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.
Board of Trustees
May 14, 2001
The Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina met Monday, May 14, 2001, at 2:00 p.m., in the Board Room of the Carolina Plaza.
Members present were: Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr., Board Chairman; Mr. Herbert C. Adams, Board Vice Chairman; Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller; Mr. James Bradley; Mr. Alexander English, via telephone; Mr. A.C. Fennell, III; Dr. C. Edward Floyd; Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II; Mrs. Helen C. Harvey; Mr. William C. Hubbard; Mr. Toney J. Lister, via telephone; Mr. Miles Loadholt; Mr. Robert N. McLellan; Mr. J. DuPre Miller; Ms. Darla D. Moore; Mr. Michael J. Mungo; Mr. M. Wayne Staton; Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.; and Mr. Othniel H. Wienges, Jr. Mrs. Inez M. Tenenbaum was absent. The faculty representative, Professor Caroline Strobel, and the student representative, Mr. Corey Ford, 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 for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice President for Student and Alumni Services Dennis A. Pruitt; Interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Allan Barber; Vice Provost and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses Chris P. Plyler; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Chancellor of USC Spartanburg John C. Stockwell; Interim Budget Director, Office of Budget and Finance, Robert E. Bugbee; Assistant Provost for Institutional Planning and Assessment Harry G. Matthews, Sr.; Director of Governmental and Community Relations Shirley D. Mills; Director of Presidential Communications and Research Gail S. Widner; Director of Public Affairs Russell McKinney; Wife of the President of the University of South Carolina Norma Cannon Palms; University of South Carolina Legislative Liaison John Gregory; Ms. Jenny Mack from the Office of the President; Mr. Chris Richter from the Office of the President; and representatives from 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 and supporting materials had been circulated to the members; and a quorum was present to conduct business.
Chairman Whittle welcomed everyone and invited those present to introduce themselves.
Chairman Whittle thanked everyone for attending the meeting and stated that it was an important day in the life of the University. There were personnel matters that were appropriate for Executive Session.
Mr. Bradley moved to enter Executive Session and Mr. Mungo seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
The following persons were invited to remain: Dr. Palms, Mrs. Palms, Mr. Stepp, Dr. Odom, and Mr. Glenn.
Return to Open Session
Thank you for your patience and understanding while I have been considering this opportunity to run for the United States Senate. I am fully aware that these past six weeks have been anxious ones, and I have tried to reach a decision as quickly as possible without sacrificing the prudence such a decision deserves. The principal considerations for my decision are who I am and all aspects of what it takes to get elected, my wife and family, and this University. The tremendous outpouring of support and encouragement I have received from people throughout the state has been especially moving, and I am grateful to them. However, after carefully and prayerfully considering this opportunity and, with Norma, consulting with family, friends, trusted associates, and those in positions to provide critical information, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate.
This has been the most difficult professional decision of my life. I have been an educator, physicist, health scientist, and business advisor, and I have pondered whether the next and most appropriate use of these experiences would be in service to our state and country as they address the pressing issues of education, health care, the economy and national defense. Another profound question I have contemplated is whether a person who has remained and has been seen as nonpartisan is not precisely the sort of individual who might be most effective in our current state of national political governance. In addition, perhaps because of my birth in The Netherlands, my family's fortunate entry into this wonderful country shortly before World War II, my subsequent choice of citizenship 44 years ago, and my service in the U.S. Air Force and with the defense department, I deeply revere the civil liberties and obligations we as Americans hold.
My wife and family were also major considerations in this decision. As has been evinced, Norma and I are not only personal partners, but we have worked in professional unison for many years now. Her gracious hospitality, dedication, and genuine love of people have served this University well, and I am particularly thankful to have such a partner in public service. We have fulfilled our roles for the University these past 10 years with a devotion and a passion which have required us to sacrifice time with our close and growing family. This sacrifice has been intensified during the Bicentennial Capital Campaign. A successful Senate campaign and meaningful Senate service would demand a continuation of this level of commitment.
Working together, all of us at USC and thousands of others devoted to Carolina have accomplished significant goals. We have seen improvements in every sector and every campus of the University: student, faculty, and staff recruitment, research support, the endowment, private giving, the library, athletics programs, the beauty of our Columbia campus, the improvement of facilities at all campuses, and, importantly, the character and reputation of the University in our state and our nation.
Throughout my tenure as president, I have sought to make decisions bearing in mind that which is best for Carolina. I have applied that same criteria to this decision, particularly the timing and other consequences of a departure from the presidency to run for the Senate. As I did 10 years ago in deliberating whether to come to Carolina, I have considered the issues now facing the University and the impact of leaving USC in July, which a run for the Senate would require. We are in the midst of our bicentennial celebration, the University currently faces unprecedented budget cuts, and the need for private financial support for Carolina has never been greater. I do not believe my departure as president at this time would serve the University well.
