UHS - Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE MEETING
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
SPECIAL CALLED
BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING

April 3, 2007

Members Present:	Members Absent:
Leroy L. Hermes, Chair Michael J. Cemo, Vice Chair Calvin W. Stephens, Secretary Dennis D. Golden Raul A. Gonzalez Lynden B. Rose Christopher Sharpe Welcome W.Wilson Jim P. Wise	Morgan Dunn O’Connor

The University of Houston System Board of Regents convened in the Athletics/Alumni Building, Melcher Board Room 100B, at the University of Houston on Tuesday, April 3, 2007. Noting the presence of a quorum, Chair Hermes called the meeting to order at 11:02 a.m.

Action:

Regent Gonzalez moved approval of the minutes from the following meetings:

January 18, 2007, Special Called Board of Regents Meeting
January 30, 2007, Audit Committee Meeting
January 30, 2007, Endowment Management Committee Meeting
January 31, 2007, Board of Regents Meeting
February 15, 2007, Board of Regents Meeting

Regent Cemo seconded the motion and the minutes were passed as presented.

The next item on the agenda was Item D, Honorary Degrees – May 2007 – University of Houston. Chairman Hermes turned the meeting over to Dr. Foss to present this item.

Dr. Foss presented the following item for consideration by the board:

Honorary Degrees – May 2007 – University of Houston – Approval is requested to seek formal ratification for the conferral of an honorary degree by the University of Houston for the following individuals:
- Leonard Rauch
- Ray E. Miller
These conferrals will take place at the Spring 2007 commencement ceremonies.

Regent Golden moved approval of the item. Regent Stephens seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

There being no further business, the board recessed for the meeting of the Administration and Strategic Planning Committee Meeting at 11:17 a.m.

ADMINISTRATION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Chairman Hermes asked Regent Wise to give the report of the Administration and Strategic Planning Committee.

Regent Wise called the meeting to order at 11:17 a.m. and asked Dr. John Rudley to present the two action items for approval.

Dr. Rudley presented the following two items for consideration by the committee:

Purchase of a ¼ Acre Property Adjacent to the UH-Downtown Campus – UH System
Approval is requested to purchase a tract of downtown property of approximately 11, 325 sq. ft. in size, from Union Pacific Railroad. The tract is located on the NW corner of a larger tract already owned by the UH System, bordered by Washington, Milam, and Louisiana streets on the edge of Houston’s Central Business District. With this tract, UH-Downtown will have sufficient land to one day construct a building on the site. Approval is also requested for a Delegation of Authority to the Chancellor to negotiate and execute the contract with the seller upon agreement of the General Terms and Conditions. The purchase of this tract will be approximately $430,000, or $38/sq. ft. The funds for the purchase will be Higher Education Assistance Funds.
FY 2008 Tuition and Fee Changes – UH System - Approval is requested for tuition and fee rate changes for the University of Houston System campuses. The requested changes are rates to be charged starting in the Fall 2007 semester. The estimated revenue to be realized from the tuition and fee changes is presented for each university in the supporting documentation. Policies governing the payment or refund of tuition, fees, and other charges are approved by the Board of Regents of the University of Houston System and comply with applicable state statutes. Tuition and fees are subject to change by legislative or Board action and become effective on the date enacted.
Dr. Rudley presented the recommended changes for the University of Houston; Dr. William Staples, President of UH-Clear Lake, Dr. Max Castillo, President of UH-Downtown, and Dr. Tim Hudson, President of UH-Victoria, all presented their recommended FY 2008 Tuition and Fees Changes for their respective campuses. Mr. Danny Ochoa, SGA President for UH-Clear Lake and SGA President for UH-Downtown and the current Student Regent on the Board of Regents, Christopher Sharpe, each gave brief remarks pertaining to the students from their respective campuses on the proposed increase in tuition and fees for FY 2008.

The approval of this recommendation establishes the maximum amount that a campus may increase designated tuition and fees which may be lowered if the legislature appropriates additional general revenue. Each campus will seek to reduce the maximum amount approved for the Fall 2007 semester based upon the relationship of every $1 dollar in increased designated tuition to state general revenue allocations.

A copy of the entire presentation is on file in the Board office.

Regent Wilson moved committee approval of the items as presented. Regent Cemo seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

Regent Cemo moved Board approval of the items as presented. Regent Gonzalez seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Pursuant to Subchapter D of Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, which allows governing boards to meet in closed session, the Board of Regents went into Executive Session at 1:15 p.m.

At 2:10 p.m. Chairman Hermes recessed the Executive Session to allow the regents to attend Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s press conference that was being held in N65 Engineering Building 1 at 2:30 p.m.

At 3:40 p.m. a quorum of the board was noted and Chairman Hermes reconvened the Executive Session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION REPORT

Chairman Hermes announced that the regents consulted with General Counsel, Dona Hamilton and discussed personnel issues. No action was taken in Executive Session.

INFORMATION ONLY

Chairman Hermes addressed the Board and mentioned this is the first opportunity for everyone to be together since the announcement that Dr. Gogue was appointed as the next president of Auburn University, his alma mater. Regent Hermes stressed how successful the last four years have been and how the moral, spirit, and overall feelings here at the university has improved. Regent Hermes stated we owe them a great debt of gratitude. Dr. Gogue gave brief remarks and thanked Chairman Hermes, the Board, faculty, staff, and students for their support.

The following individuals addressed the board during Open Forum:

Dr. Joe Kotarba, President of the UH Faculty Senate, regarding the importance of continuing the strategic principles and initiatives, the campus framework plan, and capital campaign.
Dr. Wynne Chin, President-Elect of the UH Faculty Senate, regarding the importance of continuing the open dialogue and shared understanding among faculty, administration, and students that has been taking place since Dr. Gogue arrived at the University of Houston.

In absence of further business, the Board adjourned at 5:14 p.m.

All documentation submitted to the Board in support of the foregoing action items, including but not limited to “Passed” agenda items and supporting documentation presented to the Board, is incorporated herein and made a part of these minutes for all purposes; however, this does not constitute a waiver of any privileges contained herein.

Others Present:
Jay Gogue Dona Hamilton Donald J. Foss John M. Rudley Grover Campbell Elwyn C. Lee Michael Rierson Don Birx Max Castillo Tim Hudson William Staples Joe Kotarba Craig Ness Jose Rangel Kelsie Hahn (Daily Cougar) Marquette Hobbs	Wendy Adair Don Guyton Elaine Charlson David Bradley John Powell Raymond Bartlett Oscar Gutierrez Ed Apodaca Wayne Beran Janis Newman Chris Stanich Wynne Chin Richard Bonnin Jim Anderson Mike Emery Gerry Mathisen	Molly Woods Jim McShan Dave Irvin Ed Hugetz Diane Murphy Malcolm Davis David Bell Michelle Dotter Tom Ehardt Margie Hattenbach Danny Ochoa Steven Craig David Rosen Michelle Sabino Lucy Limon