The Southern Arkansas University Board of Trustees held their quarterly meeting Thursday, May 7, 2015, during which they designated retiring SAU President Dr. David F. Rankin as President Emeritus.
Rankin is retiring June 30, following more than 13 years as president and more than 45 years of service to SAU. The President Emeritus position will be effective July 1.
The Board also approved the proposed 2015-16 budgets for SAU and SAU Tech. SAU’s budget includes a 3.13% increase in tuition and fees. For many years, there has been a steady decline in state funding. State funding now only accounts for 31-percent of SAU’s total budget, whereas tuition and fees make up 47-percent.
SAU Tech has had to make $1.2 million in cuts for their upcoming budget due to declining enrollment.
Rankin provided the Board with an SAU update, which included the following:
- The SAU System combined budgets are almost at $70 million, which demonstrates the impact these institutions have on this part of the state and region. SAU’s overall budget is $54,938,530 and SAU Tech’s is $11,467,480.
- SAU enjoyed three groundbreaking ceremonies this last month leading up to the end of the spring semester. SAU Engineering broke ground for a 12,000 square-foot building, which Rankin said business and industry are extremely supportive and excited about. Track and Field, programs that have brought a lot of new students to SAU, broke ground on their new facility that will greatly improve the northern entrance to campus. SAU Softball also broke ground on their new complex.
- The recent Rip Powell Golf Tournament raised $17,000 toward the naming of the SAU football field to the Rip Powell Field. Powell was described as a tough coach with a heart of gold.
- SAU has a state-of-the-art tractor that is being utilized at the recently donated Monroe Farm. Students are getting hands-on experience with this large tractor for the row cropping taking place on the 400 acres. Rankin credited Bart Emerson for heading up this effort.
- Making Magnolia Blossom (MMB) continues to collaborate with the community in cleanup and economic development efforts.
- The recent SAU Spring Concert was held at Story Arena. Rankin reported there was a huge crowd, and he applauded the efforts of SAU’s Student Affairs division.
- Rankin said he has never seen a collegiate theatre production to the caliber of the recent “Beauty and the Beast,” SAU’s spring musical. He said that next year’s “Wizard of Oz” will be another one theatre enthusiasts will not want to miss.
- The SAU Band Hall was recently dedicated as the Richard Oliver Band Hall following a successful fundraising campaign. The new endowment will help provide new equipment for the SAU Band. This project was greatly assisted by the efforts of Board member Lawrence Bearden.
- Graduation ceremonies for SAU Tech and SAU are this week, with a total of more than 900 earning degrees from the SAU System.
Dr. Corbet Lamkin provided an update for SAU Tech, which included that the Arkansas Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board reported recently that SAU Tech’s 41.2-percent graduation rate was the highest among two-year schools in the state. He commended his dedicated faculty and staff for this honor.
Tim Daniels, president of the Faculty Senate at SAU, gave a report of the Senate’s recent accomplishments. SAU Vice President for Administration and General Counsel presented several annual resolutions for the Board, which were approved.
Academic program changes were presented by SAU Tech Vice Chancellor for Academics Robert Gunnels and by SAU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Trey Berry.
Berry began his presentation by recognizing six SAU faculty members who have recently published books, which included Dr. Sara Day, Dr. Charles Young, Dr. Tim Wise, Dr. James Ulmer, Mark Trout and Dr. Ed Kardas. He then offered several academic program and certificate additions, and a few deletions. All academic proposals were approved by the Board.
Yearly elections for the Board concluded the meeting. O.A. “Buddy” Franks was elected chair of the Board, Steve Keith was elected vice chair and Edgar O. Lee was elected secretary.
