Jeana M. Varner

The meeting featured a review of the recent university branding campaign rollout, recognition of faculty and student achievements, and updates on campus construction projects, including the installation of a new stadium video board and the ground-breaking for the Synapse research building. Key discussion topics included the UWF and MIT partnership regarding unmanned autonomous systems, the patent approval for an Alzheimer's detection platform developed by a faculty member, and the receipt of multiple prestigious national scholarships by students. Additionally, the Provost presented the university's 2026 performance-based funding results, highlighting a total score of 92 and the highest performance in the system for the first metric.

The board meeting encompassed committee sessions including Academic Affairs and Audit and Compliance. Key discussion topics included the reaffirmation of specialized admissions status for Nursing and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, approval of tenure as a condition of employment for a new biology department chair, and information items regarding faculty tenure and post-tenure review. The audit committee reviewed and accepted several internal audit reports covering purchasing card activity, student hazing prevention, and driver/vehicle database security, alongside updates to committee charters and internal work plans.

The board meeting addressed a variety of administrative, academic, and strategic initiatives. Key actions included the approval of board appointments for the UWF Historic Trust and Foundation, the ratification of collective bargaining agreements, authorization for check signing, approval of name changes for research institutes, and an increase in student athletic fees to support the transition to Division I athletics. The board also reviewed internal audit reports, revised university policies and charters, and discussed strategic goals including capital campaigns, brand refreshes, and campus facility enhancements.

The Committee discussed the amendment to UWF Regulation-3.042 regarding the admission and enrollment of international students. Key updates involve aligning the regulation with federal and state standards, clarifying admission and enrollment requirements for F-1 and J-1 students, and updating language regarding nondiscrimination.

The committee meeting addressed the approval of the FY2027/28–2031/32 Capital Improvement Plan and the University Carryforward Spending Plan and Fixed Capital Outlay budget. Discussions included an update on the FY 2025-2026 modified operating budget and proposed tuition and fee increases for nonresident students for the upcoming academic year.