The Eastern Kentucky University Board of Regents, meeting in regular session Monday, June 8, extended President Doug Whitlock’s contract by two years, following a favorable evaluation conducted by the Board of the University’s 11th leader.
Whitlock, a two-time graduate of the University whose administrative career at EKU spans parts of five decades, is completing his second year as EKU President. His contract now runs through July 31, 2013.
“We have appreciated his steady hand in these uncertain times,” said Hunter Bates, Chair of the Board, citing overwhelmingly positive response from all segments of the campus community to Whitlock’s leadership.
The Board also approved a $218 million operating budget for the 2009-10 academic year, a 2.4 percent increase over the previous year. An additional $70 million in restricted funds (government grants and contracts) brings the total budget to $288 million.
The meeting was held at the University’s new Manchester campus. The Stivers Building, named in honor of State Sen. Robert Stivers, was dedicated in formal ceremonies earlier in the day.
The University’s budget incorporates a 4 percent tuition rate increase for undergraduate and graduate students, approved by the Board at its last meeting. Tuition and fees account for 51 percent of the current unrestricted fund revenues and 60 percent of total public funds. At the same time, the 2009-10 budget includes institutional financial aid increases of more than $1.5 million, or 6.8 percent.
The budget does not include a salary increase for faculty and staff.
The University’s 2009-10 budget reflects the state appropriation decreases that occurred during the current fiscal year. In addition, a provision in anticipation of further reductions in state appropriations during 2009-10 is included. Since January 2008, three state appropriation reductions have totaled more than $6 million.
“Where possible and appropriate, the University absorbed the reductions through general base budget pools such as the deferred maintenance budget and the contingency fund, while keeping a significant portion of these pools intact,” said Deborah Newsom, vice president of financial affairs, in presenting the proposed budget. “In addition, vacant positions were reduced or eliminated through attrition and/or workload reassignments.
“There has also been a continued focus on efficiency, cost savings, cost avoidance and reallocation, as well as technology reliance to enhance service and efficiency.”
Approximately 47 percent of the 2009-10 EKU budget goes to instruction and academic support.
“The University continues to be committed to its core mission of educating students,” Newsom said.
The Board also approved the 2009-10 tuition rates for Model Laboratory School. For students in grades 1-12, tuition will be $1,933, up from $1,916 the past year. For nursery students, tuition rises from $3,681 to $3,828. For kindergarten students, tuition rises from $2,096 to $2,180. The technology fee for K-12, textbook fee for 9-12 and screening fee all remain the same.
In other business, Regents approved:
• Faculty Emeritus status for Joy Allameh, Ross Clark, Ron Dean, Bonnie Gray, David Sefton, Guenter Schuster, Kerstin Warner, Frank Williams, John Thomas, Joanne Guilfoil, Dena Demaree, Anne Blakeney, Joan Jinks and Cedaliah Melton.
• the creation of a certificate program in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• the creation of an Associate Degree of General Studies, which is intended to be an initial step toward a baccalaureate degree. The program is expected to be especially attractive to adult learners.
The Board also received a project update from James Street, Associate Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities Management. Street informed the Regents that:
• construction on the New Science Building is on schedule, in spite of wet spring weather. Steel erection is scheduled to begin in July.
• construction on Phase 2 of the Business & Technology Center (a performing arts center and an academic addition) is also on schedule.
• the University’s intramural fields, now under renovation, should be ready for play this fall, barring significant rain delays.
• work will begin immediately on the design drawings for the Stratton Building addition.
