Friday, February 15, 2013
Gold Room, DiGiorgio Campus Center
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Members present: Dalton Floyd (Chair), James Williamson, Janet Smalley, Jane LaRoche, Susan Smith-Rex,
Karl Folkens, Kathy Bigham, Bob Thompson, Tim Hopkins, Don Long, Glenn McCall, Donna
Tinsley-Holley, Scott Talley, Tim Sease (via telephone).
Members absent: Anthony J. DiGiorgio
Representatives present: Kambrell Garvin, Student Representative; Cliff Calloway, Faculty Representative
Representatives absent: None.
Others present: Faculty and staff of Winthrop University, various local and regional media representatives
The Board of Trustees met on Friday, February 15, 2013 on the campus of Winthrop University,
Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Chair Floyd called the meeting to order at 11:15 a.m. in the Gold Room of the DiGiorgio Campus Center.
Public Comment
Dr. Stephen Smith, professor of political science, requested to address the Board.
Dr. Smith spoke of his reservations about presidential candidate Dr. Jayne Marie (Jamie)
Comstock and urged the Board to consider the other three presidential finalists.
At the conclusion of Dr. Smith's comments, Mr. Phil Moody, professor of fine arts,
requested to address the Board. Mr. Moody asked the Board to consider carefully the
presidential candidates' records of achievement and past relations with faculty governance.
Next, Mr. Guy Reel, associate professor of mass communication, addressed the Board.
He spoke of the need to support the student newspaper on campus and hoped the Board
would choose a candidate that would do so.
Dr. Chris Van Aller concluded the public comment by addressing the need to protect
Winthrop's national reputation and advised the Board to choose a president that would
be an asset to Winthrop.
Approval of Board Minutes of November 1-2, 2013 and February 10, 2013
Bob Thompson moved, with a second from Glenn McCall, to approve the minutes from the meetings of November 1-2, 2012 and February 10, 2013. The minutes were approved unanimously as presented.
Report of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Board
Chair Floyd reported that the Executive Committee had met on campus on January 16, 2013. Several matters were reviewed and discussed. The materials from the meeting have been forwarded to each of members of the Board.
Report of the Committee on Academic Affairs
Chair Smalley asked that the Board consider a resolution concerning a new degree program: Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Teacher Education. As this resolution was from the Committee on Academic Affairs, a second is not required. After a short discussion, the resolution concerning the new degree program: Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Teacher Education was unanimously passed.
Report of the Committee on Finance
Chair Folkens then asked that the Board consider a resolution concerning the issuance of $3.5 million in capital maintenance bonds to provide for upgraded fire alarms, roof repairs, and other maintenance items. As this resolution was from the Committee on Finance, a second is not required. After a short discussion, the resolution concerning the issuance of $3.5 million in capital maintenance bonds was passed with 13 in favor of the resolution and 1 opposed.
Executive Session
Glenn McCall moved, seconded by Don Long, that the Board move into Executive Session
for the discussion of personnel, contractual, and legal issues. Staff member Kimberly
Faust was invited to remain for the meeting which took place in the Evans Room. No
actions were taken in Executive Session. Karl Folkens moved that the Executive Committee
return to Public Session with Scott Talley seconding the motion, which was approved
unanimously by voice vote.
Motion to Appoint Dr. Jayne Marie (Jamie) Comstock as the 10th president of Winthrop
University
Kathy Bigham moved that pursuant to Section 90 of Chapter 125 of Title 59 of the South
Carolina Code of Laws, this Board appoint Dr. Jayne Marie (Jamie) Comstock as President
of Winthrop University. The motion was seconded by Jane LaRoche.
A discussion ensued with the following comments made:
Glenn McCall: "The search committee reviewed over 20 on and off list references on
Dr. Comstock and in each case we found tremendous support for her presidency of Winthrop.
We do take seriously the faculty concerns regarding the situation that occurred at
Butler University in 2008, however after careful consideration of all of the facts;
we know Dr. Comstock acted in the best interest of the university."
James Williamson: "As one of the alumni representatives to the Board, I aggressively
solicited feedback from our alumni regarding the four presidential candidate finalists.
Dr. Comstock received 100% of their support."
Karl Folkens: "Facts matter. The search committee and the full Board did a thorough
search of the facts pertaining to the Butler situation. We found that Dr. Comstock
has always been a supporter of student newspapers. In her years as a professor she
served as the faculty advisor to a student newspaper, initiated a student free speech
policy, and spent many years teaching mass communication classes. As a college student
she worked on her school's newspaper. It is clear to both the search committee and
to the full Board that Dr. Comstock embraces the concept of free speech for the student
newspaper."
Kathy Bigham: "Throughout the long process of the search for the 10th president of
Winthrop University, I came to know many of our candidates. I feel strongly that
Dr. Comstock is the best candidate for Winthrop, now and into the future. Likewise,
she gained the support of the local business and educational communities with her
understanding of the critical role Winthrop plays in the economic development of our
area.
Bob Thompson: "The search committee took special care to include as references students
and faculty at Dr. Comstock's previous institutions. The feedback was uniformly positive."
Dalton Floyd: "Our presidential search consultants told us that we would draw a well-qualified
field of applicants for our next president. I believe we have chosen the best from
a very strong applicant pool."
As the discussion was ended, Chair Floyd called for a show of hands in favor of appointing
Dr. Jayne Marie (Jamie) Comstock as the 10th president of Winthrop University. The
vote was unanimous in favor of Dr. Comstock.
Old Business
None.
New Business
None
Adjournment
Hearing no objections, Chair Floyd adjourned the meeting at 12:35p.m.
Minutes submitted by Kimberly Faust, Secretary to the Board
