RESOLUTION REGARDING THE OPERATING BUDGET AND STUDENT FEES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010

WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Trustees at state institutions of higher learning are empowered to determine schedules of student fees; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Board of Trustees at Winthrop University have examined the fee structure at Winthrop University; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Board of Trustees have examined the projected resources and projected commitments for 2009-2010; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Board recognize their fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the University's budget strikes a balance between actual resources and commitments; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina customarily provides its public institutions of higher learning with state operating allocations sufficiently in advance of Winthrop University Board of Trustees' regular June board meeting to allow for timely preparation of budget documentation to be reviewed by the full board in its June board deliberations related to the establishment of tuition and fees; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina in 2009 has been unable to reach agreement on key aspects of its allocation of state operating funds as they relate to Winthrop University for the fiscal year beginning July 1 in time to allow for that careful and timely preparation of budget documentation for review by Winthrop's full board in considering establishment of tuition and fees; and

WHEREAS, leadership of the General Assembly has signaled such decisions may not be forthcoming until much later in the month of June; and

WHEREAS, Winthrop University has promised its students and their families to act expeditiously to provide information needed by them for family financial planning purposes as soon as reasonably possible following General Assembly action;

THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees be authorized to adopt the 2009-2010 fee schedule after final legislative action is taken; and

LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees be authorized to adopt the Winthrop University operating budget on behalf of the Board once the General Assembly has passed the Appropriations Act.

June 5, 2009