Minutes of the Meeting of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees
April 16, 1999
Members Present: E. Thomas Crowson, Sanita Savage Frazier, Robert Gahagan, Anne K.
Hall, Watts Huckabee, Mary Anne Lake, Mary Jean Ligon, Jane Shuler, Bob Thompson,
Skip Tuttle, David White, Anthony DiGiorgio.
Members Absent: None.
Representatives: Tom Moore, Chair of Faculty Conference; Trevor Beauford, President
of the Student Government Association
The Board of Trustees met on Friday, April 16, 1999, in the Dunlap-Roddey Room, Johnson
Hall, on the Winthrop campus. David White, Chair of the Board called the meeting
to order at 1:00pm.
Approval of Board Minutes of February 5, 1999: Mr. White called for a motion to dispense with the reading of the minutes; Mr. Bob
Thompson moved, seconded by Ms. Jane Shuler, to adopt the minutes as presented. The
minutes were approved unanimously.
Resolution to Honor Douglas Rucker for Meritorious Service on the Winthrop University
Board of Trustees: Mr. Huckabee offered the resolution in the form of a motion from the committee and
it passed unanimously. The entire Board commended Dr. Rucker on his dedicated service
to Winthrop University for over eight years.
Resolution to Honor Yancey Trevor Beauford as Student Representative to the Winthrop
University Board of Trustees: Mr. Gahagan offered the resolution in the form of a motion from the committee and
it passed unanimously. The Board thanked Trevor Beauford for his representation of
the student body over the last year.
Report of the Executive Committee
A. Resolution to Recommend to the Board of Trustees the Adoption of the Winthrop
University Strategic Plan
Dr. Wilson presented a brief overview of the process to develop the strategic plan,
noting that drafts of the plan were widely circulated and the final plan was endorsed
unanimously by the Faculty Conference. Dr. DiGiorgio commented that the planning
process served several strategic initiatives, including performance funding, the Distinctive
Directive initiative, and the SACS self-study. Mr. Beauford asked that the Student
Government Association be formally included in future communications to update the
plan.
Mr. White offered the resolution in the form of a motion from the committee and it
passed unanimously.
In other Executive Committee updates, Dr. DiGiorgio presented an update on the state
performance funding process, as well as the status of capital projects under consideration
by the General Assembly. Dr. Moore gave a brief report on the Distinctive Directions
initiative, announcing that Dr. Morrill (of the University of Richmond, VA) will facilitate
several discussions to move the initiative forward, in May and in August. Mr. White
presented the Executive Committee's decision to ask Trustees who are willing to assist
in contacting admitted students.
B. Resolution to Commend the Men's Basketball Team on Achieving its First-Ever NCAA
Tournament Bid
Mr. White offered the resolution in the form of a motion from the committee and it
passed unanimously; the Board commended the men's basketball team for its successful
season and its appearance in the NCAA finals.
Report of the Finance Committee
A. Resolution regarding the General Records Retention Schedule for State Colleges
and Universities
Dr. Tuttle reported that Winthrop needs to update its policy on retention of records
to be current with the practices recommended by the State of South Carolina. Dr.
Tuttle presented the resolution and it was adopted unanimously.
B. Resolution to Increase the Amount of Authorized State Institution Bonds for the
Life Science Complex
Dr. Tuttle reviewed the funding for the Life Science Complex, summarizing the history
of bond indebtedness and state capital funding. The resolution requests an additional
$250,000 to cover the shortfall in funding for the project. Mr. Tuttle presented
the resolution in the form of a motion from the committee and it passed unanimously.
In other updates from the Finance Committee, Dr. Tuttle reviewed the change in the
minimum
scholarship requirements for out-of-state scholarships from $50 to $250, as outlined
in the guidelines from the Commission on Higher Education, to take effect in the fall
of 2000. Dr. Tuttle also reviewed the MRR (Mission Resource Requirements) and allocation
methodology as part of performance funding. He summarized that each institution will
set aside 2% from their budget into a pool of funds and allocate new monies contingent
on performance funding scores. Additional information should be received prior to
the June Board meeting.
Dr. Tuttle reviewed progress on the following projects: The Life Science Building
is expected to be occupied by the end of the summer session; the information technology
initiatives have been enhanced campus-wide for both faculty and students; Winthrop
has again been ranked the first institution in the state for both energy conservation
and recycling; campus streets have not been repaved since 1974, so a plan from the
Physical Plant is being devised for allocation of funds for repaving.
Report of the Academic Affairs Committee
Mr. Thompson reviewed the following projects: Interviews are scheduled for the three
finalists for the Dean of Library Sciences; the search committee for the Dean of the
College of Education position are meeting for reviews. The Faculty Manual will be
available for the Board's review at the June meeting. The accreditation site visits
for both Social Work and Nutrition were successful; the College of Business is preparing
for the accreditation site visit next year. The Honors program now includes 240 students;
an updated curriculum is expected for the fall of 2000. Competitive certification
programs are currently being developed to meet market demand in selected areas.
Report of the University Relations Committee
Mr. Gahagan reviewed the following projects: The graduation rate for athletes is
58%, compared to 53% of the total student body, and has risen steadily. The CHAMPS
Life Skills Program, a national program for the total development of student athletes
sponsored by the NCAA, is being implemented at Winthrop. The Eagle Club Auction will
be on May 1st and the monies will be used for scholarships. The Lasting Achievements capital campaign
has reached $14.5 million, with a goal of $26million by 2002. The laundry facility
has new equipment — it currently generates revenues of approximately $40,000 a year,
but with the improvements, $52,000 in revenue is expected. The contract for the
bookstore is being developed as a "request for proposals" for bid. The fall admissions
report was very positive, with an increase in applications of about 13%.
Reports from the Representatives to the Board
A. Report from the Chair of Faculty Conference
Dr. Tom Moore reported that he has seen an increase in communication between the
faculty and the Board and administration, and that he is confident of continued cooperation.
He expressed reservations that an attitude of compliance weighed more than commitment
in the faculty's participation in such initiatives as the development of the strategic
plan and the SACS self-study.
B. Report from the President of the Student Government Association
Mr. Trevor Beauford stressed to the Board his perspective that the students should
be the center of the Board's efforts.
Report from the President
Dr. DiGiorgio introduced two new department chairs: Deborah Boyd from the English
Department and Gary Brooks from the Department of Mathematics. He announced that
the spring 1999 commencement speaker will be alumna Cecily Truitt, and an honorary
doctorate will be awarded to Mary Sue McElveen for her distinguished service to Winthrop
University and to higher education in general. The president also announced that
the Dinkins Student Union program board won the national top award from both the National
Association for Campus Activities and the Association for the Promotion of Campus
Activities. Additionally, the Come-See-Me-Festival awarded the "Beyond the Call of
Glenn" Award to Winthrop for the University's support and enthusiasm.
Old Business: There was no old business.
New Business: There was no new business.
Executive Session: Bob Thompson moved and Mary Anne Lake seconded that the Board move into Executive
Session to discuss a contractual matter covered under the Freedom of Information Act.
Adjournment: The Board reconvened in open session and Mr. White announced that no actions had
been taken by the Board in Executive Session. Mr. White adjourned the Board meeting
at 3:45pm.
