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 Student-Trustee Liaison Committee of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees met at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2000, in Room 107-C, of the Osborne Administration Building.

Members present were: Mr. Arthur S. Bahnmuller, Chairman; Mr. Alexander English via telephone; Mr. Toney J. Lister; Mr. Miles Loadholt via telephone; and Mr. John C. von Lehe, Jr. Members absent were: Mr. William W. Doar, Jr.; Mr. Samuel R. Foster, II; Mr. Robert N. McLellan; and Mr. William C. Hubbard, Board Chairman.

Others present were: 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 Business and Finance John L. Finan; Vice President for Human Resources Jane M. Jameson; Vice President for Student and Alumni Services Dennis A. Pruitt; Vice President and Executive Dean for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education, Chris P. Plyler; General Counsel Walter (Terry) H. Parham; Associate Vice Provost for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education, Carolyn A. West; Director of Housing Gene Luna; Director, Academic and Student Support Services, Regional Campuses and Continuing Education David Hunter; Director of Public Relations Russell McKinney; and representative from Media Relations Jason Snyder.

Students present were: USC Aiken Student Government Association (SGA): President Jason Stapleton, Vice President Mark Lester, and representative Jeff Tarkley; USC Beaufort SGA President Bob Tasker; USC Columbia SGA: President Jotaka Eaddy, Treasurer Ricky Shah, Vice President Corey Ford, Past President Malik Husser, and Past Treasurer Elizabeth Fordham; USC Lancaster SGA President Jamaal Craig and Past President Brian Elliott; USC Salkehatchie SGA President Robin Poston; USC Sumter SGA Board: Chairman Erin Lees, member Allyssa Dickey, and member Tripp Craver; and USC Union SGA: President Jane Howell, Vice President Jason Gregory, and Secretary-Treasurer Jennifer Meadow.

Chairman Bahnmuller called the meeting to order and welcomed those present. He noted that no members of the media were present. Chairman Bahnmuller stated that notice of the meeting had been posted and the press had been notified of the meeting as required by the Freedom of Information Act; the agenda and supporting materials had been circulated to the Committee; and a quorum was present.

1. Introductions of Student Leadership Representatives : Chairman Bahnmuller asked the students who were present to introduce themselves and to give the position they held and the campus they represented.

2. Reports from Student Government Associations :

   1. USC Aiken : Mr. Stapleton reported that President Palms had met with USC Aiken students and faculty to discuss the credentials its new chancellor should possess. Dr. Palms had established a search committee for the new chancellor which included students. Student representatives were also a part of the committee that would redesign the landscaping to bring out the natural beauty of the Aiken campus.

      The American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business reviewed the School of Business for accreditation and the official results would be announced in April.

      There were sixty active student organizations on campus including Greek life, religious service organizations, and the honor society. The Chapter of Circle K received the Regional Club Achievement Award, which was the organization's highest award for North and South Carolina. The campus Lecture Series continued with diverse speakers including Cornell West from Harvard University. In reaching out to the student body, the Student Government Association organized a basketball tailgate party and worked on campus safety by adding speed bumps, stop signs, and additional emergency call boxes in the parking lots.

   2. USC Beaufort : Mr. Tasker reported that a debate had been held in which professors defended their disciplines. Not only was the debate entertaining and informative, it enabled the professors to inform the student body about their academic disciplines. Based on audience response, the winner of the debate was the English Department.

      Elections and graduation were the current student focus at USC Beaufort.

   3. USC Columbia : Ms. Eaddy reported that the first online election had been completed on the Columbia campus and the voter turnout had increased. The Student Government Association (SGA) met with the Housing Department to discuss adjustments in the proposed budget for East Quadrangle, South Quadrangle, and the Horseshoe residences.

      The SGA had a four-point plan called "Contract for Carolina" to address four issues concerning students which would help create a better Carolina community.

      The first part of the "Contract for Carolina" was a system for safety. The contract proposed the following: to extend the shuttlecock system until 8:30 p.m. to allow students to take evening classes; to request that the city police work with the USC police, especially between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., to patrol the streets around campus; to install surveillance cameras at the entrances and exits of all residence halls to monitor the traffic in and out of the buildings; and to recognize that students had a responsibility to practice safe habits.

      The second part of the "Contract for Carolina" was the creation of the Sixth Man Club, a true student cheering section at basketball games. This would enhance the spirit at the games and allow the students to sit together to rally behind the team. Ms. Eaddy felt the students should be the "sixth man" on the team, the extension of the team. SGA proposed the section behind the basketball goal as the student cheering section.

      For the third part of the "Contract for Carolina," SGA would like to extend the number of days to drop a course. The students would like to work with the University to find a solution for the drop date including the provision that after a certain date there would be no return of fees when a course was dropped. SGA had researched the American Association of Universities (AAU) and learned that on average, drop/add days were 16.5 days; USC had six days.

      The final part of the "Contract for Carolina" was to create a new class called Service 101. The class would be unique in structure and design, and its students would research community service and work at designated community service sites. Students would leave class with proposals and ideas to help implement or enhance the program. The bi-weekly classes would allow students the opportunity to learn about community service.

      Mr. Ford discussed a new project instituted by the students called "Clean Carolina." The project was started by the Students' Resource Committee and Special Projects Director, Timothy Clardy, from Past President Malik Husser's cabinet. "Clean Carolina" resembles an Adopt a Highway program. The thirty-eight areas of campus were divided and student organizations chose which area they would like to maintain.

      SGA would like to improve life on campus in several ways. In addition to the use of "bonus bucks" in the dining halls, the students would like to spend "bonus bucks" in the stores at the residence halls and the University Union.

      SGA would like more involvement with the Multi-Cultural Student Affairs Department by promotion of events and activities which would demonstrate that USC students promote diversity on the Carolina campus.

      Academically, SGA would like to explore ways that would allow a system of grade recalculations and expansion of the advisement process.

      Campus safety was the biggest issue that SGA addressed on an annual basis. SGA would like more resources for the campus police department and to set up a fund raising system.

      In terms of reaching the University goals of AAU status, there was a need to continue to keep admission standards high and improve the quality of students. The students needed the course syllabus earlier in their planning to make informed decision on various classes.

      A new email system for the university was needed because the current system was outdated. Campus beautification with projects such as "Clean Carolina" was a good direction to keep the university clean and get students involved; the first step to effecting positive change was to increase student involvement.

      Mr. von Lehe asked Mr. Ford what the term "grade recalculation" meant. Mr. Ford responded that this was "academic forgiveness." SGA was reviewing ways that a student who had scored poorly in a class due to a family crisis or for other personal reasons, would not have his/her grade point average affected.

      Mr. von Lehe asked if the new course, Service 101, had been brought to the Academic Affairs and Faculty Liaison Committee or was it a new initiative. Ms. Eaddy responded that Service 101 was a new initiative. SGA had a research team meet with the Director of Education 400, the Director of University 101, the Director of Community Service in Student Life and the Registrar. Each department endorsed the community service class and the opportunity it would provide to students.

      Chairman Bahnmuller cautioned that if the Sixth Man Club was approved, the students would not be allowed to get personal with the players and/or the coaches of the opposing team.

   4. USC Lancaster : Mr. Craig introduced Tracy Taylor, the new Director of Student Life. To encourage student turnout at the smaller Lancaster campus, Mr. Craig proposed there be a stipend or incentive for participation in the Student Government Association.

   5. USC Salkehatchie : Ms. Poston reported a promotion on the USC Salkehatchie staff, with Dr. Ann Carmichael having been named Dean to succeed Dr. Carl Clayton.

      The passing of the gavel ceremony was held on April 27. Outgoing student government officers passed the gavel to the newly elected student government officers.

   6. USC Sumter : Ms. Dickey reported the Sumter Campus was the only campus with development transcripts. The development transcripts recorded students' participation in all activities.

      USC Sumter had a partnership with the County Parks and Recreation Department for the use of their outdoor inline hockey arena.

      The signs around the campus were being upgraded and the leadership at USC Sumter was strong.

   7. USC Union : Ms. Howell reported that the Student Body had started with a social to raise funds for the awards program.

      Mr. Tandy Willis, a member of the faculty, died last semester. The Student Government Association set up a scholarship fund as a memorial and then raised money through a bake sale for the fund.

      Student Government elections would be held the following week and the awards ceremony would be April 11, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. USC Union invited everyone to attend.

3. Report of the Introduction of Proposed Housing Fee Adjustments : Dr. Gene Luna reported that in the past students stood in long lines for housing. The housing department partnered with computer services to develop an on-line sign-up for campus housing. The housing department was also working to develop an on-line fee payment and application method to streamline the services for students. By partnering with the Provost's Office and Preston Residential College, the resources from different departments came together with a focus on student success.

   This year's budget had factored in several inevitable cost increases. Salary increases would be mandated by the legislature. The University would invest more in residential advisors and full-time hall directors for first year students. Housing wanted to reduce the ratio of staff to students by investing in more residence advisors (R.A.) and full-time hall directors. The R.A.s, through the students' success initiative, would provide one-on-one meetings with the students to succeed academically, as well as socially. The University was committed to upgrading the residential computer labs and in-room computer connections. The new Switch 100 System computer upgrade would allow the University to have one of the fastest and most reliable systems in any residence hall in the southeast or the country.

   With the improvements planned, the proposed rate adjustments included an operational increase of two and one half percent for all residence halls and apartments. A market based increase for South Quadrangle and the Horseshoe would mirror East Quadrangle, and an additional one and one-half percent for capital projects. The additional one and one-half percent increase would allow the University to continue expanding the focus on life safety, fire safety and deferred maintenance issues. There would be an overall four percent increase. Over the last five years, the Universities of Georgia and Florida had averaged a rate increase of six and one half percent in campus housing. Over the last five years at USC, the housing increase averaged 3.9 percent.

   Housing had moved ahead, both programmatically and facility wise, but would focus on completing the current campus master plan and accomplishing the vision that Dr. Palms and the Board had articulated.

   The students continued to want to live on campus and yet the expectations remained high for the kind of housing preferred. The current proposal had been endorsed by the R.A. leadership and the student government leadership. One issue that was raised by both groups was for USC to consider adjusting the market rate increase that had been proposed for the Horseshoe and for South Quadrangle. The Horseshoe would increase to $1,950 a semester and South Quadrangle would mirror the rate of East Quadrangle at $2,000 a semester. Based on SGA suggestions, the proposed Horseshoe rate was lowered to $1,850 and South Quadrangle rates would be lowered to $1,950. East Quadrangle and South Quadrangle had proven to be popular residences for students during registration. Dr. Luna believed that the current budget proposal would keep housing on track. He thanked the Board and the University for its support.

   Chairman Bahnmuller stated that the report was received as information, and would be presented to the Board in June as part of the regular budget process.

4. Other Matters : On behalf of President Palms, Mr. Glenn thanked all of the student leaders for their contributions during the past year; their attendance at the Student-Trustee Liaison Committee meetings; their help with the transition of new student leaders; and most importantly, for what the students would be doing in the work place and in their communities in the years to come which would make the University proud.

There being no further business to come before the Committee, Chairman Bahnmuller declared the meeting adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Thomas L. Stepp
Secretary