Friday, November 21, 2014
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Members present: Kathy Bigham, Karl Folkens, Glenn McCall, Jane LaRoche, Susan Smith-Rex, Janet Smalley,
Tim Hopkins, Don Long, Tim Sease, Randy Imler, Donna Glenn Holley, Scott Middleton,
Ashlye Wilkerson (via teleconference), Cindy Van Buren, Scott Talley, Debra Boyd(ex
officio).
Members absent: None
Representatives present: Ian Deas, Student Representative; John Bird, Faculty Representative
Representatives absent: None
Others present: Anna Douglas, The Herald; Adarrell Gadsden, The Johnsonian; Andrew Kiel, WRHI; members of Winthrop faculty and staff;
The Board of Trustees met on Friday, November 21, 2014 on the campus of Winthrop University,
Rock Hill, SC.
Public Comment
There were no requests for public comment.
Call to Order
Chair Bigham called the meeting to order at 1:06 p.m. She welcomed all present.
Approval of Minutes
Don Long moved to accept the minutes from the meetings of October 3, and November
11, 2014. Glenn McCall seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the
minutes as submitted.
Report of the Executive Committee and Board Chair
Chair Kathy Bigham reported on the status of the search for the 11th president of
Winthrop University. She reminded the Board that in our previous search, we were conducting
first round interviews in early December but this search is progressing at a different
pace. Our search consultant, Mr. Bill Funk, has a different, more deliberative style
and we are seeing good results thus far. The search committee is on target to recommend
three to five, unranked candidates to be the finalists and visit campus for a series
of interviews and public presentations by late February to early March.
Report of the Committee on Academic Quality
Committee Chair Sue Smith-Rex stated the Committee received a report from Jean Silagyi-Rebovich,
Director of Assessment, and Karen Jones, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs,
on the results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE.) Our response
rate was about 29% with nearly 80% of responding seniors reporting that they have
participated in 2 or more high impact practices such as service-learning, internships
or field experiences, and study abroad.
The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) document was reviewed. The document is still
undergoing some modifications as we decide which indicators and reporting format is
most useful for our purposes. All divisions of the University will eventually have
their own set of pertinent dashboard indicators.
Debra Boyd reminded the Committee that our University's mission statement has not
been significantly updated since 2011. As the Committee work moves forward, this is
a task to be undertaken.
Report of the Committee on Compensation
Committee Chair Janet Smalley began her report by reviewing the work to date on crafting
the mission statement, charge to the committee, and operating guidelines for the new
committee. She reported the committee approved these documents and the next step is
for the documents to be reviewed for approval by the Executive Committee at its meeting
in January 2015.
Also present at the Committee on Compensation was a number of members of the newly
appointed Competitive Compensation Committee, Dr. Roger Weikle, Ms. Karen Jones, Dr.
Dwight Dimaculangan, and Mr. Grant Scurry. The committee is expected to complete their
work by April 15, 2015 in preparation for the 2015 — 2016 budget. The three phases
of the study are (1) identify areas of improvement, (2) address policies such as compression,
recruiting packages, professional development, etc., and (3) receive faculty and staff
suggestions and feedback regarding data sources.
Report of the Committee on Enrollment and Retention
Committee Chair Karl Folkens provided a summary of the enrollment and retention report
provided during the committee meeting. In summary, the number of applications is trending
positively and while there are many nuances in the data, overall, the enrollment and
retention numbers are positive.
The committee also reviewed the new marketing campaign comprised of 14 billboards,
radio advertisements in four markets, and Facebook advertisements that directed interested
parties to the admissions homepage. From that campaign we have seen an increase in
applications from the local markets and an uptick in visits to the admissions website.
Each year about this time, the National Student Clearinghouse Report of fall 2014
freshman applicants is released. This report provides information on the college of
choice for those students who applied to Winthrop but did not enroll. The top five
institutions chosen by the non-enrollees are USC-Columbia, College of Charleston,
Clemson, Coastal Carolina, and USC-Upstate.
The committee then discussed activities that could be done by the Trustees in support
of enrollment. Under development is a unique code number for each Trustee to distribute
to a select number of applicants as a way to advertise and encourage deserving students
to apply. The code, when entered on the Winthrop application, would waive the application
fee.
Report of the Committee on Finance
Committee Chair Glenn McCall began his report with a summary of Mr. Ben Kochenower's
external audit for the year ending June 30, 2014. The external audit firm met with
the audit committee on May 9, 2014, and explained the preliminary results to the Committee.
Overall, the audit is positive and Mr. Kochenower was very complimentary of the finance
and budget staff at Winthrop. There was no management report produced because there
are no outstanding issues or problems to be addressed.
Based on a review of the budget to date, revenue projections are on target and may
possibly exceed projections.
Lastly, on behalf of the Committee on Finance, he thanked Mr. James Hammond, Associate
Vice President for Information Technology, for his many years of service to Winthrop
University and wished him well as he begins a new phase of his career with the Carolina
Panthers football organization.
Report of the Committee on Institutional Advancement and Development
Committee Chair Tim Hopkins reported on plans to finalize the Distinction: a Campaign
for Winthrop. To date, the campaign has surpassed our first campaign dollar amount
and currently sits about $44 million. The committee learned many institutions include
private grants in their campaigns and we are looking into doing so.
