The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on December 2, 1994, in the Board Room of the University Administration Building. Chairman Stephen W. Woody presided.

The following members of the Board were present: Mrs. Allen, Mr. Allman, Mrs. Blankenship, Mrs. Davis, Mr. Haire, Mrs. Key, Mr. McKee, Mr. Moore, Mr. Pine, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Woody.

Others present included Chancellor Wakeley; Vice Chancellors Carter, Dooley, Glenn Stillion, and Judith Stillion; Dr. Dowell and Mr. Ramsey, Assistants to the Chancellor; Mr. Kucharski, University Counsel; Mr. McDonald, Executive Director of University Advancement; Mr. Reed, Director of Public Information; Mr. Travis, Director of Athletics; Dr. Wright, Chair of the Faculty; Mr. Walker, President-Elect of the Alumni Association; Dr. Utley, Director of NCCAT; Mr. Wooten, Associate Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs; and Mrs. Shuler, Assistant Secretary of the Board and Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor.

Mr. Woody called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m. Chancellor Wakeley introduced Dr. Mary Jo Utley, Director of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. Utley commented on her pleasure in attending the meeting and some of her plans for working more cooperatively with WCU.

Upon motion by Mr. Allman, seconded by Mr. Pine, minutes of the September 1, 1994, meeting were approved as circulated.

Mr. Kucharski reviewed Administrative Memorandum No. 351 and the revisions to the Open Meetings Law, emphasizing the seven reasons public bodies may use for going into closed session. Under this law committees of the Board are considered public bodies and are thus subject to the provisions. Minutes of committee meetings will now be recorded, and minutes of all closed sessions will be kept confidential. A publication from the Institute of Government has been ordered and each trustee will be given a copy.

Vice Chancellor Carter presented the proposed fees for 1995-96, outlining the method used to prepare the proposal. He compared fees on various UNC campuses and reported that WCU ranks third from the bottom in total charges within the system. Following discussion and upon motion by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mrs. Key, Mr. Haire, and others, the following increases were approved:

Applications Fee, from $20 to $25
Athletics Fee, $12 per semester
Book Rental Fee, $7 per semester
Documents Fee, $1 per semester
Education and Technology Fee, $1.85 per semester
Food Services Fees:

21-meal plan, $20 per semester
15-meal plan, $19 per semester
10-meal plan, $15 per semester
Declining Balance, standard option, $21 per semester
Declining Balance, low option, $19 per semester
18-Flex Meal Plan, $19 per semester
12-Flex Meal Plan, $$23 per semester

Housing Fees:

Residence Halls, double occupancy, $20 per semester
Madison Hall, single occupancy, $25 per semester
Robertson Hall, $10 per semester

Recreation and Culture Fee, $2 per semester
Parking Permits, $3 per year
University Center Debt Service Fee, $22.50 per semester

The complete proposal for fee increases is on file with minutes material.

Chancellor Wakeley read to the trustees the resolution passed by the Board of Governors in honor of Chancellor Emeritus Coulter.

The fall athletic season has been a good one, with the football program having its third consecutive winning season, the volleyball team having a 13-15 record, and track and cross country teams having a particularly outstanding fall. The basketball team is off and running, and the institution is in sound financial shape in athletics.

The exit interview with the State Auditor's team produced a "no comment" audit, i.e., they couldn't find anything wrong. Chancellor Wakeley complimented Vice Chancellor Carter and his staff and also all the people at WCU who do what they are supposed to do to produce such results. Two new administrative staff members have been added in Business Affairs: Mr. Olson, Budget Officer, and Mr. Holcomb, Director of Auxiliary Services. Six capital improvement projects are underway on the campus and all are on schedule.

The sculptures in front of the administration building, "The Guardian Angels," were dedicated recently. The outdoor sculpture program is now in its third year.

The master's program in educational leadership has been approved and some funding has been received. In response to questions, Chancellor Wakeley said the doctoral program has been approved but not funded. It is anticipated that students can be enrolled in 1997.

The search process for dean of the College of Business is underway, with more than 80 applications received. The new dean is expected to take office by July 1, 1995.

The College of Education and Psychology received a $75,000 grant to develop a state-wide project for mentoring.

The first faculty member has been hired for the physical therapy programs, and the first students will be admitted in 1996. Some additional funding was received.

Student clubs and organizations are sponsoring needy children for holiday programs; last year these groups raised more than $1500.

Vice Chancellor Dooley is working with the "Year of the Mountains" project. Governor Hunt is expected to issue a proclamation soon about this endeavor.

Chancellor and Mrs. Wakeley extend greetings of the season.

Mr. Westmoreland reported that Homecoming was a success with only a couple of minor problems. Forty-three senators have been elected to the Student Senate, the largest group ever. Dr. Wright visited the Student Senate. A brochure on student government is being prepared to go to freshmen. Mr. Westmoreland attended a conference in Chapel Hill with President Spangler and other student presidents, and he also was honored to represent WCU at a national seminar in St. Louis. In response to questions, Mr. Westmoreland explained that student senators must have a 2.0 g.p.a., be full-time students, and that there is one senator for every 150 students.

