THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406150481
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PERRY PARKS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940615 LENGTH: ELIZABETH CITY
Acting on a motion from Secretary Edna Randolph, the board formally applauded the efforts of Jenkins, who has been criticized by some community members and had been embroiled in conflict with two white instructors at the predominantly black institution.
{REST} Board Chairman E.V. Wilkins said Jenkins ``has kept his head above the fray'' in the face of what he called ``unfair charges'' in the press and the community.
``This board is satisfied with the fine work of the chancellor,'' Wilkins said. ``And we are satisfied with his leadership.''
Jenkins said after the meeting that ECSU's record of progress - including rising SAT scores and high graduation and retention rates - speaks for itself. But he added that the endorsement was gratifying and ``reassuring.''
Jenkins also told the trustees that the administration was seriously considering recommendations made at the March meeting by board member John S. Morrison.
Morrison, who is white, had suggested implementing an academic freedom policy to protect dissenters of university actions. He also proposed more community outreach efforts, a student honor code and clarification of internal grievance procedures.
``This administration has taken those proposals very seriously,'' Jenkins said in his report to the board. ``Those ideas are good ideas that we ought to make known to the public.''
Jenkins said officials had prepared a draft response to Morrison's suggestions and noted that some points are already part of ECSU procedure. Morrison said he might introduce formal resolutions for some of his requests at the September meeting.
Also at the regular trustee meeting:
Trustee Leonard Springs said the board's Audit Committee is satisfied with ECSU's response to a state financial audit that reported some procedural violations. The two major missteps were awarding more than $700,000 in scholarships that ECSU had no funds to cover and paying unauthorized salaries with federal grant money. ECSU is correcting both situations, Springs said.
Administration officials announced that the athletic department budget is in the black for the first time in recent memory. Jenkins also said after the meeting that ECSU is wrapping up a year-old internal investigation into possible NCAA violations at the school.
The trustees voted to raise athletic fees to $152 and student activity fees to $257, and to introduce a new $40 computer science and technology fee.
The trustees approved a location near the K.E. White Graduate Center for a million-gallon water tower to be built in cooperation with Elizabeth City.
Jenkins showed a preliminary site plan for ECSU's planned fine arts and mass communications building. The structure will house an auditorium and classrooms and will surround an outdoor amphitheater, Jenkins said.
``We expect that this is probably going to be one of the most exciting buildings in northeastern North Carolina,'' he said.
by CNB