Board of Trustees Meeting Recap

07/23/2020

The JSU Board of Trustees held its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, July 21, with all but four of its members attending remotely due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases within the state. Its committee meetings and general session were combined into one half-day event, resulting in the following action items:

• The board voted not to increase Tuition and General Fees for the 2020-2021 academic year. Tuition was decreased for military students. Course fees increased in a handful of departments, while resident students can expect a small increase of around $50/semester in housing rates. 
• The board approved a $152.7 million budget for the 2021 fiscal year and renewed its line of credit with Regions Bank. 
• Board chairman Randy Jones was given authority to negotiate the contract of recently appointed president, Dr. Don Killingsworth. 
• The board voted to extend the waiver for admissions entrance exams, including the ACT, SAT, GRE and GMAT, until Fall 2021. 
• Terry Casey was named Vice President of Student Affairs, having served in the role in an interim capacity since January. He brings 25 years of university experience to the position and is an alumnus of the institution, receiving a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in counselor education from the university. 

The student-led taskforce examining the names of campus buildings was not ready to provide a report to the trustees. The team is thoroughly evaluating all building names through a proactive, multi-phased process. An update is expected from the SGA in the fall. 

The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees is planned for Oct. 20.