Internally, the Advancement Division has been assessing staff and work assignments
with the assistance of consultant Charlie Witzleben. He is currently completing an
internal audit of needs for the entire advancement division. So far, the assessment
has indicated several categories to be strengthened: (1) engagement, (2) fundraising,
and (3) operations. A request has been made to the Foundation Operations Committee
to increase the budget by $211,000 and will be discussed at the upcoming Foundation
Board meeting on December 4, 2014.
Report of the Committee on Student Life and Athletics
Committee Chair Scott Talley described the report received from Athletic Director
Tom Hickman. Mr. Hickman discussed the NCAA Division I Grants Program including the
Academic Enhancement fund, Sports Sponsorship fund, Grants-In-Aid, and the Students
Assistance Fund. All of these funds are sponsored by the NCAA and provide funding
for our student-athletes.
The report given by Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Frank Ardaiolo, began with
an overview of the university's Ebola Protocol, a state mandated protocol from the
Governor's office.
He also introduced Ms. Ellin McDonough, the interim director of Career Services. He
finished his report with a discussion of a recent SWOT analysis which resulted from
the Division's ongoing process to rejuvenate and reconsider means for approaching
its work allowing staff members to focus more efficiently, given limited resources,
on what they can do. Especially important was the educational obligation for creating
the conditions and opportunities for student learning across many platforms. The business
side of the Division along with enhancing student engagement for recruiting and retaining
students was emphasized.
Report of the Chair of Faculty Conference and Faculty Representative to the Board
Dr. John Bird described the current, ongoing work of the Faculty Conference. The main
business is curricular as faculty meet the new rules implemented when we reduced the
minimum credits needed for graduation. All colleges are working to accommodate the
new 120 credit hour minimum. The subcommittee of the Academic Counsel is addressing
the issue of academic integrity and a report is soon expected.
He briefed the Trustees on the upcoming joint meeting of the Faculty Committee on
University Priorities and Faculty Committee on University Life to be held on December
2, 2014.
Dr. Bird concluded his report by inviting the Trustees to the next meeting of the
Faculty Conference on Friday, December 5, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
Report from the President of the Council of Student Leaders (CSL) and Student Representative
to the Board
President Ian Deas reported on the most recent activities of the Council. The CSL
listens campaign held a meet and greet to provide student the opportunity to meet
and get to know their representatives to the Council. Students continue to use the
suggestion box located in the lobby of DIGS as a way to share ideas with the CSL.
To date, the Council has allocated $13,305 (about half of the total available) to
clubs and organizations to support their on-campus programming. Two new organizations,
Pinky Promise Winthrop and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. have been charted thus earning
official club/organization status.
Report from the President
President Boyd began her report by thanking the Trustees for their continued support
and guidance. As we have all been working as a team this year, it is appropriate for
the Trustees to receive the new "Team Winthrop" rubber bracelets as an indication
of our combined good will to move the University forward. She also directed their
attention to the Student Resource guide they have been provided. This is the second
year of this in-house publication that is to be used as a resource for faculty and
staff to locate help and offer assistance to our students.
President Boyd built upon Chair Rex's NSSE report by giving detailed descriptions
of various indicators. Winthrop uses its NSSE results to evaluate global learning,
community service, and civic engagement initiatives. These results will help us evaluate
learning associated with Winthrop's University Level Competencies and the quality
of relationships our students report with other students, faculty members, and campus
professionals in academic student support services. It also allows for a comparison
of what our students are learning compared to their peers at other schools.
In discussing the creation of the Competitive Compensation Committee under the direction
of co-chairs Karen Jones and Roger Weikle, President Boyd once again thanked the Board
of Trustees for their support in creating this committee. The long-term goal of this
action is to have compensation as a high priority on an annual basis.
President Boyd concluded her report by briefing the Trustees on actions to date regarding
the request to rename the Tillman Administration building. She urged everyone to understand
that while it is a complex and emotional issue, we need to have a civil discourse
and find common ground and common purpose. Meetings have begun to talk about ways
we might move forward to given the legislative restrictions against renaming historical
buildings.
New Business
Trustee Dr. Jane LaRoche asked to be recognized in order to present a gift to Chair
Kathy Bigham to acknowledge Ms. Bigham's many years of dedicated service to the University.
Dr. LaRoche commissioned a desk made of South Carolina indigenous wood as a gift.
Chair Bigham thanked Dr. LaRoche for her thoughtful gift and said she was genuinely
heartened by the gesture.
Executive Session
Karl Folkens moved with a second from Randy Imler that the Board meet in executive
session for discussion related to proposed contractual arrangements with the presidential
search consultant and the receipt of legal advice pertaining to former and current
employees. The vote was unanimous. Kimberly Faust, Debra Boyd, John Bird, and Ian
Deas were invited to remain for the executive session. Donna Glenn Holley moved the
Board end executive session, Don Long seconded. The motion passed unanimously by voice
vote. No actions were taken in executive session.
Adjournment
Sue Smith-Rex moved to adjourn the meeting with a second from Tim Sease. The vote
was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Kimberly Faust, Secretary to the Board.
