Western Carolina University - Office of the Chancellor

The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on September 10, 1997, in Room 510, H.F. Robinson Building. The meeting was called to order at 2:00 P.M. by Chancellor Bardo since no Board Chair had been elected.

ATTENDANCE

The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Apodaca, Mr. Wiggins, Mr. Crocker, Mr. Moore, Mr. Walker, Mr. Bissette, Ms. Key, Mr. Woody, Mrs. Davis, Mr. Jones, Mr. Monroe, and Mrs. Blankenship. The following members of the Board were absent: Mr. Haire.

Others present included Chancellor Bardo; Vice Chancellors Carter, Eldridge, Collings, and Jacobs; Dr. Dowell, Mr. Ramsey, Dr. Dooley, Mr. Reed, and Ms. Cook, Assistants to the Chancellor; Dr. Kinnear, Chair of the Faculty; Mr. Messer, President of the Alumni Association; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Travis, Director of Athletics; Dr. Kehrberg, Director of University Planning; Mr. Rowell, Director of Public Information; Mr. Kirwan, University Librarian; Judge Davis; and Ms. Welch, Assistant Secretary to the Board.

SWEARING-IN OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Ms. Adelaide Key, Mr. Thomas Apodaca, Mr. Sam Wiggins, and Mr. Phil Walker, newly appointed Board members, were sworn in by Judge Danny Davis.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Dr. Bardo called for nominations for Chairman of the Board. Mr. Crocker nominated Mr. Jim Moore as Chairman of the Board; Ms. Key seconded the motion. Mrs. Blankenship moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Woody seconded. It was approved unanimously.

Mr. Moore assumed his duties as Chairman of the Board and asked for nominations for Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Jones nominated Ms. Adelaide Key as Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Woody seconded the motion. Mr. Bissette moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Jones seconded. It was approved unanimously.

Mr. Moore asked for nominations for Secretary of the Board. Mr. Bissette nominated Mr. Phil Walker as Secretary of the Board. Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion. Mr. Crocker moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Jones seconded. It was approved unanimously.

A brief recess was held to have pictures taken of the Board of Trustees.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Woody moved that the minutes of the June 4, 1997 meeting be approved. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion, and it was approved.

ELECTION OF DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION DIRECTORS

Dr. Eldridge explained that each year a new class of directors is elected. Her office will be sending a thank you to the Class of 1997. The roster of nominations for the Class of 2000 includes: Re-elected members-Tony White, Frank Brown, III, Robert Failing, Curtis Wellman; New members-Janene Cooper, Joan MacNeill, Ed Henson. The alternate slate is Nancy Coward, Kathy Boydston, David Harr, and Gwang S Han. The nominees will be asked to accept after they are elected by the Board. If they do not, someone will be selected from the alternate slate. Mr. Crocker moved that the above named Class of 2000 be elected as presented. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

ELECTION OF ENDOWMENT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEMBERS

Mr. Moore suggested that Mr. Wiggins serve the remainder of Mr. Moore's term on the Endowment Board of Trustees (this term ends on 6-30-99). Mr. Moore also suggested that Mr. Bissette serve a new three-year term on the Endowment Board of Trustees. Mr. Jones moved that this slate of Endowment Board of Trustees members be approved. Mrs. Davis seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

CONFIRMATION OF COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Mr. Moore explained that last year it appeared that representation on the committees was thin. One absent trustee affected the whole committee. Therefore, Mr. Moore has placed two trustees on each committee with the following exceptions: the committee chairs serve only on one committee; Mrs. Davis and Mr. Monroe serve only on one committee; Mrs. Blankenship serves on no committees due to family time constraints. Mr. Jones moved that the committee slates as submitted be approved. Mrs. Davis seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

REPORT OF THE ALUMNI, HONORS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mr. Moore explained that the structure of this meeting would be a little different and that the full Board would serve today as each committee. Mr. Bissette moved that the minutes of the June 4, 1997 meeting of the Alumni, Honors and External Affairs Committee be approved. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

REPORT OF THE STUDENT AND ATHLETIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mr. Monroe moved that the minutes of the June 4, 1997 meeting of the Student and Athletic Affairs Committee be approved. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

COMMENTS FROM CHAIRMAN MOORE

Mr. Moore commented on how thrilled he is to be the new Chair. He said he was grateful for everyone's support.

