WHEREAS, the Winthrop University President's House was built in 1890 and was offered
as a president's home as part of Rock Hill's winning bid to move Winthrop to Rock
Hill from Columbia, South Carolina in 1893; and
WHEREAS, the President's House was first fashioned in the Queen Anne Victorian style
and later underwent a major renovation in 1917 when balconies, turrets, and other
Victorian features were removed, the house was moved back from the street, and brick
veneer was added; and
WHEREAS, in the past 100 years, the President's House has undergone additional renovations
and refurbishments; and
WHEREAS, each of Winthrop's 11 presidents has lived in the President's House; and
WHEREAS, the University desires to preserve, protect, maintain and enhance the house's
historical heritage and its use as an event venue for the University while accommodating
the President's use of the house as a home for the President's family; and
WHEREAS, written policies will establish guidelines for the design, décor, maintenance
and improvement of the house while promoting a system of oversight, efficiency and
financial transparency.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Winthrop University President's House Policy as
attached hereto and incorporated by reference be adopted by the Board of Trustees.
APPROVED, this the 6th day of April 2018.
A.Statement of Policy.
It is the policy of Winthrop University that the use, management, maintenance and
improvement of the President's House, and the design and coordination of its interior
and exterior decorative elements, shall preserve, protect and showcase its historical
and iconic nature, and its use as an event venue for the University, while providing
a comfortable and adequate home for the university's First Family. The Board of Trustees
shall assume primary responsibility for the ongoing care and maintenance of the House.
B.Applicability.
The provisions set forth below apply to all who occupy, use, work in or around the
Winthrop University President's House.
C.First Floor Design and Decor.
1.The Design Director and President shall collaborate on all changes to the interior
design, décor, updates, and improvements involving the House's First Floor with oversight
by the Secretary to the Board of Trustees. The Design Director will provide the President
with several options on all such changes, and the President will make the final selection
from those options. The President may also make written requests to the Design Director
or the Secretary of the Board of Trustees with a copy timely sent to the Board Chair.
2.The Design Director shall provide an annual House Design budget to the Board Officers
and the Board of Trustee's' Finance Committee by June 1st prior to each fiscal year.
The budget shall include the proposed funding sources and may include planned reserves
for future improvements and needs
3.The Board of Trustees shall consider and approve the House Design budget in conjunction
with its review and approval of the University's budget.
4.Needs which arise after the review and approval of the House Design budget may be
submitted to the Board Officers whose approval is mandatory for all such expenditures.
5.The Design Director shall report to the Board of Trustee's' Finance Committee at
least seven (7) days prior to the Committee's regular meeting, including budget status
and expenditures, in a format approved by the Vice President for Finance and Business.
6.In addition to creating and presenting an annual Design budget, the Design Director
shall develop, report-out and timely update a three-year plan of expected needs and
upgrades for the House within the Group's purview.
D.Second Floor Decor and Repairs.
1.Decisions about, and payment for, the décor and, furnishings, for the House's Second
Floor will be made by the President who may, in the President's sole discretion, use
the advising services of the Design Director without cost.
2.The First Family may borrow the university's surplus furniture and furnishings without
cost.
E.Structural Projects and Grounds.
1.The Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and the President shall collaborate
on all exterior design, décor, updates and improvements involving the House with oversight
by the Secretary to the Board. The President may make written requests to the Associate
Vice President for Facilities Management or the Secretary to the Board of Trustees
with a copy timely sent to the Board Chair.
2.The Associate Vice President for Facilities Management shall provide an annual House
Maintenance budget to the Board Officers and the Board of Trustee's' Finance Committee
by June 1st prior to each fiscal year. The budget shall include the proposed funding
sources and may include planned reserves for future improvements and needs.
3.The Board of Trustees shall consider and approve the House Maintenance budget in
conjunction with its review and approval of the University's budget.
4.Needs which arise after the review and approval of the House Maintenance budget
may be submitted to the Board Officers whose approval is mandatory for all such expenditures.
5.The Associate Vice President for Facilities Management shall report to the Board
of Trustee's' Finance Committee at least seven (7) days prior to the Committee's regular
meeting, including budget status and expenditures in a format approved by the Vice
President for Finance and Business.
6.In addition to creating and presenting an annual Maintenance budget, the Associate
Vice President for Facilities Management shall develop, report-out and timely update
a three-year plan of expected maintenance needs and upgrades for the House.
F.The President will promptly notify the Secretary to the Board of Trustee of defects
or damages to the House in writing. Any necessary repairs to the House will be made
within a reasonable time.
Adopted April 8, 2018 by the Winthrop University Board of Trustees