Yet, in the eleventh year of my tenure, it is appropriate for me to consider the departure time most suitable for me, my family, and the University. During the next academic year, we will reach a critical point in the life of this University. We will conclude our Bicentennial Celebration; we will be well along in our planning for University realignment, and we will have received SACS reaccreditation with, I fully expect, considerable favorable comment about the University and constructive recommendations for its next decade. Hopefully, we will also be able to make considerable progress toward the successful conclusion of the Bicentennial Capital Campaign. It will be an auspicious time to seek a leader committed to the next decade of the University's life, and for this reason I have decided to step down from the presidency effective June 1, 2002. A departure next June will ensure the University sufficient time to search thoughtfully and carefully for its next president. It will also enable us to continue our work together on the significant University issues I have cited above.
The past decade at Carolina has been fulfilling, inspiring, and invigorating. Working with you, the Board of USC, as well as faculty, staff, administration, students and alumni, and all those who serve on partnership and advisory boards, has been a privilege. For ten years, this board has moved with a single purpose to advance this University, and I deeply appreciate your individual support and collective devotion to USC. Together, we have launched a new era at Carolina, generating much excitement about the enterprise we have undertaken and our step-by-step progress toward greatness. Norma and I are immensely proud to have been a part of the important work being performed at USC, and we look forward to continuing this work with you and the University community during the following year.
Thank you.
After a lengthy applause, Chairman Whittle stated that John and Norma Palms had greatly helped to take the University to a higher level of accomplishment and made the following remarks:
You don't have to go very far back. Look at this past week - we had thirteen graduation ceremonies all of which John participated in. Norma played a very active role and those of you who have attended all of the ceremonies in any one graduation season understand the commitment and the time and the energy that has to go into handling that function. It is a team effort and it is a team effort on their part that has allowed us to take this University to where it is today. Many of you were around here 10 years ago when John and Norma first came onboard and you know the challenges that this University faced. They were much greater than the challenges even today. John, you might not have even come if you had know how challenging it was going to be. It truly took a leader, somebody who was willing to roll up his sleeves and be a part of this institution and help us change the vision of who we were, who we want to be, and give us the courage and strength to reach toward achieving those goals. Last night, not knowing which decision John and Norma were going to make, I started reflecting on some of the things that have been accomplished through John's vision and leadership over the last 10 years. Like many of you in this room, I don't normally look back, but I think it is worthwhile to just look at some of the things that have happened over the years.
Academic excellence was the goal of a lot of people in this room. We have raised the SAT scores with John's leadership and with the faculty not once, but four times in the last 10 years. I say ‘we' collectively to include the faculty because they were a big part of this. We have been, over the last few years, one of the largest recipients of national merit finalists of any school of our size. We went from 13, John, I believe, to over 70. This is absolutely unheard of. These numbers are numbers that put us in favorable comparison with universities that have enjoyed a much greater academic reputation.
We introduced the master facilities plan which has brought us two brand new dormitories, has brought changes around the campus that our predecessors will enjoy as time goes on. We have a new wellness center underway. We've expanded the football stadium; there are a number of us who enjoy the athletics aspects of what this university does for this state and its alumni.
The media caught me after graduation and asked me if, in fact, a search committee was formed, who would they be looking for? I could truly say that we would look for someone who has the same traits and desires and passion that John and Norma Palms have, because he is the type of person and they are the type of couple who can raise this university to the level that it really wants to be raised to. I don't want to eulogize, as I said earlier, but I really think that if anybody in this room has any idea about where we are going, all you've got to do is go back and look at the last 10 years and see how far we have come. He has made believers out of a lot of us. Many of us didn't believe in ourselves and didn't believe in what this university was capable of accomplishing. We can take it to the next level and the person who takes us to the next level will be a person very much like John Palms. Hopefully, he will have a partner like Norma Palms who can share the same goals.
Thank you.
Mr. Wienges moved that the Board of Trustees unanimously express its appreciation for John M. Palms and Norma Palms; for their decade of leadership at this University; for the thoughtful, dutiful, and visionary manner in which they have executed their duties; and for the opportunity to work with them to continue the momentum of Carolina during this coming year. Mr. Bradley seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Whittle thanked Mr. Wienges.
Chairman Whittle recognized Mr. Mungo who moved that the Chairman approve the nomination of Mr. Hubbard as chairman of this committee and Vice Chairman Herbert Adams as one of the trustee members. Three additional trustees would need to be appointed to the search committee. Mr. Bradley seconded the motion.
Dr. Floyd inquired whether Chairman Whittle had the prerogative to approve these nominations. Chairman Whittle replied that the Executive Committee would ultimately recommend these nominations to the full Board. It was important for the selection process to move forward as quickly as possible. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
Mr. Bradley commented that he was very pleased Dr. Palms had decided "to stay with us for another 12 months with the same vigor and vitality and interest and commitment that he has given us over the last 10˝ years and to allow this search committee to find the proper person to succeed him." Mr. Mungo hoped that the next individual selected as president would emulate Dr. Palms' attitude of "I am one of you; South Carolina is my state, our state." He believed that such an outlook was crucial to the future success of the University of South Carolina.
There were no further matters to come before the Board of Trustees, and Chairman Whittle declared the meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary