The official minutes of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees are maintained by the Secretary of the Board. Certified copies of minutes may be requested by contacting the Board of Trustees’ Office. Electronic or other copies of original minutes are not official Board of Trustees' documents.

The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met Tuesday, April 30, 2002, at 4:05 p.m. in the Carolina Plaza Board Room.

Members present were: Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr., Chairman; Mr. Herbert C. Adams, Vice Chairman; Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller (via telephone); Mr. James Bradley (via telephone); Mr. A.C. Fennell, III; Dr. C. Edward Floyd (via telephone); Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II; Mr. Alexander English; Mrs. Helen C. Harvey; Mr. William C. Hubbard; Mr. Toney J. Lister; Mr. Miles Loadholt; Mr. J. DuPre Miller (via telephone); Ms. Darla D. Moore; Mr. Michael J. Mungo; Mr. M. Wayne Staton; Mrs. Inez M. Tenenbaum; Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.; and Mr. Othniel H. Wienge, Jr. Mr. Robert N. McLellan was absent. The faculty representative, Professor Robert Wilcox, and the student representative, Mr. Ankit Patel, were both present.

Others present were: President John M. Palms; Secretary Thomas L. Stepp; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jerome D. Odom; Vice President and Chief Operating Officer J. Lyles Glenn; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Richard W. Kelly; Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer William F. Hogue; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice President for Student and Alumni Services Dennis A. Pruitt; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Vice Provost and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education Chris P. Plyler; Chancellor of USC Aiken Thomas L. Hallman; Chancellor of USC Spartanburg John C. Stockwell; Dean of USC Lancaster John Catalano; Dean of USC Salkehatchie Ann Carmichael; Dean of USC Union James W. Edwards; Dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology Ralph E. White; Dean of the Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health Harris Pastides; Director of Athletics Michael B. McGee; Executive Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity Programs Bobby Gist; Director of Facilities Planning and University Architect Charles G. Jeffcoat; Director of the Alumni Association, Division of Student and Alumni Services, Marcia A. Cole; Director of Business Affairs Helen Zeigler; University Legislative Liaison John D. Gregory; Director of Governmental and Community Relations, Office of the President, Shirley D. Mills; Director of Presidential Communications and Research, Office of the President, Gail Widner; wife of Chairman Emeritus William C. Hubbard, Katharine (Kappy) Hubbard; wife of Trustee Miles Loadholt, Ann Loadholt; Director of the Office of Public Affairs Russell McKinney; and members of the media.

Chairman Whittle stated that notice of the meeting had been posted and the press notified as required by the Freedom of Information Act; the agenda had been circulated to the members; and a quorum was present to conduct business.

Chairman Whittle welcomed everyone and invited Board members and members of the University family to introduce themselves. Mr. McKinney introduced members of the media who were in attendance.

Chairman Whittle stated that there was a personnel matter appropriate for discussion in Executive Session. Mr. Mungo moved to enter Executive Session, and Ms. Moore seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

The following persons were invited to remain: Mr. Stepp, Mr. Parham, and Ms. Jameson.

Return to Open Session

1. Review of PCSC Report: Chairman Whittle recognized Mr. Hubbard who, as Chair of the Presidential Candidate Search Committee, thanked the individual members -- Bubba Fennell, Herbert Adams, Sam Foster, Othniel Wienges, and Miles Loadholt who had represented the Board of Trustees; Larry Wilson who had represented the Foundations Boards; Ron Harshbarger who had represented the regional campuses; Corey Ford who had represented the students; and Thorne Compton and Caroline Stroebel who had represented the faculty from the Columbia campus. Mr. Hubbard expressed his deep appreciation for "their great hard work and diligence over the last 10 months that has culminated today in our being in a position to make a formal motion before the Board of Trustees on behalf of the Presidential Candidate Search Committee."

   Before presenting the motion, Mr. Hubbard read the following document addressed to University Provost Jerome D. Odom from Harris Pastides, Dean of the Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health regarding the appointment of Dr. Sorensen:

   I am pleased to inform you that, by a vote of the applicable members of the Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health Tenure and Promotion Committee, and with the concurrence of the Department Chair James R. Hebert, I recommend the appointment of Dr. Andrew A. Sorensen as a tenured full professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

   Earlier today, Provost Odom and President Palms had approved this appointment.

   On behalf of the Presidential Candidate Search Committee, Mr. Hubbard was pleased to move approval of the appointment of Andrew A. Sorensen as President of the University of South Carolina and tenured full professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health beginning July 1, 2002. Mr. Adams seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

   Chairman Whittle indicated that a formal press conference was scheduled in the lobby of the Carolina Plaza immediately following the conclusion of this meeting. In addition, a reception in the Ballroom adjacent to the Board Room was planned at 5:00 p.m.

   Chairman Whittle invited Dr Sorensen to speak. Dr. Sorensen made the following remarks:

   Thank you very much, Mr. Whittle.

   First of all, I want to express my appreciation to the Board of Trustees for their confidence in me. I look forward to working with all of you closely, intimately, and I am singularly impressed by your commitment to the goals of this university. And, as I have told you on several occasions, those accomplishments will be realized only as we all work together to achieve those goals.

   Again, I thank you very much for your marvelous hospitality and for the confidence that you have expressed in me.

   Thank you.

   The complete curriculum vitae of Andrew Aaron Sorensen is on permanent file in the Board records associated with this meeting.

Since there were no other matters to come before the Board of Trustees, Chairman Whittle declared the meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary