The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on December 1, 1999, in Room 510, H.F. Robinson Building. The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chairman Key.

The following members of the Board were present: Ms. Key, Mr. Bissette, Mr. Story, Mr. Walker, Mr. Wiggins, Mrs. Hyde, Mr. Apodaca, Mr. Rowe, Mr. Jones, Mrs. Burda, Mr. Beddingfield.

The following members of the Board were absent: Mr. Crocker.

Others present included: Chancellor Bardo; Vice Chancellors Carter, Collings, Caruso, Eldridge; Dr. Dowell, Mr. Reed, and Ms. Cook, Assistants to the Chancellor; Dr. Kinnear, Chair of the Faculty; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Travis, Athletic Director; Mr. Rowell, Director of Public Information; Dr. Kehrberg, Director of University Planning; Dr. Prochaska, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Mr. Orr, Chair of the Staff Forum; Mr. Kenn Bullock and Mr. Gary Stewart from Woolpert LLP Associates; Mr. and Mrs. Bedford; and Ms. Welch, Assistant Secretary to the Board.

Mr. Apodaca moved that the minutes of the September 1, 1999 regular meeting and the October 20, 1999 Executive Committee telephone conference call be approved as mailed. Mrs. Hyde seconded the motion, and it was approved.

Mrs. Louise Bedford stated that she came before the Board to address the issue of the founding of Western Carolina University. She gave a brief history of the founding of Western and Robert Lee Madison' part in it. Mrs. Bedford asked that a resolution be passed that recognizes Madison as "the" founder of Western Carolina University. Ms. Key thanked Mrs. Bedford for her efforts. Ms. Key referred this matter to the Alumni, Honors, and External Affairs Committee for consideration.

CLOSED SESSION   Open Meeting Act

Mr. Apodaca 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. Mr. Wiggins seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Dr. Bardo asked that Dr. Collings stay for the closed session.

Mr. Jones moved that the Board return to open session. Mr. Apodaca seconded, and it was approved unanimously.

Mr. Jones moved that the actions as discussed in the closed session--three administrative appointments, three staff appointments, one faculty appointment, one recommendation for professor emeritus status, two recommendations for adjunct faculty status, two recommendations for staff title changes, seventeen recommendations for second-year reappointments, and one recommendation for termination of an interim department head--be approved. Mrs. Hyde seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Mr. Jones stated for the record the following: three administrative appointments (two female Caucasians, one male Caucasian); three staff appointments (two female Caucasians, one male Caucasian); one faculty appointment (one female Asian); one recommendation for professor emeritus status(one male Caucasian); one recommendation for adjunct faculty status(two female); two staff title changes(one female Caucasian, one female African American); seventeen recommendations for second-year faculty reappointments (six female Caucasians, eleven male Caucasians); and termination of interim department head (one male Caucasian).

Mr. Walker asked Dr. Carter to give the final presentation of the Campus Master Plan. Dr. Carter introduced Mr. Bullock and Mr. Stewart to give this presentation. Mr. Bullock explained the Executive Summary of the Campus Master Plan. Both Dr. Bardo and Ms. Key commended Woolpert LLP Associates on a job well done. (EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF CAMPUS MASTER PLAN ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIAL).

Mr. Walker moved that the Board of Trustees accept the Western Carolina University Campus Master Plan final report. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Mr. Walker asked Dr. Carter to present the proposed fee schedule. Dr. Carter explained that the fee increases this time are somewhat higher than the Board is used to seeing. This is due to the recommendations that are coming out of the Athletics Task Force that address having facilities commensurate with a Division I athletic program. Another factor is the debt service fees for the University Center addition. A lengthy discussion followed concerning these fees. Questions were raised about how students will be notified and what this means to the University as a whole. Mr. Beddingfield suggested that information be put together in a way that explains the reasons for the fee increases and that this information be sent to each student via e-mail. A special issue of the Purple and Gold will be sent to all alumni explaining what all of this actually means.

Mr. Walker moved that the proposed fee schedule for 2000-2001 be approved. Mrs. Hyde seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. (FEE SCHEDULE ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIAL, TAB D-2.)

Mr. Walker asked Dr. Carter to explain the self-liquidating capital improvement projects. Dr. Carter explained that the artificial turf on Bob Waters Field needs to be replaced. Mr. Jones moved that the Board approve authorization of replacement of the artificial turf at Bob Waters Field, approve the proposed method of financing, and delegate to the Chancellor authority to appoint a designer to develop the necessary plans and specifications for this project. Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter further explained that we have money from three sources to begin Phase I of the stadium west stands. This step will show positive progress on this project and will perhaps get the whole project funded. The financing is from a portion of the funds from soft drink sales, reserves from vending, and gifts that have been made. Mr. Jones moved that Phase I of the Whitmire Stadium West Stands and Support Facilities be authorized and also that the proposed method of financing be approved. Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter further explained that the parking lot of Robertson Hall needs improvement. Mr. Apodaca moved that the Board authorize the Robertson Hall Parking Lot project and also approve the method of financing. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter explained that the windows in Harrill Hall need to be replaced. Mr. Story moved that the Board authorize the replacement of the Harrill Hall windows and approve the proposed method of financing. Mr. Bissette seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter stated that there were no audit exceptions on the Supply Store and the Athletic Department Audits. He further stated that he has been told that Western's audit by the State is also clean. (COPIES OF AUDIT REPORTS ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIAL).

Mr. Bissette reported that the honorary doctorate advisory committee has voted to award an honorary degree to Percival James Patterson, the Prime Minister of Jamaica. Mr. Patterson has been helpful in Western's Jamaica programs. Mr. Bissette moved that the Board accept the nomination of Percival James Patterson to receive an honorary doctorate degree. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Mr. Bissette also reported that the committee is taking a preliminary look at the trustee policy on name designation for major facilities.

Mr. Apodaca asked Dr. Caruso to update the Board on Student Affairs. Dr. Caruso stated that we had a successful Alcohol Awareness Week. Other initiatives included: a fall leadership academy, the final stages of a new Hispanic organization, a task force on service learning. Dr. Caruso reported that the health services offered flu shots to the community and also has developed a meningitis program.

Mr. Apodaca asked Mr. Travis to report on Athletics. Mr. Travis stated that he was pleased with the soccer program this fall. The volleyball team finished third in the tournament. He further reported that student athletes helped to build the park in Sylva.

Mr. Apodaca asked Mr. Rowe to report on Student Government. Mr. Rowe stated that the SGA, in conjunction with Academic Affairs, was successful in getting winter commencement moved from a Wednesday to a Saturday. Mr. Rowe further stated that SGA is planning a spring retreat and will do a one-day conference with high school student government leaders.

Ms. Key informed that Board that Mrs. Kaye Davis has resigned from the Board.

Dr. Bardo stated that we are forty applications shy of where we were on December 15 of 1998. The average SAT for admitted students has gone back up. If we make our budget, we will ask the Board of Governors to add twelve faculty positions. The average Honors College admit has an SAT of 1220. We are currently working on fourteen National Merit semi-finalists.

Dr. Bardo reported that Western has been selected as a North Carolina Teach site. This program promotes lateral entry of teachers. We will partner with UNC-Asheville.

Dr. Bardo further stated that the Physical Therapy program received full accreditation. This assures the future of our program.

He explained that review is going on in faculty salaries. This may not, however, be solved this year with the issues connected with Hurricane Floyd.

Dr. Bardo further stated that December 14 will be the ground breaking for the workforce development center. Danny Glover and Felix Justice will be on campus on February 9 for "An Evening with Langston and Martin." There will be a reception for students after the performance

Dr. Kinnear reported that the Faculty Senate continues to refine matters of curriculum on a routine basis. The Senate has formed the Liberal Studies Oversight Committee and developed a task force for the evaluation of teaching. The Senate will recommend that Departments that do not evaluate teaching well will be using other sources to evaluate.

Mr. Orr stated that he is the new chair of the Staff Forum. He is completing Mr. Chapman's term, and new elections for chair will be held in January. When the Staff Forum started in February, it turned its focus inward. Now, the Forum is working on issues that concern staff. The Forum wants to move into a proactive role and move information out to staff members. There will be a Town Hall meeting on January 6 during which Dr. Bardo will talk about the future of Western. Through the year, the vice chancellors will be attending meetings and disseminating other information. The goal of the Forum is to get staff involved and aware that this is their University.

Dr. Eldridge reported, in Mr. Reid's absence, that license tag forms still need to be completed.

There being no further business, Mr. Jones moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Walker seconded, and Chairman Key adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m.