The Omnibus

Issue date: 2/17/10 Section: News

The last but most important item that Pres. C. Pat Taylor discussed at the faculty and staff forum Feb. 11 was the pending Chapel renovations. The Southwest Baptist University Board of Trustees voted to begin fund raising for the work. Pres. Taylor outlined four phases of fund raising that have to be completed.
First, the "Big Donor" phase, in which the University must raise $400,000 in large donations. Of that amount, $200,000 has already been raised.
Second, SBU will ask donors to buy Chapel seats. In this phase they must raise $300,000.
Third, SBU will make a proposal to the Mabee Foundation. In order to make any proposal, they must have half of the funds already. The plan is to have sufficient funds by early May, as the deadline for submitting a proposal is June 1.
The last phase is to ask other individuals to sponsor Chapel seats. The goal for this phase is to raise at least 30 percent of the total funds needed.
Tentative construction plans have been drawn up, and they include changes, repairs or replacement made to the roof, the lighting system, sound system, the seats, foyer, bathrooms, carpet, furniture in classrooms, orchestra pit and stage curtains. Construction should begin at the end of fall 2010.
Pres. Taylor announced the recommendation that three people receive an honorary doctorate from Southwest Baptist University. Those chosen were Delbert Scott, Marie Williams and Winnie Tuckness. Scott, who is stepping down as Missouri state senator, is the new president of Kansas City Bible College. Williams writes a column for the Lebanon, Mo. newspaper, and is 94. Tuckness is a children's minister at her church.
Another action item discussed at the Board of Trustees meeting was SBU's travel crisis policy. While there has been policy set for crises on campus, none had previously been made for off campus crises, and the Board of Trustees created one. SBU has contacted David Dose, head of Fort Sherman Crisis Management based in North Idaho to respond for travel emergencies.
Other items involved tenure, promotions and special recognition. The Board approved tenure for Delta Cavner, Holli Henslee, Duke Jones, Terri Knupps, John Patton and Timothy Wood. Those who received promotions are Jeff Kimble, Allison Langford, Cavner, Zachary Manis, Wood, Charles Lentz and Steve Bowling.
Those recognized for achievements were Manis, for co-authoring a book, Tim Cossins, for the installment of new cameras on campus and phones for faculty, Ronda Credille for her involvement in Delta Mu Delta, and John Bryant, for his induction to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
"It's a great recognition for John, great recognition for SBU, and a great recognition for Bolivar," said Taylor.
After the action items were discussed, Pres. Taylor went on to talk about the budget. He was able to announce that the 2 percent salary raise is still the top priority and that all staff will get it.
Enrollment is down on the Bolivar campus one student from last semester, but on other the other campuses enrollment is up 6-13 percent. Pres. Taylor said that while the budget will be hard to balance, it will be balanced.
"We don't want to run deficits," said Taylor, talking about how other schools manage their budgets.

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