Mr. Moore mentioned the list of thoughts and questions about requiring entering students to have a computer. Mr. Moore asked that the Board decide what to do about this very rapidly. He asked the Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee and the Student and Athletic Affairs Committee to join in taking a look at this over the next couple of months and that the Board be prepared to take action quickly, by the time of the November 5 retreat.

Mr. Moore asked the members of the Board to feel free to bring guests to University functions who might be interested in making a contribution to development efforts. He also would like for every member of the Board to be a member of the Loyalty Fund, the Catamount Club, and other fund-raising groups. We have begun to build pride with our efforts in "raising the bar"; we want to continue to do that. Let's be sure we have provided the resources to our athletics programs. He mentioned the completion of the football stadium.

Mr. Moore discussed the WCU personalized license plates. We need to sell 300 to be able to offer these to the public. We have not sold enough at this time. He asked Dr. Eldridge to send all the members of the Board the information about buying one of these license plates.

COMMENTS FROM CHANCELLOR BARDO

Dr. Bardo has asked the Faculty Senate to vote on the computer issue and give him a sense of the faculty. Should a significant majority not back this issue, he will not bring it to the Board for approval. He believes strongly that the faculty will support this issue. He is very glad to have Terry Kinnear as a partner. Terry has engaged the whole faculty in a serious conversation about the future of the University.

The opening of school has gone very well. No open parties that resulted in major problems were held. A few fraternities may be disaffiliated. It was definitely the smoothest opening in the last 25 years. Sheriff Cruzan has remarked on the quiet opening. We are requiring that students act as responsible adults.

The Honors College opened with over 230. Ten percent of the freshmen are in the Honors College. Their average high school GPA is 3.97 and an average SAT of 1160. This freshman class is the largest this decade with around 1,240 freshmen.

Dr. Bardo stated that we should make our budget this year if the retention rate does reasonably well. This would give us grounds to go back to the Board of Governors and ask for reclaim of funds that they withdrew from the University.

We are in the middle of the Loyalty Fund Phone-A-Thon. At this time, we have pledges equal to one fifth of the entire amount we expect to make before Christmas. Last week, over $16,000 pledged in one night. Students do this work.

The endowments now are $15.1 million. Western was recognized by CASE with the Circle of Excellence Award, one of two regional comprehensives recognized nationally.

The legislature was good to WCU. Four percent raises for faculty and staff were funded. The performing arts building was not funded. Marc Basnight has made an oral commitment for funding in the short session. Phase Two of the Camp Building was funded with $2.27 million to renovate Camp building. Dr. Bardo stated that Cliff Cameron deserves personal thank yous for cutting the reversion rate from 2% to 1%. The money must be used for technology.

Every year, the Board of Governors has overestimated out-of-state enrollment and caused us to not make our funding. This has gone on for years. This year, the Board of Governors reevaluated this and moved expected enrollment from out-of-state to in-state. The net effect is about $300,000 of real money that we will get at the end of the year. The legislature also appropriated money for an additional research officer to deal with basic data issues and assessment of senior level performance.

Dr. Bardo stated that our enrollment looks good, mainly because of freshmen and because of increased attendance in graduate programs in Asheville.

He stated that on October 11 our fourth endowed professorship will be announced. This will be a million dollar endowed professorship in environmental science from Blanton Whitmire. Mr. Whitmire is E.J. Whitmire's brother. Dr. Bardo said that Ms. Key's gift started this trend; with her gift, people began to believe that things can happen at WCU.

Dr. Bardo talked about the upcoming football season. He states that he hasn't been this excited about a football season in a long time. We will see a lot of passing. Ten thousand poms will be handed out at the first game. This will be a fun year regardless of the W-L record.

He talked about the volleyball team, the women's basketball team, and the new baseball coach. Things are progressing in Athletics. He asked that the Board members try to see the Academic All-Americans display at the Ramsey Center.

Mr. Crocker asked about the increasing freshman class and wondered if we are prepared dormitory-wise. Dr. Bardo stated that two alums are building 200 beds in suites across from the Ramsey Center. They are prepared to build an additional 200 beds if those rent. We will need to expand the residence halls. The Board will talk about this in November.

Dr. Bardo stated that he wanted to talk about "why" the proposal for requiring entering students to have computers at Western. The only other university in the state with this requirement is Wake Forest. Western is ready.

When WCU was searching for a chancellor, it was made clear that a chancellor was needed who understood technology and could move WCU forward in the area of technology. Dr. Carter with Dr. Coulter put money aside to allow the completion of the campus network. A great deal of progress on this network was in place before Dr. Bardo came. It was completed last year. We now have 5,500 Internet connections on this campus for 6,500 students. We are by far the most networked campus in the UNC system.

