The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on December 7, 1990, at 2:30 p.m. in the Board Room of the Robinson Administration Building. Chairman Richard A. Wood, Jr., presided.

ATTENDANCE

The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Allman, Mr. Cagle, Mr. Coward, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Lambert, Mr. McKee, Mr. Pine, Mrs. Strum, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Wood.

Mr. Aaron Prevost, a member of the Board of Governors, attended the meeting.

Others present included: Chancellor Coulter; Vice Chancellors Carter, Dooley, Stillion, and Wakeley; Dr. Dowell, Mr. Ramsey, and Dr. Ambrose, Assistants to the Chancellor; Mrs. Boydston, Alumni Representative to the Board; Dr. Wallace, Faculty Representative to the Board; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Setzer, Director of Athletics; Mr. Rowell, Associate Director of Public Information; Dr. Judith Stillion, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Planning; Mr. Wood, Director of Institutional Studies and Planning; Mr. Wooten, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs; and Mrs. Shuler, Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor.

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. and welcomed Mr. Prevost and Mrs. Boydston to the meeting.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the September, 1990, meeting had been distributed in advance of the meeting. Mr. Pine moved that the minutes be approved as circulated, Mr. McKee seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mrs. Strum reported that the Academic Affairs Committee had met and reviewed the Role and Mission Statement developed by the Role and Mission Study Committee. The Academic Affairs Committee was favorably impressed, and Mrs. Strum moved that the Board approve the statement as submitted. Mr. Cagle and Mr. McKee seconded the motion.

Chairman Wood, recognizing the amount of work that went into this report, asked Dr. Judith Stillion, Chair of the Study Committee, to discuss with the Board the efforts of the committee in researching, analyzing, and writing the revised mission statement.

Dr. Stillion told the Board that the committee met a number of times during the summer, did an external survey, and took drafts of the report to both the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate. Committee members felt that they received good input, and the revised statement makes four major shifts of emphasis for the institution: (1) the initiation of limited doctoral work (the Ed.D. and one other program in the next decade); (2) a commitment to excellence in teaching, particularly in post-secondary institutions; (3) a stronger emphasis on the service role, including an international component; (4) a re-emphasis on our role in Asheville.

Following discussion, Chairman Wood called for the vote on the report of the Role and Mission Study Committee and authorization for the Chancellor to forward it to the General Administration. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Wood then thanked the committee for the hard work expended, particularly over the summer. (The complete report is on file with minutes material.)

APPROVAL OF FEES FOR 1991-92

Vice Chancellor Carter discussed with the Trustees the need for increases in several fees for the 1991-92 academic year and gave them information on the relative standing of WCU among the 16 constituent institutions. Upon motion by Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Allman, the following fees were increased:

Book Rental Fee, from $47 to $50 per semester
Food Service Fees:

Health Service Fee, from $67 to $72 per semester
Faculty-Staff Health Service Fee, from $1.50 to $3.00 per month
Student Housing Fee, from $590 to $615 per semester
Recreation and Cultural Fee, from $51 to $56 per semester
University Center Fee, from $58.50 to $62 per semester
Application Fee, from $15 to $20
Co-op Education Fee for Graduate Students, $30 (this fee is already charged to undergraduate students)

CHANCELLOR COULTER'S COMMENTS

Chancellor Coulter welcomed Mr. Prevost and Mrs. Boydston.

Chancellor Coulter summarized for the Board members the budget reductions that have been imposed which resulted in the loss of 17.8 positions and approximately 7.3 percent reduction in appropriations. The University finds itself in a very, very tight budget situation for the current fiscal year.

The Board of Governors has asked each campus to have a liaison team to develop strategies for meeting with legislators. These teams will meet on February 8 with the Board of Governors. The WCU team will be composed of Chairman Wood and Mr. Coward from the Board of Trustees; Mrs. Boydston, President of the Alumni Association; Dr. Fred Hinson, of the faculty; and Chancellor Coulter.

Dr. Coulter read a letter from Mrs. Yvonne Saddler thanking the Board for the resolution passed in memory of her husband, Dr. Daniel Saddler.

The NCAA annual meeting will be held in Nashville during early January. There are over 200 proposals for new regulations, a number of these dealing with restructuring which would have an impact on this institution. Chancellor Coulter will attend the meeting.

The Southern Conference met here at Western this week. Among the items discussed was a serious consideration of expansion of the conference.

A major new scholarship program has been implemented using discretionary funds. Awards will be made on the basis of scholarship, not need, and students meeting qualifications will have renewals for up to four years.

A survey of the class of 1988 from all UNC institutions showed WCU ranked at or above the average of its peer group. Of the students responding, 78 percent would select WCU again and 75 percent would select the same major.

Dr. Coulter is completing eight years on the Board of Directors of AASCU and is now serving as Chair of the Search Committee to select a new president.

REPORT FROM MR. LAMBERT

Mr. Lambert thanked the Board for increasing the recreation and cultural fee (which funds SGA activities) and said that 65 students have been named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He also reported that some students having problems with food service had been sent to Drs. Stillion and Carter, that student attendance at basketball games is up, and that finals start this week.

REPORT FROM MRS. BOYDSTON

Mrs. Boydston thanked the Board for meeting with the Alumni Association Board in September. There was a very successful Homecoming which included placing the time capsule and hanging the Victory Bell in the Alumni Tower. The primary focus of the Alumni Association is paying off by Homecoming 1991 the $49,000 still owed on the Tower. Mrs. Boydston's work on the Role and Mission Study Committee was informative, and the Alumni Association is looking ahead with two new projects: an alumni house and an endowed scholarship program. In January the alumni presidents from all institutions will meet at UNC-Greensboro.

INFORMATION REPORTS

Vice Chancellor Carter discussed with the Trustees the 1991-93 budget requests, indicating that the priorities will be (1) restoration of cuts made; (2) enrollment changes; (3) institutional enhancement. A total of $3,150,000 each year of the biennium is being requested. Capital improvement requests total $19.3 million for the biennium.

Assistant Vice Chancellor Wooten presented the annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1990, with receipts of $69.3 million and expenditures of $68.6 million. As a part of the report showing financial highlights of the year, Mr. Wooten said that the Book Store is now debt-free and that this is the fifth year for an increase in the enrollment.

A copy of the independent audit of the Book and Supply Store was given to the Trustees. The audit showed that the financial statements are free of material misstatements, that appropriate accounting principles are being used, and that the financial status of the Bookstore is healthy.

EXECUTIVE SESSION Open Meetings Law

Mr. Coward moved that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss personnel, property, and other matters as permitted by the Open Meetings Law of the State of North Carolina. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

RESUMPTION OF REGULAR SESSION

Mr. Allman moved that the Board return to regular session, Mr. Coward seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

REPORT OF THE PROPERTY AND BUILDINGS COMMITTEE

Upon Mr. Wilson's recommendation, Mr. Allman moved that the property as discussed in Executive Session be purchased. Mr. Cagle seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Upon Mr. Wilson's recommendation that an amendment to the 1985 resolution dealing with sale and treatment of water include sewer, Mr. Allman moved that the amended resolution as discussed in Executive Session be approved. Mr. Pine seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

Mr. Pine moved that the reappointments of 18 second-year faculty members be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that Emeritus status be conferred on two individuals. Mr. Cagle seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that one individual be appointed with Affiliate Faculty status, Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that Dr. Curtis Wood be appointed Head, Department of History. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

(NOTE: Copies of all personnel actions are on file with minutes material.)

ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to be transacted, Mr. Wood declared the meeting adjourned.

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Chairman, Board of Trustees

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Secretary, Board of Trustees