One acting president began by expressing appreciation for the work of faculty. She noted that the assessment of KSU operations that had been ordered by the governor was delivered November 5, and the Board of Regents has begun responding to it. On December 2, the board approved a freeze on new personnel and equipment. KSU has also entered an agreement with The Registry. That organization will provide an interim KSU Chief Financial Officer when Greg Rush returns to CPE at the first of the new year.
Responding to student concerns about housing, she noted that housing wasn’t prepared at the start of the fall semester. She also noted that many students still have account balances. She reported that the KSU Foundation is helping over 100 students close their financial gap. The Green and Gold Commission is updating COVID-19 guidelines for spring 2022. Also, KSU recently hosted a U.S. Department of Agriculture representative and the Kentucky state agriculture commissioner.
January encampment will be two days, January 10-11. Also, events for state legislators are planned February 10 and 24.
A senator asked the acting president about this year's tenure and promotion process. She assured faculty that deadlines will be met.
Another senator asked about the $7 million structural imbalance identified in the CPE report. What is it, and where did it come from?
Acting President Stamps replied that the figure was an estimate. She wasn’t sure of all the details behind it yet, but that CFO Greg Rush is working on it.
A senator asked whether KSU had distributed its HERF (federal pandemic relief) money. The acting president said that a majority of qualified students have received grants and that Greg Rush is looking at other possible uses for that money.
The board met yesterday, and Ed Fields joined as staff regent. The presidential search committee is working to develop a profile of what we need, using public forums to get input from the campus and broader community. The profile will be complete by December 17. There will be a March 2022 deadline for applicants. Interviews will start in late March, and the process will be complete by the end of April.
Work on the new dorm is moving on well. It will be ready for students starting January 2023 and the university's first payment will be in March 2024. It will have rooms for 410 students and a 300 person dining room.
The board discussed the purpose of Hillcrest, the presidential residence. This discussion will continue at the March meeting.