BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY
Francis Marion University
The University Place Gallery
Thursday, March 3, 2022 – 4:30 pm – 5:01 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. R. Tracy Freeman
Mr. William Edward Gunn
Mrs. Patricia C. Hartung
Mr. Kenneth W. Jackson
Mr. Stephen N. Jones
Mr. Floyd L. Keels
Ms. Karen Leatherman
Mr. George C. McIntyre
Mr. Mark S. Moore
Dr. J. Kevin O’Kelly

Others Present:
Dr. Vernon Bauer, Chair of the Biology Department and Professor of Biology
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
Mr. Ralph Davis, Director of Facilities Management
Mr. Chris Day, Morning News Reporter
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. Cynthia Nixon, Associate Dean of School of Education and Professor of Education
Dr. Hari Rajagopalan, Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Marketing
Dr. Cheri Richardson, Director of Institutional Planning
Mrs. Elizabeth Shefton, Executive Assistant to the President
Mrs. Lauren Stanton, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Mrs. Allison Steadman, Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Theatre Arts – Costume Design
Ms. Anna Katherine Stoddard, Marketing Coordinator
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. Shefton to call the roll.  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 November 11, 2021 meeting before the board for approval.  Mr. Gunn made a motion that the minutes be approved, and Dr. Dozier seconded the motion.  The minutes received unanimous approval by the board.

Executive Affairs Committee:

Mr. Lee presented to the board Resolution 01-22 for Tuition and Required Fees Freeze, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Lee made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Dr. Dozier seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.

Mr. Lee presented to the board Resolution 02-22 for the Naming of the Dr. C Edward Floyd Medical Education Consortium, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Lee made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Jackson seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.

Mr. Lee presented to the board Resolution 03-22 for the Naming of the Steven F. Gately Gallery, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Lee made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. McIntyre seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.

Academic Affairs and Accreditation Committee:

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

  • Undergraduate applications for Fall 2022 are up approximately 30% compared to this time last year.
  • The Office of Admissions is in the process of awarding scholarships.
    • Ten high school seniors interviewed for the McNair Scholarship and two were awarded the scholarship.
    • Admissions received 200 nominations for the Darla Moore Scholarship.  Interviews have just been completed and awards will be announced soon.
  • In December, 179 undergraduate degrees and 69 graduate degrees were awarded during the two commencement ceremonies.
  • International programs are picking back up and we have three new prospective exchange partners.
  • FMU has 57 F-1 visa students on campus, with six graduating in the spring.
  • Resolution 04-22 to approve the Bachelor of Science in Forestry at Francis Marion University was presented to the board, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Dove made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Freeman seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.
  • Resolution 05-22 to approve the Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications at Francis Marion University was presented to the board, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Dove made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. McIntyre seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.
  • Three graduate programs, previously approved by the board, have been approved by CHE.

Mr. Dove concluded his report.

Development and Alumni Committee:

Mr. McIntyre shared the following report with the board:

Foundation:

  • Doug’s Day was successful with an attendance of around 450.
  • The Foundation has the following upcoming events:
    • March 22 – Donor-Student Scholarship Receptions
    • April 22 – Education Foundation Golf Tournament
    • May 19 – Swamp Fox Athletic Auction
  • The Foundation has received the following endowed scholarships:
    • Thomas Lang Beaty, Sr. & Alice Bultman Beaty Endowed Scholarship
    • Coach Griffin Endowed Scholarship
    • Dr. Carlanna L. Hendrick Endowed Scholarship in History
    • Dr. Lynn M. Croshaw Endowed Scholarship
  • University Place Gallery will be hosting an exhibit by Megan Mosholder titled “Vertically Challenged” on March 15th.
  • The Performing Arts Center will host the Atlanta Rhythm Section on March 22nd and the final concert for the Florence Symphony will be on April 11th.
  • The Center for the Child has maintained steady enrollment numbers.
  • Local Government Leadership Institute currently has 28 participants.
  • The Fred R. Sheheen Non-Profit Leadership Institute will start up in September.

Alumni:

  • Alumni Affairs continues to have a great response for the Publishing Concepts project.  They have received thousands of alumni stories.
  • Alumni Affairs has the following upcoming events:
    • March 3 – Alumni Awards
    • March 8 – Biology Alumni Reception
    • March 29 – School of Business Alumni Reception

Mr. McIntyre concluded his report.

