June 20, 2003

REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Room 510, H. F. Robinson Building June 20, 2003

The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on June 20, 2003, in Room 510, H.F. Robinson Building. The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by Chairman Crocker.

ATTENDANCE
The following members of the Board were present: Mr. Crocker, Mrs. Burda, Mr. Walker, Mr. Phillips, Mrs. Hyde, Mrs. MacNeill, Mr. Bissette, Ms. List, Mr. Beddingfield, and Mr. Carlisle.

The following members of the Board were absent: Mr. Plexico, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Story.

Others present included: Chancellor Bardo; Mr. Charles Worley, Mayor of Asheville; Vice Chancellors Collings, Caruso, Metcalf and Wooten; Ms. Lynch, Dr. Carter, and Dr. Grube, Assistants to the Chancellor; Dr. Smith, Chair of the Faculty; Mr. Compher, Director of Athletics; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Ms. Tvedt, Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Relations; Mr. Stiles, Chair of the Staff Forum; Mrs. Dillard, Chair of the University Advisory Council; Ms. Leatherwood, President of the Alumni Association; Ms. Justice, Office of the CIO; Mr. Miller, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development; and Ms. Welch, Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

Mr. Crocker welcomed Mr. Worley who will be serving on the Board of Trustees beginning on July 1.

SWEARING-IN OF NEW BOARD MEMBER
Ms. Heather Christine list, newly elected Student Government Association President, was sworn in by Ms. Welch.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Bissette moved that the minutes of the March 5, 2003 regular meeting, the March 31, 2003 telephone meeting of the Executive Committee, and the May 19, 2003 telephone meeting of the Executive Committee be approved as mailed. Mrs. Burda seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

CLOSED SESSION
Mrs. Hyde moved that the Board go into closed session to prevent the premature disclosure of an honorary award or scholarship; to establish or instruct the staff or agent concerning the negotiations of the price and terms of a contract concerning the acquisition of real property; and to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, condition of appointment of a public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. Mr. Beddingfield seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Dr. Bardo asked that Mr. Compher, Mr. Metcalf, Mr. Wooten, and Dr. Collings stay for the closed session.
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RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
Mrs. Hyde moved that the Board return to open session. Mr. Phillips seconded the motion, and it was approved.

Mr. Crocker explained that Mr. Jones and Mr. Story were not able to be here today. This would have been their last meeting.

REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Mr. Crocker moved that the appointment of Ron Rash as the John A. Parris and Dorothy Luxton Parris Distinguished Professor in Appalachian Culture be approved. Mrs. Burda seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

REPORT OF THE ALUMNI, HONORS, AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Mr. Bissette explained that the committee has an addendum to the naming policy to bring before the Board. Mr. Bissette moved that the proposed addendum to the naming policy be approved. Mr. Phillips seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. (NAMING POLICY ADDENDUM IN TAB E)

Mr. Bissette further explained that the committee had a proposed naming honor. Mr. Bissette moved that the University Center Art Gallery be named the Timothy C. Jacobs Gallery in honor of Mr. Jacobs’ contributions to the University. Mrs. MacNeill seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Mr. Bissette moved that the Board approve the proposed slate of nominees for the Development Foundation. Mrs. MacNeill seconded the motion, and it was approved. (SLATE OF NAMES ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIALS).

Mr. Bissette explained that the committee meeting had been very informative. He asked Mr. Metcalf to explain the integrated marketing concept. Mr. Metcalf further explained that they were adding names to the alumni lists. Summer graduates had not, in the past, been on these lists.

REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Mr. Walker asked Mr. Wooten to discuss the possible need for additional housing space this fall. Currently, housing deposits for incoming freshmen and returning students are considerably above levels experienced in previous years. The Residential Living staff is working to identify space that can be utilized for student housing on both a short term and long term basis. In addition, they are developing a contingency plan for housing students in off campus locations in the event that demand for space exceeds our maximum capacity. The staff has visited a potential location within approximately one mile of campus that would accommodate 88 students and there may very well be others that we do not know about.

Mr. Walker moved that the Board authorize staff to seek proposals for leasing additional student housing space. Mrs. Burda seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. If approved, this request will be immediately submitted to the Office of State Property for handling. They will advertise our need and seek competitive proposals for providing student housing.

Mr. Wooten asked that if any Board members have any input concerning the road relocation project that they contact him.

REPORT OF THE STUDENT AND ATHLETIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Mrs. Burda asked Dr. Caruso to begin the report. Dr. Caruso reported that they have hired Julie Walters-Steele as the new Director of the University Center. He further mentioned some grants that they have received. He also discussed service learning. The plan is to make an integrated approach to the curriculum.

