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 Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina met at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, 1997, in the Deming Conference Room of the John M. Rampey, Jr., Center, on the campus of USC Spartanburg.
Board members present were: Mr. William C. Hubbard, Chairman; Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr., Vice Chairman; Mr. Herbert C. Adams; Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller; Mr. Donald A. Bailey; Mr. Mark W. Buyck, Jr.; Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II; Mr. William M. Gregg, II; Mrs. Helen C. Harvey; Mr. Toney J. Lister; Mr. Miles Loadholt; Mr. Robert N. McLellan; Mr. J. DuPre Miller; Mr. Robert C. Osborne, Jr.; and Mr. Othniel H. Wienges, Jr. Faculty representative, Professor Eldon D. Wedlock, Jr., was also present. Board members absent were: Mr. James Bradley; Dr. C. Edward Floyd; Mr. Michael J. Mungo; Dr. Barbara S. Nielsen; and Mr. M. Wayne Staton. Student representative, Mr. Jamel Franklin, was also absent.
Others present were: President John M. Palms; Secretary Thomas L. Stepp; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jerome D. Odom; Vice President for Business and Finance John L. Finan; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice President for Student and Alumni Affairs Dennis A. Pruitt; Vice President for Development Charles Phlegar; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Chancellor, USC Aiken, Robert E. Alexander; Chancellor, USC Spartanburg, John C. Stockwell; Dean, USC Salkehatchie, Carl Clayton; Dean, USC Sumter, C. Leslie Carpenter; Interim Dean, College of Pharmacy, Farid Sadik; Director of Facilities Management and University Architect Charles G. Jeffcoat; Vice Provost for Research Marsha Torr; Director of Development, USC Beaufort, Jane Upshaw; Chief Executive Assistant to the President J. Lyles Glenn; Director of Public Affairs Russell McKinney; Administrative Assistant to Director of Facilities Management Lisa Jerald; representative from University Publications Chris Horn; representative from Media Relations Jason Snyder; Chairman, Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education, Ralph Gillespie; Chairman Emeritus, Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education, G. B. Hodge; Secretary/Treasurer of the Spartanburg County Commission for Higher Education William J. Burroughs; Carolina Piedmont Foundation member Katie Hodge; Senior Minister of the First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, The Reverend Doctor Todd Jones; and a member of the press. The following persons from USC Spartanburg were also present: Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jane Stephens; Dean of the School of Business Jerome V. Bennett, Sr.; Associate Chancellor for Development Robert M. Gearhart; Director of Information Systems Gary D. Kenrick; Associate Chancellor for Business Affairs Robert Connelly; Chair of the Faculty Ronald Romine; Assistant Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies Judith Prince; Director of Library Systems Helen C. Wiltse and her husband Jim Wiltse; Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Rita Marinho; Director of Facilities Management Rick Puncke; Director of University Communications Lisa Luedeman; Executive Assistant to the Chancellor Frances Brice; Assistant to the Chancellor Betty Chasteen; and Director of Audio Visuals Rebekah Gray.
Chairman Hubbard called the meeting to order and welcomed those present. He stated that there were personnel matters with respect to honorary faculty titles, appointments with tenure, a recommendation for promotion, and candidates for honorary degrees appropriate for Executive Session. Chairman Hubbard then called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Mr. Bahnmuller so moved, and Mr. Bailey seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
The following persons were invited to remain: Dr. Palms, Mr. Stepp, Dr. Odom, Mr. Finan, Ms. Jameson, Dr. Pruitt, Mr. Phlegar, Mr. Parham, Dr. Alexander, Dr. Stockwell, Mr. Glenn, Mr. McKinney, Ms. Medich, Ms. Hyatt, Dr. Jones, and members of the Spartanburg County Commission on Higher Education.
Executive Session
Return to Open Session
Chairman Hubbard called the meeting to order and 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.
The Reverend Doctor Todd Jones, senior minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg, was invited to deliver the invocation.
Chairman Hubbard thanked the members of the USC Spartanburg faculty and administration for hosting the luncheon and Board meeting. He especially thanked Dr. Stockwell for his eloquent remarks and vision at his presentation following the luncheon.
Those present were invited to introduce themselves. Mr. McKinney introduced the representative from the press. Professor Wedlock was welcomed to his first meeting as the faculty representative to the Board.
I. Approval of Minutes: The following six sets of minutes were circulated by mail to the Board for review and were presented for approval:
A. Buildings and Grounds Committee, August 7, 1997
B. Board of Trustees, August 8, 1997
C. Fiscal Policy Committee, August 28, 1997
D. Executive Committee, September 11, 1997
E. Ad Hoc Committee on Advancement, September 11, 1997
F. Student-Trustee Liaison Committee, September 11, 1997
There were no additions, deletions, or corrections to the minutes; they stood approved as distributed.
II. Committee Reports
A. Fiscal Policy Committee
The Honorable Herbert C. Adams, reporting
1. Report on Meeting of August 28, 1997: Mr. Adams reported that at the August 28 meeting of the Fiscal Policy Committee, Internal Audits were reviewed for the Housing Department, the Department of Athletics, Alumni Relations, and the Computer Services Department of Libraries and Information Systems. These audits were thoroughly reviewed by the Committee and were mailed to the Board in accordance with established procedures.
