The University of West Alabama
Board of Trustees
Bell Conference Center
June 4, 2007, 10:30 a.m.

I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President pro tem Alex Saad.
II. ROLL CALL
Mr. Saad asked Ms. Earlene Lindsey to call the roll. The following Trustees were present: Mr. Thomas Ballow, Jr., Mr. Terry Bunn, Mrs. Margaret Lovett, Dr. Louise Nolen, Mr. John Northcutt, Mr. Alex Saad, Mr. Thed Spree, and Dr. Tom Umphrey. Absent were: Mrs. Lena Hardaway, Mr. Robert D. Keahey, Mr. Preston C. Minus, Dr. Doris Oliveira, and Mr. John Smith. Ms. Lindsey reported that a quorum was present.
Mr. Saad announced that a few minutes ago Dr. Doris Oliveira possibly suffered a mild stroke and asked that she be remembered in prayer. Mr. Saad said she was taken, by ambulance, to Rush Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi. At this time, he gave the invocation.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made by Dr. Umphrey and seconded by Mr. Ballow to approve the Agenda. The motion passed.
Mrs. Lena Hardaway joined the meeting at 10:35 a.m.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR MARCH 5, 2007
Mr. Saad asked if there were any corrections or changes to the minutes of the meeting of March 5, 2007. There were no changes to the minutes, and Dr. Umphrey made a motion to approve the minutes. Mrs. Lovett seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
V. REPORT OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT
A. Trustee Emeritus Recognition
Mr. Saad reported that he received a nomination from Mr. Terry Bunn to recognize Mr. Ira Drayton Pruitt, Jr. as a Trustee Emeritus. Mr. Saad said the Executive Committee earlier today approved the nomination of Mr. Pruitt and recommends approval by the full Board. Mr. Bunn seconded the motion, and the motion was approved. Mr. Saad there would be an award ceremony probably in September 2007 to recognize all of the former trustees who have been approved for the Emeritus status and each would be contacted about the date and time of the ceremony.
B. Amendment to Change Composition of the Executive Committee
Mr. Saad indicated that the proposed amendment could not be considered without a majority of the full Board being present, which is the case for the meeting today. He said the proposed change requires that the immediate past president of the Board to be added to the membership of the Executive Committee. Mr. Bunn moved to adopt the amendment to the Bylaws, and Dr. Umphrey seconded the motion. Mr. Bunn said this would provide for a smoother transition when new officers are elected. After discussion, the motion passed.
Mr. Saad noted that, in the same section in the binder, there is a time table of the Board meetings and suggested that each Trustee take a minute to review the schedule. He said a new schedule would be developed before the December 2007 meeting.
C. Other
Mr. Saad reported that the Capital Campaign was going well and that the Office of Institutional Advancement began solicitations from the members of the Board of Trustees, the UWA Foundation Board, senior University administrators, and selected leadership gift prospects about two months ago. He said he was very pleased to report that a total of $2 million has been pledged to the campaign to date, with approximately $500,000 already received in gifts. Mr. Saad indicated there is another $1.75 million in outstanding proposals which may be finalized in the near future.
Mr. Saad stressed the importance of 100% participation by the Board of Trustees, and indicated that some Trustees have already been visited and have made pledges.
VI. REPORT OF THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Mr. Saad said the Facilities Committee met earlier today and Mr. Lawson Edmonds gave a report on proposals concerning the building of an apartment on campus. He said that formal proposals should be submitted by June 14, 2007, and a tentative date of June 26, 2007, has been scheduled for a meeting to have the developers come to the campus and present their proposals. Mr. Saad said he would like for the Ad hoc Committee on Student Housing and the Facilities Committee of the Board to be at this meeting to hear these proposals.
Mr. Saad said he also wanted to report that the Athletic Director, Mr. E. J. Brophy, came to the Facilities Committee this morning and announced that he had a commitment from an anonymous donor for 51% of the cost of the baseball batting facility and the family would like for the facility to be named after a member of the family. Mr. Saad said this family does have ties to the University, i.e. a sister went to UWA and currently there is another family member attending UWA. The Facilities Committee is making a recommendation to the Board that, whenever the gift is finalized with the donor, the family can be told the Board approved their request. Mr. Saad said this was a motion from the Facilities Committee, it did not need a second, and the floor was open for discussion. The Board voted unanimously to approve naming the Baseball Hitting Facility as soon as a contract is finalized with the donors. Mr. Spree asked Mr. Brophy when he would be able to obtain funds to cover the Rodeo arena.
Mr. Saad stated that the Board is concerned about maintaining a healthy and safe working environment on the campus, particularly with regards to second-hand smoke. Due to this concern, the Facilities Committee the University’s policy that requires all facilities on campus and all areas within twenty-five feet of facilities to be smoke-free. He stressed that the smoke-free status will apply to all facilities and that no one will be grandfathered in under this policy. This policy is to be implemented by the Administration by the beginning of Fall 2007. Mr. Saad said this comes in the form of a motion from the Facilities Committee and asked for a second. Mrs. Lovett seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
VII. REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Dr. Umphrey reported that the Finance Committee met this morning at 9:00 and he, Mr. Northcutt, and Dr. Nolen were present, which was a quorum. He said Mr. Spruiell reported on the legislative funding for 2007-2008, and indicated the University faired very well in the State appropriation for the coming year. Dr. Umphrey also said the Bond Issue was passed and the University should receive approximately $1.8 million to be used for capital improvements.
Dr. Umphrey said a copy of the proposed budget for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year was included in the binders. He indicated the Fixed Costs line item would have substantial increases, and the University would like to provide the faculty and staff a 7% salary increase. Dr. Umphrey said due to the increased expenditures and the proposed salary increases, etc., as presented in the proposed budget, it would be necessary to increase the tuition rate by 7%. The total of estimated expenditures for the next year is $2,066,353 and the total of projected revenues is $2,068,781.
Dr. Umphrey said the Finance Committee voted unanimously to adopt the budget. Mr. Saad asked for a second and Mrs. Lovett seconded the motion. Mr. Spree asked where would the University be in line with other schools if the tuition was increased by 7%. Dr. Umphrey said the tuition rate at the University of West Alabama is very competitive, with only two schools having a lower tuition rate. He said the Finance Committee also asked the President to provide the Board with a five-year plan on projected tuition increases, and to perform a study on how this is done at other State universities so that the percentage increase will not be as much each time.
There was no other discussion, and Mr. Saad called for the vote. The motion to approve the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2007-2008 was passed unanimously. Mr. Saad indicated that each Trustee will receive a copy of the line item budget prior to the September 2007 Board meeting.
VIII. REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Before receiving the report from the Nominating Committee, Mr. Saad said he was very happy to have served as Board’s President pro tem and that he appreciated all of the support he received from the Trustees. He asked Mr. Terry Bunn, Chair of the Nominating Committee, to present his report. Mr. Bunn reported that the Committee met earlier this morning and he distributed a slate of officers that was approved by the Nominating Committee, as follows:
President - Mrs. Margaret Lovett
Vice President - Mr. John Northcutt
Secretary - Mr. Tom Ballow
Treasurer - Mr. Thed Spree
Mr. Saad asked if there were any other nominations from the floor for officers of the Board. He asked each Trustee if he/she was willing to serve as an officer, and all indicated they were. He asked for a second; Dr. Umphrey seconded the motion; and the motion passed. Mr. Saad indicated to Mrs. Lovett that as soon as the last report is given today, he will be glad to turn the gavel over to her. He also said he knew she would do a great job as Board President.
IX. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT
A. Honorary Doctorate Nomination
Dr. Holland reported that a vita for the nominee was in the binders. He said the Honorary Degree Committee endorsed the nomination of U. S. Ambassador Andrew Ivy Kilgore for the Doctor of Laws degree to be awarded at the University Commencement on December 15, 2007. Dr. Holland said Mr. Kilgore was a graduate of the University of West Alabama and has a very distinguished career record in the foreign service of this country. He said he also recommends that the Board approve this nomination. Dr. Umphrey made a motion to approve the awarding of the Honorary Degree to Ambassador Kilgore; Mrs. Lena Hardaway seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
B. Enrollment
Dr. Holland reported that, as of June 1, 2007, the enrollment for the Summer 2007 term is 699 undergraduate students and 188 graduate students, for a total of 887. He said the freshman applications received for Fall 2007 totals 757, and the number of transfer applications received totals 216. This is an increase for transfer students, but a slight decrease in freshman applications over last year.
C. Bond Issue
Dr. Holland said Dr. Umphrey previously discussed the bond issue in the Finance Committee’s report.
Dr. Holland announced that information is in the binders regarding the Black Belt Conservation Research Institute. He said this is an institute that is being created as part of the Center for the Study of the Black Belt. Dr. Holland said it is an institute to focus the faculty and students on the natural environment of the area and particularly on how to maintain the natural environment and to work with private land owners in this effort. He said this is also a collaborative effort with The Nature Conservancy of Alabama, who agreed about eight months ago to create such an institute and place it on the University campus. Dr. Holland asked that the Board adopt this Institute as part of the University’s structure. He said there will be funds to secure this in the Center for the Study of the Black Belt, as also grant funds will be available.
Dr. Umphrey made a motion to adopt this Institute as part of the University’s structure; Mrs. Lovett seconded the motion; and the motion passed.
X. ADJOURN
Mr. Saad added that it had truly been a pleasure working with President Holland during the time he served as President pro tem of the Board.
Mr. Saad said this concluded the Agenda for today’s meeting. He asked Mrs. Lovett to come and take over as President pro tem of the Board. Mrs. Lovett thanked Mr. Saad for his service and also thanked the Board for their vote of confidence and support. She said she is known as a “team person” and a stickler for detail and that she would need help from all Trustees as she begins her term as an officer of the Board.
There was no other business, and the meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,

Lena Hardaway
Secretary

Earlene Lindsey
Assistant Secretary