WASHBURN UNIVERSITY OF TOPEKA
BOARD OF REGENTS
MINUTES
September 11, 1996
_______________________________________________________________________
I. Chairperson Roth called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Kansas Room of the
Memorial Union.
II. Present were: Mr. Dick, Mr. Ferrell, Mr. Felker, Mrs. Parks, Mrs. Porter, Dr. Robinson
and Mr. Roth.
III. It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of July 24, 1996 and
August 21-22, 1996 as circulated. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. New Business
* C.Campus Beautification
President Thompson introduced Dr. Paul Boatwright who is the chairperson of an
ad hoc campus beautification committee formed last July. Dr. Boatwright said
when the committee began its work in July of 1995 it was "on a bus trip that had
no itinerary, compass, map or any money." He said the vision was to develop a
sculpture walk around the campus as a whole, including the acquisition of some
permanent works. He said, however, that the committee would not itself be able
to raise the $30,000-$40,000-$50,000 necessary for one piece of work. He said
that in light of that, the committee developed a competition to feature works of
sculptors across the nation and elsewhere. He said for this academic year there
were 60 pieces entered in the competition with inquiries from France and Belgium.
Nine pieces will be installed this year. Opening ceremonies for the sculpture will
be held during homecoming weekend.
Dr. Boatwright said he believed, as did the committee, that a master landscaping
plan for the University is essential. He said that the committee really is restricted
in terms of finances and cannot do that itself. He said that they went to Kansas
State University where they obtained a bid which, including indirect costs, totals
approximately $21,000 and another proposal from Landplan engineering in
Lawrence, Kansas. He said the committee's chief concern is that the University
have a master plan to which we can all refer so that things do not occur "willy
nilly" and to provide very strong guidelines. There was a good deal of discussion
about the requirements of a master landscaping plan. It was the consensus of the
Board that the institution should seek to have a master landscaping plan;
however, when developing a proposal for a firm to develop a master landscaping
plan, there needs to be some parameters set with respect to capital costs and
maintenance costs.
The item was presented for information only at this meeting.
* Item taken out of order with the consent of the Board at the meeting.
It was moved and seconded to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing
matters relating to employer-employee negotiations for a period not to exceed 20 minutes
and to reconvene in open session at 7:50 p.m. in the Kansas Room of the Memorial Union.
Motion passed unanimously. The Board recessed to Executive Session in the Cottonwood
Room of the Memorial Union at 7:30 p.m.
At 7:50 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session. It was moved and seconded to
recess to Executive Session for a period not to exceed 20 minutes for the purpose of
discussing matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and to reconvene in open
session at the conclusion thereof in the Kansas Room of the Memorial Union. Motion
passed unanimously. The Board recessed to Executive Session in the Cottonwood Room
of the Memorial Union.
At 8:10 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session in the Kansas Room. It was moved
and seconded to recess to Executive Session for a period not to exceed 5 minutes for the
purpose of continuing discussion of matters relating to employer-employee negotiations.
Motion passed unanimously.
At 8:15 p.m. the Board reconvened in open session in the Kansas Room of the Memorial
Union. Chairperson Roth announced that the Board had been in Executive Session for the
purpose of discussing matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and that no
action had been taken.
A. University's Health and Dental Plan Renewals
Vice President Mosiman made a presentation concerning the administration's and
faculty personnel committee's recommendation with respect to the renewal of the
University's health and dental insurance coverage. It was moved and seconded to
approve the Faculty Personnel Committee recommendations numbered 1), 2), and
4) and that the ad hoc committee comprised of Mrs. Parks and Mayor Felker work
with various entities on the campus such as the University's Budget Committee,
Faculty Personnel Committee and others, to develop a long range plan with
respect to health care coverage at the University including the possibility of
University contributions toward employee plus dependent coverage and/or
separate funding/account for the health care plan itself. Motion passed
unanimously.
As approved by the Board of Regents, the University will renew "the current
health care plan with Blue Cross/Blue Shield; add the Drug Card rider to the Blue
Select Plan; and, change the Dental Plan to Blue Cross/Blue Shield" from Mutual
of Omaha.
B. Request for Proposal to Design, Construct and Manage Student Housing for
Washburn University of Topeka
Vice President Sheley made a presentation of the proposed request for proposals
for the addition of housing located on the University's campus. Dr. Sheley
indicated that the work on the RFP had been done by a committee comprised of
Dr. Langdon, Mr. Kidd, W.S.A. president Danielle King, staff architect Leonard
Eudaley, Mr. Dickes and himself. Vice President Sheley said he's already had two
firms express an interest in receiving the RFP and that there will be efforts to
make other prospective developers aware of the RFP including putting it into the
Dodge publication. It was moved and seconded to authorize the release of the
RFP with amendments striking the last two paragraphs of Section 4.3 and revision
to be made to Section 5 and/or Section 6 to make clear that prospective
proposers have the ability to pick and choose which phase(s) it may wish to
propose as well as the scope of the project within each phase. Motion passed
unanimously.
D. Policies
1. Proposed Changes to the University's Educational Assistance Program
Policies/Procedures
It was moved and seconded to approve the proposed amendments to the
University's Employee Educational Assistance Program. Motion passed
unanimously.
E. Expenditures over $25,000
1.General Assessment Services (KTWU)
It was moved and seconded to approve payment of the General Assessment
Service fee to PBS in the amount of $77,692.23. Motion passed
unanimously.
F. Personnel
1.Faculty Personnel - R. Smith
It was moved and seconded to approve the appointment of Russell Smith as
Director of Graduate Programs for the School of Business; transferring
$34,140 from position line #32000-20-2 to #32000-02-2 for a total annual
salary of $64,560. Motion passed unanimously.
2.Faculty Personnel - Position Upgrade
It was moved and seconded to upgrade position #41000-05-1 to Reference
Coordinator/Government Documents and Electronic Services Librarian at an
annual basic salary of $35,040. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Financial Reports
1.Financial Information - WEA
It was moved and seconded to receive the report from the Washburn
Endowment Assn. titled Endowment Fund market Value and Share Value
Determination for the period ended 06/30/96. Motion passed unanimously.
2.-4. It was moved and seconded to approve the Public Fund Investment,
Depository Security Transactions and Liquidated Claims Approval as set forth
in agenda items IV.G.2.-4. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson Roth presented a proposed "Board's Charge to the Search Committee." It
was moved and sseconded to approve the charge. Motion passed unanimously. The
charge is attached.
It was moved and seconded to recess to Executive Session for a period not to exceed 20
minutes for the purpose of continuing discussion of matters relating to employer-employee
negotiations and to reconvene in open public session at the conclusion thereof in the
Kansas Room of the Memorial Union. Motion passed unanimously. At 9:25 p.m. the
Board recessed to Executive Session in the Kansas Room of the Memorial Union. At
9:42 p.m. the Board reconvened in open public session in the Kansas Room of the
Memorial Union. Chairperson Roth reported that the Board had met in Executive Session
for the purpose of discussing employer-employee negotiations and that no action had been
taken.
It was moved and seconded to adjourn. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at
9:42 p.m.
______________________
Kenneth P. Hackler
Secretary, Board of Regents
Board's Charge to the Search Committee
As the Presidential Search Committee, you are charged with recommending to the Board,
not later than December 31, 1996, an unranked list of three to five persons who, in the
Committee's judgment, are well qualified to lead Washburn University as its next
president. The Search Committee is to base its recommendations upon the Presidential
specifications and characteristics approved by the Board of Regents, as well as upon the
University's established policies with respect to equal opportunity.
The Presidential Search Committee, with the assistance of the Board's executive search
consultant, is expected to perform the following activities in discharging its duties.
Actively solicit nominations and applications from a diverse group of well-qualified
persons, including women and minorities;
Oversee the receipt of and responses to applications and nominations from all
sources;
Screen applications using the presidential specifications and characteristics as the
basis for choice;
Select and interview semifinalist candidates;
Assist in checking references of semifinalists;
Assist in arranging campus visits for finalist candidates and guests;
Report to the Board a summary of campus and community reactions to finalist
candidates;
Ensure that appropriate information about the University and the presidency is
provided to candidates at each stage of the screening process; and,
Ensure that confidentiality is strictly observed with respect to applicants and to
the Committee's internal deliberations.
The Board of Regents extends its gratitude to the members of the Presidential Search
Committee for accepting these responsibilities. Please know you have our best wishes as
the future of the University rests with the Committee.