Members Present: Trustees Busch-Transou, Jim Cobbe, June Duda, David Ford, Manny Garcia, Andrew Haggard, Harold Knowles, Richard McFarlain, Ann McGee, Joe O’Shea, Leslie Pantín and Jim Smith participated in the conference call.

Members Absent: Trustee Derrick Brooks had an excused absence.

1.     Call to Order and Welcome

Chairman Jim Smith called the meeting to order and welcomed new SGA president Joe O’Shea to the Board of Trustees.

2.    Action Items:

Approval of the Academic Calendar for 2007-2008

Dr. Lawrence G. Abele, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, presented the 2007-2008 Academic Calendar for approval. Trustee Cobbe made a motion to approve the Academic Calendar for 2007-2008. Trustee Busch-Transou seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Approval of M.S. Degree in Art Therapy

Dr. Abele asked for approval of the new M.S. degree in Art Therapy. Trustee Busch-Transou made a motion to approve the M.S. Degree in Art Therapy. Trustee Cobbe seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Approval of Booster By-Laws

Ms. Lee Hinkle asked the Board to approve the amended Seminole Booster By-Laws. Trustee Duda made a motion to approve the amended Booster By-Laws. Trustee Haggard seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Approval of Fees for Child Care Centers

Dr. Mary Coburn asked the Board to approved the revised fees for the Child Care Centers. Trustee Cobbe made a motion to approve the revised Fees for Child Care Centers. Trustee Duda seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Approval of the Center for Professional Development/Parking Garage V Projects

Mr. John Carnaghi explained the plan for demolishing the existing Center for Professional Development (CPD) Building and rebuilding a parking garage and the Center on the current location. Trustee Cobbe asked several questions about the project and expressed concern about program operations being interrupted, the state of the current building, and the cost efficiency of building an entirely new building in a tight budget year before the University knows what it’s budget will be for the next fiscal year. He asked if the decision could be delayed. President Wetherell indicated that it is a matter of prioritizing projects on campus and it would not accomplish anything to delay the project and may result in higher construction costs. He further explained that moving forward would initiate necessary improvements in the Gaines Street quarter that the City of Tallahassee has been seeking. The current facility needs costly repairs and a new parking garage and facility would provide the University with greater opportunities. It is also important to have the new parking garage ready for the Fall semester. Trustee Duda made a motion to approve the new Center for Professional Development/Parking Garage V. Trustee Pantín seconded the motion. The motion was approved by all trustees with one “nay” by Dr. Cobbe who wished to abstain because of his concerns about CPD but endorsement of a new parking garage, but could not do so under law.

3.    Legislative Update
 
President Wetherell provided a Legislative Update to the Board. He said that most of the major issues were in the budget and were at various stages in the process.

4.   Foundation/Booster Fundraising Campaign

President Wetherell said that a new fundraising campaign would be initiated in the Fall and would include efforts by all of the Direct Service Organizations, working together on a huge goal. Additionally, there will be fundraising staff located at the College of Medicine clinical campus sites around the state.

5.   Legal Update
           
Ms. Betty Steffens, University General Counsel, presented a legal update. She discussed the lawsuit, Floridians for Constitutional Integrity vs. the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors, which resulted in a mediation settlement and a summary final judgment order declaring 10 of the education code statutes unconstitutional. Two of the statutes involved powers of the Board of Trustees and presidents.  The Boards of Trustees have had their powers delegated to them by virtue of a resolution that the Board of Governors passed January 7, 2003. Ms. Steffens indicated that in an abundance of caution and in order to make certain the President’s powers continue forward in light of the fact that the statute that grants him authority was stricken in the case, there is a resolution that returns the University President’s powers to the status quo of the statute. The adoption o fthe resolution also ratified the President’s prior action. Trustee Haggard made a motion to approve a new delegation of authority to the President. Trustee O’Shea seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

6.    President's Report
         
President Wetherell presented a brief report to the Board. First, he discussed the FSU/FAMU Engineering School. Second, he said that acceptance letters had been sent out for the Fall semester. Third, in two months the University will open a Valencia Campus in Spain. Fourth, Pathways is moving along with the final selection of the next five or six clusters underway. Finally, President Wetherell asked for a motion on the Chemistry Building. Trustee Cobbe made the motion that the new Chemistry Building be called the Lawrence G. Abele Chemistry Building. Trustee O’Shea seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

7.   Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM.