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Western Board of Trustees >Trustee Minutes
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REGULAR
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Room
510, H.F. Robinson Building
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The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on December 4, 1992, in the Board Room of the Robinson Administration Building. Chairman William F. Forsyth called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m. ATTENDANCE The following members of the Board were present: Mrs. Allen, Mr. Allman, Mrs. Blankenship, Mr. Cagle, Mr. Coward, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Laughter, Mr. Lindsay, Mr. McKee, Mr. Moore, Mr. Pine, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Woody. Others present included Chancellor Coulter; Vice Chancellors Carter, Dooley, Stillion, and Wakeley; Assistants to the Chancellor Dowell, Ambrose, and Ramsey; Mr. Grooms, President of the Alumni Association; Dr. Wright, Chair of the Faculty; Dr. Thompson, Director of NCCAT; Mr. Wooten, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs; Mr. Travis, Director of Athletics; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Reed, Director of Public Information; and Mrs. Shuler, Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Woody moved that the minutes of the August 28, 1992, meeting be approved as circulated. Mr. Pine seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. INTRODUCTION OF MR. TRAVIS Chancellor Coulter introduced Mr. Larry Travis, Director of Athletics, who had been unable to attend the previous Board meetings since his appointment. Mr. Travis expressed his pleasure at being able to work at this institution and is looking forward to the success of Western's programs both on the field and in the classroom. APPROVAL OF FEES FOR 1993-94 Vice Chancellor Carter discussed with the trustees the status of fee increases during the past two years and reminded them of the moratorium imposed by General Administration and the fee study conducted by the Board of Governors. The fees presently in place are at least two years old, with some being three years old. The receipts-supported operations must have more revenue before the next year in order to remain in good financial condition. The increases being proposed will add $105 per semester to the cost for an in-state undergraduate student, or a 5.7 percent increase. In developing these fees, the administration used the Guiding Principles set out in the fee study done in the fall of 1991. As a comparison, average costs nationwide are $8,071, while Western's cost would be $5,296. In comparison to the other UNC institutions, Western is presently 15th of the 16 and, allowing for increases at the other schools, would remain in the bottom quarter. The
following increases in fees are recommended:
Book Rental Fee, from $50 per semester to $55 per semester Food Service Fees:
15 meal plan, from $502 per semester to $530 per semeste 10-meal plan, from $395 per semester to $415 per semester Declining Balance, standard option, from $567 per semester to $600 per semester Declining Balance, low option, from $513 per semester to $545 per semester Student Housing Fee, from $615 per semester to $640 per semester
One-Bedroom, from $275 per month to $300 per month University Center Fee, from $58.50 per semester to $64.50 per semester Graduate Fee, from $18 per semester to $20 per semester Computing Fee, established at $11 per semester for full-time undergraduate students Following discussion by the trustees, Mr. Allman moved that the fee increases be approved, Mr. Pine seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Mr. Pine commended the administration on the fine job it is doing in the area of fees management. (A copy of the complete fees proposal is on file with minutes material.) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM FUND Vice Chancellor Dooley explained the need to appoint directors to the International Program Fund and recommended the following persons: Wayne Cooper (class of 1993); F. Merton Cregger (class of 1994); William Godfrey (class of 1995); Steve Woody (class of 1995). Upon motion by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mr. Cagle, these directors were appointed for the terms stated. CHANCELLOR COULTER'S COMMENTS 1. Enrollment Western is having another good year with 6,576 students (head count) which is a four percent overall increase. There are 1050 freshmen (six percent increase) and 550 transfer students (eight percent increase), and this increase in enrollment has generated 14 new faculty positions. 2. Studies on Performance and Productivity The Government Performance Audit Committee has been studying how the state might recover funds through programs in various areas. In higher education the committee is looking particularly at graduation rates; redefining FTE (would reduce Western's budget 20% and would be very serious); raising admissions standards to reduce enrollments; public service programs, i.e., economic development; capital fund needs; student fees; tenure policies. The Board of Governors is also looking at these same topics in addition to grievance procedures. 3. Changes at General Administration Jay Robinson has resigned as Vice President but will continue to work on the bond issue. D. G. Martin will take Jay's place as Vice President for Public Affairs, and William Little has been appointed as Vice President for Academic Affairs. 4. Indicators of Quality Chancellor Coulter listed the increase in SAT scores for freshmen and detailed some freshman scores, among whom were three National Merit Finalists. He also listed pass rates on national licensure examinations and said there were four academic All-Americans among the 54 WCU athletes on the Southern Conference Honor Roll, the highest of any Southern Conference school. Three coaches were named Southern Conference Coach of the Year. Vice Chancellor Carter is serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of NACUBO, the national business officers' organization. 