Faculty Senate Chair David Schultz noted that that development of the policy was a two-year process which was reviewed by the senate on two occasions. In addition to the Faculty Senate, several other university units were asked to provide feedback. The policy is similar to accountability policies for UofL administration, staff and students.

Michael Cunningham, UofL chapter president of the American Association of University Professors, expressed in a statement to the trustees concerns that faculty didn’t have enough appropriate input and involvement in the development of the policy. He asked that ratification of the policy be tabled for further consideration.

Given that the policy is subject to revisions after ratification, Schultz recommended that the policy be implemented as written.

University Provost Lori Stewart Gonzalez added that such a policy is common among several other universities. In her response to concerns raised by the AAUP, Gonzalez said that the policy: was established within the appropriate scope of her authority; is constitutional and contains all hallmarks of due process; embodies principles of shared governance; and encourages collaborative discussion and problem-solving among faculty members. Gonzalez will report to the board occasions when the policy is used.

In other action, the board:

• Approved the revised Board of Trustees Personnel Policy and the Memorandum of Understanding with the UofL Real Estate Foundation, both submitted by the Governance, Trusteeship and Nominating Committee.

• Approved a report submitted by the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee, which included audits of UofL and UofL Research Foundation financial statements. The audits, conducted by CliftonLarsonAllen LLC, yielded an “unmodified” opinion, which is the cleanest evaluation report.

• Approved the designation of the Cardinal Stadium Club as the Angel’s Envy Club. Formerly designated as the Brown & Williamson Club, the facility will undergo renovations and other updates.

Additional meeting highlights

Campus Police Chief Gary Lewis shared information about changes his department has made to improve safety on and around the Belknap Campus. Lewis specifically addressed additional security around affiliated housing in response to recent reports of crimes in that area.

University President Neeli Bendapudi announced three designations honoring longtime friends and supporters of the university.

Basketball court six in the Sports and Recreation Center was named to honor Intramural Sports and Recreation Director Dale Ramsay, who, on Nov. 1, retired after 41 years of service.

Gallery space in the Ekstrom Library will be named in honor of Julius Friedman, an internationally known artist, award-winning graphic designer and co-founder of Images design studio in Louisville.

The Allen Courtroom in the UofL Brandeis School of Law has been redesignated as the Breit Courtroom in honor of Marc and Lisa Breit. Renovations to the courtroom began in the spring 2021 semester.

Jason Smith, chief medical officer at UofL Health, provided information about the organization’s ongoing efforts to provide services in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as expansion of services in Bullitt County, Brownsboro and Shelbyville. UofL Health will provide nearly $32 million to the university for mission support.

Student Government Association President Ugonna Okorie shared information about the SGA’s efforts to increase its visibility throughout the UofL community, create an inclusive and equitable learning environment for students, increase students’ compliance with COVID-19 vaccinations and testing and advocate for affordability in higher education.

The next scheduled meeting of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees is Thursday, Jan. 13.

The trustees also heard an update on the university’s financial picture from interim CFO Susan Howarth. Howarth says UofL’s cost cutting efforts are working and there is “good news” in the numbers. UofL is meeting its budget targets and on pace to meet its goal of spending $10 million less than the 2016-17 fiscal year in each of three categories: compensation, procurement and other cost savings.

“We feel very comfortable about meeting these goals,” Howarth said.

Howarth says first quarter revenues are running ahead of last year’s and a slight drop in the size of the freshman class has been offset by an increase in enrollment at the Brandeis School of Law.

The board also took two actions designed to address the two remaining concerns of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, UofL’s accreditation agency:

• Approved memoranda of understanding between the university and both the UofL Real Estate Foundation and Pediatric Medical Office Building, Inc.
• Approved a resolution in support of administrators currently filling interim roles

Also, faculty members Susan Jarosi and Rob Keynton appeared before the full board expressing concerns about the board’s plan to conduct a closed search for the next UofL President. Jarosi and Keynton head the Presidential Search Faculty Consultation Committee and laid out reasons the board should conduct a more open search process, reveal the three finalists and bring them to campus for meetings with faculty, staff and students before a final decision is made. Due to time constraints there was no discussion following the presentation, but board chair David Grissom invited the faculty members to appear at the next meeting for a question and answer session.��