Western Carolina University - Office of the Chancellor

The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on March 3, 1995, in the Board Room of the University Administration Building. Chairman Stephen W. Woody presided.

ATTENDANCE

The following members of the Board were present: Mrs. Allen, Mr. Allman, Mrs. Blankenship, 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, Glenn Stillion, and Judith Stillion; Mr. Ramsey, Assistant to the Chancellor; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. McDonald, Executive Director of University Advancement; Mr. Reed, Director of Public Information; Dr. Wright, Chair of the Faculty; Mr. Fowler, President of the Alumni Association; and Mrs. Shuler, Assistant Secretary of the Board and Administrative Assistant to the Chancellor.

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Woody called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Pine moved that the minutes of the December 2, 1994, meeting as corrected be approved. Mrs. Key seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

REPORT ON MR. TRAVIS

Chancellor Wakeley informed the Board that Mr. Travis, Director of Athletics, was hospitalized following some heart problems and that additional testing would be done.

REPORT OF THE ATHLETIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mr. Moore reported that the Athletic Affairs Committee recommended support for Henry Logan's induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Upon motion by Mr. Moore, seconded by Mr. Allman, and unanimously carried, the following resolution was adopted:

WHEREAS, Henry Logan of Asheville has been nominated for induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, at Western Carolina University Henry Logan was a member of the basketball team from 1964 to 1968, in four seasons scoring 3,290 points in 107 games, for an average of 30.7 points per game; and

WHEREAS, as the first African-American basketball player to be recruited by and play for a predominantly white institution in the Southeast, Henry Logan helped to open the door of opportunity for other African-American student athletes, both at Western Carolina and at many other institutions; and

WHEREAS, Henry Logan's outstanding abilities on the basketball court resulted in his being named four times to the All-America Basketball Team of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and three times to the Associated Press College Division All-America team, these and other athletic achievements leading to a four-year career in the American Basketball Association; and

WHEREAS, as an athlete, Henry Logan brought national attention to the university and created among students, alumni, and fans an enduring spirit of loyalty to Western Carolina;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University commends those who have nominated Henry Logan for the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and endorses their nomination of him for that recognition.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame as evidence of the Board's support for the nomination of Henry Logan.

Adopted by the Board of Trustees on March 3, 1995, at Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Mr. Moore thanked Chancellor Wakeley and Mr. Reed for their efforts in supporting the Logan nomination. He also extended the best wishes of the Committee and the Board to Mr. Travis.

REPORT OF THE PROPERTY AND BUILDINGS COMMITTEE

Mr. Wilson reported that the Committee had discussed and was now recommending to the Board that a plaque be designed and placed in the Board Room to list recipients of the Trustees' Award, and Mr. Wilson moved the adoption of this recommendation. Mr. Allman seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.

COMMENTS BY CHAIRMAN WOODY

Mr. Woody has received no communication from President Spangler since forwarding to him the recommendation of the Chancellor Search Committee. Mr. Woody will be in Chapel Hill on March 16 and 17 at which time it is anticipated that the new chancellor will be selected.

Mr. Woody met on January 9 with other Board chairs for the quarterly meeting with President Spangler and Chairman of the Board of Governors Porter. One major topic for discussion was appointment of new trustees and the orientation process they will need to complete. Trustees are considered to be some of the most powerful people in the state and will be asked to do more for the whole system in the coming years.

On January 31 Mr. Woody and other Board chairs met with President Spangler and his vice presidents to discuss the new legislature and its potential educational and economic impact upon the state. Among other topics addressed at the meeting were the budgetary process for the university system, the long-range plan, and the creation of an organization to work with legislators. WCU is responsible for contacting Representatives Liston Ramsey and Charles Beall (Mr. Wilson as liaison) and Senators Robert Carpenter and Robert Hunter (Mr. Woody as liaison).

COMMENTS FROM CHANCELLOR WAKELEY

Chancellor Emeritus Coulter and Vice Chancellor Dooley are representing Western Carolina University today at the funeral of former Congressman Roy A. Taylor in Black Mountain. Mr. Taylor had been a member of Western North Carolina Tomorrow and other activities associated with Western.

During February the university community celebrated Black History Month. All activities went well and it was an especially effective effort.

During March the university will celebrate Women's History Month. Dr. Wakeley described the "Walk for Women" which took place on March 1 with approximately 300 people participating. He quoted statistics showing that total employment on the campus had increased nine percent within the past ten years, that female employment increased by 32 percent in that time period, and that female faculty employment had increased by 46 percent within that period. Employment is almost equally divided at this time, with 547 males and 537 females. These gains in employment equality have been made quietly and without fanfare or posturing.

The budget picture is murky at this time, with various reductions being proposed by the Governor and legislators. The administration will be meeting to plan as soon as definite information can be received. Any reductions in operating expenses and personnel monies will hurt the institution.

All construction projects are proceeding well except Reid Gymnasium, where asbestos has been encountered and has slowed the state approval process. The Belk project is ahead of schedule, and bids will be taken on the Reid project next week.

Three candidates for Head of the Physical Therapy Department have been interviewed, and it is hoped that a decision can be reached soon.

Two candidates for the Dean, College of Business, have visited the campus and another is scheduled for mid-March. The search appears to be proceeding well.

Work has been underway on the campus to implement the Board of Governors' awards for recognition of superior teaching. The first recipients of the Board of Governors' Award for Excellence in Teaching will be presented in Chapel Hill on April 21. Chancellors, Board chairs, Faculty chairs, and the recipients' families will be invited to attend. The additional money supplied to the campus ($6,500) will be used to fund one "Beyond the Classroom" award of $2,500 and each undergraduate college was given $1,000 to establish or supplement teaching awards.

The self-study process is moving along well. Dr. Frank Prochaska, Director of the Self-Study, will present a report to the Board at the April meeting.

It is very likely that, along with the new chancellor, the first doctoral program will be announced on March 17 at the Board of Governors' meeting.

Frankie King has been named Player of the Year by the Southern Conference.

INFORMATION REPORTS

Vice Chancellor Carter called attention to the audit reports included with trustees' material. He said that the report from the State Auditor's Office was received without any exceptions being noted. The audit of athletic programs required by the NCAA, which brings together all athletics revenues and expenditures in one report, revealed no discrepancies in the athletic department's funds.

Since the last Board meeting Vice Chancellor Carter has had notice from the bond rating firm, Moody's, that Western's dormitory system and stadium system bonds have been upgraded, allowing the university to go to market with a stronger position when bonds must again be sold.

Chancellor Wakeley presented Vice Chancellor Dooley's report on the Year of the Mountains project which is being undertaken by Western North Carolina Tomorrow, the seventeen-county regional organization. CIML serves as headquarters and fiscal agent for this organization. Some of the major roles in the past years of WNC-T have been the Mountain Ridge Protection Act, completion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Waking Up to Poverty program and handbook. The Year of the Mountains project has three purposes: to increase appreciation of the North Carolina mountains; to recognize the values of the mountains, the people, and the resources; to help western North Carolina create new initiatives to benefit the region and the state. Connie Haire serves as Chair of the WNC-T Board of Directors, and Dr. Dooley is serving as Interim Director of the project. The organizational structure for Year of the Mountains is being developed and priorities established. The project is scheduled to operate from July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1996.

REPORT FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Mr. Westmoreland reported that student elections will be held on April 5. There has been discussion of a possible commencement in December. Student budget hearings will be held March 21-23. There will be a banquet in late April to install new SGA officers and present the Glenn Stillion Awards. The Student Senate continues to be active and is changing its committee structure. Mr. Westmoreland will go to Chapel Hill on March 22 to meet with President Spangler and other student presidents.

REPORT FROM THE FACULTY

Dr. Wright complimented Mr. Haire on his role in "Guys and Dolls" and thanked Mr. Woody for attending a recent Faculty Forum Assembly where strengths of WCU were discussed. The faculty governance process will be discussed at a Forum Assembly and at a general faculty meeting in April. The Task Force on Diversity is working on procedures to include diversity in classrooms, and the Task Force on Enhancement of Teaching is also active. The Women's History Month speakers were listed. The Faculty Senate has passed recommendations on advisement, curricular revision, and planning on faculty governance.

REPORT FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Mr. Fowler reported that the Alumni Association has been very busy this year with two major activities, the development of a student alumni group and the formation of Western clubs in several areas, including The Netherlands and Jamaica. Other minor projects have also taken place.

CLOSED SESSION Open Meeting Act

Mr. Allman moved that the Board go into closed session to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, and conditions of appointment of public and prospective public employees. Mrs. Allen seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

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

RESUMPTION OF OPEN SESSION

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

REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

Mr. Allman moved that the items included in the report of the Personnel Committee as discussed in closed session be approved. Mrs. Allen seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

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