5. Mountain Aquaculture Research Center Progress is being made on securing a site in Jackson County for trout research. 6. Institute for College and University Teaching Western has been authorized to establish the Institute for College and University Teaching (ICUT), which will be the state's only institute of this kind. The Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence has paved the way for this designation which gives Western a lead on national prominence in this field. 7. Distribution of items Chancellor Coulter distributed copies of a brochure entitled "Good News" and also gave the trustees a Christmas memento. FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 1991-92 Mr. Wooten presented the annual financial report for 1991-92 and used transparencies to highlight special portions of the report, showing that revenues were $77.5 million and expenditures, $72.9 million. A very clean audit was received on this year's transactions. SUPPLY STORE AUDIT REPORT Vice Chancellor Carter reviewed the Supply Store annual audit, which indicated that sales were up slightly with the margin and profit flat. The only lawful purpose of the profit is for student financial aid, and approximately $123,000 will be used for that purpose. REPORT ON DESIGN FIRMS Vice Chancellor Carter distributed a report on appointments of design firms made under a delegation of authority from the trustees to the Chancellor. (A copy of the report is on file with minutes material.) UPDATE ON NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMS Vice Chancellor Wakeley commented on the three new graduate programs now in the planning stages. Western's first doctoral-level program, the Ed.D., is now being reviewed at General Administration and the plan has been sent out for general review. There are no major problems as far as we can tell, but the program will need additional resources. We should have a report before the academic year is over. We have received approval to plan the master's level program in physical therapy. The planning process is now going on and the document will go to General Administration next semester. Special funding will be required for faculty and equipment, and the program should be implemented within the next two to three years. The early processes of planning a master's program in accounting have begun. We are working toward permission to plan, and the program can be done within the present resources. Once approval to plan is received, the program could be implemented within three to four years. In the undergraduate areas, Western submitted five areas, but only one was approved: a bachelor's level in Philosophy. One student has already graduated from that program. We are looking again at a program in gerontology, putting together a minor now with the intention of a more formal process later. Resort and Hospitality Management, Communications, and Dance were denied. NORTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF TEACHING Chancellor Coulter introduced Dr. Richard Thompson, director of NCCAT. Dr. Thompson summarized the development of the Center and said it now has served approximately 4400 teachers in over 300 seminars. At least one teacher from every school district in the state has attended a seminar; since October, 1990, when the new facility was completed, 125 special programs have been held in addition to seminars. The Center now has 46 full-time employees, and eight graduate assistants. The Center is a division of the University of North Carolina system and has a 15-member board of trustees. The Center is state funded and pays all costs for teachers to attend. Dr. Thompson read a letter from an attendee and described how seminars are developed. He mentioned the many ways WCU and NCCAT work together and the good relations between the two institutions. An external evaluation of the Center was done and the results incorporated into a long-range plan. The Center is the only pre/kindergarten through post-graduate program in the world, as far as he knows. REPORT FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION Mr. Laughter thanked Vice Chancellors Carter and Stillion for explaining the fee structure and necessary increases. He is happy about the student spirit being displayed and thanked Mr. Travis for talking with classes and groups. REPORT FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Mr. Grooms thanked those responsible for the Western Week-ends during the fall and for the great Homecoming program. An alumni newsletter is being planned for active participants, and the first issue is to be mailed next month. Plans are being made for an Alumni College in June and for the organization of a Western Club in Atlanta. Mr. Grooms offered two suggestions: display a banner in Ramsey arena showing support for the bond issue; a program of community involvement coordinated by the University to help other people. CATAMOUNT AUCTION Mr. Cagle, chairman of the Board's committee on athletics, announced that the annual auction would be held at Maggie Valley on February 13 and invited all trustees to attend. REPORT FROM THE FACULTY Dr. Wright said the Faculty Senate is working on coordinating various documents. The month of February will be devoted to the theme: WCUnique. EXECUTIVE SESSION Open Meeting Act Mr. Coward moved that the Board go into Executive Session to discuss the report of the Personnel Committee. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. (Minutes of the Executive Session are not included here because of their confidential nature; they are, however, a part of the official minutes book.) RESUMPTION OF REGULAR SESSION By common consent the Board reconvened in regular session. REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Mr. Pine moved that all personnel actions discussed in the Executive Session be approved. Mr. Woody seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT The next meeting of the Board will be held on February 26. Mr. Allman then moved that the meeting be adjourned, Mrs. Allen seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. |
