ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – In anticipation of an increase in fall enrollment, the Winthrop University Board of Trustees took several steps during its March 13-14 retreat to prepare for the next academic year.
Board members agreed on a Tuition Transparency Initiative to address the concerns of transparency and alignment of tuition fees with the actual cost of academic delivery. Winthrop has maintained the same tuition rates since 2018 and will drop its tuition rates this fall for all students and consider a second decrease if warranted in 2025. This gradual adjustment will allow administrators the opportunity to benchmark Winthrop’s tuition and fees against peer institutions, said Board Chair Glenn McCall.
Board members also approved a list of fall semester fees provided by the provost.
Regarding housing, board members voted on an agreement with Walk2Campus to accommodate any need arising from an expected increase in the undergraduate population for the 2024-25 academic year. Walk2Campus’ large residential facility located at 620 Rose Street is adjacent to campus and next to the Courtyard residence hall.
In other action at the retreat, board members:
· Created or reconfigured three degrees. The first is a Bachelor of Science degree in web development which is an evolution of the digital information design program. The second is a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice which offers two concentrations, general as well as cyber and corporate crime. And the third is a redesign of the Bachelor of Science in integrated marketing communication degree which will become a Bachelor of Arts degree so to align with the changing requirements of the marketplace. Students also will be required to complete a marketing minor.
· Voted on several facilities and infrastructure projects: the Bancroft fire alarm replacement by Miller Electric, $270,410; Stewart House exterior renovation by CE Bourne, $678,900; Lee Wicker residence hall roof replacement by Davco Roofing & Sheetmetal, $1.16 million; and Joynes roof replacement and brick repair by Midwest Maintenance, $1.58 million. Members also agreed to an increase of the guaranteed maximum price on the Byrnes Auditorium building project by $580,000 to a total of $9.18 million.
· Agreed to hire Canon Strategic LLC to work on business partnership development, lobbying, local and state government strategy and to give advice to the university’s leadership.
· Authorized the conferring of an upcoming honorary degree to an unnamed individual.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or at 803/323-2404.
