Matt Braaten

The meeting commenced with the introduction of the newest member of the Board of Trustees and confirmation of compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. Key discussions centered on committee reports. The Academic Affairs Committee brought forward seven action items, primarily focusing on restructuring business degrees by elevating Accounting and Financial Services to independent B.S. degrees, transitioning Entrepreneurship to a B.S., and terminating the general Business Administration B.S. degree. Other academic actions included proposing a new Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Early Childhood Education and restructuring Secondary Education programs. The Finance, Facilities and Audit Committee reported unanimous approval for maintaining current undergraduate and graduate tuition rates for the 2026-27 academic year, thereby freezing tuition for the eleventh consecutive year. They also approved several Permanent Improvement Projects, including renovations and a proposed 300-Bed Residence Hall, and approved entering a lease agreement for off-campus student housing for 2026-27. The committee also accepted the FY 2024-25 Financial Audit, which received a clean audit opinion. The Policy Committee received unanimous approval for four policy items, including Telecommuting and Remote Work, Board of Trustee Conflict of Interest, Use of the University Seal, and Senior-Level Administrator Evaluations. During the President's Report, updates included record-breaking enrollment, plans for a new Information Commons groundbreaking in March 2026, the search for an Associate Provost of Artificial Intelligence, and the announcement of strong financial performance, including clearing debt on Centennial Hall in June 2026. The session concluded with an executive session from which no action was taken.

The Lander University College of Business and Technology's vision is to be the most industry-embedded and workforce-focused college in South Carolina. The college is committed to preparing students for tomorrow's workforce by prioritizing experiential learning through job shadowing, internships, and a dedicated consulting office. It offers diverse programs across business, computing, media, and design, alongside flexible online and graduate options, aiming to equip students with problem-solving and critical thinking skills for successful and impactful careers.

This document is Lander University's 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog, providing comprehensive information on graduate programs, academic policies, and student resources. It details various Master's degrees across colleges including Business and Technology, Education, Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and Nursing, Human Performance, and Health Sciences. Key areas covered include admission criteria, curriculum specifics for degrees like MBA, MSM, MAT, M.Ed., MFA, and MS, financial aid, and academic regulations. The catalog serves as a guide for prospective and current graduate students, outlining requirements for academic success and program completion.

The meeting commenced with the announcement that appropriate publicity was disseminated in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act. Key discussions included committee reports addressing Dean of Students/Intercollegiate Athletics, Academic Affairs, Enrollment and Access Management/Student Experience and Quality Assurance, Finance/Facilities/Audit/Governmental/Strategic Initiatives, Institutional Advancement, and Policy. The Policy Committee brought forward two action items which were subsequently approved as a package: Hearing Conservation (LP 4.21) and Crane and Hoist Safety (LP 4.22). The President's Report detailed record-breaking enrollment projections for 2025-26, a 73% retention rate, utilization of over $60 million in new state appropriations since 2022 for campus improvements, plans for a capital campaign starting in July 2026, focus on funding undergraduate research conference travel, updates on social media performance, plans to develop a center for artificial intelligence, intent to request funds for a new College of Education building to address K-12 staffing challenges, exploration of partnering with Self Regional Healthcare for doctoral programs in physical and occupational therapy, plans to hire new faculty, anticipation of requesting approximately $30 million in non-recurring capital funds in 2026, updates on construction for the new Nursing Experiential Learning Center and groundbreaking for the Information Commons, and recognition of the South Carolina Institute for the Prevention of Sexual Violence on College Campuses programming. The Board also entered executive session, following which a unanimous vote extended President Cosentino's contract by three years until June 2032, with an additional three-year option, and approved a compensation increase of $75,000, with any remainder funded by the Lander Foundation.

The Staff Senate meeting included discussions on making a difference in departments, planning a staff gathering during Fall Break, and division announcements related to admissions, military and veteran services, marketing and communications, and housing. Committee assignments were announced, and committee members were asked to discuss current initiatives and list three goals for 2025-26. Ideas for initiatives included involving Lander's President or Division Vice Presidents in the Office Spotlight, hosting professional development workshops, and developing a "Did You Know?" communication and a quarterly newsletter. The senate also discussed asking departments for ideas on how they would like to be appreciated and the possibility of a food drive for the Bear Necessities Food Pantry.