Dr. Wright has really enjoyed her work on the Chancellor Search Committee. The faculty is busy in several areas: recommendations from the task force on the Year of the Advisor and how to improve advising on campus; the retention policy; the textbook policy and supplemental materials. Upcoming projects will include work on a professional Code of Ethics, the professional load of faculty, and grading issues. The Task Force on Enhancement of Teaching has been working on peer evaluation and use of portfolios and will present workshops in the spring. The Task Force on Diversity is looking at recommendations on how to recruit, curriculum, faculty development, and exchange programs. There has been an exchange between student and faculty senates, with Mr. Westmoreland visiting the Faculty Senate. Faculty are very involved in the SACS self-study work underway.

Mr. Woody introduced Mr. Philip Walker, President-Elect of the Alumni Association, representing Mr. David Fowler who could not be present.

Mr. Walker is excited about the activities taking place within the institution. The Alumni Association is looking at intensified awareness of efforts in the Carolinas and getting a lot of questions about Western. Over the next few years the Alumni Association will zero in on marketing efforts and scholarship funds.

A Western Club has been established in the Netherlands, and work is underway on one in Jamaica. A meeting will be held to begin a Jackson County chapter later in December.

Mr. Woody commented on visits by the Advisory Budget Commission and the new members of the Board of Governors and thanked trustees who participated in those visits.

The Chancellor Search Committee is working very well together. The search is still open; at this time 254 applications have been received. The committee met November 2-4 in Atlanta and interviewed 13 candidates, then met in Asheville November 10 and interviewed three more. That list of 16 has now been reduced to seven, and committee members are meeting with those individuals and talking to their references. The committee will meet on December 16 to reduce the number to a smaller group and will invite finalists to the campus in January. There will be public meetings for each candidate, and Mr. Woody hopes all trustees will be able to meet all the candidates. There may be some "non-traditional" candidates in the group to be brought to campus, as the committee wanted to offer some diversity in experience, background, etc. The committee will choose two or three to recommend to the Board at a meeting in late January or early February, and the Board's recommendation will then be forwarded to President Spangler, who will make the final selection. The Board cannot rank the names to be forwarded to the President.

Other trustees were invited to contact those trustees on the search committee if they have questions.

Vice Chancellor Carter distributed a listing of architects appointed by the Chancellor under a delegation of authority from the Board of Trustees (copy of list on file with minutes material).

Vice Chancellor Carter reported that, in addition to the state audit report without adverse comment, the Bookstore audit was a clean one. The bookstore has had a good year, and the margins are slightly better this year. The only purpose for profits from the bookstore is student financial aid, and we should be able to increase the scholarship amounts next year.

Mr. Wooten presented the annual financial report showing $79.9 million in revenues, $75.8 million in expenditures, increase in assets from $159 million to $166 million, and decrease in liabilities from $19 million to $12 million. The financial condition of the institution is very good. (A copy of the complete report is on file with minutes material.)

Mr. Wilson moved that the Board go into closed session to prevent the premature disclosure of an honorary award and to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, and conditions of appointment of public and prospective public employees. Mr. Pine seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

(Minutes of the closed session are not included here because of their confidential nature.)

Upon motion by Mr. Allman, seconded by Mrs. Key, the Board voted to return to open session.

A request to use Camp Lab Gymnasium for a Christmas tournament had been made by Jackson County Youth Sports. The organization had used the gym during the time it was assigned to Jackson County Schools. The university had declined the request because the university would be closed for part of the time, the space would be needed for university students on other dates, there would be problems with storage of the university track team's equipment, the facility is not up to par, and the youth organization wants to sell concessions which would be in violation of university policy.

Several of the trustees had received phone calls about the situation, and Mr. Haire asked if the county recreation department could be involved to assume responsibility for maintenance and security or if there could be some arrangement worked out to accommodate the group for this year. Chancellor Wakeley will have appropriate university officials meet with the group and show them the space and then proceed as appropriate.

Mr. Allman moved that actions recommended by the Personnel Committee in closed session--a leave of absence, designation of emeritus status, appointment of a department head, and offer of reappointment to 22 probationary faculty--be approved. Mr. Wilson seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Mr. Pine presented the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Board of Governors repealed its policies requiring the automatic retirement of faculty and EPA employees who are not senior administrative officers on July 1 coincident with or next following their seventieth birthday; and

WHEREAS, action by this Board is necessary to fully implement the Board of Governors' policy revisions on Western Carolina University's campus;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Section IX of WCU's tenure regulations, entitled "Reappointment of Faculty Beyond Normal Retirement Date," is hereby repealed. Furthermore, Section VIII of the "Employment Policies for University Employees Exempt from the State Personnel Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: "Employees in covered positions may retire in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 135 of the North Carolina General Statutes ("Retirement System of Teachers and State Employees")."

Adopted this 2nd day of December, 1994, at Cullowhee NC.

Upon motion by Mr. Allman, seconded by Mrs. Davis, the resolution was adopted.

Mr. Pine requested that, when candidates for the dean, College of Business, visit the campus, Board members be invited as a matter of information.

Mr. Haire commented on the SACS Self-Study and asked that a report be given at the next Board meeting.

Mr. Woody commented on Mrs. Blankenship's trip to an international trade fair in France. She was one of three Cherokees chosen to display craft work at the fair.

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