The University's out-of-state travel report for the South Carolina Comptroller General's office was reviewed. It was pointed out that only 32 percent of out-of-state travel and 36 percent of in-state travel was funded with state appropriations. Dr. Larry Faulkner, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine, had reviewed the independent audit of the Educational Trust. The Designated Fund Report for fiscal year 1997 was reviewed. A fund balance of $55,321 for the year was carried forward. The ending balance in the Designated Fund Account on June 30, 1997, was $840,989.66.
There had been a discussion on the status of the Bookstore Quasi-Endowment. The balance in that fund had reached its goal of $2.5 million. When it was originally established, it was understood that the determination of the disposition of the interest, once the fund reached $2.5 million, was a matter to be brought to the Board for action. The University administration was preparing its recommenda-tion for disposition of the interest and future earnings. The Committee would hear that recommendation at its meeting on November 7th.
A report on the Quasi-Endowment for the Koger Center had been received by the Committee. The balance at the end of the fiscal year 1997 was $775,814. A parallel endowment in the Educational Foundation had a balance of $10,563. The Committee asked the Director of the Koger Center, Mr. Ron Pearson, to prepare a five year projection for the Koger Center quasi-endowments.
2. Establishment of Quasi-Endowment for Research: A request was received to establish a quasi-endowment for research entitled the Research Strategic Reserve to be built with revenues from the sale of University intellectual assets.
On behalf of the Fiscal Policy Committee, Mr. Adams moved approval of the establishment of a quasi-endowment entitled the Research Strategic Reserve. Mr. Buyck seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
3. Establishment of Quasi-Endowment for the Benefit of the Department of History: A request was received to establish a quasi-endowment for the Department of History with a $75,000 gift which the Department had received. One half of the annual yield would be used for disbursement, and the other half would be returned to the corpus. The disbursement would be used for an award entitled the "Atkinson/Wyatt Dissertation Fellowship."
On behalf of the Fiscal Policy Committee, Mr. Adams moved approval of the establishment of a quasi-endowment for the benefit of the Department of History. Mr. Bahnmuller seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
4. Establishment of the Laurence L. Smith Geology Museum Quasi-Endowment: A request was received to establish a quasi-endowment with the University's share of the proceeds from the Laurence L. Smith Charitable Remainder Trust to be used for the Laurence L. Smith Geology Museum at McKissick.
On behalf of the Fiscal Policy Committee, Mr. Adams moved approval of the establishment of the Laurence L. Smith Geology Museum at McKissick. Mr. Osborne seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
5. Establishment of the McKissick Museum Quasi-Endowment: A request was received to establish a quasi-endowment for the McKissick Museum with an initial deposit of $70,738.09. Earnings would be added to the principal until it reached $80,000. At that time earnings would be utilized to support essential Museum programs.
On behalf of the Fiscal Policy Committee, Mr. Adams moved approval of the establishment of the McKissick Museum Quasi-Endowment. Mr. Foster seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
B. Executive Committee
The Honorable William C. Hubbard, reporting
- Report of the Meeting of September 11, 1997: At its meeting of September 11, the Executive Committee approved the following contracts valued over $250,000:
Also at that meeting the Executive Committee gave retroactive approval for salary supplements paid to the Alumni Director for 1995 and 1996.
C. Student-Trustee Liaison Committee
The Honorable Miles Loadholt, reporting
- Report on Meeting of September 11, 1997: The Student-Trustee Liaison Committee met on September 11, with student representatives from most of the University's campuses in attendance. The students reported on activities taking place on their campuses and in their communities. It appeared that the activities of the students created a close bond between the communities and the respective campuses.
Mr. Jamel Franklin, the USC Columbia Student Body President, reviewed the focus of Student Government activities for this academic year. Plans included the establishment of a University-wide Thanksgiving canned food and clothing drive, with the proceeds going to the local communities of the respective campuses.
The Columbia Student Government was circulating petitions to suspend classes for some time during the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday; to extend hours of operation at the Thomas Cooper Library; and to extend a route of the shuttlecock bus service until 8:00 p.m.
Members of the Student Life and Services Division at USC Aiken presented information on the many programs administered by their office. These included programming in minority affairs, community service, development of a leadership track program, and overseeing 53 student organizations. A recent grant from the U.S. Department of Justice would allow USC Aiken to replace its contract security officers with full-time constables in the Public Safety Office.
The Committee received reports from Vice President for Student and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Dennis Pruitt, on national student life issues surfacing at the University of South Carolina. One of those issues concerned the release of student disciplinary records. Federal law prohibited institutions from disclosing personal identifiable information derived from educational records, while local courts around the country were ruling that disciplinary records were not educational records and should be opened to the public. The Gamecock had agreed that records given to it could have personal, identifiable information blacked out. Student Affairs was working with the Office of the General Counsel to establish proper procedures for the release.
Another issue of interest was the redefinition of the use of student activity fees. There had been some legal challenges across the country to the way student activity fees were allocated. Student activity fees were generally collected as separate fees and allocated, in part, to student organizations. When institutions provide funds for student organizations to which another student may find some objection, case law had developed for the institution to provide some form of refund to the objecting student. The USC Columbia Student Senate and the Student Government Treasurer were studying the situation to try to establish a system to avoid a legal challenge. Dr. Pruitt said the University would provide a model to institutions in South Carolina to utilize in resolving this situation.
