BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY
Francis Marion University
The Cottage
Thursday, November 10, 2022 – 4:00 pm – 4:26 pm

Presiding:
Mr. Robert E. Lee, Chair

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

Others Present:
Dr. Mark Blackwell, Vice Chair of the Faculty and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Mr. Darryl Bridges, Vice President for Finance and Facilities
Dr. Fred Carter, President
Dr. Courtney Clayton, Dean of the School of Education
Mr. Lee Daugherty, Director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving
Mr. Ralph Davis, Director of Facilities Management
Mr. Chris Day, Morning News Reporter
Mr. Daniel Dukes, Legislative Liaison
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
Dr. Christopher Kennedy, Vice President for Student Life
Dr. Peter King, Provost
Dr. Jennifer Kunka, Associate Provost for Advising and Professor of English
Dr. Sharon O’Kelley, Chair of the Faculty and Associate Professor of Mathematics
Ms. Paula Patron-Garcia, Student Government Association President
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
Mr. John Sweeney
Mrs. Anna Todd, Vice President of Communications
Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning
Ms. Demetra Walker, Dean of the Library
Dr. Alissa Warters, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Mr. Lee called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm, and then he asked Mrs. Shefton to call the roll.  Mr. Lee then stated for the record that media notification was made in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, and that a quorum was present.

Mr. Lee brought the minutes of the August 4, 2022 meeting before the board for approval.  Mr. Coleman made a motion that the minutes be approved, and Dr. Dozier seconded the motion.  The minutes received unanimous approval by the board.

Executive Affairs Committee:
Mr. Lee reported that the Executive Affairs Committee met and no action was taken.

Academic Affairs and Accreditation Committee:
Dr. Dozier gave the following report from the committee meeting:

  • Resolution 13-22 approving accelerated Master of Arts in teaching degrees in Montessori Early Childhood Education and Montessori Elementary Education, and Master of Education degrees in Montessori Early Childhood Education and Montessori Elementary Education, at Francis Marion University was presented to the board, which comes from the committee with unanimous approval.  Dr. Dozier made a motion that the resolution be approved, and Mr. Jackson seconded the motion.  The resolution received unanimous approval by the board.
  • Faculty Governance has completed the first of the four cycles of governance for the 2022-2023 academic year.
  • Fall 2022 enrollment is 4,045.  This is a 3% increase from Fall 2021.  The incoming freshman class is 95% South Carolinian with 46% being from the Pee Dee.
  • The Office of Admissions has hosted two Open Houses, so far this fall.  They will host another Open House on November 12.
  • There are currently 197 undergraduate and 61 graduate students who are planning to graduate this fall.  There will be two commencement ceremonies.  The commencement ceremony for the School of Business and School of Health Sciences is scheduled for Friday, December 16, and they ceremony for College of Liberal Arts and School of Education is scheduled for Saturday, December 17.
  • FMU is hosting 10 international students from the UK and Germany this fall and 3 in the spring.
  • Larry Engelhardt, Professor of Physics, was named a recipient of the “Excellence in Education Award” given by the American Physical Society.  The award was given to six leaders of a NSF-funded group, who worked to integrate computation in undergraduate physics education around the country.
  • The School of Health Sciences hired an Occupational Therapy Program Director.

Dr. Dozier concluded his report.

Development and Alumni Committee:
Mr. McIntyre gave the following report from the committee meeting:

Foundation:

  • The Education Foundation will host the following events:
    • Online Giving Day on January 24th
    • Scholarship Donor/Recipient Reception on February 21st
  • The Foundation received the following gifs:
    • Pee Dee Electric Endowed Scholarship
    • Carolina Wildlands Foundation Student Fellows Scholarship
    • Duke Energy donated $25,000 for the School of Education Sensory Lab
  • Steven F. Gately Gallery will be hosting a touring exhibition of the 2022 Southern Prize and State Fellows starting on January 12th.
  • The Performing Arts Center will host the Black Violin on December 10th.  There will also be a variety of holiday events in December, to include dance companies and the Florence Symphony.
  • The Center for the Child maintains steady enrollment numbers.
  • Local Government Leadership Institute completed two sessions and have three sessions remaining for spring.
  • The Fred R. Sheheen Non-Profit Leadership Institute completed three sessions and have four sessions remaining for spring.

Alumni:

  • Alumni Affairs had successful Alumni After Hours events this fall in Charleston, Columbia and the Grand Strand. An additional event is planned for Florence, at the Seminar, on December 1st for graduating seniors.
  • Alumni Affairs hosted an Oyster Roast, to recognized life-time members of the Alumni Association on November 9th.
  • Homecoming is scheduled for February 18th.

Mr. McIntyre concluded his report.

Finance and Facilities Committee:
Mr. Jones gave the following report from the committee meeting:

  • Resolution 14-22 to Authorize Funds for Renovation of the Smith University Center 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 15-22 for Approval of the 2022-2027 Campus Development Plan 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.

Finance:

  • Based off of the Budget Summary Report, revenues and expenditures are at expected levels.
  • The university’s annual audit report has been received.  The audit was unqualified with no material findings and/or deficiencies.

Mr. Jones concluded his report.

Student Life and Athletics Committee:
Mr. Coleman gave the following report from the committee meeting:

Student Government Association:

  • SGA executive board plans to host a “Get to Know SGA” event at the beginning of the spring.
  • Fall Senate elections have concluded and the new Senate will be sworn in today.

Student Life:

  • Student Life has had a very successful and energetic fall semester.  There was a great turn out at all of the welcome week events, including the First Friday Festival.
  • There have been several co-curricular events, as well as student health and well-being events.  These include yoga sessions and a safe sex-ed discussion by our FNP.
  • Monthly Food-Truck Thursdays continue to be a hit with the students.
  • Appreciation was given to Student Health and the COVID Response Office for the way they have managed the process.  Numbers continue to be the lowest in the state among our sister institutions.

Athletics:

  •  Junior Cullen Dore was presented the conference’s Elite 23 Award for Men’s Cross Country.  Senior Alvaro Zamora was also presented the Elite 23 Award for Men’s Soccer.
  • Women’s Soccer is currently searching for a new head coach to lead the program.
  • Volleyball currently holds a 16-11 record and will play in the quarterfinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament on Friday at UNC Pembroke.
  • Long-time head basketball coach, Gary Edwards, announced his retirement in October and assistant coach Jake Zehnder was named interim head coach for 2022-23.
  • Francis Marion announced in September that Acrobatics and Tumbling would become the university’s 15th intercollegiate sport, beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

Mr. Coleman concluded his report.

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

  • A formal welcome was extended to Ms. Paula Patron-Garcia as the SGA President and to Mrs. Anna Todd as the new VP of Communications.
  • A bid farewell was given to Mr. John Sweeney, as well as appreciation for all his efforts as the VP of Communications over the past 15 months.
  • “FMU is Everywhere” commercial was presented, with a thanks to John Sweeney for the creative work.
  • Appreciation was expressed to the trustees for passing the following resolutions:
    • Resolution 13-22 approving accelerated Master of Arts in teaching degrees in Montessori Early Childhood Education and Montessori Elementary Education, and Master of Education degrees in Montessori Early Childhood Education and Montessori Elementary Education, at Francis Marion University
    • Resolution 14-22 to Authorize Funds for Renovation of the Smith University Center
    • Resolution 15-22 for Approval of the 2022-2027 Campus Development Plan
  • The Fall 2022 commencement will be divided into two ceremonies. The first will be on Friday, December 16 at 7:30 for the School of Business and the School of Health Sciences. The second ceremony will be on Saturday, December 17 at 10:00 for the School of Education and the College of Liberal Arts.
  • Spring 2023 commencement exercises will be held in the Florence Center downtown, due to the Smith University Center renovations.
  • A request for a vote of concurrence was presented to the board, to provide all of the faculty and staff with a $2,000 holiday bonus, to be deposited on December 9th. The bonuses will come from money that has been set aside and will not affect student tuition. Mr. Coleman made a motion to approve the request and Dr. Dozier seconded the motion.  The motion received unanimous approval by the board.
  • A request for a vote of concurrence was presented to the board, to invite the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Robert Lee, to be the commencement speaker and to accept an honorary degree on behalf of a grateful university.  Dr. Dozier made a motion to approve, and Mr. McIntyre seconded the motion.  The motion received unanimous approval by the board.

Dr. Carter concluded his report.

Unfinished Business:
None

New Business:
Mr. Lee stated that the following board members have been appointed to the nominating committee which will compile a slate of officers for the 2023-2024 year.

  • Mr. Ken Jackson, Chair
  • Mr. George C. McIntyre
  • Ms. Karen Leatherman

The committee will present the list of names to the board for approval at the March 3 meeting.

Executive Session:
Not Needed

Mr. Lee adjourned the meeting at 4:26 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Floyd L. Keels
Secretary