Board Minutes - July 29, 2021

BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY
Francis Marion University
The Cottage, Hendrick Room
Thursday, July 29, 2021 – 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm

Presiding:
Mr. Robert E. Lee, Chair

Present:
Mr. Jody Bryson
Mr. William W. Coleman, Jr.
Mr. H. Paul Dove, Jr.
Dr. H. Randall Dozier
Mr. L. Franklin Elmore (by web meeting)
Mr. R. Tracy Freeman
Mr. William Edward Gunn (by web meeting)
Mrs. Patricia C. Hartung (by web meeting)
Mr. Kenneth W. Jackson
Mr. Stephen N. Jones
Mr. Floyd L. Keels
Mr. George C. McIntyre
Mr. Mark S. Moore
Dr. J. Kevin O’Kelly

Others Present:
Dr. Mark Blackwell, Vice Chair of the Faculty and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Mr. Darryl Bridges, Vice President for Finance and Facilities
Dr. Fred Carter, President
Dr. Courtney Clayton, Dean of the School of Education
Mrs. Kim Davis, Executive Assistant to the President
Mr. Ralph Davis, Director of Facilities Management
Mr. Daniel Dukes, Legislative Liaison
Mr. Larry Falck, Director of Multimedia Services
Dr. Karen Fries, Secretary of the Faculty and Associate Professor of Education
Dr. Karen Gittings, Dean of the School of Health Sciences
Mr. Glen Gourley, Chair of the Faculty and Professor of Theatre Arts and Speech – Directing
Mr. Murray Hartzler, Director of Athletics
Dr. Christopher Kennedy, Vice President for Student Life
Dr. Peter King, Provost
Dr. Jennifer Kunka, Associate Provost for Advising and Professor of English
Mr. Alfonso Leggette, SGA President for 2021-2022
Dr. Hari Rajagopalan, Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Marketing
Dr. Cheri Richardson, Director of Institutional Planning
Mrs. Lauren Stanton, Executive Director of the Francis Marion University Foundation
Mrs. Allison Steadman, Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Theatre Arts – Costume Design
Mr. John Sweeney, Vice President of Communications
Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning
Ms. Demetra Walker, Dean of the Library
Dr. Alissa Warters, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Mr. Lee called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm, and then he asked Mrs. Davis to call the roll.  He also noted for the record that Ms. Leatherman has an excused absence.  Mr. Lee then stated for the record that media notification was made in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, and that a quorum was present.

Mr. Lee brought the minutes of the June 3, 2021 meeting before the board for approval.  Mr. Coleman made a motion that the minutes be approved, and Mr. Freeman seconded the motion.   The minutes received unanimous approval by the board.

Executive Affairs Committee:

Mr. Lee asked that a motion be made to call the trustees into Executive Session.  Mr. Moore made a motion for the trustees to go into Executive Session, and Mr. McIntyre seconded the motion.  The board went into Executive Session at 4:35 pm.

Mr. Lee called the trustees out of Executive Session at 4:45 pm.  Mr. Lee presented the following resolution to the board:

• Resolution 06-21 to amend the Campus COVID Protocols for Fall 2021, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Lee made a motion that the resolution be approved,           and Mr. Moore seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.

Mr. Jackson then made a motion that the board delegate authority to Dr. Carter as President and Mr. Lee as Chair of the Board of Trustees to make changes to the COVID Protocols as circumstances require.  Mr. Coleman seconded the motion, and the board gave unanimous approval.

Academic Affairs and Accreditation Committee:

Mr. Bryson gave the following report from the committee meeting:

• The Faculty Executive Committee has completed the Faculty Governance Calendar for the 2021-2022 academic year.
• The Office of Admissions has hosted 11 orientations during the summer with two more coming up.  There will be a transfer orientation on August 3 and an open orientation on the first day of classes.  All orientations were held in person this year, even though most students were registered via virtual appointments with The Center for Academic Success and Advisement.
• As of July 27, total enrollment, including returning students, is in line with Fall 2020. Final enrollment figures will be available at the conclusion of the drop/add period after classes begin.
• The Office of Admissions has scheduled Open Houses on the following dates during Fall 2021: September 25, October 16, and November 13.
• There are 57 students (28 undergraduate, 20 Masters-level, 2 Specialist-level, and 7 Doctorate-level) that expect to complete their degree requirements at the end of the summer terms.
• There were 779 students (578 undergraduate students and 201 graduate students that graduated during the 2020-2021 academic year.
• Courtney Clayton began on July 1 as the new Dean of the School of Education.

Mr. Bryson concluded his report.

Development and Alumni Committee:

Mr. Moore shared the following report with the board:

Foundation:

• Doug’s Day is planned for Thursday, November 11 at 6:00 at the Griffin Athletic Complex.
• There has been a generous donation to the Nellie Cooke Sparrow Memorial Scholarship.

Alumni:

• There are 8 Alumni After Hours events that are being planned.  The first one is scheduled for August 25 and will be held in Sumter.
• There are 3 Alumni Awards Receptions scheduled for the fall.
• • October 5 – Biology Alumni Awards Reception
  • November 5 – English Alumni Awards Reception
  • November 8 – Psychology Alumni Awards Reception
• Dr. and Mrs. Carter hosted a reception for Mrs. Teresa Ramey, Vice President for Regional and Community Programs, on July 14.  Mrs. Ramey left FMU to take another position in higher education as Vice President of Community, Diversity, and Inclusion at Roanoke College.
• The University Gallery is currently showing the Jamestown Foundation exhibit, No Place Like Home.
• The Performing Arts Center is working on programming for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.
• The Center for the Child reports strong enrollment for the fall.

Mr. Moore concluded his report.

Finance and Facilities Committee:

Mr. McIntyre shared the following information from the committee meeting:

Finance:

• Resolution 07-21 for University Budget Approval, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. McIntyre made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Freeman seconded the motion. The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.
• Resolution 08-21 for Approval for Capital Improvements to the FMU Campus, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. McIntyre made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Freeman seconded the motion.

Facilities:

• The Freshwater Ecology Center is nearing completion.  The facility should be open for use in Spring 2022.
• Facilities staff are making preparations for the return of students for the Fall 2021 semester.
• Appreciation was extended to Sen. Leatherman, the Florence County Delegation, the Pee Dee Area Delegation, and Mr. Daniel Dukes for their assistance in securing state funding for the University for 2021-2022.

Budget Summary:

• Revenues collected for 2020-2021 were less than the budgeted amount; however, expenditures were much less than revenues due to the prudence of the University’s faculty and staff.

Mr. McIntyre concluded his report.

Student Life and Athletics Committee:

Mr. Dove gave the following committee report:

Student Government Association:

• The Student Food Pantry has been moved to the Housing Office to make it more accessible to the students.
• SGA members assisted with Freshmen Orientations during the summer.
• The SGA has the following upcoming events:
• August 13 – Team Building exercise for SGA and CAB members
• August 26 – Open House
• September 30 – Leadership – One on One

Student Life:

• The Student Life Office has an email and brochure campaign for the beginning of the fall semester called “We’re Back!” to get new and continuing students excited about returning to campus.
• To keep students engaged during the fall semester, the Student Life Office has planned a number of Welcome Week events including the First Friday Music Festival on August 27.  There are many informative, educational, and fun events planned for the students this semester.
• Some of the housing on campus has been designated as Greek housing to try to keep the students in the Greek organizations on campus.

Athletics:

• The men’s tennis program received an All-American Team Award for the fifth time in eight years.
• The golf team received a Golf Coaches Association of America All-Academic Team Award for the eighth consecutive year.
• The women’s volleyball team received a Team Academic Award from the United States Marine Corps and the American Volleyball Coaches Association for the fifth time in the history of the program.
• There are 81 athletes participating in fall sports and a total of 244 participating for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Mr. Dove concluded his report.

President’s Report:

Dr. Carter made the following comments during his report:

• Appreciation was expressed to the trustees for their support in the development of the new FMU Campus COVID Protocols.  The Senior Staff were commended for their work in putting together the new COVID Protocols amidst all of the changes made by the Centers for Disease Control.
• The University received $39 million in the State Appropriations Act.  Gratitude was extended to Sen. Leatherman, Rep. Murrell Smith, the Florence County Delegation, the Pee Dee Area Delegation, and Mr. Daniel Dukes for their support in securing state funding for the University for 2021-2022.
• The following academic programs will begin in Fall 2021:
  • Biology – New track in Veterinary Studies
  • Marketing – New track in Digital Marketing
  • Management Information Systems – New track in Network Management
  • Mechanical Engineering – New track in Engineering Technology
  • Sociology – New track in Health
• The University is now a member of the Conference Carolinas athletic conference. We are part of a conference in which the Presidents and academic institutions believe that academics is as important as athletics. Members of the Conference Carolinas Board of Directors are committed to putting the student athletes first in all circumstances.  Hartzler was commended for all of the work that he put into moving the University to this new athletic conference.
• The University is in excellent shape financially and ended the 2020-2021 fiscal year with the following:
  • $5.1 million in Unallocated Funds
  • $14.5 million in Capital and Maintenance Reserve Funds
  • $7 million in the Development Foundation

In total, the University has $27 million in reserve accounts.

Dr. Carter concluded his report by reminding the trustees about the Board Social/Redwolves Game after the board meeting beginning at 6:00.

Unfinished Business:

None

New Business:

None

Executive Session:

None

Mr. Lee adjourned the meeting at 5:15 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Floyd L. Keels

Secretary