The next meeting of the Student-Trustee Liaison Committee would be on Thursday, October 30, at 3:00 p.m. This would be followed by the annual Student-Trustee reception. All Board members were invited to attend the meeting and reception for the very rewarding experience of becoming acquainted with these outstanding young people.
D. Health Affairs Committee
The Honorable J. DuPre Miller, reporting
1. Report of the Meeting of September 25, 1997: The Health Affairs Committee met on September 25 and received several reports.
Interim Dean Farid Sadik reported on the College of Pharmacy. The current enrollment in the pre-pharmacy program was 225 in Columbia, with an additional 200 students at USC regional campuses and four year colleges around the state. The B.S. degree was being replaced with the Pharm.D, which had enrolled 120 students in its first two years - 60 students per year. The distance education program had 104 students and was directed to practicing pharmacists in South Carolina as well as those in neighboring states.
The Palmetto Poison Center, located in the College of Pharmacy, served as the only Poison Control Center in South Carolina and received an average of 108 calls per day and originating from all 46 counties. It had existed for nearly 20 years and provided information, education, and poison prevention services; it also served as a clinical training site for the College of Pharmacy and for the Medical Residency program at Richland Memorial Hospital.
The Committee received a report from Interim Dean Diane Ward on the School of Public Health. The School, established in 1975, was one of only 27 accredited schools of public health in the nation and was the only one in South Carolina.
Its mission was three-fold: 1) to deliver educational programs of national distinction for future and practicing public health professionals and scholars; 2) to conduct research designed to protect the environment and to improve human health and the quality of life; and 3) to provide knowledge-based services and other resources that effectively address health and environmental issues facing South Carolina, the nation, and the world.
The School was accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and specific components of the School, such as its Industrial Hygiene Program and the Health Services Administration, were accredited by five other organizations.
The School was comprised of six departments: 1) Environmental Health Sciences; 2) Epidemiology and Biostatistics; 3) Exercise Science; 4) Health Administration; 5) Health Promotion and Education; and 6) Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. In addition to these six departments, the School was one of only fourteen nationwide Centers for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Since its establishment in 1993, the Center had generated $8 million in research and contract funding.
The Speech and Hearing Center had a separate clinic which provided diagnosis and habilitative/rehabilitative services to the public and specialty clinics. Other important ongoing activities of the Center included rehabilitative services for stutterers and a central auditory processing diagnostic clinic.
In addition to the academic training, there were a number of special programs within the School of Public Health such as: Alzheimer's Disease Registry; National Youth Sports Program; Office of School Health Education; Preventive Exercise Program; Perceptual Motor Development Program; SC AIDS Training Network; Swallowing Team; and Traumatic Brain Injury Evaluation Team.
Carolina had the first School of Public Health with a Department of Exercise Science unit. USC's undergraduate program in exercise science had increased in enrollment over 300 percent since 1990. Growth was steady in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Administration, Health Promotion and Education, and in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Approximately 40 percent of the graduate students and 85 percent of the undergraduates in the School were South Carolina residents. Approximately 70 percent of the graduates stayed in South Carolina with 15 percent in the Upstate, 71 percent in the Midlands, and 14 percent in the Low Country.
The Department of Speech Pathology was asked by the Department of Education to help South Carolina bring its public school practitioners to the minimum competency level; the standard level was a master's degree for speech pathologists. A distanced-based Master of Communicative Disorders program was implemented to target the public schools' speech pathologists who want to continue working in that arena.
In terms of research and contracts funding, the School had an average increase of 14 percent per year since 1991, with a 14.9 percent increase in fiscal year 1996-97. The School's budget came from approximately $5 million in state appropriations and over $6 million in external funding. Therefore, less than 50 percent of the funding for the School was provided by the state of South Carolina.
The School had a real need for consolidated space because it was divided among 13 separate sites. The School's objective for the Bicentennial Campaign was to secure funding for a new facility that would be adjacent to the existing building.
Dr. William Woods reported to the Health Affairs Committee on the South Carolina Cancer Center and stated that approximately 19,000 individuals in South Carolina would develop cancer in any given year. Of that number, 50 percent (8,000) would die. It was estimated that 1.4 million of the 3.6 million South Carolina citizens would eventually develop cancer and, of those, 600,000 would die. South Carolinians had higher than expected death rates from certain types of cancer.
The South Carolina Cancer Center (SCCC) was a joint research partnership created in 1992 and formally adopted by the Boards of Trustees of both USC and Richland Memorial Hospital. Its mission was "to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in South Carolina and surrounding regions through a coordinated interdisciplinary effort emphasizing prevention and cancer control, basic and clinical research, improved diagnosis and treatment, and effective delivery of the benefits of research and services to the population at large."
The SCCC worked on a three-pronged approach: 1) basic research, 2) clinical trails for research on individuals, and 3) population research to determine why people get cancer and how to prevent it.
Future initiatives include recruitment of an associate director to build an experimental therapeutics program, strengthening the clinical research program, building an epidemiology program, and strengthening the SCCC molecular biology program. The Center was attempting to attract nationally prominent investigators in these areas and provide them the resources to recruit several individuals at the junior level. Collectively, they would bring $10 million in federally sponsored funds to the University.
The energies of the SCCC would be concentrated in the Midlands because of the existence of a medical school in Charleston and a hospital system in Greenville, but the SCCC would collaborate with those institutions.
2. Extension of the Richland Memorial Hospital Affiliation Agreement: This request by the administration was to extend the existing affiliation agreement between Richland Memorial Hospital (RMH) and the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Formerly, the agreement was renewed every five years. Last year the School of medicine requested that the Board of Trustees extend the existing agreement for one year because the pending Baptist Hospital/RMH merger would require renegotiation after the alliance was established. It was hoped that the merger would be completed by the end of the extension of the agreement, but that had not been the case. Therefore, the School of Medicine requested an additional one year extension of the existing agreement pending the announcement that the new alliance had been formed. Negotiations would begin with the new Baptist/Richland alliance once it was finalized.
On behalf of the Health Affairs Committee, Mr. Miller moved to ratify the extension of the Affiliation Agreement with Richland Memorial Hospital for one additional year. Mr. Wienges seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
E. Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee
The Honorable Othniel H. Wienges, Jr., reporting
1. Honorary Faculty Titles: The following honorary faculty titles had received all approvals and were presented in Executive Session, without objection, to the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee on September 25 and to this Board earlier this day.
a) Professor John David Waugh, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, would receive the title Distinguished Professor during his final year of service. Upon his retirement on August 15, 1998, that title would change to Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Professor Waugh would also receive the title Dean Emeritus. He had been Dean of the College of Engineering from 1977 to 1987.
b) The following persons would receive the title Distinguished Professor during their final year of service. Upon retirement, that title would change to Distinguished Professor Emeritus:
(1) Dr. Edward H. Beardsley, Department of History, College of Liberal Arts, retiring June 30, 1998;
(2) Dr. Gilbert R. Gredler, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, retiring August 15, 1998;
(3) Dr. Robert V. Heckel, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, retiring June 30, 1998;
(4) Dr. D. Bruce Marshall, Department of Government and International Studies, College of Liberal Arts, retiring December 31, 1997;
(5) Dr. James T. Myers, Department of Government and International Studies, College of Liberal Arts, retiring August 15, 1998.
c) Dr. Annie-Paule Quinsac, Department of Art, College of Liberal Arts, would receive the title Distinguished Professor during her final year of service. She would receive the title Distinguished Professor Emerita upon her retirement June 30, 1998.
d) Dr. Susie VanHuss, College of Business Administration, would receive the title Distinguished Professor Emerita. Dr. VanHuss retired August 31, 1997.
e) The following persons would receive the title Professor Emeritus upon their retirement:
(1) Dr. William T. Drennen, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, retiring August 15, 1998;
(2) Dr. Roland E. Haynes, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, retiring May 15, 1998;
(3) Dr. Hilel B. Salomon, Department of History, College of Liberal Arts, retiring June 30, 1998.
On behalf of the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee, Mr. Wienges moved approval of the requested honorary faculty titles. Mrs. Harvey seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
2. Appointments with Tenure: The following recommendations for the award of tenure had received all approvals and were presented in Executive Session, without objection, to the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee on September 25 and to this Board earlier today.
a) Dr. Martin S. Roth would be awarded tenure at the rank of associate professor effective with his appointment to the College of Business Administration.
On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Wienges moved approval of the award of tenure at the rank of associate professor effective with his appointment to the College of Business Administration for Dr. Martin S. Roth. Mr. Gregg seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
b) Dr. Michael J. Wargovich would be awarded tenure at the rank of professor effective with his appointment to the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine.
On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Wienges moved approval of the award of tenure at the rank of professor effective with his appointment to the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, for Dr. Michael J. Wargovich. Mr. Miller seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
3. Recommendation for Promotion: Promotion to the rank of professor had been requested for Dr. Edward J. Callen, USC Aiken. This request had received all appropriate approvals and was presented in Executive Session, without objection, to the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee on September 25 and to this Board earlier this day.
On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Wienges moved approval of the requested promotion to the rank of professor for Dr. Edward J. Callen, USC Aiken. Mr. Loadholt seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
4. Program Proposals: The following program proposals had received all approvals and appeared to be consistent with the mission of the University. They were approved by the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee at its meeting on September 25.
a) Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Natural Sciences to be Offered at Coastal Carolina University: This program, which trained science teachers, had been offered at USC Columbia and USC Aiken. This was a request to offer the program at Coastal Carolina University. The degree would be awarded from the University of South Carolina.
On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Wienges moved approval to offer the Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Natural Sciences at Coastal Carolina University. Mr. Bailey seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
b) Modification of the BA in Communications at USC Spartanburg to be Offered at the University Center of Greenville: The BA in Communications was currently offered at USC Spartanburg. The request was to offer the same program at the University Center in Greenville.
On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Wienges moved to modify the BA in Communica-tions at USC Spartanburg to offer it also at the University Center in Greenville. Mr. Lister seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
5. Revision to USC Spartanburg Faculty Manual: The requested revisions to the USC Spartanburg Faculty Manual had received all appropriate approvals and were approved by the Committee at its meeting on September 25. The changes, which are listed below, reflect current titles and committee structure which had received previous approval through individual policy changes. The General Counsel had determined that the modifications were legally sufficient and not objectionable on legal grounds.
