USF Lakeland Campus Board
December 18, 2006 – USF Lakeland – LLC 2125/26
Meeting Minutes

In attendance: Sherrill Tomasino, Chair; Paul Colee, John Frost , Carole Philipson and Kelly Underhill, Members; Marshall Goodman, Corporate Secretary.

Call to Order

Sherrill Tomasino, USF Lakeland Campus Board Chair, called the meeting to order on December 18, 2006, and called on Dr. Goodman, CEO and Vice President for the USF Lakeland Campus to give his report.

CEO’s Comments

Dr. Goodman reported on the status of the campus, both internally and externally.   He announced the soft opening of the new Joint Use Facility and noted there would be an official opening in the near future.  The goal of enhancing and broadening enrollment using billboards and  poster locations with rotating messages every month, along with brochures, materials and DVD, and utilizing more electronic materials; recruitment and partnerships with USF Health, PCC in applied health programs, SFCC, HCC in Plant City to discuss more offerings at their respective locations, on line programming throughout the region, and currently in discussions regarding technology with Valencia Community College in the technology area and to offer our Information Technology program on the USF Tampa campus, unique in that we will be offering our programming to Tampa Campus rather than historically Tampa offerings to Lakeland, as well as other locations will be utilized.  Two new recruiters have been hired to double the size of our resources in this area as well.  Dr.  Goodman expects enrollment numbers to increase utilizing these efforts. 

USF Lakeland’s Strategic Plan and Campus Master Plan are moving forward and will be discussed later in the agenda.  USF  System is also going through development of a new Strategic plan and Lakeland has participated in that process and has sought to align our Strategic Plan with the goals, objectives and strategies in that System plan.  As USF seeks to grow its research and gain AAU status there is no better engine (other than a medical campus) than a polytechnic oriented campus in that mix.  Lakeland brings that to the Plan in terms of research and innovation in the types of programs the campus hopes to grow.

The comprehensive search for a Development Director, brought no candidates with the strengths that USF Lakeland needs.   Convinced that the best candidate for the position was David Steele, our University Relations Director, he was appointed to the position.  Through his work in University Relations, he has come to know this community and become an integral part of its planning and development.  He has the trust and support of the campus and the community, both key ingredients in successful development.   The two areas of University Relations and Development were merged to create a new division called University Advancement.  Both of these areas will report to David and he will directly report to the Vice President/CEO.   As a result of saving salary dollars, those savings will be used to hire two individuals at lower levels within the Advancement organization; one in University Relations for marketing and a second person in Development who would support gift and planned giving.  

USF Lakeland has sought to be highly connected with the community in meeting with hundreds of people from small and large businesses to community groups and government officials.  Memberships are held on a number of key boards, committees, and subcommittees including Central Florida Development Council, Lakeland Chamber and Chairman‘s Circle, Auburndale Chamber, Lakeland Economic Development Council, Polk Works, Polk Vision, Bartow Regional Medical Center Advisory Board, and Kiwanis.  In addition Dr. Goodman reported that he will be hosting a new education show to be broadcast on WLKF every Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m.   The show highlights the important education issues in this region and is part of the effort to enhance conversation around education, from K-12 to higher education.  His hope is that each of the Board members will agree to guest on the show.   

The upcoming Legislative session is going to be very important to USF Lakeland.  Dr. Goodman has met with numerous members of the Polk County Delegation and is encouraged by the dedication to the building and strengthening of this campus.  He asked for the Board’s support in the months to come as USF Lakeland makes its case for enhanced state funding.

Approval of Minutes

Motion to approve August 14, 2006 minutes was made by Carole Philipson, and seconded by Kelly Underhill.  Vote to approve as presented was unanimous.

Motion to approve October 26, 2006 minutes by Kelly Underhill and seconded by Paul Colee.  Vote to approve as presented was unanimous.

Status of Strategic Plan

Dr. Judith Ponticell discussed the Reaffirmation Day that was held on November 29 when the USF Lakeland faculty, staff, steering committee members, and invited Campus Board members attended the St. Petersburg Collaborative EpiCenter Lab.   Attendees were divided into two groups, each group with the same program, to participate in the same format in a morning session and an afternoon session.   The two groups revisited the vision, mission, goals and values that the Campus Board approved in January 2006 as well as the strategic goals that were approved against the backdrop of the foundational concepts of the polytechnic model.    Fuller polytechnic descriptives are given in the attached USF Lakeland Strategic Plan Reaffirmation Day document, referred to here and incorporated herein.  

The strategic plan and these new concepts were reviewed to ascertain that the language in the Plan currently developed does embrace the concepts and direction of the campus.  There is a “real-time record” from the reaffirmation day on line that can be reviewed.  Dr. Ponticell will be going through all the data from the reaffirmation day and cast it into a format that the Strategic Planning Steering Committee can use.   The format of the plan may take a slightly different direction, not in the sense of totally changing what has already been developed and been approved, but looking at packaging it differently.  

Once the recasting of the data is done, the second round of meetings will be held to allow a group of people to take a second look at the plan organized around the five areas of students, faculty, programs, resources and community so that some additional perspectives can be added to the plan and solidify those five areas as priorities for the development of this campus.   Concurrently, the Academic Council has now completed their individual discipline area academic master plan for the campus, a document that lays out in each of the College areas (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering and Information Technology) exactly what each of these programs intend to develop, enrollment management and resources they need.  Assessments are being done to develop a strong document that shows exactly what the campus is doing in the area of academic development.  Dr. Greg Paveza, Campus Associate Dean, has been facilitating Division Directors to develop the first long-range course planning document with courses rotating through Summer 2009; this has now been sent to USF Tampa.  Director of Institutional Research Effectiveness and Planning, Dr. Kevin Calkins, has done the “data mining” needed to support that academic master plan.  A great deal of work has been done not only in strategic planning but in the academic underpinnings necessary in order to move the campus in the desired direction.

USF Lakeland Emergency Response Plan - Discussion and Approval in Concept

Dr. Alice Murray discussed the 2004 Hurricane season when 3 hurricanes crossed this area and a 4th over another part of Florida and 2005 when Katrina devastated the Gulf coast.  These are but two years of devastation that help USF Lakeland focus on the need to plan for disasters and emergencies.  A team of people on the Lakeland campus representing multiple departments to make sure all elements of the campus, faculty, staff, students and facilities are protected, has worked hard with a great deal of deliberation, collaboration and investigation to develop the draft plan.  She introduced Susan Hurley, Chair of the Safety Committee for USF Lakeland, to present the Draft Emergency Response Plan to the Board and ask the members to approve the document in concept.  The FEMA and NIMS (National Instant Management System) models were used in the final drafting of the plan because the colleges and universities who have their own police force are required to use this format.  As our new campus evolves, eventually Lakeland will have its own police force and the plan before the Board at this time will require only minor changes at that time.   This plan is also compliant with the Polk County Emergency Operations Plan so that the same language and terminologies are used across plans.

An Emergency Management Operations Center will be established either on campus or at an off campus site.  This decision has not yet been made.  

Ms. Philipson asked if there had been discussions regarding a flu pandemic outbreak.  Ms. Hurley indicated that she had participated in one of the NIMS exercises and she is in the process of drafting a pandemic flu policy to be included in the Plan.   There was discussion about the role that an institution such as USF Lakeland could play in such an outbreak. 

Motion was made by Carole Philipson to accept the USF Lakeland Emergency Response Plan in Concept with the understanding that a section on pandemic flu policy would be added and seconded by Kelly Underhill.  Vote was unanimous.

Master Plan Update

Dr. Greg Paveza discussed roads, master plan and transfer of title, infrastructure and building design and construction.

Polk Parkway at Pace Road Interchange has been slowed due to concerns raised by representatives of the Williams Company MSCW, Inc. (Miller Sullens, Conners and Walsh, the planning and design firm employed by Williams Company, and Gray Robinson, legal representatives for Williams Company) regarding construction cost shortfall as part of the agreement with the Turnpike Authority some years back; and the need to obtain land from the Knight Management Company for the exit right of way.  Polk County has purchased all the requisite required property from Knight Management Company for approximately $1.9M.  This means that all of the land required to put in Pace Road from Berkeley Road to just west of the extended Polk Parkway and to put in the northbound exit and entrance ramps at Pace Road is now available.  Various alternatives have been explored with the Turnpike Authority to address the shortfall.  Talks with both the Authority and the Williams Company representatives have been fruitful in identifying several alternatives in identifying construction cost remedies.   Once more determinate alternatives are defined, these will be brought before the Board for advice and approval.

Master plan was approved by the University Campus Development Committee and has been referred to the Academic and Campus Environment (ACE) Workgroup for their consideration and approval.   Former USF Lakeland Campus Board Chair John Ramil recommended that the approval process be expedited and that the Regional Campus Board meet jointly with the ACE workgroup to consider and approve the master plan. The joint meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2007 at 1 p.m. in the new Joint Use building.  This approval will allow the master plan to move on to the University Board of Trustees (UBOT) agenda for approval at a special session to take place in Lakeland to adhere to the statute governing the approval of the master plan which indicates that the approval by a university board must take place at the same time as the required second public hearing and that the hearing must occur within the jurisdiction of the governmental entity where the campus will be located.   Target date to have the special UBOT meeting will be by the end of February.  Once the UBOT approves the master plan, notification of the Chancellor’s staff will take place, and via the Board of Governors for approval of the plan.  Shortly after that, the previously developed and approved educational plant survey will be forwarded to the Board of Governors.  At the same time negotiations will take place with Williams Company representatives around some issues which both parties feel need to be modified in the Land Donation Agreement.   Date for transfer of title will be set during those negotiations.   The Board of Governors and the Chancellor’s office will not release the funds already appropriated for construction design or any subsequent funds appropriated without title.   Transfer of title needs to take place within 30 days of the Master Plan approval even though the transfer may include a reverter clause.  $1.7M that was appropriated during the last legislative session for design of phase 1 including infrastructure can then be released.  Jeff Dannon and Ted Weeks of Peterson and Myers have been hired to assist USFL with negotiations with the City of Lakeland on the Campus Development Agreement (CDA) and these discussions will begin shortly after the first of the year and be concluded so that the CDA will be ready for Campus Board and UBOT approval by the end of Spring Semester 2007.

Certain infrastructure and building design elements are needed so that the Williams Company can obtain certain permits.  Working with the University Facilities and Planning office, draft of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the architectural firm that will be responsible for the design of the infrastructure and building 1 is being developed and discussion is taking place to see if there is a way to bring in a signature architect to design that first building should there be a donation to support one as an add on for this RFQ.  The RFQ target date for publication is mid January and the selection committee could make its choice by mid February and a contract be drawn by early April.  Executive Council has had some discussion about the composition of the selection committee in terms of size and membership and those recommendations will come before the Campus Board.  

A Building Program Committee will be needed and will be charged with developing the broad building plan for building 1 including recommendations concerning office, classroom, laboratory, research, student services and student life spaces.  The Executive Committee has identified persons to serve on that committee and discussions with various campus constituencies are currently being undertaken for concurrence on the membership.   Once this is complete and the composition of the committee has been finalized, that information will be brought before the Campus Board.   The committee will begin meeting with regularity and intensity and by the end of the Spring Semester 2007, a building program will be given to the architectural firm responsible for phase 1 design.  Campus Board member involvement will continue to be important to the progress of the development of the campus and Dr. Goodman and Dr. Paveza will continue to share information with the Board members as it develops through regular meetings of the Campus Board and as needed outside of those meetings.  

Mr. Colee asked whether there were any insurmountable issues having to do with title transfer to which Dr. Paveza replied in the negative.  He felt that any issues currently under discussion could be resolved in order to meet the time tables of the various entities involved.  Ms. Philipson asked if there were any significant issues in the development of the campus development agreement with the City of Lakeland to which Dr. Paveza indicated that the preliminary discussions have been very harmonious.  The use of an outside law firm who is familiar with the City of Lakeland would better serve the process to help with development of the legal language for the CDA.   Mr. Frost asked if an RFQ had been done for the choice of attorneys as is being done for the choice of architect to which Dr. Paveza suggested the USF Tampa General Counsel would be better able to answer.   

Dr. Goodman told the Board that currently there is a request before the Board of Governors for $48M for this Legislative Session, much of which will be used to develop infrastructure consisting of roads, sewers, power lines, etc. critical to the construction of buildings and the request going before the Legislature is a critical piece in moving the entire project forward and a good signal to Williams Company that, in fact, the State does plan to put a university campus on that site.  

Budget Report

Dr. Murray introduced the new Director of Finance and Accounting, Cindy Rowles.   Cindy and Josh will be doing the budget presentation in the future, with Josh focusing on the Budget and Cindy on the day to day accounting.  Mr. Bresler discussed the updated version of a side by side comparison between the FY 2005-06 and FY 2006-07.  The current USF Lakeland fiscal year 2006-07 budget came in at $14.3M to cover salary to expenses.  As of December 8 when the report was completed, the ratio stood at 84/16.   As of this date 31% of the budget had been expended with 42% of the year completed.  Carry forward funds of $1.1M for furniture and fixtures for the Joint Use Facility have been expended to date; special projects $140,000; and expenditures from 05-06 of $160,000 leave a carry forward balance of $365,616 which is available for non-recurring academic program support, student enhancements and campus support.

Auxiliary accounts as well as other resources and expenditures were discussed and documents showing performance in those identified areas were discussed.   Documents supporting the discussion are available on the Lakeland Campus Board website for inspection.

Other Business

Chair Tomasino discussed the article highlighting Dr. Goodman in the Campus Technology magazine article regarding unleashing the learning potential that technology can offer.    The 50th anniversary for USF has just ended, the four campuses serve a tremendous number of people across central Florida, potentially the size of the 25th largest state in the United States.  President Genshaft’s goal of being in the top 50 public research universities and AAU eligible is commendable and brought a focus to the university that it has never had before.   USF beating West Virginia has played a part in that notoriety as well.  USF is in the top 25% of Graduate Schools of education in the nation, of the 2000 best doctors in America, 263 have a connection to USF; SACS Accreditation for USF St. Petersburg for 10 years; USF Health, Colleges of  Medicine and Nursing have been invited to joint a consortium of 20 medical schools committed to quality improvement; 60 researchers have brought  $369M in grants to USF; USF received the number #1 ranking in the State for the Center of Excellence and SRI International came to St. Petersburg, a $10M Marine Technology Research Center; President Genshaft was just named chair of the Tampa Bay Partnership; and next year will chair the Tampa Chamber of Commerce.   The university is consistently recognized for our diversity of culture and nationalities and CUTR received a $4M research grant.   All of this helps raise the level of awareness of USF and is important.   She mentioned that two University Presidents, one from Israel and one from South Korea, were honored at USF Tampa commencements. 

Mr. Frost indicated he had the opportunity to hear Dr. Goodman speak at the Bartow Chamber of Commerce where Dr. Goodman was well received and did a wonderful job.   Chair Tomasino was at a meeting in Lakeland recently and felt privileged to represent the USF Lakeland Campus Board because everyone was so very positive about the new campus.    With regard to the mention of SRI, Dr. Goodman told the group that he had an opportunity to meet with the marine scientists and it shows how USF Lakeland, through a focus on polytechnic, can partner with what they are doing in Marine Science with SRI - the fabrication or development of sensors used in marine science sonar work for the US Navy.  USFL is interested in sensors but for the warehousing and distribution companies; SRI is interested in coming to Lakeland and developing fabs and  incubators with USF Lakeland as we develop that focus on RFID tags and other sensors for the industry in this region.   This shows how the power of the system really comes to bear here.  They have invested $12M in a state-of-the-art fab.  A fab in Lakeland could develop the type of chips that will power this region and not duplicate  what has already been done but utilize our funds to add on to that facility and specialize for the entire Tampa bay region in the development of the technology that will power this part of Florida.  The President’s focus on AAU status is important.  California has 6 state universities out of 62 premier state universities or 10% while the state of Florida only has 1, the University of Florida; and if the state is going to complete in the 21st century in those industries, the President is moving USF in the right direction and our focus in science and technology, manufacturing, and agriculture manufacturing is a very important component for achieving that AAU status for the system.

Chairman Tomasino wished everyone Happy Holidays, a wonderful New Year.

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned.

Minutes recorded and transcribed by Lorie Miros