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
August 8, 2003
The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met on Friday, August 8, 2003, at 3:10 p.m. in the Carolina Plaza Board Room.
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. Mark W. Buyck, Jr.; Dr. C. Edward Floyd; Mr. Samuel. R. Foster, II; Mrs. Helen C. Harvey; Mr. Toney J. Lister; Mr. Miles Loadholt; Mr. Robert N. McLellan; Mr. Michael J. Mungo; Mr. James A. Shuford, III; Mr. M. Wayne Staton; Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.; Mr. Eugene P. Warr, Jr.; and Mr. Othniel H. Wienges, Jr. Trustees absent were: Mr. William C. Hubbard; Ms. Darla D. Moore; and Mrs. Inez M. Tenenbaum. The faculty representative, Professor Robert Wilcox, and the student representative, Ms. Katie Dreiling, were present.
Others present were: President Andrew A. Sorensen; Secretary Thomas L. Stepp; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jerome D. Odom; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Richard W. Kelly; Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer William F. Hogue; Interim Vice President for Research and Dean of The Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health Harris Pastides; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice President for Student Affairs Dennis A. Pruitt; Vice President for University Advancement T.W. Hudson Akin; Vice Provost and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education Chris P. Plyler; Chancellor of USC Aiken Thomas L. Hallman; Chancellor of USC Beaufort Jane T. Upshaw; Chancellor of USC Spartanburg John C.Stockwell; Dean of USC Salkehatchie Ann Carmichael; Dean of USC Sumter C. Leslie Carpenter; Dean of USC Union James W. Edwards; Dean of the Graduate School Gordon B. Smith; Interim Dean of the College of Social Work Leon Ginsberg; Director of the Department of Student Life, Division of Student Affairs, Jerry T. Brewer; Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, James R. Augustine; Assistant Treasurer Susan D. Hanna; Assistant to the Vice President, Office of Business and Finance, Ken Corbett; The Reverend Tom H.B. Wall, Campus Minister, Palm Campus Ministry; University Legislative Liaison John Gregory; Retiring faculty members: Dean Emeritus of the School of Library and Information Science Fred W. Roper, and Librarian Emeritus of the Thomas Cooper Library Allen H. Stokes; husband of Trustee Harvey, The Honorable W. Brantley Harvey, Jr.; Public Information Officer, Office of Media Relations; Karen Petit; 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 and supporting materials had been circulated to the members; and a quorum was present to conduct business.
Chairman Whittle welcomed everyone and invited Board members to introduce themselves. Mr. McKinney introduced members of the media who were in attendance. At Chairman Whittle's request, the Reverend Tom Wall delivered the invocation. Chairman Whittle introduced the retiring faculty members who were present and asked them to step forward to the podium. He explained that they had been awarded honorary faculty titles at the previous Board meeting. President Sorensen and Chairman Whittle congratulated each of the faculty members while the Board of Trustees acknowledged their efforts with a round of applause. Chairman Whittle thanked them for their service to the University of South Carolina.
Chairman Whittle stated that there was a personnel matter with respect to Board of Visitors elections and a personnel matter which were appropriate for discussion in Executive Session. Dr. Floyd moved to enter Executive Session, and Mr. Buyck seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
The following persons were invited to remain: Dr. Sorensen, Mr. Stepp, Dr. Odom, Mr. Kelly, Dr. Pastides, Dr. Hogue, Ms. Jameson, Dr. Pruitt, Dr. Plyler, Mr. Parham, Dr. Stockwell Dr. Hallman, Dr. Upshaw, Mr. McKinney, Mr. Gregory, Ms. Tweedy, and Ms. Stone.
