Dionte Berry
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Emery Wainscott
Lifestyle Editor
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The Board of Regents swore in three new regents, honored the late Phil Schooley and discussed a return to a sense of normalcy despite COVID-19 at its quarterly meeting on Sept. 3.
SGA President Ian Puckett, Tom Waldrop and Sam Aguiar were sworn in by Calloway County Judge Jamie Jameson.
The Board moved into yearly officer elections. Don Tharpe and Jill Hunt were both unanimously nominated for Vice Chair and Secretary.
President Bob Jackson continued the meeting with a report on COVID-19, facilities, student financial aid and the idea of finding a new normal despite the pandemic. Jackson notes that Thursday’s football game was a symbol of some return to normalcy.
“As we return to a new normal, teaching and learning, campus and student life, athletics and student safety are the issues that we are focusing on each and every single day,” Jackson said. “Last night was a perfect example of that, trying our best to get back to normal and last night was a perfect demonstration of that. Everyone longs to get back to get whatever that next or new normal is.”
In other business, there was a resolution made addressing the late Phil Schooley and his service and dedication to Murray State.
“This resolution of appreciation and remembrance will honor the longtime service and commitment of Phillip R. Schooley to the Board of Regents and Murray State University,” Chair Eric Crigler said. “In 2009, Schooley was elected by his peers to serve as the staff Regent on the MSU Board of Regents and in 2021 was elected to an unprecedented fifth term as staff regent on the Board.”
Both the Board and the staff congress unanimously voted to rename the Staff Excellence Award in honor of Schooley, making it the “Phil R. Schooley Staff Excellence Award.
“We have an empty seat today and Phil, as you know, has served this university for a long time even long before his service as staff regent,” Jackson said. “We appreciate Phil, we are going to miss Phil, and this University will miss Phil Schooley”.
Jackson said the University is going in a positive direction in moving toward normalcy after the pandemic and he’s extremely proud of the work done and is happy that students are pleased.
Jackson also discussed Murray State’s upcoming centennial. Celebratory events are still in the planning stages, but are set to take place during spring 2022.
Concerning vaccine card uploads, Jackson said once there are higher amounts of card uploads, then a chart will be provided with vaccination rate data.
Despite still being in the midst of a pandemic enrollment is still at a steady rate.
Enrollment Management and Student Success Report
- Highest summer class enrollment in 10 years
- Fall 2021 headcount enrollment (all students) was level to fall 2019
- Fall 2021 undergraduate enrollment was lower than fall 2019 but level with that of fall 2020
- Fall 2021 graduate student enrollment is up 12% from fall 2019 and higher than fall 2020
- Fall 2021 undergraduate enrollment represents 48 states and 50 countries
- 66% of students come from Kentucky with 113 counties represented
- 44% of students are first-generation college students
Despite steady enrollment rates, the same cannot be said about retention.
A comparison between students enrolled in April 2021 and the fall semester showed that the enrollment rate had a 56% decline. On this note Jackson reminded the Board that they are all recruiters.
The amount of incoming students with collegiate credit hours has decreased because of the pandemic. In the past, about 70% came in with credit hours; now, that number is about 53%. The range of credit hours is 1-80 and the average is 22 credit hours.
Next, the Finance Committee’s project proposals were approved unanimously. These proposals included an electrical infrastructure project, roof replacement for the William “Bill” Cherry Expo Center, HVAC improvement for the Business Building and plans for a National Pan-Hellenic Council plaza.
This plaza will be located in between the Harry Lee Waterfield Library and the gates on Olive Street. This project will be privately funded.
The Board then voted to rename two buildings in honor of past faculty and staff.
The Hutson School of Agriculture Equine Education Center was renamed the Rudolph Equine Education Center after Jim Rudolph, a former faculty regent who founded the equine program in 1973. The Board is planning to dedicate the building during Homecoming 2021.
The Murray State Golf Training Facility will be renamed in honor of former coaches Buddy Hewitt, Velvet Milkman and Eddie Hunt. The sign featuring the building’s name will indicate the facility was renamed in honor of the coaches.
Furthermore, an honorary doctorate was awarded to Jerry Shroat, chair of the Murray State University Foundation Board of Trustees.
After serving as interim dean, Dave Eaton was appointed to be dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfield College of Business.
The next Board of Regents meeting will be on Dec. 3.
