Minutes
UWF Board of Trustees
Telephone conference call
May 22, 2002

Chair Collier Merrill called the meeting of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees to order at 8:34 a.m. Trustees present were:

Honor Bell
Pam Bilbrey
Angie Bowler
K.C. Clark
Carol Dover
Sharon Hess Herrick
Collier Merrill
JoAnn Morgan
Eddie Phillips
Roy Smith

Chair Merrill informed the Board that the Trustee Search Committee meets on Friday, May 24 at 8:30 a.m. All trustees who can should attend that meeting in person and the others connect via telephone conference call because the full Board will meet immediately at the conclusion of the Trustee Search Committee.

President Morris Marx said that he has received no transmission from the Florida Board of Education or the Legislature on the budget, but more information will be available at the June BOT meeting. He complimented the Board for its success in lobbying the Legislature so all of the enrollment is funded at UWF. That will cover the $3.2 million cut instituted last year, plus there will be some additional money. There also is an additional allocation for the branch campuses. The increased money will help in the expansion of electrical engineering at Fort Walton Beach and the development of the nursing program.

Regarding PECO, the state appropriated $6.9 million for the Health, Leisure, Sports Center, which will complete the complex, Dr. Marx said. The Senate, however, did not agree with the House position to appropriate funds for the renovation of downtown historic properties, and that will have to wait until next year. The School Code rewrite passed, he said. On another note, four people have been appointed to the county commission to replace those who have been suspended, pending criminal charges. Two of the gubernatorial appointees, Janice Gilley and Tim Wright, are UWF employees, Marx said.

Dr. Marx also reported that the Florida Board of Education adopted a resolution for Florida State University to work with Chippola Community College on implementing programs. He contacted the interim chancellor to ask why FSU was chosen instead of UWF, a regional university with existing ties to Chippola. He hoped that this was not a trend. The interim chancellor reported that FSU has a statewide mission. Meanwhile Vice President Parks Dimsdale is working with FSU for some UWF involvement in the new programs.

Trustee Morgan reported that the Strategic Plan was approved by the University Planning Council, and it will be brought to the full Board at the June meeting.

Approval of minutes

Trustee Dover moved and Trustee Phillips seconded approval of the minutes from the April 12 meeting. It passed unanimously.

Agenda item 1

Trustee Morgan said that the idea to transform the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition into a DSO has been in the works for years. She suggested the resolution before the Board be adopted because it authorizes the Board to explore the advantages and disadvantages. It is a lengthy process that may take as much as a year.

Trustee Smith said that IHMC does have a compelling story. He suggested that during the exploration process, the research wing of the university be consulted. They may have some questions, he said.

Trustee Phillips said he has met with IHMC officials and feels comfortable with the direction it is going, and he hopes the Board can be provided with periodic reports on the progress.

Dr. Marx said the approach outlined in the resolution makes good sense. The slowest part of the process may be getting the tax status, he said.

Trustee Morgan moved adoption of the resolution. Trustees Bell and Clark seconded it. It was adopted by a unanimous vote.

Agenda item 2

Dr. Marx explained that during the next year the Board will receive more items of this nature as the transfer of powers to the local boards of trustees continues. Because a chancellor's memorandum was rescinded, the Board of Trustees is required to adopt this policy on honorary awards.

Trustee Bell moved and Trustee Bilbrey seconded a motion to adopt the policy. It passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 a.m.