Minutes
Concord College Board of Governors
December 11, 2003
Teleconference
9:30 a.m.

1. Call to Order and Determination of a Quorum

A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order. Participating were: Mrs. Margaret Sayre, Chairperson; Mr. Daniel Dunmyer, Vice Chairperson; Mr. James Miller, Secretary; Dr. Debbie Akers; Dr. Charles Brichford, Faculty Representative; Mr. James Brown; Mr. Peter Fichthorn, Student Representative; Mr. Eugene Fife; Mr. J. Franklin Long; Mrs. Linda Martin, Classified Representative; Mr. Wayne Meisel; Mr. R. T. Rogers. Cabinet Officers: Mr. James L. Cannon; Mr. Michael Curry; Mr. Rick Dillon; Ms. Anita Lewis; Dr. Bill O’Brien; Dr. Dean Turner; Ms. Loretta Young. Others participating: Ms. Amy Pitzer.

2. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of the October 17, 2003 and October 31, 2003 were approved as mailed.

3. Action Items

a. Governor’s Budget Rescission
Mr. Dunmyer moved the adoption of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, The Concord College Board of Governors directs an annual budget reduction of up to 1.4 percent in the College operations budget, and other expenditure reallocation as necessary to adjust FY 04 expense to anticipated FY 0 4 revenue.

Mr. Brown seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

b. Resolution of Support for Interfaith Chapel
Dr. Brichford moved the adoption of the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the growth and development of a college student is served by spiritual resources as well as academic necessities; and

WHEREAS, the State of West Virginia has recognized the appropriateness of nonsectarian places for ceremonies of faith and personal reflection to be erected on state colleges campuses;

WHEREAS, the Board of Governors of Concord College has stipulated that the appropriate funding be available prior to launching the project, and that the Board have final approval on location and design of the chapel; and

WHEREAS, the interfaith chapel on the Concord College campus has been a goal for more than half a century; and

WHEREAS, a group of citizens has allied themselves as a nonprofit foundation to convert this goal into a reality; and

WHEREAS, funds have also been contributed to the Concord College Alumni Association, Incorporated, specifically for an interfaith chapel, and reside in a distinct account for that purpose; and

WHEREAS, the College administration in concordance with this goal, and had plans to support the effort through major fundraising efforts;

THEREFORE, the Concord College Board of Governors does hereby resolve to support these efforts and to endorse the creation of an interfaith chapel to be located on the Concord campus.

Mr. Brown seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Meisel expressed an interest in serving as an advisor to the Interfaith Chapel Committee.

c. BRIM Penalty Elimination
Dr. Brichford moved the adoption of the following resolution:

RESOLVED, The Concord College Board of Governors requests reinstatement of the $60,000 base budget reduction erroneously imposed on Concord College for allegedly refusing to settle grievances in order to send them to court where the settlements costs would be paid by BRIM.

Mr. Brown seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

4. Chancellor’s Report on Bluefield State College/Concord College Collaboration

a. Discussion of date for a joint meeting with BSC/Concord College Boards of Governors. Location?
Dr. Beasley shared with the Board of Governors Chancellor Mullen’s report on the Bluefield State College/Concord College collaboration (see attachment), and indicated that Board members need to study Dr. Mullen’s report and prepare an analysis and response to suggestions outlined in the report. Dr. Beasley told the Board that Concord is the most efficient public college in the state of West Virginia, and the faculty, students and staff have stretched themselves in remarkable ways to do the best possible job with so few resources.

A joint meeting of the Boards of Governors (Bluefield State and Concord College) with Dr. Mullen in attendance will be held in January to discuss the Chancellor’s report. Dr. Beasley will be contacting Board members to find the most convenient time and location for this meeting. Board members requested that this not be a teleconference meeting.

5. Report on Audit

Should Concord request restoration of the funds relating to dual enrollment program?
Dr. Beasley told members of the Board that Concord has lost approximately $160,000 in the base budget because of Chancellor Mullen’s belief that the College mishandled the dual enrollment program. The College sent to the Chancellor the instructions that were followed in handling dual enrollment at the College, and he approved them, but still indicates that the College might not be doing this correctly. Essentially, the community colleges are more generously funded, and the Chancellor has a consulting report that says he must find ways to shift enrollment from less funded to more funded institutions, an effort to shift enrollment from four-year institutions to the community colleges. It is imperative that the Board take a serious look at the dual enrollment issue as it will have a long-term effect on the College’s enrollment. The College, Dr. Beasley said, has been penalized for the past two years because of the disagreement over dual enrollment, and a decision needs to be made whether or not to ask for restoration of the funds relating to dual enrollment.

Mrs. Sayre asked that the Board receive more information on the dual enrollment issue, and a decision will then be made about the request to restore dual enrollment funds.

6. Information Items

Dr. Beasley invited all members of the Board of Governors to various holiday activities over the next several weeks.

Fall Commencement is Wednesday, December 17, at 5:00 p.m. and all members of the Board are cordially invited to attend.

The College is running an advertisement to promote the College on local television stations the week after Christmas.

7. Other Business

Dr. Brichford moved that the College get a ruling about the legality of Board members voting by proxy when unable to attend meetings. Mr. Long seconded. Motion carried.

Dr. Beasley indicated that he would consult with attorney Bruce Walker for a ruling on this question, and would communicate Mr. Walker’s response to the Board of Governors.

8. Adjournment

Upon a motion by Mr. Dunmyer, seconded by Mr. Brown, and unanimously approved, the meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,



Margaret J. Sayre, Chairperson



James L. Miller, Secretary


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Attachment