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The University of West Alabama
Board of Trustees
March 1, 1999
Student Union Building, 10:00 a.m.
Approved Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Terry Bunn, Chairman pro tem, called the meeting to order and
extended sympathy on behalf of the Board to Dr. Pruitt in the recent loss of
his mother, Mrs. Elise Pruitt. Mr. Bunn asked Dr. Pruitt to give the
invocation.
2. ROLL CALL
Due to the illness of Mr. Noland, Assistant Secretary, Mrs. Lindsey called
the roll. Trustees attending were as follows:
Mr. Pierce Boyd, Mr. Terry Benn, Chairman pro tem, Mr. Dwight Duke,
Mr. Herbie Malone, Dr. Doris Oliveira, Dr. Drayton Pruitt, Mr. John Smith, Mr.
Thed Spree
Trustees absent: Mr. Robert Keahey, Mr. Frank McGough, Dr. Louise Nolen,
Rev. Samuel Pettagrue, Jr, and Mr. Preston C. Minus.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Bunn asked if there were any changes/corrections to the minutes from
the last meeting. Mr. Smith moved to accept the minutes as previously
distributed, with Dr. Pruitt seconding, and the minutes were approved.
4. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Land Use and Facilities Committee
- Dr. Pruitt reported that the
Southern Company has a program whereby they will come on campus and examine the
existing heating and electric systems to try and improve on the energy savings
and resolve any heating and cooling problems that may be experienced from these
systems. He said that Wallace Hall and the Library are in much need of a
workable system. Dr. Pruitt stated that the Southern Company requested the
University to commit up to $54,000 in the event they did the study and UWA did
not go through with the work; however, if their proposal is accepted, the
$54,000 would be applied as part of their cost. Dr. Pruitt moved that the
Southern Company be retained for this study, committing up to $54,000 with the
understanding that this amount would be applied to the cost if the study proved
feasible, and that the Southern Company would be retained to go ahead with the
work. Mr. Smith seconded the motion, and it passed.
Dr. Pruitt reported that the Land Use Committee had received a recommendation
from the President’s Council that a portion of the bond issue money be used
for upgrading the heating/cooling systems with the Southern Company. He said
approximately $2.8 million would be needed, and the balance of the bond issue
funds would be used to install lighting on the softball complex and to repave
the campus streets and parking areas. Dr. Pruitt moved to accept the
recommendation using the bond issue money for upgrading the heating/cooling in
the Library and Wallace Hall, installing lighting at the softball complex, and
paving the roads and parking areas on campus. Mr. Smith seconded the motion, and
it passed.
Dr. Pruitt said that they University is at a point in time when consideration
needs to be given to possibly refinancing its indebtedness due to the current
low interest rates. He said if the amount owed is refinanced now there would be
about $20,000 savings per year; however, another $1.5 million could be borrowed
by extending the loan for a total of twenty years. He said the Administration
had recommended only refinancing what is presently owed. The Land Use Committee,
Dr. Pruitt said, would like to retain the option to increase the amount owed by
$1.5 million to meet the academic needs of the University and he made a motion
to this effect. He said that a bond issue would be sought, but that no final
decision would be made without a special called meeting of the Board that would
be held on campus when all of the facts can be obtained. Mr. Smith seconded the
motion, and it passed. Mr. Boyd abstained.
Mr. Boyd requested that all of the factual information pertaining to this
motion be sent to the trustees prior to a special called meeting of the Board,
and Mr. Bunn replied that it would be done. Dr. Roach said that a timetable of
about six months should be reasonable for the refinancing to be done. Dr. Pruitt
said the best rate of interest will be sought, that requests for qualifications
from interested underwriters be obtained, and if anyone had a particular
bank/mortgage company who might be interested, they should be submitted to the
Administration or the Land Use Committee. After qualifications are obtained, the
Executive Committee would select the underwriter and bond counsel. Several
banking companies were mentioned – AmSouth Bank, Alabama Bank, and Regions
bank.
Dr. Pruitt reported that two different companies had been contacted –
Capstone and American Campus – about conducting a study of the campus housing.
He stated that tradition housing, such as dormitories, seem to be a thing of the
past based on the low occupancy rate during the past few years, and the
apartments on campus are filled to capacity. He said the Land Use Committee
feels it is time to get advice on how to establish more apartment-type housing
for the students on campus instead of the traditional dormitories.
B. Athletic Committee
- Mr. Spree distributed a list of signees for the
football program, and said that $10,000 was raised at the Booster Club Deer Hunt
held recently. He reported that all other programs were going well, and
encouraged attendance. He said that there are three local young men on the UWA
baseball team that have produced a lot of attendance to the home games by the
local community.
5. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
A. Presentation of McIlwain Bell Awards - Dr. David Taylor,
Provost, said that these awards were established in 1996 as an endowment in
honor of a former graduate of the University. He stated that three awards are
given on an annual basis – Trustee Professor, Professional Staff, and the
Support Staff. Each winner receives a plaque, a monetary gift of $1,000, and
his/her name is placed on a permanent plaque located in the foyer of Webb
Hall. The recipients can be nominated by any full-time faculty or staff member
on campus, and these nominations are submitted to the Selection Committee who
narrows the list to two or three finalists, at which time these are submitted
to the larger committee, consisting of two trustees and two members from each
sub-committee, who review the list of finalists and make final recommendations
to the Board. Dr. Taylor presented the slate of recipients for the Board’s,
consideration. Dr. Pruitt made a motion to accept the slate of recipients,
with Mr. Smith seconding, and the motion passed. The winners were: Mr. Walter
Boyd, Support Staff Award; Mr. Clarence Egbert, Professional Staff Award; and
Ms. Mary Pagliero, Trustee Professor Award. Each recipient expressed their
appreciation for their award.
B. Post-tenure Review Document for Action at June meeting
- Dr. Taylor
reported that a committee compiled of faculty and academic administrators had
drafted a proposed policy on post-tenure review for faculty, and that it had
been circulated to the entire faculty and at the Faculty Senate. He
subsequently had submitted it to the President and now to the Board for their
review and consideration for approval possibly at the June Board meeting. He
said this document would allow a more indepth evaluation of tenured faculty.
Dr. Taylor stated that each faculty member, tenured or non-tenured,
undergoes an annual evaluation. The faculty member submits a Service Report
and the chair prepares an evaluation of the faculty member, and later the
chair, dean, an Provost meet to discuss the evaluation. He said that the
annual promotion/tenure process had been completed for this academic year.
6. STUDENT AFFAIRS
Dr. Wood reported that enrollment for the Winter Quarter was 2,017, of
which there was a 23% increase in graduate students. He said that 1,651 had
pre-registered for the Spring Quarter. He announced that Mr. Buckalew has
begun conducting a leadership workshop on campus for prospective students who
have high ACT scores, and he feels this is a good recruiting project. He said
there would be some changes to the housing assignments on campus, i.e. the
residents will be placed according to academic grades. He also stated that
President Roach had suggested that the University sponsor a Cleanup Day on
campus, and a lot of students, faculty, and staff have participated.
Mr. Buckalew reported on the organizations that have selected certain areas
for which they will be responsible in upkeep, such as trash and landscape. He
also said that the SGA had purchased some trees and plants for the campus, as
well as contributed to the Library and Fine Arts Department.
7. INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Dr. Roach explained that Mr. Spruiell had to leave for Montgomery, and
reported that Mr. Spruiell has received a telephone call from the Cunningham
family (the family who endowed the McIlwain Bell Award Awards). They are
pleased with the way their endowment funds have been used and now would like
for a list of needs for the University to be prepared, and Dr. Roach and Mr.
Spruiell will be visiting them on the 17th and 18th to
discuss their interest in making another gift to the University, in memory of
Mr. Bell.
8. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Roach expressed his appreciation to everyone for the great cooperation
he has received since he became President, and especially the Trustees for
their service to the University. He stated that as the University moves
forward to make improvements, the planning would involve all aspects of the
community. He said that he had been in Montgomery three days last week, and
had met with the Governor, who assured him that he will be supportive of
higher education.
Dr. Roach reported that the School of Nursing has recently gone through
review by the Alabama Board of Nursing, and he felt it went extremely well.
Dr. Roach said that an accrediting agency for the Athletic Training program
would be on campus soon.
He stated that plans are still ongoing to develop partnerships with Shelton
State, Southern Union, and others.
He stressed the importance of the strategic planning process for the
University, and any weaknesses in programs on campus have to be looked at and
possibly removed in order to satisfy the guidelines set forth by the Alabama
Commission on Higher Education.
Mr. Smith commended Dr. R. T. Floyd on his participation in many athletic
events. He also commended Dr. Roach on the positive attitudes he has seen
recently in the faculty, staff, and students.
Dr. Pruitt said that he had been closely associated with The University of
West Alabama for a long time, and is pleased with the difference he has seen
under the new leadership. He stated that he has been hearing very positive
things across campus, and has been very impressed with the exemplary
organizational and planning skills that he has seen in the last few months
from the Administration under the leadership of President Roach.
9. OTHER
There was no other business, and the meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
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