Board of Trustees Meeting
September 7, 2001
The first regular meeting of the University of Florida Board of Trustees was held on Friday, September 7, 2001, at 8:30 a.m., at the J. Wayne Reitz Union Rion Ballroom on the campus of the University of Florida.
President Charles Young welcomed the Board of Trustees and made brief statements about the historic occasion. President Young introduced the Vice Presidents and other guests.
Assistant Secretary-Elect Pamela Bernard established a quorum with perfect attendance recorded.
Ms. Courtelis moved the Board to nominate Marshall M. Criser as Chair of the Board. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Criser made brief comments to the Board about its role and important issues for the Board to address. Mr. Criser stated that the role of the Board as overseeing, establishing policy and selecting the President, but that the President, Vice Presidents and staff should run the University. Mr. Criser proposed to the Board that the Bylaws, committee structure, membership and other organizational matters should be adopted in order to provide a framework to allow the Board to get started with its work. He also noted such documents could be changed as time goes by if needed.
Mr. Criser moved to elect Dianna Morgan as Vice Chair. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Criser stated that the University was fortunate to have President Charles Young. Mr. Criser recognized Chancellor Emeritus E. T. York for his efforts in identifying President Young to the University. Mr. Warrington moved to affirm the appointment of Charles Young as President of the University of Florida. The motion was adopted.
President Young introduced a guest, Robert Atwell, and noted his anticipated participation at the upcoming Board meeting in October.
President Young then highlighted recent key accomplishments of the University. He remarked what he considered to be the critical issues at the University at this time. He noted the first of these issues as insufficient positive involvement of faculty in the governance of the University. President Young noted great universities have such involvement in his experience. President Young stated that the reward system for faculty, particularly compensation, is not as it should be at the University. President Young indicated that the salaries at the University of Florida were too low relative to institutions with whom the institution competes, and there is too much compaction which has not been addressed sufficiently. He pointed out that the University, with the assistance of faculty and the vice presidents, established a program to begin to reward faculty who have contributed to the University over a period of time. President Young next noted that the University has worked hard to improve its representation efforts in Washington and in Tallahassee but that he was not satisfied and that he will work harder, looking to the Board for advice. President Young stated that the University has begun a planning process which will integrate an academic, financial and physical strategic plan. Finally, President Young noted that filling numerous interim positions was a priority for him upon arrival and that has been completed with one exception.
President Young introduced a guest speaker, Professor Jonathan Reiskind, whose subject was the United Faculty of Florida local chapter.
Mr. Criser presented proposed Bylaws for the Board's consideration. Mr. Daniels moved for the approval of the proposed Bylaws. Mr. Warrington moved to amend this motion by striking in Article 6.2, Special Meetings, the words "not less than two-thirds (2/3)" and inserting the words "a majority." After a statement from Mr. Criser of the motion as amended, the motion was adopted.
Mr. Criser discussed the proposed Board committees, their charges and their membership. He briefly discussed his recommendation not to establish an Executive Committee at this time, rather to use the full Board as an Executive Committee. Mr. Criser also discussed the government relations responsibility of the Board, then made comments about issues the University of Florida faces in the upcoming legislative session.
Mr. Warrington moved to adopt the proposed Board committees, committee charges, and their membership. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Warrington moved that Pamela Bernard be approved as Assistant Secretary to the Board. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Criser commented on the process used to develop the staff recommendations to the Board regarding trustee participation on University Direct Support Organization boards and other affiliated boards. Mr. Criser discussed the unique issues with athletic direct support organizations and other factors relating to fund raising direct support organizations. Mr. Criser noted that trustee involvement was important on certain boards. President Young called the Board's attention to the materials in the Board notebook and further discussed the issue. Mr. Criser indicated to the Board that the final designations would be brought back to the Board at its October meeting.
Mr. McGriff moved that the staff recommendations and proposed Board Policy 01-1 regarding trustee participation on Direct Support Organization and affiliated corporation boards be accepted subject to further board review and approval at the October meeting. The motion was adopted.
Ms. O'Connell raised a question about the relationship between the Board of Trustees and the University of Florida Foundation. These issues were discussed briefly, with several Trustees noting the importance of the Foundation in the University's fund raising efforts.
Mr. Criser recognized President Young who briefly explained the current process concerning the authority of the Florida Board of Education and of the Board of Trustees in granting tenure. Ms. Bernard briefly explained the current status of the law.
Guest speaker Vice Provost Charles Frazier spoke on the subject of the University's tenure policy and process. Mr. McGriff moved to approve the recommendation to affirm the existing University of Florida tenure policy. The motion was adopted.
With regard to tenure-upon hire, Mr. Warrington moved to accept the recommendation of the President to grant tenure to the eight incoming faculty referenced in the Board materials. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Criser recognized guest speaker Ed Poppell, Vice President for Administrative Affairs, who spoke on the subject of the State Auditor General audit process. The Board discussed aspects of the audit report and the process.
Mr. Criser recognized assistant corporate secretary Pamela Bernard in her capacity as General Counsel. She presented a brief explanation of the recommendation to affirm the existing authorities of the President until further study of these authorities, and to grant two delegations from the Board to the President. Mr. McGriff moved that the Board adopt Board Resolution R01-1 that affirms the existing authorities of the President, and delegates to the President the authority to approve travel for University employees and to take routine administrative actions under the Administrative Procedures Act, with the exception of rulemaking. The motion was adopted.
Mr. Criser introduced assistant corporate secretary Pamela Bernard in her capacity as General Counsel. Her subjects were the Florida Open Meetings Act and the Florida Open Records Law.
The Board then discussed future meeting dates and other matters relating to future meetings.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon.
Charles E. Young
Secretary
Pamela J. Bernard
Assistant Secretary