Mrs. Burda asked Ms. List to give an SGA report. She explained that they have a new SGA logo. The Association of Student Governemrnts conference is coming to Western in September. She explained that SGA wants to raise student awareness of what is going on in this county.

Mrs. Burda asked Mr. Compher to report on Athletics. Mr. Compher explained that ETSU is cutting their football program. This will impact our conference greatly. We will see some action on this issue in the next six months. There is a requirement in the conference that you have to sponsor football; it does not look like there is a good chance of a waiver for ETSU. He stated that we have had a very good year competitively. We won two conference championships in women’s golf and baseball. They also did very well academically.

COMMENTS FROM CHAIRMAN CROCKER
Mr. Crocker read a statement concerning the FCC license for the campus radio station. If any Board member owns 5% of any radio station or corporation that owns a radio station then Board members need to report this to Mr. Kucharski.

Mr. Crocker discussed the schedule of meetings for next year. The schedule was distributed to everyone.

Mr. Crocker stated that his term on this Board has been a wonderful experience. He expressed his gratitude to have been a part of the great things that are happening here at Western.

REPORT OF THE CHAIR OF THE STAFF FORUM
Mr. Stiles stated that this is his last Board meeting. He stated that it has been a pleasure to work with this Board. Their proposal for a staff mentoring program will be referred to the Chancellor. They are working on brochures for new employee orientation.

REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Ms. Leatherwood stated that this was also her last meeting. Eric Powell is the new president. Billy Cooper is president-elect. The Association will continue with its fund-raising efforts. They are accepting nominations for alumni awards. The UNC Council of Alumni Presidents met here on campus. Marty Ramsey is the new alumni director. Ms. Leatherwood stated that working with this Board has been a great experience.

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE UNIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Mrs. Dillard stated that this was also her last meeting. The Chair of the Council reports to the Board once a year. The University Advisory Council is in its third year of existence. The Council brings all campus groups together: the SGA, the Staff Forum, the Faculty Senate, and the Administrative Council to coordinate University-wide initiatives, to facilitate communication across constituencies, and to foster effective campus leadership. Some of the issues they looked at this year were the shortening of the academic year and the possibility of a new identification number for students and employees. They have also agreed to take ownership of two committees that used to be with the Faculty Senate.

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE FACULTY SENATE
Dr. Smith gave his annual report (REPORT ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIALS). He stated that the faculty rolled up their sleeves this year and went to work. The Senate affirmed academic freedom, which is what a university is all about. He stated that the staff needs to have raises. Faculty depends on the staff to accomplish what they do. Faculty salaries as a rule are below peer institutions. Dr. Smith stated that he expects the Board to do their part in helping the faculty to achieve its goals.

PROGRESS REPORT ON ENROLLMENET AND RETENTION AND COMMENTS FROM CHANCELLOR BARDO
Dr. Bardo stated that the Senate moved mountains this year. He discussed SAT and enrollment statistics since he arrived at Western. We have moved from 8-10 points below state’s SAT average to 30 points above the State’s average. We are up over 12% in applications. Our average SAT as of today is 1023. Our freshman class will be the largest class since freshman enrollments were audited. We will have possibly 7,600 students this fall.

Oak Winters will be retiring in October. A search firm will be assisting us with the search for the new Dean. We will get a nationally competitive distance education marketer. We anticipate requesting more faculty positions. He stated that we need the Board’s assistance with the State in leasing property long-term. He asked the Board to look at the Marc Basnight letter and make calls to legislators about the implications of budget cuts to Western. We have gone through years of budget cutting, and it would be unconscionable for the state to come back and cut our budget again.

The nursing program in Asheville is moving to the Enka campus of Asheville Buncombe Technical College. We have the #1 program in the state in nursing. We are tied for #1 in the nation in physical therapy. We are #3 in the state with teacher education. We will be moving forward with a doctorate in physical therapy.

Engineering has been a 28 year battle. It would not have happened if everyone had not jumped in and helped. We will start Electrical Engineering in 2004 and Computer Engineering in 2005.

ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Crocker asked Mr. Beddingfield and Mr. Bissette to give parting remarks since they are leaving the Board. Both stated how much being on the Board had meant to them and how excited they were about the progress of the University.

Mr. Crocker asked Ms. Welch to discuss the summer theatre program. She explained that there will be four shows this season. The last show of the season will be going to New York City for the NYC Fringe Festival. The Cullowhee ArtsFest is this weekend. It is an interesting mix of music with crafters and food.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m.