Members Present: Wanda Carpenter, Kathryn Choate, Nancy Jared (presiding), Gina Padgett, David Walker, Debra Walker

Others Present: President Robert Bell, Sue Pogue

Chairperson Jared opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. The meeting began with comments by President Bell.

President Bell welcomed everyone in attendance to the meeting and announced that the University has attained a record enrollment with 8,890 students enrolled for the fall semester. This number is 237 above last year’s enrollment. The University is on schedule to reach the 10,000-enrollment goal set for 2005. Professor Tolbert and the admissions representatives are all to be commended for the enrollment increase.

Orientation activities and events during Tech Pride Days provided a great kickoff for the academic year. President Bell expressed his gratitude to everyone involved for the success of these events.

The new fiscal year began with reasonably good news compared to some of the alternatives the legislature reviewed during the budgetary process. The University’s budget is stable at present. The administration is trying to make a substantial impact on salaries by proposing an additional 1% across-the-board (ATB) salary increase to go with the legislated 2% ATB increase allowed by TBR guidelines this year; therefore, all employees should receive a 3% ATB increase in January. Also, compensation plans have been addressed with an additional salary increase pool of 2.7 to 3.0%, retroactive to

July 1, to be distributed in October paychecks. All proposed salary increases are subject to TBR approval and will be presented at the Board’s September meeting.

President Bell commended the Facilities and Business Services unit for their efforts in keeping the construction of the new residence hall complex on schedule. New gateways to the University are also underway and near completion. 

Recently, the Boeing Corporation pledged $1 million to fund four faculty supplemental grants to create the Harry Stonecipher Professors of Distinction in Information Technology. This gift was in honor of Mr. Stonecipher’s retirement from Boeing. In addition to the Boeing pledge, Stonecipher and wife Joan have pledged an additional $1 million to the University’s Capital Campaign Fund.

The THEC/TBR "Defining Our Future" reviews are still ongoing. The University has been mandated to bring degree programs down to 120 hours, and a review of the costs of intercollegiate athletic programs is underway also. Degree program reviews have been completed for both the School of Agriculture and the College of Engineering, and an on-campus Task Force to review low-producing programs has been working diligently over the summer to complete its assignment. These initiatives by THEC/TBR are driven with the focus of increasing efficiency and reducing state costs in higher education.

Congratulations to the following Tech ambassadors:

June—Diane Ledbetter, Athletics Department administrative assistant
July—Donald Anderson, Food Service worker
August—Sonja Savage, Business Office cashier
September—Suzanne Henry, grants fiscal clerk in the Center for Manufacturing Research

The following statement was submitted through the Suggestion Box:

Suggestion: Dress down casual clothing should not be allowed in the Business Office and for payroll employees. Business casual is okay but no jeans (pants) and jean dresses should be tasteful.

Mr. Terry Rector, Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs, was asked to respond to the statement. His response follows:

Response: University-wide policy has allowed for a more casual dress code during the summer months and on Fridays throughout the year. This policy has been a much-needed morale booster during these years with little or no salary increases. Our current practices will continue as long as it does not violate university-wide policy. Should it occur, instances of inappropriate or offensive dress will be handled on an individual basis.

Mr. Rector was also asked to respond to a second suggestion that was received. Suggestion and response follows:

Suggestion: The Business Office needs more than one person for loan accounting office.

Response: We currently have two full-time employees in Loan Accounting. Both of these employees are very considerate about scheduling leave around peak hours; however, sometimes it is unavoidable. Every attempt is made to cover the area adequately when this happens. Due to budget reductions through the years, one full-time position has been eliminated from this area and probably would not be reinstated even if funding became available again. This area has become increasingly automated, and that, along with two excellent employees, allows this area to function well at current staffing levels.

Ms. Pogue—Director of Human Resources, had previously distributed a listing of non-faculty grievance pool members. She read the names of the individuals on the list; there were no questions pertaining to the pool membership.

President Bell presided over the presentation of service pins to clerical and support staff (list of recipients attached). Respective deans and supervisors assisted with the presentation.

The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.

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