and students.
Chair McCall named Kathy Bigham and Gary Williams to serve alongside with two members chosen by the Foundation Board to assist Foundation Director Robin Embry and Vice President of University Advancement Evan Bohnen in creating a policy to support a consistent methodology that ensures that all practices in naming facilities reflect Winthrop’s purpose and mission.
Chair McCall appointed Ashlye Wilkerson and Sandra Stroman to lead an effort to create a student advisory council to the Board. This council will be an opportunity to hear from students on a variety of topics as well as give the Trustees an opportunity to interact with more students beyond the president of the Council of Student Leaders. More details about that council and the application process will be forthcoming.
Report from the President
President Hynd thanked the Board of Trustees for the opportunity to serve Winthrop University. He also extended his appreciation to the Winthrop University Foundation Board. He believes this is a wonderful opportunity to move University forward. The first two weeks have been exhilarating for in the very first week on the job the men’s basketball team won the Big South championship.
Also in the first week at Winthrop, Dr. Hynd presented to the Senate Finance Committee. Included in the ask was FTE's to support student retention and success at $280,000, Operational Support for STEAM Disciplines at $2,000,000, maintaining campus infrastructure at $11,600,000, instructional scientific equipment at $2,233,472, arts & technologies facility additions/renovations at $9,000,000, Winthrop University science complex renovation at $9,000,000, Dacus Library renovation at $7,000,000, and Winthrop University science complex addition at $23,000,000.
A preliminary report from the House version of the budget shows Winthrop receiving $2,654,668 in recurring funds for the Tuition Freeze for In-State Students and $7.5 million in nonrecurring funds for maintenance, renovation, and replacement.
In order to retain the above appropriations, each institution of higher learning must certify to the Commission on Higher Education by August 1, 2020, there is no in-state undergraduate tuition or in-state undergraduate fee increase, excluding increases in auxiliary fees, for the 2020-2021 academic year.
With the spread of COVID-19 into South Carolina, we will move to remote instruction for March 23-April 3, which are the two weeks following Spring Break. To prepare for this shift, faculty are preparing for delivery of remote instruction. The Academic Affairs division has been working on this for the last two weeks, and Winthrop’s Office of Online Learning has prepared a Continuity of Instruction (COI) website to support this effort. It is important to note that despite this shift to remote instruction, all university offices will remain open and staffed until further notice.
By moving to remote instruction we will decrease the number of students who are residing on campus which, in turn, will decrease the chance of COVID-19 exposure to our campus community. We are asking students traveling home for break to stay home during the two-week remote instructional period, while international students and other populations with specific needs will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, we have recalled our students who are studying abroad. And, we are prohibiting university business travel through the end of April to international destinations designated by the CDC as travel warning level 3 or higher and strongly encouraging our community members to avoid non-essential domestic travel to areas where COVID-19 cases have been identified. No new non-essential Winthrop business travel will be approved through April 30, 2020.
All university-sponsored events scheduled between Sunday, March 15 and Friday, April 3 are cancelled, and alternative options for holding or rescheduling events in key areas are being considered.
Tim Sease moved with a second from Ashlye Wilkerson to move into executive session pursuant to South Carolina Ann. §30-4-70(a)(1) for the purpose a discussion of proposed contractual arrangements. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. Adolphus Belk, Jr., Imani Belton, Adrienne McCormick, Justin Oates, Kimberly Faust, Lisa Cowart, Shelia Burkhalter, Ken Halpin, Evan Bohnen, Caroline Overcash, and Eduardo Prieto were invited to remain for the executive session.
Donna Glenn Holley moved to end the Executive Session with no report. Janet Smalley seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
Adjournment
Hearing no objections, Chair McCall adjourned the meeting at 2:40 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Kimberly A. Faust, Secretary to the Board