The following is a list of the changes:
1. Updated titles to reflect current changes throughout the manual. For example, School of Humanities and Sciences is changed to College of Arts and Sciences; Personnel is changed to Human Resources; Vice Chancellor for Development and Institutional Support is changed to Associate Chancellor for Development; Vice Chancellor is changed to Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Dean of the Library is now Director of the Library. Faculty Secretary is changed to Faculty Senate Chair.
2. The Board of Trustees and Spartanburg County Commission are updated with the appropriate committee structure and numbers. For example: the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee is added and the County Commission is updated from 10 to 15 members.
3. The committee structure is updated. For example: committee membership and election are changed to reflect a difference in the number of voting units. Faculty Welfare Committee currently reflects six voting units and is updated to reflect eight voting units.
4. Chapter 3 has been revised to show a reordering of sections. Benefits, Privileges and Services, and Additional Information is place in the order of the USC manual.
On behalf of the Committee, Mr. Wienges moved approval of the requested modifications to the USC Spartanburg Faculty Manual. Mr. Lister seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
6. Report of the Scholarship Task Force: Dr. Pruitt presented a synopsis of the report from the Scholarship Task Force which had been presented to the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee. [A copy of the Enrollment Management Report for the 1997 Freshman Class is maintained in the permanent meeting file held by the Board Office.]
Dr. Pruitt reviewed highlights from the report.
There was an increase in enrollment in the College of Business Administration, the College of Science and Mathematics, and the College of Engineering at USC Columbia for 1997. Undergraduate enrollment had increased by 300 students.
The level of intensity in student recruitment would need to be retained during the next year when admission requirements would again be raised. The momentum of the scholarship program must also be maintained; and it was necessary for the state to maintain its commitment to the Palmetto Scholarship program. In 1997 the Palmetto Scholarship program accounted for $1.2 million in scholarship funds for the University of South Carolina. There had been some discussion in the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (SCCHE) to reduce the level of funding for the Palmetto Scholarships for a year or two in order to meet the budget. The SCCHE also was considering changing the percentage of distribution of Palmetto Scholarships between public and private institutions in the state.
The National Carolina Scholars program would be introduced in the coming year. It was the hope that this would attract outstanding scholars from outside the state of South Carolina. Dr. Pruitt thanked the Board, in advance, for its work in the area of recruitment for the coming year.
Dr. Pruitt said the Scholarship Task Force had also received a report on the current scholarship obligations of the University. The scholarship plan for the cohort for the next four years would be formulated for the President and presented to the Board.
A report was received from the General Counsel regarding the effect of changes in affirmative action on institutions in Texas and California. A report was also received from the Director of the Fellowships and Summer Programs describing the
University's efforts to provide an infrastructure to cultivate and recruit students at the middle and grade school level.
Mr. Wienges thanked Mrs. Harvey, on behalf of the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee, for representing the University before the SCCHE. Mr. Hubbard invited Mrs. Harvey to report on that representation. Mrs. Harvey stated that the SCCHE had voted unanimously at a meeting earlier on this day to approve the A&E funds for the New River Campus for USC Beaufort. She said everyone associated with the project was excited about the development of the new site. It was the result of efforts by Dean Chris Plyler, the USC Beaufort faculty, and the communities in the Low Country. Approval by the State Budget and Control Board was the next step in the process.
Mr. Hubbard thanked Dr. Pruitt for his report on the Scholarship Task Force.
F. Buildings and Grounds Committee
The Honorable Mark W. Buyck, Jr., reporting
- Graduate Science Research Facility Proposed Project Increase: At a called meeting earlier in the day, the Buildings and Grounds Committee heard a request to increase the budget of the Graduate Research Science Facility on the Columbia campus. The project was previously approved with a budget of $31 million. The administration requested that the budget be increased by $2.1 million with the increase being funded from a federal grant.
On behalf of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Mr. Buyck moved to increase the budget of the Graduate Science Research Facility by $2.1 million to be funded from a federal grant for a total project budget of $33.1 million funded with $17.2 million from Institution Bonds; $5,615,935 from 1995/96 State Supplemental Funds; $4,384,065 from Capital Improvement Bonds; $2.3 million from Auxiliary Funds; $1.5 million from Renovation Reserve; and $2.1 million from Indirect Cost Recovery Funds associated with a $9.3 million federal grant. Mr. Adams seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
Mr. Bahnmuller asked for a report on water problems in the Maxcy residence hall. Mr. Jeffcoat stated that on two occasions a fire sprinkler had failed, and, on the occasion of a heavy rain, the storm drained had backed up and flooded a portion of the basement. The sprinkler had been repaired, and improvements to the storm water system were in progress.
G. Ad Hoc Committee on Advancement
The Honorable Mack I. Whittle, Jr., reporting
- Report of the Meeting of September 11, 1997: The Ad Hoc Committee on Advancement met on September 11 and received several reports. The statistical information on private support for the past year was impressive from the cost of generating the funds as well as from the gross dollars raised. The internal goal of the staff had been $40 million, and that was met and surpassed in the month of May. The total funds raised in the 1996-97 fiscal year was $49 million. During that year 35,568 alumni contributed to the University.
Last year it cost 12 cents to raise each dollar; the current cost was 7.3 cents. The national average was 17 cents. Carolina compared favorably with those institution to which the University aspired: members of the Association of American Universities and Research I institutions.
At the close of its second year on June 30, 1997, the Bicentennial Campaign total was $81,807,742. That was considerably ahead of the initial plan. Funds were designated to the following areas: $32 million to Program Enhancements; $19.6 million to Scholarships and Fellowships; $9.4 million to Research and Equipment; $8.5 million to Buildings; $7 million to Unrestricted; and $3.7 million to Chairs.
The initial discussion on the size of the Campaign was $200 million. The Campaign Committee met a week ago and informally recommended a $300 million goal. Mr. Whittle applauded Mr. Phlegar and his staff for a good start to the Campaign.
The source of the largest portion of the funds raised through June 30, 1997, was in cash donations in the amount of $50 million. In addition, $13.8 million in pledges; $6.6 million from planned gifts, discounted; $5.7 million from private grants; and $5 million from gifts-in-kind had been received.
The Development Office recently made a commitment to the theme "Just Ask," that was, just ask for a commitment from a member of the alumni or someone in the family of the University. They set a goal to raise $65 million next year.
The Bicentennial Campaign kickoff was scheduled for April 30, 1998, at 6:00 p.m. The membership of the Bicentennial Campaign Principal Gifts Committee had been completed; they were Henderson Barnette; Hugh M. Chapman; C. Edward Floyd, M.D.; W. W. "Hootie" Johnson, State Vice Chairman; the Honorable Robert E. McNair, State Vice-Chairman; Buck Mickel; Robert V. Royall, State Vice Chairman; Joel A. Smith, III; Glenn F. Tilton, National Co-Chairman; John A. Warren; and Charles S. Way, Jr., State Co-Chairman. This group would address the top givers to the University.
The Horseshoe Society would be implemented to recognize upper-level giving; the next level would be the Leadership Gifts. The Development Office was preparing to hire a Regional Campaign Director because the last two and a half years of the Campaign would involve regional kickoffs around the state and throughout the nation.
Mr. Whittle said the Campaign was off to a very good start. The return the University was receiving on its investment in development dollars was excellent and needed to continue.
III. Report of the Chancellor, USC Spartanburg: Dr. Stockwell said the purpose of his report was to introduce a conceptual version of the USC Spartanburg (USCS) Master Plan. It was anticipated that this plan would guide campus development for the next ten years. The details of the plan, funding capacity, and implementation schedule would be presented to the Buildings and Grounds Committee at a later date, with approval on the conceptual plan by the full Board at a subsequent meeting. Dr. Stockwell said he recognized that all projects would require approval on a project by project basis.
The last campus master plan for USCS was approved by the Board of Trustees in 1990. The same firm, LS3P Associates, was working on the update of that plan. The revision had been undertaken for three reasons:
1. Simplification: The last master plan had buildings that extended to meet needs many years in advance; this master plan focused on needs for the next ten years while preserving open space for future development encompassed in the 1990 plan.
2. Integration of the master plan with current strategic planning: This was based upon more realistic growth projections. The former plan called for an undergraduate enrollment of 6,100 by the year 2001 and a graduate head count of 1,500. It was more likely that those numbers were ten years away, with twenty percent of the growth on the University Center Greenville campus. Buildings and facilities had been integrated with program growth and the metropolitan mission of USCS.
3. Adaptation to a new campus entrance: While the campus was in an excellent location, the access and entrance to the campus was terrible. The last master plan stated that "Arriving and departing from the USCS campus can be a harrowing experience due to unusual roadway routes, inadequate site lines and stacking distances, illogical access points, an abundance of merge requirements, dangerous driving conditions, and circulation on campus limited to two heavily traveled roads with an awkward frontage road between them. The inadequacy of the present system is evidenced by the large number of accidents which take place at various intersections." Dr. Stockwell displayed a picture of the tunnel at the entrance to campus and said it was the bane of the existence of USCS. A recent newspaper article detailed a new entrance to the campus which also provided a new front door to the city. An agreement on this plan was achieved due to a convergence of interests of the University, the city for a front door from Interstate 585 into Spartanburg, and economic development in the area surrounding the University. A feasibility study conducted by Spartanburg County Planning Department had been completed for a major interstate type entrance into the campus from Interstate 585. The local Transportation Policy Committee had approved $960,000 in federal funds, released this week, for engineering and property acquisition. The project would be managed locally with the USCS Director of Facilities Management working with the County Planning Office. The engineering work should be completed within the next nine months. Work would then begin by USCS with the city, county, Chamber of Commerce, and the federal government to secure the $5 million required to undertake construction of the intersection. There was a high level of optimism that the funds would be available.
Dr. Stockwell said the new entrance had important implications for the master plan. He then reviewed, using slide projection, the proposed master plan. The master plan would complete the campus mall concept. The main quad was designed around a mall, and the extension of the axis southeast to northwest would also be designed around a mall. An important center of gravity for the campus would be established. A stream flowing through what would become the middle of campus could be dammed to created a small lake with a bridge, serving as an anchor for the center of campus. An academic zone would be defined; an athletic zone would be defined around the northern perimeter of the campus; parking zones would be on either side of the academic zone; and the wetlands and open space would be preserved.
