Dauthan Keener

This strategic plan outlines the university's direction to 2035, focusing on three key priorities: increasing its creative and research profile to be a top choice for students, strengthening the community to foster thriving learners and workers, and cultivating sustainable partnerships. These priorities are supported by strategies such as delivering impactful academic offerings, elevating the institutional research infrastructure, ensuring holistic academic and career supports, promoting wellness and engagement, enhancing faculty and staff support structures, strengthening community and industry collaborations, and improving institutional advocacy and communication.

The board discussed a proposal regarding a title change and a compensation adjustment for the University Counsel and Board Secretary, adhering to the established policy for executive compensation reporting and approvals.

The Finance and Personnel Committee meeting addressed several key actions. Compensation adjustments were approved, implementing an across-the-board increase of 1.8% or $750 (whichever is greater) funded by the state appropriation salary pool, supplemented by an additional $2.6 million commitment from the University for market salary increases effective January 1, 2026. An update on the Performance-Based Pay Plan highlighted challenges in modeling due to the uncommon nature of such structures in higher education and the qualitative nature of current evaluations. The committee also recommended approval for the 2025-2026 October Revised Operating Budget, which included adjustments for tuition and fee revenue, increased state appropriations for the Medical Education Program, and re-budgeting of prior year student fee balances.

The Audit and Compliance Committee meeting included the approval of prior meeting minutes. Key discussion items involved receiving the Quarterly Report for Audit Services, which noted the completion of the FY25 Audit of Inventories and the Audit of the President's Office Expenses, both with no recommendations. Additionally, the committee reviewed the Results of External Reviews, specifically the U.S. Small Business Administration's review, which also resulted in no findings requiring attention. The committee subsequently adjourned to a non-public executive session to discuss topics permissible by law.

The Audit and Compliance Committee meeting agenda included opening remarks and roll call, followed by several informational items. Key discussions involved a report on Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures made in 2025, the review of the President's Statement of Disclosure of Interests for 2026, and a report on compliance with the Public Records Policy based on requests received in 2025. The committee also reviewed results of external reviews, including the TN Comptroller of the Treasury Finance and Compliance Audit Report and the NCAA Agreed-Upon Procedures. A quarterly report on audit services was also presented before moving into a private, non-public executive session.