USNH Board of Trustees Newsletter
E-News
From
The USNH Board of Trustees
October 26, 2001
PSC Visit…The Plymouth State College community hosted the USNH Board of Trustees for their October meeting on Thursday the 25th. The Trustees traveled from the four corners of the state (from Franconia to Keene to Durham to Meriden!) and spent the morning meeting with various PSC constituent groups.
During the opening session, held at the Centre Lodge, trustees took questions and heard concerns from members of the Operating Staff. The Faculty then met with the trustees during the second session, followed by the PATs. The impending increase in the cost of health care benefits seemed to be the common thread connecting the three employee groups in their discussions with trustees. Board Chair John Lynch explained that the University System spends $65M on benefits. That figure is expected to rise to $72 in the coming year. “We will need to be creative in the way we spend those benefit dollars,” said Lynch. “And we are open to any suggestions from employee groups as to where we put those dollars.” Chancellor Reno pledged to all three groups that he would issue a report to the trustees on the topics discussed in the meetings so that they could determine what steps, if any, need to be taken.
Lunch with students…..Following their meetings with PSC employee groups, the trustees joined students for lunch in the Hartman Union Building and discussed many issues of concern to students. Director of Financial Management Bill Crangle also gave an update on the Prospect Dining Hall project which is expected to be completed in August 2002.
Transferability of Credits….A brochure describing steps to transferring credits among institutions of the University System of New Hampshire and the Community Technical College System is expected out soon. Gary Cilley, Associate Director of Admissions at UNH, reports that the brochure has been sent to UNH Publications and will soon move over to printing services.
Business Meeting…The first business meeting of the school year was held in the Heritage Common at PSC. In his opening remarks, Chancellor Reno reported that the UNH Presidential Search Committee has had two meetings thus far. The committee is expected to announce its selection of a search firm within the next few days. Trustee John Crosier is the Chairman of the 19-member search committee.
Annual Financial Report…The Trustees, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, accepted the audited USNH financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001. They will be forwarded to the Governor, the Legislative Fiscal Committee, and others as specified in state law RSA 187-A:22. Ken Cody, Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Corporate Controller gave the trustees a brief overview of the University System’s financial status. He reported that USNH ended fiscal year 2001 in an improved, stable financial condition.
_Capital Projects…_Ed MacKay, USNH Vice Chancellor for Planning and Budget also brought the trustees up-to-date on HEFA and KEEP capital projects on all USNH campuses. He reported on 17 current projects totaling over $200M. These projects are part of an overall plan by the University System to invest $325M in capital investments by FY2007. A Capital Projects sub-committee, chaired by Trustee Andy Lietz, and including Trustees Bob Mallat and Merle Schotanus, will over see the projects and report on a regular basis to the Financial Affairs Committee. Note: a complete update of the capital projects can be found on the USNH Board of Trustees website at http://www.unh.edu/usnhbot/
Trustee Schotanus…..Notably missing from the first meeting of the year was Trustee Merle Schotanus who is convalescing at Concord Hospital following a double-knee replacement. He has taken up residence in the Concord Hospital Rehabilitation Center and is expected to be released within the next few days.
