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

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

The following members of the Board were absent: Mrs. Davis.

Others present included: Chancellor Bardo; Vice Chancellors Collings, Carter, Caruso; Dr. Dowell 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. Reid, President of the Alumni Association; Mr. Chapman, Chair of the Staff Forum; Mr. Fred Cantler, Associate Athletic Director; Mr. Bill Studenc, Assistant Director of Public Information; Mr. Ken Bullock, Woolpert LLP Associates; Mr. and Mrs. Bedford; and Ms. Welch, Assistant Secretary to the Board.

Mr. Doug Story, Mrs. Jeanette Hyde, and Mr. Ed Beddingfield were sworn in by Ms. Welch.

Dr. Bardo called for nominations for Chairman of the Board. Mr. Apodaca nominated Ms. Key as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion. Mr. Crocker moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Apodaca seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. The election of Ms. Key as Chairman of the Board was approved unanimously.

Chairman Key took over the meeting and asked for nominations for Vice Chairman. Mr. Bissette nominated Mr. Crocker; Mrs. Burda seconded the motion. Mr. Rowe moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Apodaca seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. The election of Mr. Crocker as Vice Chairman of the Board was approved unanimously.

Chairman Key asked for nominations for Secretary. Mr. Crocker nominated Mr. Walker; Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion. Mrs. Hyde moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. The election of Mr. Walker as Secretary of the Board was approved unanimously.

Mr. Jones moved that the minutes of the June 2, 1999 regular meeting and the June 25, 1999 Executive Committee Telephone Conference Call be approved as mailed. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion, and it was approved.

Mr. Crocker 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. Jones seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously. Dr. Bardo asked that Dr. Collings and Mr. Cantler stay for the closed session.

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

Mr. Crocker moved that the actions as discussed in the closed session-eleven administrative appointments (three female Caucasians, seven male Caucasians, and one male African-American); forty faculty appointments (twenty female Caucasians, one female African-American, and nineteen male Caucasians); eleven staff appointments (six female Caucasians, one female African-American, one female Hispanic, two male Caucasians, one male Asian); one recommendation for affiliate faculty status (one male Caucasian); one recommendation for professor emeritus status (one female Caucasian); and one request for leave of absence(one male Caucasian)--be approved. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Mr. Beddingfield and Mr. Story abstained from voting.

Chairman Key stated that she would like to table the election of the Endowment Board of Trustees members.

Ms. Key asked Dr. Carter to present the items from the Administration and Finance Committee agenda. Mr. Walker moved that the minutes from the June 2, 1999 Administration and Finance Committee meeting be approved as mailed. Mr. Story seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter explained that the first item for action was to authorize the construction project and method of financing for the Hinds University Center. The advance planning is now completed. The action requested is to authorize the project and approve the method of financing. (ATTACHMENT ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIAL). A fee increase will be required to service this debt and will be presented at the December meeting. Mr. Jones moved that authorization of the Hinds University Center Addition project and of the method of financing be approved. Mr. Walker seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter explained that the second item for action was to authorize the advance planning of a 300 bed residence hall with funds from the University. If approved, the Administration and Finance Committee will select the architects and begin the process. Mr. Apodaca moved that authorization of the advance planning of a 300 bed residence hall be approved. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter further explained the third item for action was to approve an amendment to the Ramsey Center Operating Policies. The amendment, to Section IX A. 7a., would read as follows:

Alcoholic beverages may be served and consumed in the Ramsey Center and its appurtenances at locations where such service and consumption can be appropriately controlled and compliance with terms of the State ABC permit issued to the Center can be reasonably assured. Alcoholic beverages may be served and consumed at these locations only in conjunction with banquets, receptions, and other special occasions. (ATTACHMENT ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIAL).

Mr. Rowe moved that the amendment to the Ramsey Center Operating Policies, as stated above, be approved. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter stated that Mr. Bullock would do a presentation of the Campus Master Plan key concepts. The key concepts are presented for approval by the Board. Mr. Bullock did a presentation on these concepts. The final plan will be presented to the Board at the December meeting. (CAMPUS MASTER PLAN ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIAL).

Mrs. Hyde moved that the Board approve the key concepts of the Campus Master Plan. Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Carter stated that the storage buildings behind the stadium are no longer there and that Western has the deed to the property.

Ms. Key asked Dr. Bardo to present the information items on the Alumni, Honors, and External Affairs Committee agenda. Dr. Bardo explained that there are two estates, the Phillips estate, and the John Parris estate which are pending in probate. The Phillips estate will produce a professorship in musical theatre. The Parris estate has not been probated.

Dr. Bardo stated that the Pappas group has been working on campus for the last year. They have been hired by the UNC system to assist us with achieving the Board of Governors mandated goal of 9400 students.

Dr. Bardo mentioned the bond issue and stated that this Board set the standard for what Boards should have and could have done with the legislature on the bond issue. That fact was noted by the legislators and by General Administration. The UNC system is in the process of re-grouping on this issue; it is not a dead issue.

Dr. Bardo stated that Board members should give their recommendations for members of the Council for Fine and Performing Arts to Dr. Eldridge.

Dr. Bardo updated the Board on the status of several searches in Advancement and External Affairs. The Alumni Affairs director search is in its final stages. Mr. Rowell stated that they are in the interview process for the director of publications. There have been several promotions within the department.

Dr. Bardo stated that Coca-Cola has won the bid to be our soda provider. Coca-Cola will provide the new guts for our football scoreboard and will provide a soccer scoreboard. In addition, they will, over the course of five years, put $300,000 to construction of the west stands of the football field. A private donor will put $100,000 towards the west stands.

 MEETING OF THE STUDENT AND ATHLETIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Ms. Key asked Dr. Caruso to present the information items on the Student and Athletic Affairs Committee agenda. Mr. Beddingfield moved that the minutes of the June 2, 1999 meeting be approved as moved. Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Dr. Caruso discussed several new employees in the Student Affairs division.

Dr. Caruso stated that for the first time in many years, we have made a strong commitment to summer activities. He also stated that the move-in went well as did welcome week.

He further stated that there is now a new enrollment management division. Financial aid has been moved into enrollment management.

Mr. Travis reported that the first women's soccer match was last week and that seven hundred people were there. He also stated that the first women's volleyball game at the Ramsey Center will be tonight.

Mr. Rowe stated that SGA sponsored a nationally known speaker. The program involved better grades and less time. Four hundred students attended . They are collecting applications for SGA senate and have gotten more applications than last year.

Dr. Bardo stated that Western and the other institutions which have been tagged to grow have been given a hold harmless for faculty positions. General Administration wants the universities to continue through with their plans on how to make themselves competitive. He stated that our sense is that the work we have been doing is beginning to make an impact. It is a slow process and will not be accomplished in one year. The Honors College has 147 freshmen; their average SAT is 1219.

Ms. Key thanked the members of the Board for their confidence in her. She stated that she has asked Mr. Crocker to chair the Academic Affairs and Personnel Committee, Mr. Walker to chair the Administration and Finance Committee, Mr. Bissette to chair the Alumni, Honors, and External Affairs Committee, and Mr. Apodaca to chair the Student and Athletic Affairs Committee. Committee appointments will be mailed to each Board member.

Dr. Kinnear reported that the implementation of the governance system is moving on. All constituents on campus will be represented. The proposal for the new liberal studies program will be up for vote in the Faculty Senate. Some recommendations for the evaluation of teaching will be discussed in the Senate this fall. Dr. Kinnear reported that he worked at freshman orientation this summer and that they were an impressive crowd. They should be a well-prepared freshman class.

Mr. Reid reported that he was very proud of the positive things that are occurring. The Alumni Council of Presidents was held here last week during the Board of Governors' visit. Mr. Reid discussed the WCU license tag issue and stated that he was embarrassed by the lack of interest. He has a plan to give out a pledge statement to every alumni board member. He is hoping that students get involved in this effort and is asking faculty, staff and trustees to help in this process.

Dr. Bardo reported that the Board of Governors visit went very well.

He mentioned two articles about Western in the Delta "Sky Magazine" and the Apple Computer magazine. This is good publicity for Western in national publications.

Dr. Bardo discussed the freshman reading program and this year's book, Into Thin Air. David Brashears spoke at Freshman Convocation about his experiences on Mt. Everest that were addressed in the book.

Dr. Bardo reported that he has asked Dr. Prochaska to lead an effort to re-focus a lot of the curricula on helping students understand how their programs of study fit with the rest of their lives. This effort will help us finish our re-positioning of the University.

Dr. Bardo reported that Jane Bryant Quinn will speak at Western in October. Danny Glover and Felix Justice will do a performance in February.

Dr. Bardo reported on the status of the National Merit program. We have four finalists this year. That makes us now in formal candidacy for National Merit status. We have twenty-four North Carolina Teaching fellows in the freshman class. We also have six valedictorians.

Dr. Bardo further stated that we will be breaking ground on the workforce center hopefully this fall.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Chairman Key at 5:45 p.m.