| Regent Ron Banks | Present |
| Regent Mindy Barfield, Esq. | Present |
| Regent Elaine Farris, Ed.D. | Present |
| Regent Chandee Felder | Present |
| Regent Paul Harnice, Esq. | Absent |
| Regent Dalton Jantzen | Present |
| Regent Kirk Miller | Present |
| Regent Joe Moffett, Ph.D. | Present |
| Regent Syamala H. K. Reddy, M.D. | Absent |
| Regent Roger Reynolds | Present |
Eight Regents were in attendance. Quorum was established.
### III. Working Session
### A. 2020 Audit Update
Douglas R. Allen II, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and CFO, stated that the circular supplement from the federal government was released in December and the KSU Foundation Audit should be complete in two weeks. These are the two pieces of information that KSU was awaiting to complete its FY2020 Audit. KSU's audit cannot be completed without the Foundation audit because it is a component piece. Regent Barfield stated that EVP Allen and his team had all of the information ready for KSU's audit to be completed months ago, but the missing items were out of their control.
===== PAGE 2 =====
### B. 2021 General Assembly Legislative Update
President Brown reviewed the 2021 legislative priorities in order of importance: 1. Post-Secondary Performance Funding, 2. Land Grant Matching, 2. Kentucky Work Readiness Support, 4. Property Exchange and Real Property Proceeds, and 5. EERC.
### C. Board of Regents Self-Evaluation Results
As required by SACSCOC and the Gold Book and recommended by AGB, the Board conducted a self-evaluation. The results were captured by Institutional Research and listed in the Board Book. The strengths included approval of actions, supporting the President, and abiding by statute, however, the results did show room for improvement in areas such as communication and meeting preparedness. Discussion ensued regarding the Board creating a professional development initiative and an on-going campaign for the Board to participating in giving to the university.
### D. Overview of Campus KRS Pension Liabilities and Obligations
President Brown reported that as discussed previously, KSU evaluated a number of options regarding the pension liability and chose to remain in KRS. The decision to remain in KRS was an action item in March of 2020 and approved by the Board. In order to pay off the Commonwealth to leave KRS, KSU would have needed to borrow $40 million. KSU is still paying the forty nine percent contribution rate, not the eighty percent rate, which is among the lowest in the Commonwealth.
President Brown stated that there have been no changes in the Kentucky State portfolio in regard to this issue but the Board is welcome to revisit if they wish.
### E. Review of 2021-2025 Campus Strategic Plan
Dr. Beverly Schneller and Mr. Daryl Love, Co-Chairs of the Strategic Plan Committee, provided an update on the Strategic Plan revisions. The stages of the revision process are planning, listening, analyzing, developing, and execution. The new plan will be socialized at fall encampment and the plan's progress will be tracked using campus labs. The Planning Committee is looking at the new vision, new values, focus areas, and goals.
Chairperson Farris requested more clarification on the new strategic plan, specifically how the goals will be achieved, the timeline, and the budgetary impact. President Brown stated that the new plan will be brought as an information item in March and an action item in June.
### F. Spring 2021 COVID Reopening Plan
Ms. Clara Ross Stamps, Senior Vice President of Brand Identity and University Relations, presented the Spring 2021 COVID Reopening Plan. She stated that KSU was prepared in 2020 and able to switch quickly to remote learning and telecommuting. The KSU has done exceptionally well with masking and social
===== PAGE 3 =====
distancing and the number of COVID cases on campus was low. Additionally, there were no deaths and only one hospitalization due to COVID.
Upon return, everyone on campus was required to complete COVID training and students and returning employees were tested for COVID. Updates with an operational alert are sent every Thursday to the campus community and the workforce remains at twenty percent to keep incidence rates low.
### G. Update on Fall 2020 Semester Grades
President Brown reported that the pass/fail option was invoked in the fall. The grades for this semester were historically consistent but attendance and comfort level, among other factors, have been challenges. Freshman are the group experiencing the most difficulties navigating the COVID atmosphere which is a problem nationwide. KSU has many supports available to assist freshman and first year students, including a new tool called InScribe which allows students to interact directly with peers and faculty members.
### H. Update on Fall to Spring Retention
President Brown informed the Board that retention data is tracked two ways—fall to fall and fall to spring. KSU’s fall to fall retention was 79 percent and the fall to spring was 89.97 percent, even in the midst of COVID. Retention is highest among students involved in activities such as athletics, choirs, SGA, etc. The challenge with student success is reaching the students who are not engaged in student life. He stressed that year is a good opportunity to learn how to keep students and make sure they are successful.
### I. Update on Spring 2021 Course Delivery Formats
President Brown stated that there was push for face to face instruction in the spring which was not possible due to a spike in COVID cases. Some courses are still taught face to face due to the nature of instruction. Dr. Schneller said that faculty can easily move between hybrid and online delivery if situations change.
### J. Title IX New Federal Regulations Training
Hon. Hannah Hale, Title IX Coordinator, and Brandon Williams, Equal Opportunity Investigator for the University of Kentucky, provided a comprehensive overview of the New Title IX Regulation. They also covered KSU's Title IX process and the role of Title IX on campus, officials with authority, how to conduct a sensitive intake, and the appeal process.
### V. Executive Session
MOTION by Regent Barfield:
Move the Committee to go into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation (KRS 61.810 (1)(c)) and individual personnel matters (KRS 61.810 (1)(f)).
Seconded by Regent Reynolds and passed without dissent.
===== PAGE 4 =====
### VI. Open Session
MOTION by Regent Barfield:
Move the Board to reconvene in open session.
Seconded by Regent Miller and passed without dissent.
### VII. Approval of Presidential Evaluation
MOTION by Regent Banks:
Move the Board to approve President M. Christopher Brown's 2021 Presidential Performance Review.
Seconded by Regent Barfield and passed without dissent.
Chairperson Farris stated that the Presidential Evaluation will be made available on the website no later than February 2, 2021.
### IX. Adjournment
MOTION by Regent Reynolds:
Move the Board to adjourn.
Seconded by Regent Felder and passed without dissent.
The meeting adjourned at 2:11 p.m.
Submitted by:
