BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY
Francis Marion University
The Cottage – Hendrick Room
Thursday, March 2, 2023 – 4:30 pm – 4:57 pm

Presiding:
Dr. Randall Dozier, Vice-Chair

Present:
Mr. Jody Bryson
Mr. William W. Coleman, Jr.
Mr. H. Paul Dove, Jr.
Mr. R. Tracy Freeman
Mr. William Edward Gunn
Mrs. Patricia C. Hartung (by phone)
Mr. Kenneth W. Jackson
Mr. Stephen N. Jones
Mr. Floyd L. Keels
Ms. Karen Leatherman
Mr. George C. McIntyre
Mr. Mark S. Moore
Dr. J. Kevin O’Kelly

Others Present:
Dr. Mark Blackwell, Vice Chair of the Faculty and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Dr. LaTasha Brand, Dean of Students
Mr. Darryl Bridges, Vice President for Finance and Facilities
Dr. Will Carswell, Associate Provost and Assistant Professor of Music
Dr. Fred Carter, President
Mr. Ralph Davis, Director of Facilities Management
Mr. Larry Falck, Director of Multimedia Services
Dr. Karen Fries, Secretary of the Faculty and Associate Professor of Education
Dr. Karen Gittings, Dean of the School of Health Sciences
Mr. Murray Hartzler, Director of Athletics
Dr. Peter King, Provost
Dr. Jennifer Kunka, Associate Provost for Advising and Professor of English
Dr. Sharon O’Kelley, Chair of Faculty and Professor of Mathematics
Dr. Hari Rajagopalan, Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Marketing
Dr. Cheri Richardson, Director of Institutional Planning
Mrs. Elizabeth Shefton, Executive Assistant to the President
Mrs. Lauren Stanton, Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Mrs. Allison Steadman, Associate Provost and Associate Professor of Theatre Arts – Costume Design
Ms. Anna Katherine Stoddard, Marketing Coordinator
Mrs. Anna Todd, Vice President of Communications
Ms. Demetra Walker, Dean of the Library
Dr. Alissa Warters, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Dr. Dozier called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm, and then he asked Mrs. Shefton to call the roll.  Dr. Dozier then stated for the record that media notification was made in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, and that a quorum was present.

Dr. Dozier brought the minutes of the November 10, 2022 meeting before the board for approval.  Mr. Coleman made a motion that the minutes be approved, and Mr. Freeman seconded the motion.  The minutes received unanimous approval by the board.

Executive Affairs Committee:
Dr. Dozier presented to the board Resolution 01-23 for Freeze on Tuition for the Academic Year 2023-2024, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Dr. Dozier made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Freeman seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.

Academic Affairs and Accreditation Committee:
Mr. Dove gave the following report from the committee meeting:

  • Resolution 02-23 to approving a Doctor of Psychology Degree was presented to the board, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Dove made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Freeman seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.
  • Elections were held for the Chair of the Faculty and Dr. Sharon O’Kelley was re-elected.
  • Total Spring 2023 enrollment is up approximately 3% compared to Spring 2022.  Undergraduate applications for Fall 2023 are on par compared to last year at this time.
  • So far this spring, Admission has hosted two in-person Open Houses.  There are two additional Open Houses scheduled for March 4 and April 1.
  • Two high school seniors have been awarded the McNair Scholarship for Fall 2023.
  • The Office of Admissions received over 100 nominations for the Darla Moore Scholarship and interviews are currently on going.
  • In December, 189 undergraduate degrees and 58 graduate degrees were awarded during the two commencement ceremonies.  May commencement will be held on May 6.
  • Two International Collaboration Grants were awarded.  As well as an IP Grant to host two speakers on campus this semester in its International Perspective Series.
  • Francis Marion University is collaborating with the Florence Museum on a new exhibit on General Francis Marion titled “LEGEND: Francis Marion in the Pee Dee.”
  • School of Business will be hosting a Distinguished Alumni Program on March 21.
  • Accreditation site visit by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology is schedule for March 20-21.
  • Dr. Deborah Hopla was awarded the 2023 American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Advocate State Award for Excellence in South Carolina.

    Mr. Dove concluded his report.


Development and Alumni Committee:
Mr. McIntyre shared the following report with the board:

Foundation:

  • Donor-Recipient Scholarship Reception was held on February 21, with over 225 people attended.
  •  The Foundation has the following upcoming events:
    • May 12 – Education Foundation Golf Tournament
    • May 18 – Swamp Fox Athletic Auction
    • October 13 – Sporting Clays Tournament
  • The Foundation has received the following endowed scholarships:
    • Stokes Family Scholarship Fund
    • Florence County Bar Pre-Law Scholarship
    • Archie “Tim” Brown MS in Nursing – Family Nursing Practitioner Scholarship
  • Giving Day continues to grow.  This year is 42% higher in amount given.
  • Gately Gallery will be hosting a duel exhibit by Malik Greene titled “Get Home Safely” and Lino Azevedo titled “Lobotomy” on March 14.
  • The Performing Arts Center will host the Mavericks on March 11 and they are finalizing new shows for the 2023-2024 season.
  • The Center for the Child has maintained steady enrollment numbers.
  • March sessions for the Local Government Leadership Institute are taking place and the last session will be held on April 6.
  • The Fred R. Sheheen Non-Profit Leadership Institute continues to go well and the last session will be in April.

Alumni:

  • Alumni Affairs hosted an After Hours event at Seminar Brewing, where over 85 people attended including graduating seniors.
  • Homecoming was a success.  It started off with sold out reception at the Gately Gallery.
  • Alumni Affairs will be hosting the Alumni Awards this evening at the Performing Arts Center.
  • Two FMU alums, Tim Norwood and Jim Brown, were recognized as Marion Medallion winners.

Mr. McIntyre concluded his report.

Finance and Facilities Committee:
Mr. Jones shared the following information from the committee meeting:

Budget Summary:

  • Revenue and expenditures are at expected levels.

Finance:

  • Resolution 03-23 to adjust University Fees was presented to the board, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Jones made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Coleman seconded the motion. The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.
  • Resolution 04-23 for the Acceptance of a Property Gift from the FMU Education Foundation and Transfer of Property Tract to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was presented to the board, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Mr. Jones made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. McIntyre seconded the motion. The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.

Facilities:

  • Capital projects report:
    • Construction work has started on the new School of Business/School of Education building, Hewin Timber Cabin project, and the storm water drainage project.

Mr. Jones concluded his report.

Student Life and Athletics Committee:
Ms. Leatherman gave the following committee report:

Student Government Association:

  • SGA upcoming events:
    • March 21: Commuter Appreciation Day
    • April 3: Financial Literacy Program
    • April 24: Mental Rest Day
  • Senate and E-Board elections are coming up.

Student Life:

  • The annual MLK and the Holocaust Remembrance Program events had a good turn out from campus and the local community.
  • Food Truck Thursdays continue on campus for the Spring Semester.
  • The President’s Bowl had a great turnout, with a team from the FMU Honors, the Brainiacs, winning.
  • Francis Marion continues to be lowest in the number of COVID of incidents for all of the South Carolina 4-year colleges and universities.

Athletics:

  •   Women’s basketball owns a 20-6 record and are the number two seed for this weekend’s conference tournament.  The Patriots won the final 18 games of the regular season (third longest streak in the program history and the third longest active streak in D2 women’s basketball).
  • Junior Lauren Taylor was named the women’s basketball conference Player of the Year.
  • Softball was picked to finish third in the Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches’ Poll.  They opened the season 14-2.
  • Sam Holmes, most recently the head coach at Limestone University, has been named the new head coach of the women’s soccer team.
  • Acro & Tumbling will be the newest athletic program, that will begin competition in the fall of 2023.  Brittany Rueb of Phoenix Arizona was chosen as the head coach.
  • 130 student athletes were recognized on the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll for the 2022 fall semester.
  • There were 22 inductees to the Chi Alpha Sigma Collegiate National Athletic Honor Society.
  • The Athletic Auction will be held on May 18.

Ms. Leatherman concluded his report.

President’s Report:
Dr. Carter made the following comments during his report:

  • Appreciation was expressed to the board for passing the tuition freeze.  Francis Marion is going into our sixth year now without having to raise tuition.
  • Appreciation was expressed to the trustees for passing the following resolutions:
    • Resolution 02-23 Approving a Doctor of Psychology Degree
    • Resolution 03-23 Adjusting University Fees
    • Resolution 04-23 for the Acceptance of a Property Gift from the FMU Education Foundation and Transfer of Property Tract to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
  • We are looking forward to having the partnership with SLED.
  • Through the Ways and Means bill, the committee has provided $3.37 million for tuition mitigation.  We received the full $9 million for the Founders Hall renovations and $500,000 recurring for our autism program.
  • Personnel appointments and promotions:
    • Dr. Warters appointed as new Provost, assuming duties on July 1
    • Dr. John Rowan appointed as new VP of Enrollment
    • Darryl Bridges promoted to Executive Vice President
    • Ralph Davis promoted to  VP of Construction and Facilities

Dr. Carter concluded his report by inviting the trustees to the Alumni Awards event this evening at 6:00 at the Performing Arts Center.

Nomination Committee Report:
Mr. Jackson presented the following recommendations and nominations:

  • Chairman – Dr. Randy Dozier
  • Vice-Chairman – Eddie Gunn
  • Secretary – Floyd Keels

Nominations will roll over to the next meeting for a vote.

Unfinished Business:
None

New Business:
None

Executive Session:
None

Mr. Lee adjourned the meeting at 4:57 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Floyd L. Keels
Secretary