The Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees announced Thursday selection of a hiring committee to find a successor to SAU President Dr. David Rankin.
Rankin announced on May 1, 2014, that he would be retiring effective June 30, 2015. According to Chairman of the SAU Board Bill Stringfellow, the committee will make a recommendation to SAU Board, which will make the final hiring decision.
Recommended and approved by the Board for the hiring committee are Stringfellow and 11 representatives from the SAU System, which include:
- SAU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Donna Allen,
- SAU Dean of the School of Graduate Studies Dr. Kim Bloss,
- SAU Tech Vice Chancellor for Student Services Dr. Reginald Cooper,
- Associate Director of the SAU Foundation Josh Kee,
- President of the SAU Alumni Association David Nelson,
- SAU Assistant Director of Counseling Allen Lachut,
- SAU Associate Dean for Multiculturalism and Diversity Cledis Stuart,
- SAU Interim Chair of the Department of Biology and Faculty Senate President Tim Daniels,
- SAU Professor of History Dr. Ben Johnson,
- SAU Professor of Accounting Dr. Terrye Stinson, and
- SAU Assistant Professor of Education and University Assessment Coordinator Dr. Denise Mosely.
The Board also approved SAU 2014-15 budget, which includes a 3.65-percent increase of tuition and fees.
“The revenue increases will allow the University to meet the challenge of increasing costs and opens the door for the possibility of a cost of living increase for faculty and staff this fall,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin. “We are trying hard to keep tuition and fee changes to a minimum, but must be sure that we continue to provide a quality higher education for our students.”
A full-time in-state student will pay $210 per credit hour for tuition this fall semester, which is up $6 from 2013-14.
In presenting the budget to the Board, SAU Vice President for Finance Paul McLendon pointed out the declining state funding percentage as a part of SAU’s revenues. In 2006-07, state funding was 40.7 percent of SAU’s revenue while tuition and fees were 39.5 percent. Projected for 2014-15, state funding will only be 32.2 percent while tuition and fees are making up the difference at 46.6 percent.
