January 15, 2003 Minutes
Boca Raton Campus - Live Oak Pavilion

FAU BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Interim President, Richard Osburn, convened the meeting of the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees on the Boca Raton Campus, at 10:15 a.m. with the following members present:

Scott Adams, Nancy Blosser, Jorge Dominicis, E. Llwyd Ecclestone, Fred Hoffman. Gerri McPherson, Virginia Miller, Pablo Paez, Sherry Plymale, Bruce Warshal and George C. Zoley

Attending by Conference Call: William Bryant and Norman Tripp

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - RICHARD L. OSBURN, Interim President
    Handout - Minutes of November 20, 2002 meeting
    A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the November 20, 2002 meeting. There being no changes or corrections, the minutes were approved unanimously.
  2. COMMENTS BY FBOE CHAIRMAN - Phil Handy
    Dr. Handy presented an update of the Florida Board of Education's role with the implementation of Amendment 11. At their first meeting, the Board of Governors set in motion the power of the local Boards of Trustees.

     FBOE is also looking to reduce the funding to the Bright Futures Scholarship by basing it on community college tuition. They are also looking into a possible change in the guidelines for the Florida Pre-Pay Plan.

     Universities must maintain the two plus two plans with the community colleges to minimize the demand for four year degrees at the community college.
  3. ELECTION OF OFFICERS - DR. RICHARD OSBURN, Interim President
    Nominations for Chairman of the FAU Board of Trustees were requested. Nominees were: Norman Tripp (Ginny Miller) and George Zoley (Sherry Plymale).

    George Zoley was elected Chair receiving the majority of the votes of the Board members (9 to 4).


    ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN - George Zoley, Chairman
    Sherry Plymale was the only nomination received for Vice Chairman.

    Sherry Plymale was elected Vice Chairman by proclamation.
  4. ACTION ITEMS - DR. RICHARD OSBURN, Interim President
    1. Updates on Coming Events
      Friday, January 17, 2003 Dedication of Hibel Museum, MacArthur Campus, Jupiter  
      Friday, May 2, 2003 Commencement 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
      Friday, August 8, 2003 Commencement 10:00 a.m.
      Friday, December 12, 2003 Commencement 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
       
    2. INFORMATION PACKET
      A review of the minutes from all previous Board of Trustees meetings yielded the following pending items:
      1. Excused Absences - background material will be prepared prior to the next BOT meeting and a discussion will be held by the Trustees to develop a policy.
      2. Use of Foundation Money to Supplement Salaries - The proposed policy and all other related actions will be presented to the appropriate committee at its next meeting and then to the BOT. Copies of the FBOE attorney's opinion will be sent to all Board members.
      3. Special Counsel Retained Regarding Union Affiliations and Negotiations - recommendations for the BOT will be developed as additional issues of employment are addressed. PERC hearing will be February 2, 2003.
      4. Updated Booklet of Duties and Responsibilities - distributed to Trustees at today's meeting.
      5. Meetings with Other Boards - The Interim President will meet with the new Chairperson of the BOT to develop a plan of action for acceptance by the BOT at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
      6. Instrument for Evaluation of the President - the requested information will be presented to the appropriate BOT committee prior to the end of the academic year for consideration, followed by submission to the BOT. Dr. Sharron Ronco, Assistant Provost, is in charge of this task.
      7. Negotiations for UF Property (IFAS) in Davie to be transferred to FAU - the committee, consisting of Norman Tripp, Nancy Blosser, and Virginia Miller, will work with Mr. Robert Friedman, University Architect and Vice President to continue and conclude these negotiations.
      8. Modifications of Research Park Procedures - These policies will be presented by Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Dr. Larry Lemanski, to the appropriate committee of the BOT at its next scheduled meeting, and, subsequently submitted to the BOT for consideration and approval.
        1. Policy for Creation of a Technology Council, which includes student representation to review all proposed and pending leases.
        2. Create a policy to assure and require the financial independence of the financial reserves required by the Authority.
        3. Create and establish an Architectural Review Board for review of all proposed buildings.
        4. Provide a policy that creates a process for review and approval by the BOT of all research parks, including the proposed park at Deerfield Beach.
        5. Additionally, the administration is instructed to look at the various issues affecting the relationship between the University and Authority and to prepare recommendations for Board review and approval.
      9. FAU Land Transactions Policy - this policy will be developed and submitted by University Architect and Vice President, Mr. Robert Friedman, to the appropriate committee of the BOT within this academic year and then subsequently to the BOT for consideration and approval.  
        1. DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION FROM BOG MEETING
  5. PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE REPORT - George Zoley, Search Chairman

    Timeline for selection and interview process:
    January 16, 2003 All applications to be received are being sent to the committee members as received. Currently there are eleven new candidates and two who asked to be reconsidered.
    January 21, 2003 First meeting of the committee to consider all the new candidates and reduce to five for interview.
    January 23-24, 2003 Meet and interview five candidates and reduce to three for further interview by campus community and Board of Trustees.
    January 27-30, 2003 Three candidates come to FAU for site visit
    January 31, 2003 BOT final meeting to interview three candidates beginning at 9:00 a.m. with final decision to be made by late afternoon.

    These changes in the Search Committee membership were announced: Dr. Fred Hoffman replaced Dr. Scott Kelso, Gerri McPherson replaced J. Hal Roberts, and, a graduate student has yet to be named by Student Government. Trustee Pablo Paez indicated a name would be submitted within the week.
  6. ACTION ITEMS
    1. Ratification of Presidential Search Committee Decisions and Actions - George Zoley, Search Chairman

      A motion was made and seconded to approve ratification of Presidential Search Committee Memberships, Decisions and Actions. Motion passed unanimously.
    2. Request to Postpone Program Review Report Submission - Kenneth Jessell, Interim Provost

      The request is due to the modification of programs as a result of the College of Liberal Arts being incorporated in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. This plan does not replace the previously offered annual review of programs.

       A motion was made and seconded to approve the request to postpone program review report submission. Motion passed unanimously.
    3. Proposed Five Year Plan for Program Review - Kenneth Jessell, Interim Provost

      The request is to coordinate the Review of Programs with reviews by outside accrediting agencies. This will streamline the review process and produce better efficiency and economy.

       A motion was made and seconded to approve the proposed Five Year Plan for Program Review.
  7. COMMENTS BY THE CHAIRMAN - George Zoley
    With the reaffirmation of devolution of powers to the local Boards, the expectation is that the BOT will be proactive. A meeting schedule of every other month will be established. The main work by the BOT will be through committees. With this in mind the following committees will be established:
    1. Audit/Finance
    2. Academic Affairs and Planning
    3. Governance (Board Policy and Ethics)
    4. Personnel Compensation
    5. Affiliated Organizations (to include Foundation, Research Park, etc.)

    Each committee will be comprised of at least a Chair and two Trustees. Members of the FAU staff will also be asked to work with the committees. Each Trustee should notify the Chairman of the BOT as to the committee on which they would like to serve by the end of this month.

    Meetings of the committees will be at the discretion of the Chairs. All members are invited to attend.

     Request for materials by any committee member can be made directly to the Presidents office without the BOT Chairman's approval.
  8. UNITED FACULTY OF FLORIDA - Gerry Weiss, Secretary of the UFF
    A letter from Michael Harris, President of the FAU Chapter of the UFF, was read and submitted for the record requesting FAU to recognize the UFF as the collective bargaining unit for FAU.
    Chairman Zoley reassured the faculty that the BOT is trying to be cooperative with the guidelines of PERC and will await the outcome of the February 7, 2003 hearing.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.