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 Executive Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met Thursday, April 12, 2001, at 10:30 a.m. in the Carolina Plaza Board Room.

Members present were: Mr. Mack I. Whittle, Jr., Chairman; Mr. Herbert C. Adams; Mr. James Bradley; Dr. C. Edward Floyd; Mr. William C. Hubbard; and Mr. Michael J. Mungo. Other trustees present were: Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller; Mr. Alexander English; Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II; Mrs. Helen C. Harvey; Mr. Toney J. Lister; Mr. Miles Loadholt; Mr. Robert N. McLellan; Mr. J. DuPre Miller; Ms. Darla D. Moore; Mr. M. Wayne Staton, via telephone; Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr.; and Mr. Othniel H. Wienges, Jr. The faculty representative, Professor Caroline Strobel, and the student representative, 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 Research William C. Harris; Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer William F. Hogue; Interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Allan W. Barber; Vice President for Student and Alumni Services Dennis A. Pruitt; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice Provost and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses Chris P. Plyler; Chancellor of USC Aiken Thomas L. Hallman; Chancellor of USC Spartanburg John C. Stockwell; Dean of The Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health Harris Pastides; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Director of Athletics Michael B. McGee; Interim Budget Director, Office of Budget and Finance, Robert E. Bugbee; Director of Facilities Management and University Architect Charles G. Jeffcoat; Assistant to the Vice President, Office of Budget and Finance, Ken Corbett; Director of Public Affairs Russell McKinney; University Liaison John M. Gregory; Bond Counsel, Nexsen Pruet Jacobs & Pollard, LLC, Alan M. Lipsitz and April C. Lucas; and representatives from the media.

Chairman Whittle called the meeting to order and invited Board members to introduce themselves. 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 members of the Committee; and a quorum was present to conduct business.

There were personnel matters appropriate for Executive Session. Chairman Whittle called for a motion to enter Executive Session. Mr. Bradley so moved, and Mr. Floyd 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. Glenn, Mr. Parham, and Dr. McGee.

Return to Open Session

Chairman Whittle indicated that the Executive Committee and other Board of Trustees members had held a thorough dialogue with Dr. Palms regarding his potential candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Chairman Whittle and Dr. Palms would join the press immediately following this meeting to offer comments.

Chairman Whittle directed attention to the agenda and recognized Mr. Parham.

1. Extension of 900 Assembly Lease: Mr. Parham explained that the lease extension of 900 Assembly would span one year beginning July 1, 2001 and terminating June 30, 2002. The building contained 34,607 square feet and housed the offices of Human Resources, Equal Opportunity Programs, and the Development Foundation.

   Under the lease, the University would pay a $10 per square foot rental for a total annual rental of $346,607, payable in monthly installments of $28,839.17. This figure represented a slight increase; since 1994 the University had paid $9.32 per square foot. As in the past, the landlord, Baker & Baker, would be responsible for repairs. The University had the right to cancel the lease upon 120 days written notice. In addition, the University could extend the term of the lease for another one-year period at the same rental amount of $10 per square foot by providing the landlord notice on or before March 31, 2002.

   Dr. Floyd asked if the University had attempted to purchase the building; Mr. Jeffcoat responded that to date the owner had not indicated an interest in selling the property.

   Mr. Bradley moved approval of the extension of the 900 Assembly lease as described in the materials distributed for this meeting. Dr. Floyd seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

2. Resolution to Issue State Institution Bonds (Amendment): Dr. Barber stated that he was requesting Committee authorization to increase the state institution bonds issue of June 22, 2000 from $20 million. Included in this increase would be funding for improvements at the Aiken campus in the amount of $1 million and at the Spartanburg campus in the amount of $1.5 million. The bond counsel indicated that this purchase would be handled as a competitive sale. [Exhibit A]

   Mr. Bradley moved approval of the amendment to the resolution to issue state institution bonds as described in the materials distributed for this meeting. Dr. Floyd seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

3. Board Role and Responsibility in Presidential Selection: Because of Dr. Palms' recent announcement concerning the possibility of his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, Board members had re-examined the Bylaws which did not address the topic of a University presidential candidate search committee. Mr. Adams stated that Mr. Mungo had generated a resolution which, if adopted, would establish guidelines for selecting and activating a search committee if and when appropriate. Chairman Whittle reminded the Committee that this resolution would be presented before the full Board for approval so that those members not on the Executive Committee would have the opportunity to engage in discussion at that time. [Exhibit B]

   Mr. Bradley moved approval of the resolution as distributed in the materials for this meeting. Mr. Hubbard seconded the motion.

   Mr. Bahnmuller requested that the wording "no more than" be deleted from the 11th paragraph which stated "....such charge requiring the Committee to present to the Board the names of no more than four fully acceptable candidates for the presidency...." He expressed concern that this committee could, in essence, present only one candidate for the presidency. Chairman Whittle stated that Mr. Bahnmuller's suggestion would be reviewed during a discussion of that agenda item in the full Board meeting later today.

   The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

4. Other Matters: Employment Agreement of Men's Basketball Coach: Dr. Palms commended the University Athletics Director for selecting Dave Odom as the new men's basketball coach whom, he believed, the University community would fully support and welcome as a member.

   Mr. Parham presented the essential terms of the employment agreement between the University of South Carolina and Coach Dave Odom. He stated that this agreement was a five-year contract providing a base salary of $150,000 per year. Coach Odom would have the opportunity to earn outside income from the traditional sources such as television, radio, and promotional rights from which he would receive $325,000 per year from USA Collegiate, Inc., formerly known as Host Communications. He would also have the opportunity to earn outside income from athletic shoes, equipment, and apparel manufacturers through separate agreements with the manufacturers; in the event Coach Odom did not receive at least $200,000 from such manufacturers, the Athletics Department would pay the balance. Finally, Coach Odom would have the opportunity to conduct basketball camps for a duration of no longer than five weeks each summer and to retain the generated revenue; however, during the first year of the contract, if these camps did not generate at least $75,000 of income for Coach Odom, the Athletics Department would pay the balance.

   Mr. Parham further explained that Coach Odom would have the opportunity to earn supplemental compensation from a variety of sources based on the success of the team. For example, if the team won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference or the SEC Tournament, he would earn $25,000; if he was selected as SEC Coach of the Year, he would earn $10,000. Mr. Parham also summarized other parts of the agreement noting that the contract included standard termination provisions.

   Chairman Whittle recognized Dr. Mike McGee who stated that "it was with great pleasure that we present Coach Dave Odom to the Board." Dr. McGee noted that "from the very first conversation we had with Coach Odom he was unabashed in his interest in this position." He further explained that Coach Odom "was highly recommended as a real teacher of the game," very interested in player development, widely respected among his peers in the coaching profession, and had maintained an excellent relationship with the media.

   Additionally, Dr. McGee commented that Coach Odom "took over a program that had experienced four losing seasons at Wake Forest and proceeded after one year to guide them to 11 straight post-season tournaments." On three different occasions he had been selected as ACC Coach of the Year and in 1995, National Coach of the Year; one year ago, Wake Forest had won the NIT championship.

   Mr. Bradley moved approval of the employment agreement between the University of South Carolina and Coach Dave Odom as described in the materials distributed for this meeting. Dr. Floyd seconded the motion. The vote was taken, and the motion carried.

There were no other matters to come before the Committee, and Chairman Whittle declared the meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary