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University Council Minutes
January 23, 2007
University Council Meeting January 23, 2007 4:00 p.m., Dan Rather Room DRAFT - NOT APPROVED Members Present: Steve Alexander, Richard Anderson, Jerry Brody, Bruce Cain, Julie Cowley, Paul Gaffney, Jim Hunt, Beverly Jones, Jim Kilfoyle, Jacquie Muir-Broaddus, Tom Oliver, Gulnar Rawji, Francie Schroeder, Jake Schrum, David Stones, Ron Swain, Walt Potter, and student members Janet Del Real, and Spencer Piercy. Guests included Ellen Davis, Dirk Early, Bill Henry, Gary Logan, Bob Paver, and Joe Wilson. President Schrum called the Council meeting to order at 12:15 PM. Approval of Minutes: The Minutes from the November 28, 2006 meeting were approved. Pet Policy: Dirk Early reported that six individuals (Sarah Jessup, Nicole Morilak, Bob Paver, JR Marquez, Jimmy Smith, and Laura Hobgood-Oster) had volunteered to serve on a committee to draft a pet policy for SU. The Council voted to authorize the committee to begin work. On-campus Conference Center. Richard Anderson reported that the 2010 Plan includes construction of a conference center in the northeast section of the SU property. Sodexho had volunteered to conduct a preliminary feasibility study,pro-bono, and Mr. Bill Henry presented his findings to the Council. All of his research supported the need for such a center within Williamson County, and he felt the SU location was advantageous, especially with the opening of Texas Highway 130. Jake Schrum reported that, based on these preliminary findings, the SU Senior Staff was asking PKF Consulting to proceed with a comprehensive feasibility study. All-Faiths Center and Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. In the November 28th Council discussion of modifications to the SU Strategic Plan, Council members had requested more information regarding the addition of an item for the construction of a building which would house both an All-Faiths Center and an Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. Bishop Joe Wilson and Beverly Jones presented information about both entities, including endorsement by the Diversity Enrichment Committee. The Council discussed various aspects. That proposal will be part of the Strategic Plan update when it comes back from Senior Staff - possibly in February. Jake Schrum indicated that separate funding would be sought for the building. Budget Update. Richard Anderson gave his annual update on the budget process, discussing various aspects of the financial model used by the Budget Committee in making recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Meeting Adjourned: 1:15 PM. Respectfully submitted, David H. Stones Report for Faculty Meeting: The University Council met on January 23, 2007. It received a report on the preliminary feasibility study on a conference center, plus information on a proposed All-Faiths Center and Institute for Peace and Reconciliation. It endorsed the creation of a six-person committee to draft a University Pet Policy. The financial model used for budget proposals was also discussed.
