Monday, August 20, 2018, 11:30 a.m.
Macfeat House, Conference Room B
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
Members present: Glenn McCall, Jane LaRoche, Ed Driggers, Tim Hopkins, Isaiah Venning, Randy Imler, Janet Smalley, Ashlye Wilkerson, Donna Glenn Holley, Julie Fowler, Sandra Stroman, Robby Sisco, Kathy Bigham, and Dan Mahony (ex officio).
Members absent: Don Long, Tim Sease
Representatives present: Ximena Perez, Student Representative; Michael Lipscomb, Faculty Representative
Representatives absent: None
The Board of Trustees met on Monday, August 20, 2018 on the campus of Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC.
Call to Order
Chair McCall called the meeting to order at 11:44 a.m. He welcomed all present. Mr. Robby Sisco delivered an invocation.
Approval of Minutes
Sandra Stroman moved to accept the minutes as written from the meeting of June 22, 2018. Jane LaRoche seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the minutes as written.
Executive Session
Robby Sisco moved with a second from Jane LaRoche to move into executive session pursuant to South Carolina Ann. 30-4-70(a)(1) and (2) for the purposes of discussion of employment matters involving certain current and former university employees and for a discussion of proposed contractual arrangements. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion. Dan Mahony and Kimberly Faust were invited to remain for the executive session.
Isaiah Venning moved with a second from Ed Driggers to end the executive session and return to public session. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
Report of the Chair of the Board and Executive Committee
Chair McCall delivered the report of the Executive Committee. The Committee met earlier today to consider the 2017-18 Agency Head Evaluation document and survey for President Mahony. The president was deemed to have met the Agency Head goals as stated in the planning document.
Mr. McCall brought forth a resolution from the Executive Committee to accept the evaluation as stated with a rating of Meets Expectations. As no second was needed, Mr. McCall called for the vote. It was unanimous in favor of the resolution.
The Committee also met to consider the 2018-19 Agency Head Planning document. The performance objectives will be based on the key strategic priorities of (a) enrollment growth and increased retention and graduation rates, (b) promoting a culture of innovation, with an emphasis on global and community engagement, (c) attracting and retaining a high quality and diverse faculty, staff, and administrators (d) maintaining and creating facilities, technology, and programs in support of the Winthrop experience (e) ensuring financial stability and sustainability.
Mr. McCall then brought forth a motion from the Executive Committee to postpone on the objectives as stated until the November 2, 2018 meeting of the Board. As no second was needed, Mr. McCall called for the vote. It was unanimous in favor of the motion to postpone.
An additional resolution from the Executive Committee was the Approval of 2018 Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees. They are Mark Cooke, Head Softball Coach (1990-2018), Ashley Fann, Women's Basketball (2005-09), Michael Jenkins, Men's Basketball (2004-08), and Health Rollins, Baseball (2004-06). As no second was needed, Mr. McCall called for the vote. It was unanimous in favor of the resolution.
Operating Budget Review
Vice President Justin Oates reported on the FY2018 End of Year Budget and the proposed FY2019 Operating Budget. Currently the financial staff at Winthrop are finalizing the year end audit of accounts. At this point, the net position is expected to reach $20 million. This increase in net position was realized through lower than expected utilities costs and a number of contracts that had to be postponed because of the lengthy request for proposals (RFP) process required of state agencies. Those contracts will be expensed in the FY2019 budget. In future meetings, regular status reports of the net position will be given.
Looking forward to the FY2019 budget, VP Oates stated the bulk of the increases to the budget would be linked to the increase in number of employees, institutional scholarships, and costs related to pension increases. While fall enrollment numbers are not yet finalized as some classes will begin in the upcoming weeks, total enrollment numbers are expected to be down as compared to last year.
To account for the lower enrollment, only the first six months of operating budgets are being distributed. If budgets need to be lowered, the adjustments can be made prior to distributing the remaining six months of budgeted dollars. In the meantime, special care is being given to capture vacancy savings by delaying the hiring of new staff.
Robby Sisco moved with a second from Ed Driggers to approve the FY2019 operating budget as presented giving authority to VP Oates to make adjustments when necessary. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
Miracle Park
Ed Driggers moved to direct the President of Winthrop University and the Chair of the Board of Trustees to negotiate a lease to York County Disabilities Foundation for the purpose of constructing a Miracle Park, a certain parcel of land containing some 8.223 acres, more or less, and located in the City of Rock Hill, South Carolina, said parcel being bounded by Cherry Road, Richmond Drive, Eden Terrace, and property of the City. Janet Smalley seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor of the resolution.
New Business
There was no new business.
Adjournment
Sandra Stroman moved to adjourn the meeting with a second from Tim Hopkins. The vote was unanimous. The meeting was adjourned at 1:29 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Kimberly A. Faust, Secretary to the Board