Faculty members demanded electronic classrooms. We will have six by summer. They are overcrowded. We have the capacity for many technological advances. Job search will be easily accessed on the Internet. Any student can access fiscal information, current schedule, transcripts, etc. By summer of 1998, our registration processes will be on the Internet. By Spring of 1999, everyone can register on the net. Degree audits will be on-line by Spring 1999. Courses are starting to be taught on-line next year.

By the year 2000, approximately 65 percent of all new jobs will require a technology background. Approximately 20 percent of new jobs will require a bachelor's degree or higher.

The new president of the UNC system will more than likely make a move to require technology. We are ahead of everyone else in the system. There is no reason why we should not be first.

Dr. Bardo asked Dr. Collings to talk about what the faculty is already doing with technology. Dr. Collings stated that all freshmen will spend time working with technology in English classes, with the software package Daedalus. The Daily Tar Heel from Chapel Hill has interviewed him about our electronic classrooms. Once you learn the basics, you can pick up other kinds of software applications. Other departments now using computers extensively are the art department, communications programs, statistics. Most science equipment is powered by computers. Some faculty members are working on the Super Computer at NC State. E-mail and Internet: many students contact their faculty by e-mail after office hours, etc.

Dr. Kinnear mentioned that Western alums have spoken about how easy it is to reach us, to read the mission statement, etc. They feel that WCU really communicates with them.

Dr. Bardo asked Mr. Kirwan to talk about what is in place right now. Mr. Kirwan explained that our library subscribes to 1,200 on-line journals. You can access them full-text on line. Next year we will have as many journals on-line as we have in print. The Library of Congress is available on-line. Reserve lists for certain classes are on-line full-text. Fifty percent of the current information available in our library will not be accessible to the student who does not have a computer.

Dr. Bardo asked Dr. Kehrberg to share data about where we are now. Dr. Kehrberg stated that we will have five electronic classrooms with 90% utilization. Seventy faculty are teaching in these labs. The open computer labs have had 73,000 student visits. On average, there are 619 uses per computer in open labs. Between 12 midnight and 8 a.m., 14% of the total visits occurred. Over 1,200 students have used the labs during nighttime hours. (STATISTICS ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIAL). Over 53% of students have used their VAX accounts this semester. Over 1,000 have established new accounts in the last three weeks.

Dr. Bardo said some serious options have got to be considered now. It is time. He believes that we are at a cutting point. If we do not require every student to have a computer, we will not and cannot progress. We will have to take all our money and put it into open access for students. It will never be enough. We will need to require computers that will operate with our network and our basic software. Students should know how to word process, how to make a decent presentation, and how to access the Internet.

WCU has invested millions of dollars in setting the infrastructure. Now, we have some choices to make. Every other university will require this in the future. Do we join the pack or lead it?

The next issue is cost. We currently have a price from a vendor with Ethernet card installed, 15" color monitor, and CD-ROM installed for approximately $1,250. The market will come down. The cost could go from $1,250 to $3,000. The student can choose. He is recommending not to go with laptops. He will recommend approximately a $70 increase in E&T fee per year. This will provide students with basic software and Internet connection. This will also include 24-hour help line technical support. The money spent on open access labs now will go toward faculty computers to allow them to adequately teach the students.

Dr. Bardo asked Dr. Carter to talk about methods of payments, etc. Dr. Carter explained that the question of affordability is a serious one. There are several points that are helpful to understand:

1) Recent data shows the distribution of freshmen by family incomes; more than half come from families where family income is in excess of $50,000 per year. Many will find this a manageable expense.

2) The student who is not in a position to be able to afford: Western sells computers in the Bookstore. These vendors provide time payment programs so students can pay over an extended payment period.

3)The student who can pay but over a longer period than the vendor provides: if the computer requirement is made a requirement for admission, this satisfies a criterion for this cost as a component of the cost of attendance. In financial aid, this defines it as a cost that can be considered for Federal Student Aid. It is not simple. Federal programs cap awards. Generally, one way or another under aid programs a student who needs the help can at least borrow the money. There are a variety of ways that will be available to students.

4) If someone is between "a rock and a hard place", a few computers will be available for loan.

