REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
Room 510, H.F. Robinson Building December 6, 2002
The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on December 6, 2002, in Room 510, H.F. Robinson Building. The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m. by Chairman Crocker.
ATTENDANCE
The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Crocker, Mrs. Burda, Mr. Beddingfield,
Mr. Walker, Mr. Davis, Mr. Jones.
The following members of the Board were absent: Mr. Apodaca, Mr. Bissette, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Story, Mrs. Hyde, Mr. Carlisle, and Mr. Plexico.
Others present included: Chancellor Bardo; Vice Chancellors Metcalf, Collings, Wooten, and Caruso; Dr. Dowell, Ms. Lynch, Dr. Carter, Assistants to the Chancellor; Dr. Smith, Chair of the Faculty; Mr. Compher, Director of Athletics; Dr. Franke, Chief Information Officer; Mr. Rowell, Director of Public Information; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Stiles, Chair of the Staff Forum; Mrs. Dillard, Chair of the University Advisory Council; and Ms. Welch, Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
Mr. Crocker thanked everyone present for being here. He explained that today there is no quorum of members. No committee meetings were held. Therefore, this meeting will be different. Committee agenda items will have to be discussed in this meeting. The Executive Committee will be the enacting body to ratify any actions taken today. All members will vote but all motions and seconds have to be made by an Executive Committee member. The members of the Executive Committee are Mr. Crocker, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Jones. Mr. Crocker expressed his concern about the commitment of Board members.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Burda stated that a correction needed to be made to the September 6, 2002 minutes.
The correction is on page 3 of the minutes under the Report of the Administration
and Finance Committee. Mr. Walker was not present that day so Mrs. Burda gave the
committee report. Mr. Jones moved that the minutes of the September 6, 2002 regular
meeting of the Board of Trustees be approved as corrected. Mr. Walker seconded the
motion, and it was approved. (The aforementioned correction has been indicated in
the minutes).
Mr. Jones moved that the minutes of the September 23, 2002 and the November 19, 2002 Executive Committee meetings be approved as mailed. Mr. Walker seconded the motion, and it was approved.
CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Jones 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 prevent the premature disclosure
of an honorary award or scholarship. Mr. Walker seconded the motion, and it was approved.
Dr. Bardo asked that Dr. Collings stay for the closed session.
RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
Mr. Walker moved that the Board return to open session. Mr. Jones seconded the motion,
and it was approved.
REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Mr. Jones moved that the actions as discussed in closed session--four administrative
appointments, two faculty appointments, 24 second year reappointments, two staff appointments,
one recommendation for professor emeritus status, and one recommendation for leave
of absence—be approved. Mr. Walker seconded the motion, and it was approved.
Mr. Crocker asked Dr. Bardo to explain the proposal for Management Flexibility. Dr. Bardo explained that this is a move by the University System to devolve certain tasks back to the campuses, even though our campus has been doing these things as a matter of normal procedures. We will forward to the Board of Governors a set of procedures to officially devolve these authorities to the Board of Trustees. When this Board acts, it will not have to go forward to the Board of Governors.(MANAGEMENT FLEXIBILITY PLAN ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIALS). Mr. Jones moved that the Board approve the Western Carolina University Insitutional Plan of Management Flexibility to Appoint and Fix Compensation. Mr. Walker seconded the motion, and it was approved.
REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Mr. Walker asked Dr. Bardo to explain about the necessity for the creation of the
Division of Information Technology. Dr. Bardo asked Dr. Franke to say a few words.
Dr. Franke stated that information technology has become a strategic asset. There
is a need to manage a high bandwidth capacity. Strategic planning and coordinated
support is necessary; therefore, a separate division is appropriate. This new division
will begin operating immediately. Mr. Walker moved that the Chancellor establish
a Division of Information Technology to provide leadership, management, and services
in all areas of information technology at the University. Mr. Jones seconded the
motion, and it was approved.
The Board decided to wait to approve other committee minutes at the next committee meeting.
Mr. Walker asked Mr. Wooten to discuss the proposal for new student fees for FY 03-04. (PROPOSED FEES ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIALS). Mr. Wooten did a powerpoint presentation on the proposed student fees. Mr. Walker moved that increases proposed for local tuition, athletic fee, education and technology fee, student activity fee, athletic facilities debt service fee and student recreation center debt service fee be approved as presented and forwarded to the Board of Governors for consideration. Furthermore, Mr. Walker moved that the proposed increases in resident life rates, food service rates and parking fees be approved as presented and reported to the President. Mr. Jones seconded the motion, and it was approved.
REPORT OF THE ALUMNI, HONORS, AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Mr. Crocker asked Mr. Metcalf to discuss the temporary naming of the new residence
hall until we can find a donor and permanently name it. Mr. Walker moved that the
new residence hall be temporarily named Central Drive Hall. Mr. Jones seconded the
motion, and it was approved.
Dr. Bardo stated that the Committee approved in closed session the awarding of honorary doctorates to Sol Schulman (December 2002); Steve Woody and Adelaide Key (May 2003); and Sir Howard Cooke (Fall 2003 in Jamaica).
REPORT OF THE STUDENT AND ATHLETIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Mr. Crocker asked Dr. Caruso to discuss the expansion of the 24-hour visitation policy
to Madison, Robertson, and Harrill Halls. Mr. Davis said that living in a 24-hour
visitation hall has been a really positive experience. Mr. Crocker moved that the
24-hour visitation policy be expanded to include Madison, Robertson and Harrill Halls
to begin August of 2003. Discussion of the policy followed. There being no second,
the motion failed. This proposal will be brought back to the next full Board meeting.
Mr. Davis reported that a safety walk has taken place and the results given to the Office of Public Safety. SGA has developed a newsletter for commuter students.
COMMENTS FROM CHAIRMAN CROCKER
Mr. Crocker stated that this was the last Board meeting for Dr. Dowell. The Board
of Trustees bestowed upon Judy Dowell the Trustees’ Award. Dr. Dowell was presented
a plaque and the Trustees’ Award chair. This award has only been presented to five
other people. Dr. Dowell said that her work with the Board has been one of the best
parts of her assignments.
Mr. Crocker stated that he went to the University Awards dinner in November. This is sponsored by the Board of Governors. Mr. Crocker asked Dr. Bardo to update the Board on the status of the engineering study. Dr. Bardo explained the status of the study.
PROGRESS REPORT ON ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION AND COMMENTS FROM CHANCELLOR BARDO
Dr. Bardo stated that we are starting ad campaigns in movie theatres this Christmas
season. We are also going on radio with a rap ad. The SAT at Western this year is
1012, 14 points above the average for the State.
Dr. Bardo talked about the “engaged university” and what that will mean for Western.
Dr. Bardo discussed the latest application report. Applications are coming in very fast. We are up a net increase of over 19% from last year. Transfers are up 46%. We are aiming for 5,000 applications this year. Admissions people are working extremely hard and doing a very good job. He has asked our people to plan for 1400 students in the freshman class.
Congressman Taylor has gotten $10 million for us to bring networking to the west. A company has done an analysis of the need to put out an RFP. All of the top bidders were the best, and we are negotiating contracts with these bidders. We will have a major trunk line to Western.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE FACULTY SENATE
Dr. Smith stated that the Senate had moved the length of the semester from 16 to 15
weeks to be in line with other institutions. They have established a task force on
salary comparisons. The Senate has also approved the opportunity to propose an emergency
management plan for a new degree program.
Dr. Smith gave a report on the faculty’s progress concerning issues brought up in the Gretchen Bataille letter. Dr. Smith said that on the assessment question: they are working on these issues, but do not have a consistent manner of doing assessment yet. Every member of the faculty senate and every department head received a copy of the Bataille letter. Dr. Smith has been instructed by the Senate to report back to the Board on the Senate’s progress concerning this letter. Lengthy discussion of these issues followed.
The Senate will be working on the Faculty Handbook. The faculty received their local tuition money.
REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE STAFF FORUM
Mr. Stiles stated that the Staff Forum has established a Staff Forum scholarship fund.
The Forum was notified that in-range salary adjustments for the lowest paid employees
on campus will be made as of December 1. They are working on offering GED classes
for staff members. The adopt-a-student program is in its early stages.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.