In addition, the master plan would provide an exceptional entrance and traffic circulation. It would meet city and county objectives for contiguous property development for transportation into the city for recreation and joint use of athletic facilities. The master plan also would double the campus frontage and would double the academic zone parking. The utility of existing buildings would be enhanced. It would also address revised planning requirements which had come from the Quality Reinvestment Plan.
Property acquisition plans for the next ten years were addressed. A property swap would involve exchanging the northeast extremity of the campus for land which would make possible the engineering of a bridge that would carry traffic into the campus. The acquisition of a frontage triangle to double the frontage of the campus would provide housing for grants and support operations on campus.
Property acquisition beyond the next ten years could involve a northwest pocket of approximately ten acres which would serve to square the campus footprint, a west corner of seven acres, and a frontage wedge of about fifteen acres which would complete the frontage on Interstate 585.
In regard to capital projects, Dr. Stockwell listed the following:
1. Information Resources Complex: This would be a major undertaking and would represent a signature building for the campus. It would be at the main entrance coming off the boulevard that would lead into the center of campus. The current library space had been outgrown; faculty occupied the top floor, which was to have been expansion space for the library. There was no room for faculty outside of the facility. The new building would house the library, with space for the growing collection and growing number of students, and it would provide a center for curricular initiatives in communication, culture, information resources, and technology. Dr. Stockwell said that USCS was in desperate need of a significant curricular entry in the technologies. With the corporate presence in the Upstate, it was anticipated that the building would be an important support vehicle. The building would be approximately 160,000 square feet, with a funding requirement in the range of $19 million including technology and furnishings.
2. School of Education Building: The School of Education at USCS was a manifestation of the metropolitan mission of the campus. Incorporated into the School of Education was the Saturday Academy for children from sixth grade and higher who were in difficulty. They were on campus all day every Saturday and for five weeks in the summer. The School of Education also encompassed the Child Development Center, the Piedmont Math/Science Hub, the Upstate Tech Prep Consortium, the Educational Talent Search, Upward Bound, a collaboration with the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, and the University School, which was an alternative school. The School of Education was currently housed with the School of Business, and SCETV. The new building would be approximately 80,000 square feet at a cost of $9 million.
3. Field House and Fitness Center: The existing field house was inadequate to house the athletics program and the commencement, convocation, and community activities which should be scheduled there. The field house would have 5,000 seats, and the fitness center would have a walking track and swim center. The building would house the Physical Education Department, athletics competition, student fitness needs, campus events, and commencements. There would also be collaboration with the community on concerts, corporate expositions, cultural events, and fitness memberships. Funding in the range of $18 million would be in collaboration with city, county, and private funds, as well as institutional bonding.
4. Athletics Services Center: This would provide athletic and public service support for soccer, baseball, softball, and tennis complexes, as well as joint use facilities for the county. The cost would be in the range of $2.5 million.
5. Child Development Center: This would replace the current facility which was aging and insufficient for the programming in place. The cost would be in the range of $600,000.
6. Expansion of Existing Facilities: This would include converting current athletics fields for intramurals and relocating the baseball and soccer fields at a cost of $2 to $2.5 million; expanding the existing support services facility to concentrate facilities management operations in a single facility at a cost of $750,000; adding a second floor to the School of Nursing at a cost of $2.5 million; and expanding the Campus Life Center.
7. Renovations: Renovations were needed to the lower floor of the Administration Building for when the Math and Computer Science Departments moved to the Hodge Center. Renovation funds were provided in the fall of 1997 for that move to the Hodge Center. The current library would be renovated to become the College of Arts and Sciences and would house the College offices and all of the departments in the social and behavioral sciences, with funding in the range of $1.9 million. Renovations would be needed to the Science Building when the behavioral sciences moved out and the natural sciences could expand, as originally designed. The School of Business building would require renovation at a cost of $900,000 when the School of Education and media moved. The Hodge Center would then need lower floor renovation at a cost of $1 million or less when the athletics facilities moved to the field house. This would allow all of the arts and sciences to occupy the front quadrangle of the campus.
Dr. Stockwell referred to copies of the master plan and the Quality Reinvest-ment Plan which had been distributed to the Board at this meeting. [Copies of these plans are maintained in the permanent meeting file held by the Board Office.]
Dr. Stockwell said that in funding for senior comprehensive universities in South Carolina from 1968, when USCS was established, through the present, USCS had been singularly unsuccessful in securing Capital Improvement Bond funding. It was absolutely last, although the entire campus had been built between 1968 and 1997. Lander College had received $50.5 million and USCS had received $23.6, although it outgrew Lander in 1989. The source of funds for existing projects at USCS had been 50 percent from Capital Improvement Bonds; 27 percent from USCS operating budgets; 10 percent from the county (mostly land purchase); 5 percent from the federal government; and 2 percent from private sources. Those capital dollars had been invested for the following: 64 percent academic; 18 percent institutional support; 10 percent housing (in spring 1997); and 5 percent land purchase.
Dr. Stockwell directed the Board's attention to two documents which had been distributed: 1) Capital Investments for Proposed Projects by Funding Sources; and 2) Conceptual Phase-in Plan for Proposed Projects by Project Category. [These documents are maintained in the permanent meeting file held by the Board Office.] Approval would be sought at the next Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting for the Interstate 585 Campus Entrance Plan, the east side boulevard, and the ellipse property issue. That would be followed in the near future by requests for the frontage triangle property, information resources complex, and renovations to the library, science building, and administration building.
Dr. Stockwell said he looked forward to working with the Board on the plans for the future of USC Spartanburg. Board members were invited to take a tour of campus immediately following today's meeting.
Chairman Hubbard thanked Dr. Stockwell for his outstanding report and said that the Board look forward to working with the Chancellor to identify priorities of the master plan to assist the campus in effecting his vision.
IV. Report of the President: Dr. Palms thanked Dr. Stockwell for his excellent presentations at lunch and at the Board meeting. Both reports indicated very careful planning, which was necessary for progress. Dr. Palms also thanked the Board for its hard work. He pointed out that there were not many boards that met as often as this one, with over 40 meetings a year. That time commitment was necessary for the progress the University was making.
Dr. Palms said he and several others were delayed in attending this morning's meeting because they were at the funeral of Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr.
George C. Rogers, Jr. Chairman Hubbard was a pallbearer at the funeral. Dr. Palms asked for a moment of silence in remembrance of Dr. Rogers.
Dr. Palms spoke of the importance of the recent meeting of the National Advisory Council of the Bicentennial Campaign. It was a very powerful, influential group of individuals who had committed themselves to the concept of the Bicentennial Campaign for all of the campuses. They were committed to the concept of the vision for the institution, including all of the campuses.
The University of South Carolina, with its campuses, should be the institution of choice for the best students in the state. Progress had been made at all of the campuses, and they continue to build quality. It was quality that was really necessary today.
Dr. Palms said searches were in progress for deans at USC Columbia for Science and Mathematics, Pharmacy, and Education. The University was attempting to find the best persons in the country who would move the institution to a new level. This required a commitment of resources to attract outstanding candidates. In referring to the book Built to Last, Dr. Palms said it told what great institutions and corporations had done to build quality, to take risks while always having a vision that was achievable to bring out the best in those you hire. There were risks in the vision presented in the plans for USC Spartanburg, but the plans were realistic. Dr. Palms said the administration was united in its commitment to the vision for the University of South Carolina. This vision transcended individual interests. The Board of Trustees was also united in its commitment to the vision for the institution. It was this commitment that ignited the enthusiasm of the nearly 1,000 volunteers working on the Bicentennial Campaign.
Dr. Palms announced that Chancellor Robert Alexander, who had been chairman of the Council of Presidents for the past year, had been elected to serve another year as chairman of that Council. Dr. Alexander received the applause of those in attendance.
V. Other Matters
A. Appointments to the USC Development Foundation Board: Mr. Hubbard said it was requested by the USC Development Foundation Board that the Board of Trustees reappoint Mr. Everette H. Newman to an additional term. Mr. Newman was a very active and productive member of the Development Foundation. It was also requested by the USC Development Foundation Board that the Board of Trustees reappoint Mr. G. Cameron Todd, who currently served as the co-secretary/treasurer and continued to be deeply involved in the University's foundation affairs.
Mr. Adams moved approval of the requested appointments to the Development Foundation Board, and Mr. McLellan seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.
B. Resolution for the Secretary: Chairman Hubbard presented a Resolution to the Board for its consideration. He then called Secretary Stepp to the podium and read the Resolution:
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Thomas L. Stepp has served the University of South Carolina, its community, and the people of our state since his election as Secretary of the University and of the Board of Trustees on August 27, 1987;
WHEREAS, in this position, he has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the finest aims and purposes of this great University;
WHEREAS, he has earned the confidence of the members and chairmen of the Board during these years with his wise judgment, astute counsel, superb listening skills, and deep knowledge of the University's Bylaws, policies and traditions;
WHEREAS, he has tirelessly and with great devotion served as liaison between the Board and the administration and guided the Board in acting with due deference to the constituencies it represents, the policies it upholds, and the goals and ideas it abides;
WHEREAS, he has served as Secretary of the Board of Visitors, held signature authority for the execution of all University contracts, been custodian of the Board's historical records, and, as University Secretary and Chairman of the USC Commencement Committee, facilitated with finesse, diplomacy, and thoughtful attention to protocol and detail the visits of numerous honorary degree recipients; and
WHEREAS, he has also continued to promote and advance the arts, provided the Board the benefits of his elegant language for formal occasions, organized successful retreats of the Board and the University's foundation boards, and provided respected representation of the Board and the University in the community;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees expresses its sincere appreciation of Thomas L. Stepp for his ten years of dedicated service to the University, the Board, and the cause of higher education as Secretary of the University of South Carolina and of the Board of Trustees.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas L. Stepp as a token of the high esteem in which he is held.
PRESENTED THIS 9TH DAY OF OCTOBER 1997
AT SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA.
William C. Hubbard
Chairman, Board of Trustees
John M. Palms
President, The University of South Carolina
Mr. Stepp received the applause of the Board and the members of the University family. He thanked the Board very much for the recognition and said that it was a great honor to hold the position of Secretary and to be a part of the effort to move the University of South Carolina forward.
Chairman Hubbard asked that the Board adjourn in memory of Dr. George C. Rogers, Jr., quoting The Reverend Susan Heath from Dr. Rogers' funeral earlier in the day, "He was a teacher of history and a teacher of life."
The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary