Trustees OK practice field construction
By Blair Busch
Staff Reporter

The Board of Trustees voted Friday to start construction on a new football turf practice field, Athletics director Eric Hyman said.

He said preparations for the field should begin soon. Hyman also informed the board about the recent changes with Conference USA.

“I only gave them the lay of the land. There had been a six-month window since the last time the board met,” Hyman said. “There is an entirely new landscape nationally as far as conferences are concerned.”

Hyman said he would not make a decision about a possible conference change without the Board’s approval.

The Board also decided to wait on revising bylaws that would more clearly specify titles for committees and board members, said William Koehler, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

The changes to the bylaws were part of the recommendtions from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

John Roach, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said there is no rush to pass the bylaws because the recommendations would not cause significant changes for the university and the trustees will make every effort to accommodate those recommendations.

The Berry Street Initiative was also on the list of topics discussed in the meeting.

Don Mills, vice chancellor of student affairs, updated the trustees on the initiative and said that the construction for the first facility is no longer in a committee phase. The master plan for the project is still in the discussion stage, and a consultant will be appointed to plan the development.

“The trustees were very pleased with the progress so far,” Mills said. “They are looking forward to seeing the design and schedule for the first facility to be built. Overall, I would say the response continues to be very positive.”

Mills said he hopes the master plan will be finished a year from now and that other store owners along Berry Street will redevelop their property as well.

Chancellor Victor Boschini announced that the new university core curriculum will come into effect in fall 2005.

He gave the status of the provost search committee, which is reviewing applicants and narrowing the list to a smaller group of semi-finalists.

Boschini also talked about strengthening the relationship between the university and Brite Divinity. Boschini said he wants to make Brite a priority and meet on a regular basis with Brite President D. Newell Williams.

“I want to get involved with their activities,” Boschini said. “I will also serve on the Board of Trustees for Brite Divinity.”

A new Student Center, Bailey Building and the Ballet Building were given higher priority on the list of projects for the second phase of the fund-raising campaign, but no time frame has been set on when these projects will begin.

“I am waiting for the strategic planning committee to tell all of us what to do and when,” Boschini said. “They are in the beginning stages right now.”

Koehler said he was pleased with the discussions during the meeting and that a lot was accomplished.

“Overall, the meeting was excellent,” Koehler said. “The discussions on a variety of issues were substantive and engaging.”