Board of Trustees Meeting
December 5, 2003
A regular meeting of the University of Florida Board of Trustees was held on Friday, December 5, 2003 at 11:00 a.m., in President's Room B of the Emerson Alumni Hall, University of Florida. A quorum was present.
Chairman Marshall Criser welcomed President-elect Bernie Machen.
Mr. Criser called upon President Charles Young to give the President's report. President Young discussed working on the transition to the current governance structure. He stated that it had been an extremely successful period. He stated that the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees is in good hands as is the University with the Board of Trustees.
President Young discussed shared governance and the proposed Shared Governance Resolution, which he noted was a resolution supporting that principle, but not including all of the implementing details which will be worked out. He spoke of ongoing funding for the University and the challenge for years ahead. President Young said he was very pleased with the presidential search process. Finally, he thanked the board for making it possible for him and Mrs. Young to become Gators for life.
Next, Mr. Criser read and presented Resolution R03-12 in honor of President Young. Trustee Fernandez made a motion to adopt the resolution and it was passed unanimously.
Mr. Criser asked that Item 4.13, Honorary Namings, be removed and that Item 4.6 be removed since all of the financial statements were not in. Trustee McGriff moved approval of the Consent Agenda as amended, and the motion was passed.
Next, Mr. Criser called the Board's attention to Item 6.0. Trustee Brennan moved to adopt the Resolution on Shared Governance (R03-14), and it was passed unanimously.
The distribution of salary raise dollars was presented in Item 8.0 as information only.
Provost Colburn opened Item 9.0, Update on the Strategic Plan, for discussion. Trustee Merkel asked about other plans. Vice President Rollo gave an update on the student plan. Vice President Poppell noted the 2040 plan and master plan. Trustee Merkel asked that the updates give information on the cost of the plans, stating she would also appreciate more detail in the answers.
A report was given on the Courtelis Challenge Grant and matching gift list. There is a $15 million backlog, but there is high expectation that there will be funding. Trustee Warrington asked about a discrepancy in the documentation. Leslie Bram indicated that the higher number ($44 million) was not applicable.
Associate Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs Leslie Bram gave an update on Oak Hammock. Residents will begin moving in on March 8, 2004. She praised the volunteer board. She indicated that the average entry age was 62; 72% in couples. There are 265 individual living units.
As to New Business, Mr. Criser introduced a resolution honoring Manny Fernandez as the chair of the Presidential Search Planning Committee and the Presidential Search Committee. Trustee McGriff made a motion to adopt the resolution (R03-13), and it was passed unanimously.
Trustee Warrington asked that the chair of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation be allowed to give a presentation at the next meeting. He also offered suggestions about the setting of board meetings and board of materials for future Board meetings.
Trustee O'Connell brought the Board's attention to handouts from Vice President Baker.
Trustee McGriff indicated that the Report on Receipts and Expenditures has been distributed.
Trustee Jones mentioned there were representatives of the Asian American Student Association and Filipino Student Association who wished to speak to the Board. They indicated that the southeastern region does not have adequate resources for Asian Americans and that there was a movement to obtain an Asian American studies program an Institute for Asian American Students at the University of Florida.
Guest speaker Diana Bitz spoke on the subject of the United Faculty of Florida.
The Board meeting was adjourned.
Charles E. Young
Secretary
Pamela J. Bernard
Assistant Secretary