Kimberly Barnes

The scheduled meetings included several committee sessions on March 5, 2026, covering Audit, Development Endowment and Investments, Health Affairs, Academic Excellence and Student Success, Budget and Finance, and Long-Range Planning. Key discussions involved reports on KPMG audit results, endowment performance, medical staff appointments, quarterly financial statements, and institutional planning. The main Board of Trustees meeting on March 6, 2026, addressed approvals for the commendation of Drs. John and Sally Steadman, the issuance of Series 2026 Revenue Bonds and potential bridge loan obligations, and reports from all standing committees. Additionally, documents reviewed included minutes from previous meetings held on December 3-4, 2025, January 15, 2026, and a memorandum referencing minutes from December 3 and 4, 2025, and January 15, 2026. A special meeting on January 15, 2026, focused on authorizing the purchase of an ambulatory surgery building via a bridge loan, and the December 4, 2025 meeting included approvals for faculty sabbaticals, faculty emeritus appointments, an honorary doctorate for The Honorable Katie Boyd Britt, the formation of the USA Rural Healthcare Authority, and commendations for Mr. G. Owen Bailey and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Statter.

This document presents a business strategy for the University of South Alabama to transition from a Carnegie Research Classification of R2 to R1. The plan outlines a comprehensive approach focusing on four strategic pillars: implementing university-wide cultural and policy changes, enhancing competitiveness in faculty recruitment and retention, increasing research doctorate production, and boosting research awards and expenditures. The overarching goal is to achieve and sustain R1 status by meeting specific benchmarks in research doctorates and expenditures, with projections extending to the 2034 Carnegie Classification.

This business strategy outlines a plan for Usa to transition from an R2 to an R1 Carnegie classification university. The plan emphasizes increasing the quality and quantity of scholarly activities and graduate education through university-wide cultural and policy changes, enhanced faculty recruitment and retention, increased research Ph.D. production, and greater research awards and expenditures. The primary objective is to achieve R1 status by 2034, with an accelerated strategy aiming for 2028.

The document details the schedule and agenda for multiple committee meetings (Audit, Development, Endowment and Investments, Health Affairs, Academic Excellence and Student Success, Budget and Finance, Long-Range Planning, and Committee of the Whole) held on September 4, 2025, and the main Board of Trustees meeting on September 5, 2025. Key discussion topics included reports from various committees, approval of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, approval of Medical Staff Appointments and Reappointments, approval of the President's Employment Contract, and commendation of Mrs. Barbara Bush and Mr. Leonard Bush. The document also includes minutes from the June 6, 2025, Board of Trustees meeting, where resolutions were passed regarding revised Bylaws, the 2025-2026 meeting schedule, tenure and promotion approvals, adjustments to the Academic Infrastructure and Technology Fee, College of Medicine tuition, and housing/dining rates for 2025-2026. The June meeting also included the conferral of the honorary title Chair Pro Tempore Emerita upon Mrs. Arlene Mitchell for her service.

The University of South Alabama Board of Trustees meetings involved several committee meetings, including discussions on audit reports, endowment and investment performance, health affairs, academic excellence, student success, budget and finance, and long-range planning. Key topics included the approval of medical staff appointments, revisions to hospital bylaws, nominations for medical executive committee officers, and the establishment of a rural healthcare authority. The board also addressed the evaluation of the university's endowment fund, investment policy statements, and the appointment of officers and directors for the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Additionally, discussions covered sabbatical awards, faculty emeritus, honorary doctorate degrees, banking and treasury services authority, and commendations for various individuals.