Alabama State University News May 9, 2014 ASU's Board Approves Several New Resolutions, Reappoints Leadership Several resolutions were approved and Board leadership was reappointed during the Alabama State University Board of Trustees meeting held Friday, May 9: * Trustees Elton N. Dean Sr. and Marvin Wiggins were reappointed as chairman and vice-chairman. * A new summer work schedule was approved. ASU will be closed on Fridays, and employees will work four 10-hour days. Personnel who perform "essential" functions will be required to work on Fridays. * In an effort to reduce spending, a resolution was approved to continue to freeze all hiring and to halt new consultant contracts and international travel. The Board said that the President may still fill "critical" positions with the approval of the full Board or through the BOT Executive Committee. * The Board approved a resolution to allow a consultant to be hired to advise ASU on all matters related to ASU's accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC). * A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ASU Foundation and ASU's Office of Development was approved. The goal of the MOU is to help both entities work together more closely. * Attorney Donald Watkins made a presentation to the Board that he and other ASU representatives had recently met with the FBI and were asked "How can we help ASU." Watkins encouraged the Board to "embrace the possibility of a new relationship" with the federal agency. * Board members approved a policy on how posthumous degrees are awarded and approved the tenure of several ASU professors. * Dr. Dorothy B. Payne, assistant professor of biology, who is retiring after 36 years, received a special tribute from the Faculty Senate. Payne received her M.S. degree from ASU and her Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was involved in various research projects, primarily the evolution of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumonia. She also served as the pre-health adviser for the Department of Biology. In her President's Report to the Board<http://www.alasu.edu/news/news-details/download.aspx?id=10711>, President Gwendolyn E. Boyd outlined several key accomplishments of her first 100 days in office. Some noteworthy items included: * Recommended that ASU operate on a Master Calendar for all campus-wide programs. * Held the first-ever Military Engagement Dinner on campus, which was attended by several top military personnel. * Helped engage ASU as the 11th partner for the 100th Year Celebration of the Black Male on Broadway fundraiser. The event will take place on June 23, 2014, at Carnegie Hall. * Helped to bring new and sustained partners to campus, including Renasant Bank, Regions Bank and Servis1st Bank. * Announced that support for giving is on the rise:; Alumni James and Juliett McNeil established the Graduating Senior Scholarship Fund with a donation of $100,000; ASU's Faculty/Staff challenge is ahead of last year's participation and funding levels; the Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., Montgomery Alumni Chapter alumni chapter made a donation of $22,000 in the President's honor; the Class of 1964 has raised $44,000 to date; from two speaking engagements, Boyd was able to bring back to the University $4,500 in cash donations, all from new donors to ASU. * Established a student social media team, to manage her social media platforms on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Boyd described it as a key tool to engage a broader set of constituents nationally and globally, to include potential and current students. * Reported that since becoming ASU's President, she has been asked to serve on the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce Board, the Committee of 100, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival Theatre Board and the YMCA Board. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!