Minutes from Board Meeting of Feb. 26-27, 2003

Members present:

Mr. Jay S. Poole, Rector
Mr. Stephan Q. Cassaday, Vice Rector
Mrs. Elizabeth D. Beamer
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Davis
Mr. Randal J. Duncan
Mrs. Mary Ann Hovis
Mrs. Barbara D. Turk
Mr. Jason Grogg (non-voting, advisory student representative)

Members absent:

Mr. Frank Armstrong, III
Mr. Joseph E. Freeman, III
Mr. R. Scott LaRose
Mr. Anthony Moore

Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Mr. Jay S. Poole, Rector of the Board, called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m., Wednesday, February 26, 2003 in the Martin Hall Board Room.

Base Budget Adequacy Study

Dr. Covington presented an update on the results of the General Assembly session. He reported that he had asked that an internal study be conducted to replicate and update the study conducted by Management of America for the Joint Subcommittee for Higher Education Funding Policies.

Dr. Wil Stanton, Associate Vice President for Academic Administration and Dean of the College of Information Science and Technology, presented the results of the study that replicated the "2001 Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding Policies Base Budget Adequacy Study." The replication of this study provides information about the current level of under funding, and it provides the University with a model for use in anticipating the impact of any further changes in enrollment and funding. With this model, the University can make more informed predictions about what could happen and what should happen to the quality of students' education as enrollment grows and as funding increases at varying rates.

Thursday, February 27, 2003

CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Jay S. Poole, Rector of the Board, called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 27, 2003 in the Martin Hall Board Room.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mrs. Turk recommended that the agenda be approved. Seconded by Mrs. Davis, the motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mrs. Beamer made the motion that the minutes for the November 14, 2002 meeting of the Board of Visitors be approved as distributed. Seconded by Mr. Cassaday, the motion carried.

PRESIDENT’S QUARTERLY REPORT

Dr. Covington presented an Executive Summary of the President’s Quarterly Report for November 2002-February 2003.

EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Personnel Action

Mr. Duncan recommended that the appointment of Margaret D. McManus as University Auditor at an annual salary of $55,000, effective January 10, 2003 be approved. Seconded by Mr. Cassaday, the motion carried.

2. Resolution in Memoriam

Mrs. Turk made the motion that the following resolution be approved. Seconded by Mrs. Davis, the motion carried.

Resolution in Memoriam

WHEREAS, Sally Ann Cook McGlothlin, Distinguished Alumna of Radford University and tireless community leader dedicated to the betterment of her beloved Southwest Virginia, passed away on January 26, 2003; and

WHEREAS, She demonstrated a respect for the ideals of her parents who inspired her to pursue an education at the Radford Teachers College in Radford, Virginia, and who stressed that a college education can be earned, but never taken away, and

WHEREAS, in 1936 Mrs. McGlothlin proudly graduated from Radford Teachers College with a Normal Professional Teaching Certificate and returned to her home of Buchanan County, Virginia, and there dedicated herself to teaching the children of her community and began a lifetime commitment to improving the educational, civic, and social endeavors of her region, and

WHEREAS, she also began her career as wife and mother to her beloved husband and longtime sweetheart Woodrow W. McGlothlin and sons James, Thomas, and Michael upon whom she bestowed a love for Southwest Virginia and a magnanimous sense of generosity to mankind, and

WHEREAS, her family has demonstrated their love and respect for her by making possible a most generous contribution to the Radford University Foundation to memorialize Mrs. McGlothlin’s parents, Albert L. and Louisa F. Cook, the two individuals whom she credited for her love of education, and

WHEREAS, during the Dedication and Naming Ceremony for the Cook Hall of International Education on Tuesday, the ninth of November, 1999, Mrs. McGlothlin’s son Michael noted “She is and was the wind beneath our wings” and offered praise for her work as a wife and mother that impacted greatly on the family’s ability to build a Bristol-based coal company into an international conglomerate; and

WHEREAS, the McGlothlin Family Endowment for International Education at Radford University stands as a permanent reminder of the generosity and caring spirit of Mrs. McGlothlin and her distinguished family and their commitment to global understanding, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Visitors of Radford University and the RU Foundation Board of Directors convey their heartfelt sympathy to the family of Mrs. Sally Ann Cook McGlothlin, and that the Boards together commemorate and celebrate her memory as a loving devotee to her alma mater and to her family, and that the University continue to uphold the ideals and characteristics so beautifully demonstrated by Mrs. McGlothlin; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this resolution be made a part of the official record of Radford University, and that a copy thereof be presented to the McGlothlin Family.

3. Resolution in Appreciation

Mr. Cassaday made the motion that the following resolution be approved. Seconded by Mrs. Turk, the motion carried.

Resolution in Appreciation

WHEREAS, Mr. Michael A. (“Mike”) Dunn has served Radford University with distinction since 1985 -- since 1993 as Director of the Office of New Student Programs; and

WHEREAS, he is the articulate and passionate voice for new students at the University, continually reminding everyone that the academic, social, and personal welfare of our students, especially those new to and therefore unfamiliar with RU, must be kept at the forefront of the University’s mission; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Dunn has served as the creative genius and driving force behind the implementation of effective programs and services to benefit first-year students, including Quest, UNIV 100, freshmen learning communities, community service days, the “Success Starts Here” seminar series, the “FIRST” and “SORTS” retention programs, and other activities; and

WHEREAS, he has served as an inspirational mentor to hundreds of student leaders who have assisted with the delivery of these programs; and

WHEREAS, he has shared his expertise about first-year students with numerous faculty and staff in workshops on the RU campus and with high school guidance counselors and others beyond Radford University, so that others might facilitate the success of first-year students; and

