The meeting was called to order at 2:00 pm by Chair Travis Bowden.

Trustees attending:
Travis Bowden
JoAnn Morgan
Eddie Phillips

Janice Perkins-Gilley, Director of Government Relations brought the committee up to date on Legislative issues saying that this is the most unusual year she has experienced.

The Florida Legislature required a special session to complete its budget, which cut UWF’s base budget by $1.3 million. It also authorized an 8.5 percent, across-the-board tuition increase and gave local boards of trustees the flexibility to increase tuition another 6.5 percent for all students except in-state, undergraduate students. The university also received $6.75 million in construction funds to be used for infrastructure renovations and repairs.

The bill transforming the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition into a not-for-profit corporation also was passed by the Legislature and, as of the preparation for this agenda, was awaiting gubernatorial review and action.

All state employees are eligible for a 2 percent pay increase, effective December, 2003, with a minimum increase of $500 and a maximum of $1,400. The employee cost for heath insurance premiums also increased effective in January.

Other business

Adjournment occurred at 2:45 pm.