BOARD OF TRUSTEES
THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA
Bell Conference Center
September 10, 2007, 10:30 a.m.

I. CALL TO ORDER
Mrs. Margaret Lovett, President pro tem, called the meeting to order and asked Mrs. Lena Hardaway to give the invocation.
II. ROLL CALL
Mr. Tom Ballow, Secretary, called the roll. Attending were: Mr. Tom Ballow, Mrs. Lena Hardaway, Mr. Robert Keahey, Mrs. Margaret Lovett, Mr. John Northcutt, Dr. Doris Oliveira, Mr. Alex Saad, Mr. Thed Spree, and Dr. Tom Umphrey. Trustees not attending were: Mr. Terry Bunn, Mr. Preston Minus, Dr. Louise Nolen, and Mr. John Smith.
Mr. Ballow announced a quorum was present.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mrs. Lovett asked for a motion to approve the Agenda. Mr. Spree moved to approve the Agenda, Mr. Saad seconded the motion, and the motion passed.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR JUNE 4, 2007, MEETING
Mrs. Lovett asked if there were any changes to the minutes from the last meeting. Mr. Keahey made a motion to approve the minutes, Mr. Saad seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved.
V. REPORT OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT
A. Executive Committee Report from August 16, 2007
Mrs. Lovett said the minutes from the Executive Committee were previously sent to the Board members and asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Saad moved to approve the minutes, Mr. Northcutt seconded the motion, and the minutes were approved.
B. Reception for Trustee Emeriti
Mrs. Lovett announced there would be a reception at 2:00 today for the Trustee Emeriti recipients and encouraged all to attend.
C. Schedule for Board Meetings 2007-2008
Mrs. Lovett indicated a Schedule for the Board meetings 2007-2008 was included in the binders and asked for a motion to approve. Mr. Saad moved to approve, Mr. Ballow seconded the motion, and the motion was approved.
D. Board of Trustees Committee Assignments for 2007-2008
Mrs. Lovett said a list of committee assignments was in each binder and indicated that each member would be notified prior to a committee meeting. She stressed the importance of the members attending their committee meetings and provided her cell phone number (256/324-1688) for the committee member to notify her if he/she could not attend.
Mrs. Lovett said the Code of Ethics form needs to be signed each year and turned in to the Secretary and would be distributed to the trustees prior to the December meeting.
VI. REPORT OF THE INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE
Mr. Ballow, Chair, reported that the Institutional Advancement Committee met this morning at 8:30, and a quorum was present. He said reports were presented by Mr. Rob McInturf, Director of Alumni Relations, Ms. Meaghan Gordon, Director of Public Relations, Mr. Tom Stipe, Senior Director of Marketing, Mr. John Crawford, Associate Vice President, and Mr. Clemit Spruiell, Vice President.
Mr. Ballow said the Committee voted to recommend the naming of a couple of facilities on campus for family members of donors to the Capital Campaign. The recommendation by the Committee is to name the fourth floor conference room in Wallace Hall after Dr. Betty Jean Tucker, mother of the donor, Dr. Ken Tucker, and to name a classroom in the College of Business after Erin and Burke Lewis, parents of donor Scott Lewis. Mr. Ballow said Dr. Betty Jean Tucker retired from UWA as the Chair of the Division of Languages and Literature and Mrs. Erin Lewis was an alumnus who taught for many years. A motion to second the recommendation was made by Mr. Saad, and the recommendation was approved.
VII. REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Dr. Tom Umphrey, Chair, reported that the Academic Affairs Committee met this morning at 9:30. He said Dr. David Taylor, Provost, presented a list of faculty achievements for the past year, a list of the new faculty and staff, as well as the ongoing searches for current faculty and staff openings. Dr. Umphrey said Dr. Taylor also discussed the online enrollment growth since its inception, the renegotiation of the contract with Columbia Southern University, the new Division of Online Programs, the new VOIP system, and the University’s international programs.
VIII. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S REPORT
A. Strategic Plan and Scoreboard
Before beginning his report, President Richard Holland introduced the President of the Student Government Association, Ms. Mahalia Gray, and indicated she would present a report at the December meeting of the Board of Trustees. He also recognized Dr. Gerald Jones, President of the Faculty Senate, and Mr. Luther Gremmels, President of the Staff Senate. Both will present reports at the next Board meeting.
Dr. Holland said the University is moving forward on the Strategic Plan that was adopted in 2005, and indicated the report was in the binders for review. He said that the Master Plan for the University was being updated and that the University has a contract with Capstone Development Corporation to determine the next step with the housing situation on campus. He said a review is being done to decide what might be the most feasible plan for Spieth, Selden, and Sisk residency halls.
Dr. Holland announced that a new division for the online program has been established to better serve students in this program. Dr. Holland referred to the Strategic Plan Scorecard in the binders. He said the retention of students has improved and that the salary base for faculty and staff has increased by 30% in the past five years.
Dr. Holland reported that Fall Semester 2007 enrollment increased over 2006, transfer students increased, retention rate was much better in 2006, the graduation rate improved, 117 more Trustee Scholarships were given in the Fall 2007, more Alumni Scholarships were awarded, the average ACT score has improved, and the number of minority faculty and professional staff has increased.
Dr. Holland added that the number of terminal degree faculty appears to be also increasing, with four faculty members currently pursuing their doctorates and upon completion, the percentage will be 82%.
Dr. Holland reported that the dollar amount of grants the University received in 2006 was $1,941,424, which included $1,350,000 Alabama Math, Science Technology Center Initiative Grant in partnership with the University of Alabama.
Dr. Holland asked if there were any questions on this report. Mr. Keahey asked if scholarships were given to graduate students, and Dr. Holland said most of the scholarships were given to undergraduates.
B. Enrollment Report
Dr. Holland reported on the comparison of enrollment for the past Spring, Summer, and Fall Semesters. He indicated that Freshman enrollment figures for Fall 2007 are down a little, but the number of new transfers increased from 188 in 2006 to 225 in 2007.
In Dr. Holland’s report, a comparison was made of the Fall Semester enrollment from 2003 to 2007, which indicated there is an increase of 578 for the Fall 2007 over the Fall 2006.
C. Records Management Program
For informational purposes only, Dr. Holland stated that the University has established a policy for retaining records of the campus departments. He said records have been kept in offices, some have been destroyed which was against State law, and added that a part-time person has been hired to work on this project. She will work with each area to provide assistance on what to save.
D. Student Dress Code
Dr. Holland reported that a student dress code has been initiated in the Fall Semester; that the President’s Council approved it; and the administration is working with the faculty and staff to ensure the policy is being followed. He said there have been concerns in the Cafeteria about the manner in which some students are dressed and which would cause health concerns.
E. Smoking Policy
Dr. Holland said the Board of Trustees approved an amendment to the policy for a University smoke-free environment in March of this year and it is being implemented on September 17, 2007. He added that the appropriate signage is now in place as part of this new policy.
Mrs. Lovett said the President’s report has been presented and asked if there were any other questions. There were none, and a motion was made by Dr. Umphrey to accept the report, with Mr. Ballow seconding the motion. The motion passed.
Mrs. Lovett asked that the Trustees look at the University’s organizational structure and see how each area contributes to the mission. In the future, she will ask departments to present reports to the Board and provide a question and answer period.
IX. CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF THE BLACK BELT
Dr. Holland presented a report by Dr. Tina Jones, Director of the Center for the Study of the Black Belt. He said office space for the Center is provided in the old Choctaw Tavern and that Monica Moore serves as the Executive Secretary, and Mrs. Leigh Griffin is the Coordinator of Educational Activities.
Dr. Holland said the University is working with The Nature Conservancy of Alabama to establish the Black Belt Conservation Research Institute, and Dr. Lee Stanton will be overseeing this project. Dr. John Hall has been working on the Black Belt Garden project. He said the Center is working aggressively on establishing the nineteen county Black Belt area as a National Heritage Trail and added that there are currently only 37 such areas in the United States.
Mrs. Lovett said the Board is very proud to be a part of what is going on at the University of West Alabama.
Mrs. Hardaway congratulated Mrs. Lovett on being elected the President of the Board and added that she is doing a good job.
Mr. Spree indicated his appreciation for the University, in particularly Dr. Holland and others employees, on the work that is being done to enhance the relations in the area and especially in Greene County. He also said he lives in Greene County, which is the sixth poorest county in the USA and there has been a lot of discussion recently on how to help the County. He commended Dr. Holland, Dr. Ken Tucker and Mr. Ken Walker on the assistance they have provided to help his home County. He said they are now in the process of developing a strategic plan.
Dr. Holland said the University has a remarkable staff who are willing and able to help and are very committed to outreach services.
X. ADJOURN
There was no other business and Mrs. Lovett adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m.
 

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas Ballow, Jr.
Secretary

Earlene Lindsey
Assistant Secretary