IHL Oct. 2006 meeting highlights

http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/admin/downloads/BdOct06.pdf


Mr. Thomas W. Colbert was absent. (p. 1)

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2. System Administration - New academic units, as follows:

a. USM - create the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center. This extensive scope and outreach center will serve to develop a marine aquaculture enterprise using technologies for large-scale culture of key coastal marine fish species. The $63,000,000 center will be funded through state and federal sources including the use of some $40,000,000 in bonding authority made available to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources during the 2006 Legislative Session.

b. USM (Information item.) - Establish the Center for Spectator Sport Security. This limited scope and outreach center will focus on research, education, and outreach efforts in sports event security. The Center will be funded through state and federal grants.

A motion was made by Dr. Neely, seconded by Ms. Robinson, to approve agenda item #2a above which creates the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center. This would formally name the center and define the relationships between the separate operations that have been ongoing since 1998. Dr. Neely withdrew the motion.

On motion by Ms. Whitten, seconded by Ms. Robinson, with Mr. Colbert absent and not voting, the Board approved the naming of the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center deferring any decisions concerning the scope, spending levels and further planning until the next regular Board meeting. (pp. 1-2)

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4. System Administration (Information item.) - The Board received the Annual Report on Tenure and Post-Tenure Review. The report is included in the bound October 18-19, 2006 Board Working File. (p. 2)

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4. USM - Approved the initiation of IHL 210-237, Aquaculture Demonstration Laboratory, Cedar Point, and the appointment of Allred-McNabb Architects of Pascagoula as the project professionals. This project will expand the research and demonstration facilities at the Cedar Point campus of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. The cost of this project is estimated to be $850,000 and will be funded by university sources.

5. USM - Approved the initiation of IHL 210-238, Aquaculture Visitor’s Center, Phase III, Cedar Point, and appointment of Allred-McNabb Architects of Pascagoula as the project professionals. This project will construct a public interactive marine aquaculture education and training facility at the Cedar Point campus of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs. The cost of this project is estimated to be $950,000 and will be funded by university sources.

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8. USM - Approved the Construction Documents prepared by Walter Bolton and authorize advertising for the receipt of bids for IHL 210-235, Infrastructure Project, Cedar Point. The cost of this project is estimated to be $1,400,000 and will be funded by university sources.

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13. USM - Approved the purchase of property at 513 and 515 North 25 th Avenue in Hattiesburg, MS. The purchase price of $109,250 is the average of two appraisals on the property. University funds will be used for the purchase. (pp. 5-6)

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4. USM - Dr. Thelma Roberson has requested that the Board consider granting a review of USM’s decision to deny the award of tenure, pursuant to Board Policy 403.0105 Appeals. (THIS ITEM WAS TAKEN UP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.) (p. 7)

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Payment of legal fees for professional services rendered by Adams & Reese (Statement dated 8/15/06) from the funds of The University of Southern Mississippi. (This statement represents services and expenses in connection with the Servedio case.) TOTAL DUE.......................................................$315.00 (p. 8)

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Payment of legal fees for professional services rendered by Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada (Statement dated 8/15/06) from the funds of The University of Mississippi. (This statement represents services and expenses in connection with a patent application for “Hydraulic Conductivity Interpretation.”) TOTAL DUE......................................................$2,837.50 (p. 10)

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COMMISSIONER’S REPORT...

8. In good news from around the IHL System, the prestigious Milken Institute recently ranked The University of Southern Mississippi #86 in the world for Biotech Patents, the only Mississippi university to make the top 100—ahead of Northwestern, LSU, Tufts and Case Western.

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13. The Board’s hard work in the search for a President at Alcorn State University and The University of Southern Mississippi continues. Alcorn State’s Board Search Committee chaired by Dr. Magee met on October 2 nd with Alcorn’s various constituency groups to hear what they want in their next president. This information is used to build a profile and job description, which is in its final stages. The Search Advisory Committee will be appointed shortly. The Board Search Committee for The University of Southern Mississippi chaired by Ms. Robinson will meet on Thursday, November 9 th, for its all-day listening session. I want to introduce Ms. Annie Mitchell, the IHL Director of Media Relations, Communications and Marketing Department. Ms. Mitchell will give you a brief tour of the Board Search Committees’ website.

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15. Next month will be a one-day business meeting on November 15 th in the IHL Board Room. The next morning the Board will travel as a group to the Gulf Coast for a tour and also to see Gulf Park and the Garden Park hospital where classes are being held. A visit will also be made to the Biloxi Sun Herald for a presentation on the progress made on the Coast since Katrina. Mr. Robert Bass, IHL Project Director— Gulf Coast operations, is coordinating this trip. (pp. 14-15)

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EXECUTIVE SESSION
Wednesday, October 18, 2006

On motion by Dr. Magee, with Mr. Colbert and Mr. Owens absent and not voting, the Board voted to close the meeting to determine whether or not it should declare an Executive Session. On motion by Ms. Whitten, seconded by Ms. Robinson, with Mr. Colbert absent and not voting, the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the reason later reported by the President in Open Session and stated in these minutes, as follows:

Discussion of two personnel matters at The University of Southern Mississippi. Discussion of a personnel matter at Mississippi University for Women.

On motion by Ms. Robinson, seconded by Ms. Newton, with Mr. Colbert absent and not voting, the Board voted to return to Open Session.

On motion by Dr. Magee, seconded by Dr. Davidson, with Mr. Colbert absent and not voting, the Board expressed the following:
1. its full support for President Claudia Limbert at Mississippi University for Women;
2. that an affiliation agreement is required between the IHL institutions and any group desiring to affiliate with these institutions; and
3. that the affiliation agreement proposed by the Mississippi University for Women to the institution’s alumni board has the full support of the Board of Trustees.

Due to time constraints, discussion of the two personnel items at The University of Southern Mississippi was postponed until the following morning. (p. 15)

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EXECUTIVE SESSION
Thursday, October 19, 2006

On motion by Dr. Magee, with Mr. Owens absent and not voting, the Board voted to close the meeting to determine whether or not it should declare an Executive Session. On motion by Ms. Newton, seconded by Ms. Robinson, with Mr. Owens absent and not voting, the Board voted to go into Executive Session for the reason later reported by the President in Open Session and stated in these minutes, as follows:

Discussion of two personnel matters at The University of Southern Mississippi.

On motion by Ms. Newton, seconded by Dr. Davidson, with Mr. Owens absent and not voting, the Board voted to return to Open Session.

On motion by Ms. Whitten, seconded by Ms. Robinson, with Mr. Owens absent and not voting, the Board voted to deny Dr. Thelma Roberson’s request for the Board to review The University of Southern Mississippi’s denial of tenure to Dr. Roberson.

On motion by Mr. Blakeslee, seconded by Mr. Estess, with Mr. Owens absent and not voting, the Board voted to have Commissioner Meredith send a letter of reprimand to Dr. Shelby Thames, President of The University of Southern Mississippi, for specific university personnel’s failure to obtain the permission of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History prior to demolishing Weathersby Hall and the ROTC building on the Hattiesburg campus. The Board also approved the development of a policy instructing the universities that the Mississippi Department of Archives and History must give approval prior to the demolition of any university buildings. (p. 16)