Western Board of Trustees >Trustee Minutes

 

The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on March 23, 1990, at 10:00 a.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: Mrs. Allen, Mr. Allman, Mr. Cagle, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Coward, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. McKee, Mr. Pine, Mrs. Strum, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Wood.

Others present included: Chancellor Coulter; Vice Chancellors Carter, Dooley, Stillion, and Wakeley; Dr. Dowell, Assistant to the Chancellor; Dr. Wallace, Chairman of the Faculty; Dr. Ambrose, Special Assistant to the Chancellor; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Ramsey, Assistant to the Chancellor for WCU Programs in Asheville; Mr. Setzer, Director of Athletics; Mr. Studenc, Office of Public Information; Mr. Wood, Director of Institutional Studies and Planning; and Mrs. Shuler, Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor.

Prior to the call to order a group photograph was taken of the Board and Chancellor Coulter.

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Allman moved that the minutes be approved as distributed, Mr. Pine seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

REPORT OF THE PROPERTY AND BUILDINGS COMMITTEE

Mr. Forsyth asked Dr. Carter to discuss the proposed Reynolds Hall Renovation project. This project, to cost $2.25 million, would be financed by revenue bonds or a bank loan, whichever would offer the more advantageous interest. Dr. Carter asked the trustees to (1) approve the project as described, (2) approve the method of financing as discussed, and (3) appoint the architectural firm of Padgett and Freeman to design the project. Upon motion by Mr. Forsyth, seconded by Mr. Cooper, the Board approved the requested items.

Dr. Carter then discussed with the Trustees the Five-year Campus Plan which is the third issue of a planning program at Western. The Board of Governors has now mandated that each campus have such a plan. The new plan addresses facilities and infrastructure and is as comprehensive as it can be made. Upon motion by Mr. Forsyth, seconded by Mr. Cagle, the Board approved the Five-Year Campus Plan. (A copy of the plan is on file with minutes material.)

Mr. Forsyth reported that a proposal had been received from the faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences to name a conference room in Stillwell Building for Dr. J. G. Eller, the first Dean of the School. The proposal had been considered in accordance with the guidelines for naming facilities, and the Property and Buildings Committee recommended this action. Mr. Forsyth then moved that the conference room in Stillwell Building be named for J. Gerald Eller, Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

ADOPTION OF OPTIONAL MEAL PLAN

Dr. Carter described an optional meal plan that would be used at all campus facilities and would offer greater flexibility to students. This type of plan, known as a declining balance meal plan, is in operation at many campuses.

Following discussion on the pros and cons of offering such an option to the meal plans already in effect, Mr. Allman moved that the declining balance meal plan be authorized, Mr. Wilson seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ON HELDER TRUST FUND

Vice Chancellor Dooley gave the background on the Helder Trust Fund and discussed with the Trustees the actions that needed to be taken. Upon motion by Mr. Forsyth, seconded by Mr. Cagle, and carried unanimously, the following resolution was adopted:

WHEREAS, Western Carolina University and the residents of Haywood County have received great benefit from academic scholarship awards from the Horatio A. and Adah C. Helder Scholarship Foundation (currently held in trust with Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A.) for the past twenty-seven years through the generosity of Adah C. Helder; and

WHEREAS, the Last Will and Testament of Adah C. Helder directs that the trust established to provide these scholarship awards is to be dissolved in 1993 "and at that time all remaining principal and any unexpended income shall be turned over to the Trustees of Western Carolina College, or its successor in name," and

WHEREAS, the advisory committee for the Helder Trust has agreed to manage the principal and earnings during the remaining duration of the Helder Trust in such manner as to avoid further depleting the principal thereof, but instead, to ensure a substantial remaining principal, for transfer to Western Carolina University, and

WHEREAS, the advisory committee for the Helder Trust has requested that after transfer of the remaining principal, Western Carolina University continue using the proceeds from the Helder estate to provide academic scholarships for students from Haywood County,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University agrees to accept the remaining principal and unexpended income of the Helder Trust with a commitment to establish a Helder Scholarship Fund at Western Carolina University, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, in awarding scholarships from the proceeds of the Helder Scholarship Fund, preference will be given by Western Carolina University to students from Haywood County.

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM WITH A-B TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Dr. Wakeley and Mr. Ramsey described the development of a program with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College to offer, on the A-B Tech campus, courses leading to a B.S. in Technology degree from Western. This program was offered in response to an invitation from A-B Tech to provide better service to Asheville and Buncombe County, and its development may be without precedent in the country.

Chancellor Coulter has discussed the proposed program with President Haynes of A-B Tech and Chancellor Brown of UNC-Asheville and has also talked with Vice President Dawson at General Administration.

Following further discussion of the program, Mrs. Allen made a motion that the Board endorse the concept of the program and the administration be instructed to proceed with its development. Mr. Cagle seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

REPORT ON COMPUTER AVAILABILITY AND USAGE

Mr. Ken Wood gave the Trustees information on the numbers of microcomputers, terminals, courses available on computer, and other statistics. Dr. Wakeley provided a listing of courses using computers and gave other information on the academic applications being handled on computers. In addition to the on-campus equipment, there are five terminals in Asheville offices linked to the Cullowhee mainframe, and seven microcomputers are available at the Oteen building.

EXECUTIVE SESSION Open Meetings Law

Mr. Coward moved that the regular session be adjourned to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters and other such matters as are permitted by the Open Meetings Law. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

RESUMPTION OF OPEN SESSION

Mr. Coward moved that the regular session be resumed, Mr. Cagle seconded the motion, and the motion carried unanimously.

REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

Mr. Pine moved that the personnel actions discussed in Executive Session be approved, Mrs. Allen seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

DISCUSSION OF ALUMNI REPRESENTATION

Following discussion, Mr. Coward moved that Chancellor Coulter continue communication with Bill Dodgen and invite him to attend all meetings that are open, regular meetings; explain the rulings that have been received; and assure him that we want to maintain the good relationship as stated in the letter of March 19. Further, that Mr. Wood also write a letter to Mr. Dodgen. Mr. Forsyth seconded the motion and suggested that the Chancellor and other administrators have a joint session with the Alumni Board and, on a separate basis, get members of the Board of Trustees to Alumni Board meetings. It was also suggested that the Alumni Committee might meet before the next Board meeting.

CHANCELLOR COULTER'S COMMENTS

Attention was drawn to the model of the Alumni Tower on display in the Board Room.

Dr. Coulter introduced Dr. Charles M. "Chuck" Ambrose, who is joining the University after working as Executive Assistant to the President of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Dr. Coulter reviewed a newspaper article on graduation rates of the sixteen constituent institutions.

The enrollment status report indicated that applications are down by one percent from last year, acceptances are down 7.68 percent, and housing deposits are holding level. The "Family Night" recruitment meetings ended last night and have been very successful this year.

The Board of Governors will meet at Western on April 19-20 and will provide two hours for a presentation on WCU.

The Board of Governors has adopted a policy that all foundation audits must be made public.

Western had earlier indicated its wish to have an Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and authorization was received this morning for implementation in 1991. This program will require additional resources, and a planning committee will be meeting soon.

Fourth-quarter allotments may be cut; Western lost $600,000 out of the budget during the third quarter. A letter was sent to Mr. Cameron, State Budget Officer, asking that institutions be allowed flexibility in making these cuts.

No report has been received from the NCAA on the basketball program. At the NCAA annual meeting in January the basketball schedule was reduced, and a drug testing program was mandated.

The annual report on intercollegiate athletics has been sent to the NCAA and to the Board of Governors, and a summary was given to the trustees. In other athletics items, Chancellor Coulter announced the resignation of Betty Peele, who has been Primary Women';s Administrator for a number of years. A search is underway to fill this position. Also, Myron Lewis has been named an Academic All-American.

Chancellor Coulter then asked Dr. Dooley to present a report on the progress made on the funding status of athletics as developed by the ad hoc committee which met in the fall and reported at the December meeting. Dr. Dooley presented charts which showed that solid progress is being made in fund-raising and listed several functions which are to take place. A total of $69,179 has been pledged toward the $95,000 requested, and membership in the Catamount Club is up 36 percent, with the major emphasis on membership yet to be started.

Dr. Dooley than thanked the trustees for their support (which has been 100 percent participation) and told them this is the kind of help the staff needs as they work toward meeting the goals of the Board. Mr. Coward said he is very pleased with the way the University has responded to the committee's report.

INCREASE IN ATHLETICS FEES

Dr. Carter presented the request for an increase in the Athletic fee, which was a major component of the ad hoc committee's recommendations. In order to get a stable program and yet not have a fee too far out of line, it is proposed that the Athletic fee be raised from $138 to $168 per academic year. This amount would place Western at the upper end of the range of such fees, but Western would be the only school at this level supporting a football program.

Mr. Taylor reported that student support is broad and enthusiastic, virtually unanimous across the campus. There was a meeting with student leaders, and good response was received when the need was explained. Mr. Taylor has given to Chancellor Coulter a letter of support from the students for this fee increase.

Upon motion by Mr. Coward, seconded by Mr. Pine, the Athletic fee was increased to $84 per semester, or $168 per year.

REPORT FROM MR. TAYLOR

Mr. Taylor described several functions of his office as SGA president: a communication link, receives resolutions from Student Senate and conveys them to administration; meets with the system-wide Association of Student Governments (this group recently met with Governor Martin to discuss budget cuts); administers a budget of over $100,000 for student programs and organizations.

Mr. Taylor listed a number of on-going programs in which various students are involved and expressed his appreciation for the openness between students and administrators. He further stated that this is his last meeting, and it has been an honor and a privilege to serve on this Board.

Mr. Wood thanked Mr. Taylor for his contributions to the Board.

AMENDMENT TO BOARD BY-LAWS

Discussion at earlier Board meetings had indicated a need for an amendment to the By-laws of the Board, this to be concerned with terms of officers. Upon motion by Mr. Allman, seconded by Mr. Forsyth, the following amendment was adopted:

AMENDMENT TO THE

BY-LAWS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

l. Article III, Section I.A.l.a. of the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University is amended by adding the following language immediately after the first sentence:

Any person who has served two full one-year terms in succession as Chairman shall, for a period of one year, be ineligible for election as Chairman.

2. The foregoing amendment was adopted by the Board ofTrustees by a vote of thirteen in favor of said amendment and zero in opposition to said amendment at its meeting on the 23rd day of March, 1990.

In Witness Whereof, said Board of Trustees has caused this amendment to be signed in its name by its Chairman and attested to by its ecretary this 23rd day of March, 1990.

/s/ Richard A. Wood, Jr., Chairman

Attest: /s/ Deborah B. Strum, Secretary

OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Mr. Wilson has been appointed to the Endowment Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Wood's election as Chairman of the Western Board of Trustees.

Mr. Wood will be meeting at President Spangler's home next week with Board chairmen from all the constituent institutions.

Mr. Wood asked that the document from President Spangler to the Board of Governors in reference to mission be sent to the Trustees. He commended the staff on the progress made in the athletic program and urged the administration to bring items to the Academic Affairs Committee.

ADJOURNMENT

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

NOTE: The oath of office was administered to Mr. McKee prior to the meeting of the Personnel Committee.

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Chairman, Board of Trustees

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Secretary, Board of Trustees