Dr. Bardo said we are seeking funding for low income students from foundations. If everything else fails, the T. Ray Gibbs loan fund is available. No student who wants to come to WCU will be turned away because of this requirement.

Once we became part of the UNC system, our draw pattern changed. The single largest source for students is Mecklenburg County. The fundamental question is quality. We want to increase the value of an education.

Extensive discussion followed. Generally, there was agreement and excitement about this issue. Mr. Bissette said that enrollment at Wake Forest went way up when they added this requirement. Mrs. Blankenship said that this would help the reputation of western North Carolina. Mr. Crocker asked how the faculty felt. Dr. Kinnear said he has talked to faculty in a variety of settings, and there seems to be widespread support. Resistance is around the affordability issue rather than the educational one. There is some resistance to change, but it is not widespread.

Mr. Wiggins' concern was where is the faculty, and will we require that faculty meet this challenge as a requirement of their jobs? Dr. Bardo talked about employment contracts. New faculty will probably have more of a background in technology. The faculty seems to want more support, more training.

Mr. Moore asked Mr. Crocker, chair of the Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee, to chair the joint committee to talk about additional issues that need to be addressed in November. He asked that this joint committee be prepared with a recommendation/plan on how to answer the concerns of all constituents. He asked that Mr. Crocker invite Ms. Key, the Vice Chair and Mr. Monroe to serve on this committee also.

REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Mr. Messer commended the University for taking this step on requiring computers. From a business perspective, it is the right thing to do. He remarked on the good alumni representation on the Board of Trustees. The Alumni Association Board will meet on Saturday, September 20th. This weekend, the Manteo trip, which is the last leg of the Murphy to Manteo venture, will take place. The commissioning of the WCU ferry or water motor vessel will occur. The local media and many alumni will attend.

OTHER REPORTS

Mr. Moore asked that other reports be made over lunch.

CLOSED SESSION Open Meeting Act

Ms. Key moved that the Board go into closed session to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, condition of appointment of a public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee and to establish or instruct the staff or agent concerning the negotiation of the price and terms of a contract concerning the acquisition of real property. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Dr. Bardo asked that Dr. Collings and Dr. Carter stay for the closed session.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

Ms. Key moved that the Board return to Open Session. Mr. Apodaca seconded, and it was approved unanimously.

REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

Mr. Crocker moved that the minutes of the June 4, 1997 meeting be approved. Mrs. Blankenship seconded, and it was carried unanimously.

Mr. Crocker moved that the actions as discussed in the closed session--nine administrative appointments, four staff appointments, eight athletic department appointments, and forty-six faculty appointments--be approved. Mr. Jones seconded, and it was carried unanimously.

REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Mr. Woody moved that the minutes of the June 4, 1997 meeting be approved. Mrs. Blankenship seconded, and it was carried unanimously.

Mr. Woody reported that the Board took action in Closed Session concerning the acquisition of property.

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Moore reported that Phil Haire asked that the Board forgive his missing the first meeting of the new year. He had business in Washington that he had to attend to.

With no further business to be transacted, the meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m. The reports remaining will be made over lunch.

ADDENDUM TO MINUTES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
September 10, 1997

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE FACULTY

Dr. Kinnear discussed the Task Force on University Governance. It is now a more inclusive body. Dr. Ed Penson facilitated the gathering of information at the Leadership Retreat.

The timetable for the Senate's engagement of the computer requirement issue is as follows:

September 18-Dr. Bardo will address-Dr. Kinnear asked that Dr. Kehrberg and Mr. Kirwan also be there. All faculty will be encouraged to attend and participate. September 25-discussion and debate October 15-further debate and vote on the recommendation.

REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Mr. Monroe reported that it has been a year of firsts for the SGA. There has been a complete overhaul of the things that were not working. The elections for Senators is this week. On all 16 campuses there is a low voter turn-out for these elections.

Mr. Monroe reported on his meeting with President Broad. He said that with a student-oriented chancellor it is a great time to be at WCU. The General Administration is excited about WCU.

Mr. Monroe stated that he is organizing and preparing a strong base at the executive level. He would like for all sixteen SGA's to be linked by E-mail and the Internet. The motto of SGA is "Less talk, more walk."

Mr. Crocker asked if students have been discussing the computer requirement. He suggested that Dr. Kehrberg and Mr. Kirwan help with explaining the requirement to the students. Mr. Monroe said that the SGA has not officially discussed the requirement yet.

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AUDIT

Dr. Carter reported that the athletic department audit had been successful.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.