The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on September 8, 1990, at 9:30 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. Pine, Mrs. Strum, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wood, and Mr. Lambert.

Others present included: Chancellor Coulter; Vice Chancellors Carter, Dooley, Stillion, and Wakeley; Dr. Dowell, Mr. Ramsey, and Dr. Ambrose, Assistants to the Chancellor; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Reed, Director of Public Information; Dr. Judith Stillion, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Mr. Wood, Director of Institutional Studies and Planning; and Mrs. Shuler, Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor.

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Wood called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. He commended Chancellor Coulter and Mrs. Kathy Boydston, President of the Alumni Association, for arranging the joint meeting between the two Boards which had preceded this meeting and said that, in his ten years on the Board of Trustees, this was the first time a meeting had been held with the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Chairman Wood opened the floor for nominations for Chairman. Mr. Forsyth nominated Mr. Wood, and the motion was seconded by Mr. Wilson. Mr. Cagle then moved that Mr. Wood be elected by acclamation, Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mrs. Strum moved that Mr. Coward be elected Vice Chairman, and Mr. Wilson seconded the motion. Mr. Pine moved that Mr. Coward be elected by acclamation, Mr. Cagle seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Allman moved that Mrs. Strum be elected Secretary, Mrs. Allen seconded the motion, and, by consensus, Mrs. Strum was declared elected by acclamation.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of the May, 1990, meeting and August meeting of the Executive Committee had been distributed in advance of the meeting. Mr. Allman called attention to a typographical error on page 4 of the May minutes and, following its correction, Mr. Forsyth moved that the minutes be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

RATIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ACTION ON DRUG EDUCATION-SCREENING-COUNSELING PROGRAM

Chairman Wood made reference to his letter to the Trustees regarding the action of the Executive Committee on the Drug Education-Screening-Counseling program. A copy of the proposed policy had been sent to the Trustees prior to the meeting of the Executive Committee.

Chairman Wood explained that a few changes had been made in the policy, these arising from the Executive Committee's discussion, and the policy available today is the one adopted by the Executive Committee.

Following discussion about the operating procedures to be used with the policy, Mr. Pine moved that the action of the Executive Committee in approving the policy be ratified. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. (A copy of the approved policy is on file with minutes material.)

INTERIM REPORT ON ROLE AND MISSION STUDY COMMITTEE

Chancellor Coulter cited President Spangler's directive that established the need for the work of this committee and said that this document will be a very important one for the next decade. The committee has been working over the summer, and Chairman Wood has represented the Board on this committee. He then introduced Dr. Judith Stillion, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who has chaired the committee.

Dr. Stillion listed the composition of the committee and told the Board that the committee had met six times. At one of those meetings, Roy Carroll had made a presentation on the next ten years for the University System. The committee carried out internal and external surveys on how various constituencies perceived the University and their opinions on how it should operate during the next decade. The work of the committee was divided among four subcommittees, and the document presented today is a result of that work. The final document is due to General Administration by January 22, 1991, and must be approved by the Board of Trustees before that time.

The interim document focuses on teaching excellence, general education, and the teaching/learning climate on the Cullowhee campus. It elaborates on the role and mission emphasis on the Asheville programs, recommends four cases of administrative restructuring, and works toward optimum employment conditions.

Chairman Wood called attention to specific portions of the draft document and said it had been a very interesting exercise to be a part of this study committee. An extensive discussion of the draft document followed with particular attention given to the role of the university in economic development of the region. Chairman Wood summarized the discussion by saying that he senses a Board consensus that the role and mission statement be broadened to cover an increased emphasis on economic development in the region and that faculty are very important to that thrust. The document in its final form will be presented to the Board for approval at the next regular meeting.

REPORT ON AUDIT REPORT

Vice Chancellor Carter distributed copies of the report from the Office of State Auditor covering the fiscal year ended June 30, 1989. He indicated that the audit team was here for about four-and-one-half months and that the institution was found to be in good shape as far as reporting of finances and on-going controls were concerned.

REPORT FROM MR. LAMBERT

Mr. Lambert said that he had been in summer school and was now getting into the fall activities of the Student Government Association. He worked during orientation and did a seminar on life as a commuter student. He attended a meeting of student body presidents in Chapel Hill where the principal topics discussed were budget matters and drug testing. He is working on the endowed scholarship program of the Alumni Board and is also involved in the process of electing student senators.

EXECUTIVE SESSION Open Meetings Law

Mr. Coward moved that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters as permitted by the Open Meetings Law. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

RESUMPTION OF OPEN SESSION

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

REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

Mr. Pine moved that two administrative appointments be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that 31 new faculty appointments be approved. Mr. Cagle seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that 11 new staff appointments be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that four coaching appointments be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that one request for reappointment be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that one leave of absence be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that a change in title be approved. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Pine moved that three persons be granted faculty affiliate status. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

CHANCELLOR COULTER'S COMMENTS

Chancellor Coulter told the Board that fall enrollment is up approximately two percent, with headcount of 6369. Good retention rates helped keep the enrollment at this level. The SAT average score for entering freshmen is 852, up 16 points from last year and above the North Carolina average but still below the national average. There are 101 students enrolled in the new cooperative program with A-B Tech, and 35 of these are new students.

The losses of funds during the past year have been grievous, with another $1.4 million and 17 positions cut from the 1990-91 budget. In addition, an "unfunded reserve" of approximately $700,000 must be maintained. Flexibility would be of great benefit in managing funds in what is expected to be our most difficult budget year ever. We are trying to stay away from reduction-in-force but will meet our obligations.

The Advisory Budget Commission will visit Western on September 25, and all trustees are invited to attend.

Chancellor Coulter and Vice Chancellor Wakeley will leave for Thailand early next week on the project with the 36 Thai United Colleges. They will be seeking funding opportunities with U.S.AID, the World Bank, and the Thai Farmers' Bank.

Copies of the new viewbook containing application forms were distributed. In response to a question, Vice Chancellor Wakeley said that we try to take students from the top half of their high school classes and that, for example, one-half the 1990 freshman class came from the top third of their high school classes.

The first Freshman Convocation was held on August 28 in Ramsey Center with a large crowd in attendance.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Wood expressed his appreciation for the vote of re-election and then, with no further business to be transacted, declared the meeting to be adjourned.

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Chairman, Board of Trustees

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Secretary, Board of Trustees