Return to Open Session
Because of the pending reception for graduates, Chairman Whittle asked President Sorensen to present his remarks at this time.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I have four topics I wish to discuss briefly with you. First of all, we have issued Requests for Proposals for the University of South Carolina Research Campus Foundation to enter into a development partnership to promote the research activities of our faculty through partnerships with companies for the purpose of developing a research campus. I presented that to you at the February meeting of the Board of Trustees and, then again, in April. Our Requests for Proposals were issued July 31st. We have asked that responses be returned to us by August 18th and we hope to have the selection made by September 8th. This is a competitive process to determine a managing partner to produce facility designs for the buildings; to provide construction and financing for acquisition of the land and for building of facilities; and to identify market needs for development and research space. This process is fully underway.
Proposals will be judged on several criteria. Among them are: previous experience with projects of this sort; the strength of team members including previous successes; the demonstrated access to acquire sufficient private capital; and the ability to work with a new foundation, a 501c3 entity, on marketing the project and overseeing the recruitment of corporations to occupy this campus, as well as serving as the President's liaison to contractors and developers.
In sum, I am pleased to report to you that I am maintaining the pace of the development of the research campus. Our plan is to have the groundbreaking for the first buildings before the first of this year. We need to move rapidly to establish the foundation and to seek the best possible managing partner to work with that foundation. We have distributed 11 RFPs throughout the country and we are advertising very widely, very openly, very publicly about it and we are excited about this prospect.
The second topic is Enrollment Management. I am also very pleased to report the following by way of an update. Our enrollment plan is right on target for between 3400 - 3500 incoming freshmen. The average SAT score is right on target with what I reported to you several months ago at 1146. The Honors College average SAT is at 1401. That parenthetically is in the middle of the range for incoming freshmen at Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. It is at about the 50th percentile at those schools so the students we are attracting to the Honors College with respect to SAT scores is extraordinary. Both of those are the highest numbers in the history of the University. We have also recruited 55 National Merit Hispanic and Achievement Scholars which is also most impressive.
Last year, as I came into the presidency, we had a lot of discussion about incoming freshmen being housed in hotels. This year, all freshmen are housed in residence halls on campus and this was accomplished in a timely manner.
Students come to campus beginning August 16th, one week from tomorrow, and the academic year is ready to begin with the enrollment plan that I promised you last October. I am very pleased, Mr. Chairman, to report that we are exactly where I promised you last October we would be.
I am pleased to report to you that this past Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we had on campus a team from the Knoll Levitz Consulting Group, arguably the premiere enrollment management consulting firm in this country. They collected information on enrollment management processes and studied large amounts of data about all aspects of our enrollment management efforts. They will finalize a report which I will review and then I have asked them to be prepared to make a report directly to the Board of Trustees within 60 days so you can hear from them their perceptions on how we might enhance our enrollment planning and any other suggestions that their professional expertise can add to our ongoing efforts.
Third, we have had a record year in our externally supported research. At the Health Affairs Committee meeting this morning, Dr. Pastides reported that last fiscal year ending June 30, 2003 saw the highest degree of outside support for research at the University in its history. Our faculty earned a record $130.8 million in externally sponsored research - much higher than last year's $109 million. I want to commend Dr. Pastides for the leadership that he has provided and the support of Dr. Odom in working with the deans of our respective colleges. Without their unrelenting efforts, working in concert with the deans, this would not have happened.
I also commend the chancellors of our four year campuses and the deans of our two year schools. Those seven institutions combined had a 75 percent increase in their externally funded research. I caused a little bit of consternation among faculty at those respective campuses when I came and talked to them about my aspirations, my belief that they could do more. Several of them told me I did not understand their mission adequately and they could not do any more than they were doing and then they turned around and got 75 percent more dollars. I rest my case - they could do more and they did more and I commend them wholeheartedly.
The fourth topic is baseball. I want to remind you that we are considering three alternatives. I formed a committee with Mike McGee as the chairman and Terry Parham and Rick Kelly to look at alternative baseball operation possibilities. We have three alternatives that we are examining. We just received data the other day on one of them. In no particular order, they are:
- To refurbish the Sarge Frye Field
- To acquire the Farmers' Market
- To develop a joint proposal with the Capital City Bombers and the University of South Carolina with a tentative site being selected at the corner of Huger and Blossom Streets
We are continuing to explore all three alternatives and when one of those is selected, I will immediately come to the Board of Trustees and present a proposal to you.
