Minutes
UWF Board of Trustees
Tallahassee, Florida
February 12-13, 2002

Chair Collier Merrill called the meeting of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees to order at 4:06 p.m. on February 12 in the conference room of the Florida Restaurant Association, 230 S. Adams Street. Trustees present were:

Honor Bell
Pam Bilbrey
Travis Bowden
K.C. Clark
Carol Dover
Lornetta Epps
Sharon Hess Herrick
Collier Merrill
JoAnn Morgan
Eddie Phillips

Also present were President Morris Marx, General Counsel Julie Sheppard, Lobbyist Kelly Horton and Deputy Corporate Secretary Keith Goldschmidt.

Chair Collier explained that the purpose of the meeting in Tallahassee was to inform elected officials about the needs of the University of West Florida. No other business of the Board will be conducted.

The Senate confirmation hearings for university boards of trustees are scheduled for February 25, he said.

President Marx explained that the key items being sought from the Legislature this year are $5.7 million for enrollment growth, $7.3 million for facility construction, $2.36 million for the downtown historic properties, $1.2 million for the HAAS Center and IHMC for research and economic development and the devolution of authority to the Board of Trustees.

The meeting recessed at the Florida Restaurant Association at 5 p.m. and reconvened at the Governors Club, 202 S. Adams for a reception attended by numerous elected officials. The reception ended at 7:15 p.m.

The Board reconvened in the House Majority Office at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, February 13. During the course of the day, the Board met with elected officials to highlight the needs of the university. They included Rep. Bev Kilmer, Rep. Donald Brown, Rep. Jerry Melvin, Rep. J.D. Alexander, Rep. Allan Bense, Sen. Durell Peaden, Jr., Secretary of State Katherine Harris, Education Commissioner Charlie Crist, Rep. Holly Benson, Pam Dana, Rep. Jerry Maygarden, Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan and Gov. Jeb Bush.

The meeting adjourned at 2 p.m.