President's, VPASA's Reports, April 13 Board of Trustees Meeting

Capital Projects

Bibb Graves Elevator

Jenkins Munroe Jenkins architecture LLC (JMJ) is designing and bidding an elevator project for the main administrative building. Project is scheduled to be bid mid-April.

Brewer Hall Boiler Replacement

H&M Mechanical/Mid-South Controls of Birmingham, was low bidder when bids were opened on January 16th. New boilers are scheduled to arrive early May. This project is schedule to be completed by the end of May. The new energy efficient boilers will reduce the carbon footprint.

Brewer Hall Roof Replacement

Hale Building Company has made good progress on the new roof system considering the inclement weather. Dormers are being enclosed and asphalt singles are scheduled for installation starting the week of April 20th. This project should be completed by early May.

Dixon Hall Chiller Replacement

Pettus Plumbing and Piping, Inc., of Rogersville, AL was low bidder when bids opened on December 22, 2008. The chiller arrived on February 27th and installation is complete. The new chiller will reduce the carbon footprint and utilize environmentally friendly refrigerant.

Dorm Fire Alarms

Residence halls are receiving a new updated fire alarm system. To date, Patterson, Logan, Crow, Dixon and Daugette Halls and the International House have been completed. Fire alarm systems are operational and connected to the University Police Department at Salls Hall. The contractor, A&S Electrical, is in the process of installing conduit, wire and fire alarm devices in Sparkman and Pannell. Fitzpatrick and Curtiss Halls are scheduled for the summer months.

Fitzpatrick Hall Mechanical System Replacement

H&M Mechanical/Mid-South Controls of Birmingham, was low bidder when bids opened on March 26th. This project is scheduled to start late April and be completed in early August. The project will replace all 182 fan coil units with a four pipe mechanical system and include a new chiller for the building. The new energy efficient equipment and chiller will have a reduced carbon footprint and utilize environmentally friendly refrigerant.

Housing and Stadium Expansion Project

Construction Manager, Volkert, and three primary contractors, Parker Building Company, Marathon Electrical and H&M Mechanical have been active on the our construction site. The foundation support and steel erection for the west portion of the building is completed. The first floor has been poured (concrete). Laying of blocks has begun on this portion of the building. The main electrical feed entering the building at the west end has been installed for the building's transformers. Large box culverts were installed in the creek channel at the west end. Fifty percent of the box culverts have been installed on the east end. Sub-foundation work (drill piers) is progressing, however, pier depths have exceeded those planned due to geological anomalies. Approximately 50 piers have exceeded planned depths. A change order is being developed to address this foundation system issue. As weather improves so should construction activities.

Mason Hall Music HVAC Modifications

Whorton Engineering was contracted to design and bid a HVAC system for Mason Hall (Music Dept.) to correct temperature and humidity issues within this facility. New thermal pane windows will be installed to replace the aluminum single pane glass windows installed in the early 1960's. The new windows and HVAC equipment will reduce the carbon footprint of the facility and benefit the University and the environment.

Merrill Hall Boiler Replacement

Trinity Contractors of Birmingham, was the low bidder when bids opened on January 16th. One of the two boilers has arrived on site. Installation is scheduled to be completed by early May. The new energy efficient boilers will reduce the carbon footprint.

Residence Halls Closed Circuit Television (CCVT) and Access Control

Gorrie-Regan and Associates of Birmingham, was the low bidder on both projects when bids opened on December 9, 2008. A Pre-Work Conference was held on April 3rd and work is to begin on April 13th. Closed circuit televisions will be installed in residence halls to monitor doorways for enhanced security. A biometric palm reader system will be installed at the residence hall's front entrances to control access to the facilities.

Sidewalk Along Highway 204

A Transportation Enhancement Project has been funded by the Department of Transportation to construct a pedestrian sidewalk from Highway 21 to the Chief Ladiga Trail. Project is in the design phase and should be completed this summer.

Sparkman Hall Exterior Renovations

Hale Building Company of Anniston, was awarded the contract as the low bidder in early February. This project will involve removing the building's exterior dryvit and repairing spalling concrete. The entire exterior of the building will be cleaned, primed and painted. The building will receive new thermal insulated windows and an enclosed front porch area as an air lock to help reduce the carbon footprint and maintain efficiency of the HVAC system.

Stephenson Hall Chiller Replacement

Trinity Contractors of Birmingham, was the low bidder when bids opened on December 22, 2008. The chiller arrived on April 6 and installation is on-going. The chiller is scheduled to be operational by mid April. The new chiller will reduce the carbon footprint and utilize environmentally friendly refrigerant.

University Activities

Enrollment

On Saturday, March 28, the third and final Early Bird Registration Day was completed for new freshmen and transfer students entering the university in academic year 2009-2010. These Early Bird Registration Days-- on February 27, March 6, and March 28-- were in addition to the Spring Preview Day.

462 new freshmen and transfer students registered for fall classes during Early Bird Registration. In order for these events to be successful faculty and staff are pulled from their regular duties and asked to go above and beyond. Thanks go to the dedication of employees, from the Admissions, Housing and Student Life staff and academic advisers who met one-on-one with the students, to the Sodexo and Barnes and Noble employees who saw that our new arrivals were fed, received an ID card, and given the opportunity to put on their JSU gear. As always we received great compliments about the beauty and cleanliness of our campus and building. So too, appreciation goes our Physical Plant staff for their endless efforts and pride in JSU.

A special thanks to our student workers, the GO Leaders and JSU Ambassadors, who exemplified student success and welcomed our new students to campus in JSU's friendliest fashion.

As a result of all efforts, 99.14% of our new students rated their Early Bird Registration experience as "good" or "excellent." This is a designation of which all can be very proud.

Our orientation and registration efforts are more important this year because of the Recession. Under Tab 4 of your binder you will find the Fall Application Count as of April 8, 2009. New student applications, first time freshman and new transfer students are 14% below last year at this time. This is a fact that a majority of four year colleges and universities are experiencing. Students may be applying to few institutions to save application fees. But regardless of the reason it is important that JSU increase the number of applicants who actually make the decision to attend this fall. Our summer orientation sessions and remaining recruiting efforts are designed to maximize the conversion of student applicants to enrolled students.

Government Affairs

You will recall that this year's budget represents two cuts in JSU's State appropriation totaling more than $9 million dollars. The first cut was a reduction in our Fiscal Year 08-09 appropriation of 10.07% or $4,966,900. The second occurred when Governor Riley declared proration of the University's State appropriation, resulting in a net decrease in the amount for JSU of $4,034,867 or 9.1%. The total effective loss for JSU has been 19.17% of it State appropriation, $9,001,767.

This year due to reduced revenue projections for the Education Trust Fund Governor Riley has recommended a decrease in funding for all of Alabama education. Specifically for JSU his budget recommendation is $38,944,954 which is a reduction of -3.48 % or $1,403,718. This means that JSU would have lost more than $10.4 million in the last two years.

The "Stimulus" bill will help education at all levels. Under its formal name as "The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program" the Governor may distribute funds to institutions of higher education (IHE) for education and general expenditures, the modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities that are primarily used for instruction, research or student housing. These funds have specific restrictions and are only available for the 2010 and 2011. After which it is hoped that the economy will be in recovery. Specifically for JSU it means $ 6,620,847 split between 2010 and 2011.

The Alabama Legislature has begun budget process for higher education. We are working to maintain the Governors recommendation as a minimum for JSU and asking that the Legislature not reduce our state appropriation because of any "Stimulus" funding. We will have a complete picture for you at the July Board meeting when we present the University Budget for your approval.

Academic Affairs and Student Affairs

Dr. Rebecca Turner, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs has prepared her report in your binder under "Tab 4" which you may read at your leisure. I ask Dr. Turner to mention some of the significant academic affairs announcements. Specifically, I have asked her to provide an update on our sports management program and our residence life programs.

Institutional Advancement

I want to express appreciation to Mr. Joe Serviss, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and his staff for a very successful conclusion to our capital campaign "The Power of 125, Join the Celebration" and its final celebration at the new Little River Canyon Center. This was only JSU's second capital campaign ending with over $30,000,000 exceeding the original campaign by 42%.

Mr. Serviss will also provide an update on our marketing campaign and the status of the Victoria Inn which was generously donated to the JSU Foundation by Earlon and Betty McWhorter and is the largest in kind gift that the JSU Foundation has ever received.

Athletics

Athletic Director Oval Jaynes Athletic Report is also under "Tab 4." I will ask him to discuss some of its highlights at this time and make a special introduction of our Rifle Team and Coach Ron Frost.

William A. Meehan

President

 

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