WHEREAS, Radford University’s freshman-to-sophomore retention rate has increased by approximately fifteen percent in the ten years since the Office of New Student Programs was established under Mr. Dunn’s leadership, improvement that can be attributed both to him and his staff and to the many individuals and offices who have enthusiastically collaborated with New Student Programs’ initiatives; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, in recognition of the quality of RU’s initiatives to serve new students, the Policy Center on the First Year of College at Brevard College recognized Radford University as one of only 11 national semi-finalists among institutions of its size in their project to identify “Institutions of Excellence in the First College Year”; and

WHEREAS, on February 23, 2003, Mr. Dunn was recognized by the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina as one of ten national “Outstanding First-Year Student Advocates,” the most prestigious award bestowed upon individuals in his profession; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Board of Visitors of Radford University commends Mr. Dunn upon his receiving this significant honor which brings credit to him and to the University, and expresses its sincere gratitude for his exceptional leadership of RU’s efforts to invest in the lifetimes of first-year students; and be it further

RESOLVED, that this resolution be made a part of the official record of Radford University, and that a copy thereof be presented to Mr. Michael A. Dunn.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mrs. Davis made the motion that Academic Affairs Recommendations #1-8 as detailed on pages 10-20 of the Report to the Board of Visitors be approved. Seconded by Mr. Cassaday, the motion carried.

1. Faculty Appointments

A. Tenure Track Appointments

B. New Temporary Appointments or Reappointments

C. Professional Faculty Positions

D. Faculty Reassignment

2. Overload Teaching Assignments

3. Second Year Reappointment Recommendations

4. Appointment of Department Chair

5. Resignations

6. Faculty Retirements

7. Faculty Emeriti

8. Faculty Professional Development Leave for 2003-2004

BUSINESS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mrs. Beamer made the motion that the following Business Affairs Recommendations # 1-3 as detailed on pages 16-19 of the Report to the Board of Visitors be approved. Seconded by Mrs. Hovis, the motion carried.

1. Write-Off of Past Due Accounts Receivable

Student Accounts - $ 8,223.67

Returned Items - 339.00

Short Term Loans - 730.52

Parking Fines - 590.00

Residential Life Damages - 764.50

Discharged-Bankruptcy - 47.55

Discharged-Death - 817.67

Total - $11,512.91

All accounts have been referred to the Department of Taxation in accordance with state debt set-off provisions. Those accounts greater than $75 have been submitted to the university’s private collection agency or to the Attorney General’s Office.

2. Personnel Actions

Separations

1. David E. Armstrong as Associate Vice President of Facilities effective December 31, 2002.

2. David E. Hill as Assistant Vice President of University Services effective December 31, 2002.

3. M. Martin Huckabee as Facilities Manager in the Department of Facilities Management effective December 31, 2002.

4. Margie B. Kark as Executive Director of Human Resources effective December 31, 2002.

Acting Appointments and Temporary Salary Adjustments

1. Salary adjustment for Ronald W. Downs, Director of the Dedmon Center

2. Appointment of Thomas P. Manning as Acting Director of Facilities Operations

3. Appointment of Roy E. Saville as Acting Director of Facilities Planning & Construction

4. Appointment of William H. Shorter, Jr., as Acting Director of Human Resources

3. Discretionary Account Review

Approval of Discretionary Fund expenditures for the quarter ending December 31, 2002.

STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mr. Duncan made the motion that the following Student Affairs Recommendations # 1-3 as detailed on page 25 of the Report to the Board of Visitors be approved. Seconded by Mrs. Beamer, the motion carried.

Appointments

1. Appointment of Heather Smart as Greek Life Coordinator.

Salary Adjustments

1. Annette Alston, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach.

2. Corey Thomaston, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach.

Separations

1. Hillery Lester resigned as Assistant Director of Admissions effective January 31, 2003.

UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE

Mrs. Turk made the motion that University Advancement Recommendations # 1-2, as detailed on page 26 of the Report to the Board of Visitors be approved. Seconded by Mr. Duncan, the motion carried.

1. Appointments

A. Tracy D. Garland has been appointed Environmental Programs Coordinator in the Business Assistance Center.

B. Ms. Ashlee Claud, Director of Programming, has been promoted to Director of Radio/Television and Communication Services.

2. Separations

A. Mr. William D. Yerrick, Director of Radio/Television and Communication Services, has retired effective December 31, 2002.

B. Mr. George D. Mickalonis, Director of the International Trade Center in the Business Assistance Center, has resigned effective February 21, 2003 and will transfer to the Virginia Department of Health to serve as a District Planner for Bioterrorism Preparedness in the Rappahannock/ Rapidan Health District in Culpeper, Virginia.

B. Ms. Juanita Fairchild, Minority Business Programs Coordinator in the Business Assistance Center, has been called to serve on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States effective January 30, 2003 and will return to her position upon her release from military active duty.

Mrs. Turk reported that the University Advancement Committee discussed the Technology Park, fundraising efforts, and the fact the University Advancement area is understaffed. Mrs. Turk also noted that the Public Relations office has received numerous awards including three awards in the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s District III competition.

PLANNING AND RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Dr. Rick Slavings, Vice President for Planning and Research, reported that the total awards for grants and contracts for the first half of the fiscal year total nearly $4.1 million dollars, a 26% increase over the same period last year. It appears that the University is on track to obtain the highest amount of money through grants and contracts in institutional history. Dr. Slavings also mentioned several projects that would be discussed at the May meeting of the Board of Visitors.

BOARD MEETING CALENDAR

Friday, May 2, 2003 - Regular Meeting
Saturday, May 3, 2003 - Spring Commencement
Wednesday & Thursday, August 27-28, 2003 - Annual Meeting

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
______________________________
Doris M. Bratton, Secretary
Radford University Board of Visitors