Finance and Facilities Committee:

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

Budget Summary:

  • There are no significant changes to the budget report, since the November meeting.
  • Revenue and expenditures are at expected levels.
  • State appropriations have been received. The increase in capital funds reflects state appropriations for the building projects approved for the year.

Finance:

  • Resolution 06-22 to approve an Engineering Facility was presented to the board, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Jones made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Coleman seconded the motion. The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.

Facilities:

  • Capital projects report:
    • The Freshwater Ecology Center is fully operational.
    • The facilities team is working with the state to facilitate approvals for the School of Business and School of Education buildings and the Medical Education Consortium.
    • The Smith University Center renovations and bonding should receive final approval from the state next month.
  • Current contracts for the bookstore and dining services end this year.  Selection for both contracts are underway and should be finalized by July 1st.

Mr. Jones concluded his report.

Student Life and Athletics Committee:

Ms. Leatherman gave the following committee report:

Student Government Association:

  • On February 28th the SGA hosted a Black History Luncheon, with guest speaker Senator Mia McLeod.
  • The SGA will host a commuter appreciation day on March 11th.
  • SGA initiatives for Spring Semester:
    • Greek Life New Member Scholarship
    • Support for employing students on campus
    • Grow awareness of SGA and promote membership

Student Life:

  • The annual MLK event had a good turn out from campus and the local community.
  • UC after Dark events, such as Karaoke nights, Bingo nights, and speed dating have continued.
  • Food Truck Thursdays continue on campus for the Spring Semester.
  • Homecoming was celebrated on February 19th, with a bonfire, spirit day block party, and the coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen at the basketball game.
  • The President’s Bowl had a great turn-out with 18 student teams.  The final match was on March 1st, with the accounting students winning.
  • Student Life is hosting a student made film festival on April 6th.  Videos must be 10 minutes or less and filmed by the students’ cellphones.
  • Planning has started for the Arts International Festival, which is scheduled for April 9th.

Athletics:

  • The men’s golf team won their Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate tournament.
  • The women’s volleyball was the conference champions for both the regular season and conference tournament.  They advanced to the first round of the NCAA Regionals.
  • Men’s soccer won the regular season Conference Carolinas Championship with a 10-0-1 record and lost in the finals of the conference tournament.
  • Women’s basketball plays tomorrow night at Wofford College in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
  • 128 student athletes were named on the Swamp Fox Honor Roll with a 3.0 or higher; including 21 with a 4.0 GPA.
  • Cullen Dore, from men’s cross country team and the President of FMU Student Athlete Advisory, was selected as the Conference Carolinas representative for the NCAA Division II National Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Ms. Leatherman concluded his report.

President’s Report:

Dr. Carter made the following comments during his report:

  • Appreciation was expressed to the trustees for passing the following resolutions:
    • Resolution 01-22 for Tuition and Required Fees Freeze
    • Resolution 02-22 for the Naming of the Dr. C Edward Floyd Medical Education Consortium
    • Resolution 03-22 for Naming of the Steven F. Gately Gallery
    • Resolution 04-22 approving the Bachelor of Science in Forestry at Francis Marion University
    • Resolution 05-22 approving the Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications at Francis Marion University
    • Resolution 06-22 to approve an Engineering Facility
  • The House Ways and Means Committee has approved the request of $18 million to fully fund the forestry building.  Through the Ways and Means bill, the committee has provided $2.5 million for tuition mitigation.  In addition, the bill added funding for a SLED regional office and if approved the office will be located on campus.
  • A step towards mitigating COVID protocols have been made.  While masks will still be required in classrooms, medical facilities, public transportation, and instructional support spaces; mask protocols will be relaxed in entertainment, recreational and assembly spaces.  COVID numbers will continue to be monitored and the last day cases were in double digits was February 2nd.
  • Acknowledgements were made to the women’s basketball team for making it to the quarterfinals.  They will play tomorrow night in Spartanburg.

Dr. Carter concluded his report by inviting the trustees to the Alumni Awards event this evening at 6:00 at the Performing Arts Center.

Unfinished Business:

None

New Business:

Mr. Lee requested a moment of silence in remembrance of trustees Senator Hugh Leatherman and Mr. Frank Elmore, who have passed away since the last meeting.

Executive Session:

None

Mr. Lee adjourned the meeting at 5:01 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Floyd L. Keels

Secretary