ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The Winthrop University Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 19 to authorize a $21 million bond issue to support projects in the housing and dining portfolios. The housing portion of the bonds will be $9 million while up to $12 million will go toward dining.
The bond issue will fund these projects:
· Replacement of the Phelps Residence Hall roof.
·Renovation of the Lee Wicker Residence Hall to include mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roof replacement, as well as interior updates.
· Renovation of Thomson Eatery, the university’s main dining facility, or if cost effective, construction of a new dining hall.
As part of their research, finance committee board members reviewed short-term and long-term on-campus housing needs, including the size, scope, estimated cost and financing strategy for new residence halls should they be needed, according to Randy Imler ’87, ‘00, chair of the finance committee. The committee also reviewed a cafeteria study conducted in 2017 to determine future needs.
Imler said the bond issue will help Winthrop as it faces challenges in this era of shifting expectations of campus auxiliaries, declining public-sector provision of resources and post COVID-19 budget realities.
Board members also voted to leave in place the discounted fee structure for summer session 2021. At the onset of COVID-19, in recognition of the financial challenges facing students and their families, Winthrop board members approved a plan to discount tuition for all courses taken during the summer, including undergraduate, graduate and graduate online.
With the discount, and then by greatly expanding the number of online courses to equal half of all courses offered, Winthrop saw significant increases in enrollment and credit hour production over previous years. Summer enrollment in undergraduate and graduate courses grew from 1,556 in 2019 to 1,903 in 2020. Board members hope this trend will continue this summer with a similar discounted fee structure.
Undergraduate, in-state students will see the largest discount of a 29.5 percent reduction over fall and spring 2020-21 tuition and fee rates if they enroll in summer classes. For details on the reduction and how it will apply, see the 2021 Summer Schedule of Fees.
In other action during the Feb. 19-20 retreat, the board voted unanimously to close, on examination of the evidence, a complaint regarding individuals involved in the decision to discontinue the Winthrop tennis programs.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or by calling 803/323-2404.