Thank you very much.
Chairman Whittle commented that President Sorensen's accomplishments during the last 12 months "do not go unnoticed." The Board of Trustees had presented him at the beginning of his term of office as president of the University an ambitious set of goals. He believed that the University was "on track" and was confident that "we will be there in 2005 based on what we have heard today." The Board of Trustees was very enthusiastic about all of the accomplishments during the past year, "endorse what has happened, we want to help in any way we can, and congratulate you for a good 12 months." Dr. Floyd applauded President Sorensen's negotiation skills particularly during adversarial conditions.
There were no additions, deletions, or corrections to the minutes; therefore, they stood approved as distributed.
The Health Affairs Committee met earlier today and heard reports on the excellent cooperative research efforts between the USC School of Medicine and the MUSC College of Medicine. There was very active collaboration on numerous points.
The Committee also heard a report from Dr. Harris Pastides on increasing research efforts in the health sciences colleges. Of this year's total $130.8 million research dollars, the health sciences area had generated approximately $42 million; the College of Science and Mathematics had generated $20 million; and the College of Engineering and Information Technology had generated $19 million. He asked Dr. Pastides to summarize the University's research activities during the past year.
Dr. Pastides was overjoyed "to take stock of a very good year." He deferred the credit for this achievement to the faculty, department chairs, and the deans. The $130.8 million figure represented an increase of approximately 20 percent above the previous year's total; peer aspirant institutions had indicated that a good year yielded between a 3 - 7 percent increase in sponsored programs. The 20 percent increase was unprecedented for the University as well as most peer aspirant institutions.
Dr. Pastides offered a "brief peek" at the next year; the total figure for July, the first month of the new fiscal year, was 17 percent higher than the previous July. He was extremely hopeful that the University would experience another good year in the area of sponsored programs. By the end of the first quarter, it may be possible to project figures for the next year.
Dr. Pastides indicated that 65 percent of the sponsored programs at the University were "hard core" federally funded research, a number which was competitive with peer aspirant institutions (i.e., Michigan and Virginia). He further noted that 75 percent of the award applications which were submitted for consideration were in the research domain. For this fiscal year, the University was requesting $244 million in awards, an increase of nearly 40 percent in the amount of money requested by faculty from the previous year; most importantly, the University was requesting more peer reviewed federally funded research monies (the metric used by the "outside world" to gauge the University's success).
Dr. Pastides displayed a pie chart of the University's budget while commenting that the proportion of the total amount generated through research - - federal grants and contracts coupled with state grants and other competitively awarded grants - - was larger than state appropriations and tuition. He stressed that it was very important that the faculty generate dollars especially during "lean budget times" and particularly from the federal government.
Dr. Pastides noted that the area of intellectual property had experienced a robust year. The University's senior technology transfer officer had received an increased number of invention disclosures from the faculty. In addition, more patent applications had been filed and more license agreements had been signed which will yield revenue from the private sector. This increased activity demonstrated that the University was committed to the economic development of South Carolina, the region, and the nation; it was anticipated that this number would continue to expand rapidly.
Dr. Pastides listed three fundamental reasons which impacted the research area: (1) the continued increase of federal support for research; (2) the outsourcing of research and development from the private sector to universities; and, (3) an increased University strategy which particularly emphasized interdisciplinary research. He noted that the University was emphasizing applications in areas representing the five current research themes indicating a more focused trend. In addition, larger proposals were encouraged because the effort expended was equal to preparing smaller requests and the University's internal mechanism to support this process was quite efficient.
Mr. Mungo asked whether the faculty benefited from generated intellectual property monies. Dr. Pastides explained that there was an "agreed upon formula where the faculty cost share or profit share in their discoveries."
The Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee met earlier today and approved the removal of an honorary degree recipient from the table which required consideration by the Board.
The name of Dr. Benjamin Solomon Carson, Sr. was placed on the table on February 24, 2000 by Mr. Hubbard.
Dr. Carson had accepted the University's invitation to address the August Commencement Exercises scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m.
On behalf of the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee, Mr. McLellan moved to remove Dr. Carson's name from the table. Mr. Mungo seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
The Buildings and Grounds Committee met earlier today and heard three reports. In accordance with the policy approved by the Board of Trustees, administrative approval was obtained to increase the budget for the following projects:
The $100,000 increase was funded from the Asbestos Trust Fund and resulted in a total budget of $1,100,000 with $515,413.87 in Institutional Capital Project Funds (ICPF), $300,000 in Asbestos Trust Funds, and $284,586.13 in Auxiliary Funds.
Dr. Upshaw and Ed Bass, Associate Chancellor of Planning and Construction gave a progress report of the USC Beaufort New River Campus Development.
The Building and Grounds Committee approved the following item which required consideration by the Board today:
The project was currently approved with a budget of $9,050,000 funded with $6 million in Capital Improvement Bonds; $1,220,000 in Institution Bonds; $1 million in Private Funds; $400,000 in Institutional Capital Projects Funds (ICPF); and $430,000 in County Funds.
Completion of the Convocation Center was a critical step toward meeting a host of campus needs, such as renovation of the Student Activities Center and reassignment of space in the Business and Education Building to meet academic needs. A budget increase of $11.2 million was required to fully fund the project and allow Phase II of the project to be completed.
Previous funding plans included an additional $6 million in state funding and $5 million from Aiken County. Due to the lack of available funding from the state, Aiken County had increased its commitment to $7million and USC Aiken will fund the remaining amount using tuition bond capacity.
On behalf of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Mr. Loadholt moved approval to increase the budget for this project by $11.2 million funded with $7 million in County funds and $4.2 million in Institution Bonds which would result in a total project budget of $20,250,000 funded with $6 million in Capital Improvement Bonds; $5,420,000 in Institution Bonds; $1 million in Private Funds; $400,000 in Institutional Capital Projects Funds (ICPF), and $7,430,000 in County Funds as described in the materials distributed for this meeting.
Mr. Foster seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
During the Executive Committee meeting earlier today, the Committee approved the following contracts with the University: Manchester (Taiwan) International, Inc.; EBSCO Publishing; Compuware; Compusult, Inc.; South Carolina Research Authority; Institute for Scientific Information (ISI); and Nature Conservancy Wando River Agreement. The Executive Committee also approved several indefinite delivery contracts including two with USC Spartanburg.
The following three items were approved for recommendation to the Board:
Dr. Floyd moved approval of a Bond Resolution authorizing up to $7 million for the renovation of Building #3 of the School of Medicine. Mr. von Lehe seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried. [Exhibit A]
Mr. Adams moved approval of the nominations of Kyle Pruitt and G. Todd Wilson to the Board of Visitors as presented. Mr. Shuford seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
Of the 3400 incoming freshmen for the Fall 2003 semester, 1245 had joined the Student Alumni Association. He thanked Marsha Cole, Executive Director of the Alumni Association, and her staff for that outstanding achievement.
Various new board members had been elected to the Board of Governors of the Alumni Association, the Young Black Alumni Council and the Richland/Lexington Alumni Council. Orientation for these new members will be held later this month. The Board of Governors meeting was scheduled on September 5 before the Virginia game; Mr. Shuford looked forward to greeting President Sorensen at that meeting.
Chairman Whittle invited Board members to attend the Graduate Reception which was being held in the Carolina Plaza Ballroom.
Since there were no other matters to come before the Board of Trustees, Chairman Whittle declared the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary