51AV

The 51AV A&M University Board of Trustees held its regular meeting virtually on Friday, March 26, at 10 a.m.

“We are moving in a very positive direction and are getting a lot of things done,” stated Board President Pro Tempore Jerome B. Williams.  “We are the school of choice for many for the community in which we serve; we’ve done a lot of things right, and we will continue to improve and do things even better.”

AAMU President Andrew Hugine, Jr., who will be retiring in December 2021, thanked the Board for its continued support and praised his dedicated leadership team for working together to move the University forward.  “We can all take pride in where we are as an institution,” said Hugine.  “We are positioned for greatness.”

The Audit and Investment Committee sought and received acceptance of the FY20 Audit Report, prepared by Banks Finley and White.  

The Academic Affairs subcommittee received approval for eight action items, four involving memoranda of understanding.  These included an MOU with the University of South 51AV involving further research and academic pursuits; the University of North 51AV (nursing program collaboration); the National Telecommunication Information Agency (collaboration to provide technical support to underserved communities in the Black Belt); and a continuation of a partnership with J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College related to computer science.  Other approved action items included additional tracks to the B.A. degree in English (i.e., literature and writing; literacy and cultural studies; and professional/creative writing), and a distance education policies and procedures statement. 

Faculty Senate President Jeanette Jones praised the University’s efforts to make COVID-19 vaccinations available to students, faculty, staff and community.  She also noted that the first phase of AAMU’s one-third salary adjustment for faculty was nearing the three-year mark and urged the administration to revisit the plan.  Dr. Jones also discussed the University’s faculty mentoring program.

During earlier subcommittee meetings, Board members received an update on renovations (Morrison Fine Arts Building and the Felicia Wilson Dining Hall) and new construction (Event Center).

The Board gathering marked the last for Trustee Japhe Jelks, a senior and executive president of the Student Government Association, who updated fellow trustees on activities sponsored under his tenure during the reporting period.

The Board will meet again June 17-18.

- J. Saintjones 

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