Montell Holmes

The committee reviewed the development of a new membership management platform with AlmaBase for university Direct Support Organizations, focusing on user experience, branding, and defining business requirements for various user personas. The discussion addressed the Rattler Boosters membership structure, exploring potential enhancements including corporate and family memberships. The session also covered desired platform features such as online enrollment, automated renewal options, and digital engagement tools. Additionally, the committee addressed compliance requirements regarding institutional and NCAA guidelines and clarified financial management expectations, confirming that organizations will maintain financial independence while utilizing the platform to improve reporting, communication, and operational efficiency.

The committee reviewed progress on the university's five-year strategic plan, covering areas such as student success, graduation and career outcomes, affordability, academic excellence, program strategic emphasis, brand enhancement, financial sustainability, and organizational effectiveness. The discussion also included an overview of institutional dashboards and data governance initiatives. Furthermore, the committee discussed the university's transition to a three-year strategic planning cycle and the alignment with the State University System's 2030 Strategic Plan.

The committee approved the 2026-2027 university operating budget and the 2027-2028 fixed capital outlay budget capital improvement plan. Additionally, they granted authorization for various contracts including motor pool parking lot projects, building acquisitions, athletics debt forgiveness, extended financial and Workday support services, and a multi-year employment contract. The committee reviewed the quarterly financial report, noting disciplined budget utilization across various categories, and received an update on the Workday platform implementation, which is currently in the testing phase with a target implementation date of October 2026.

The committee meeting focused on several key governance and compliance topics. Action items included the approval of the Division of Audit Annual Work Plan, revisions to the Division of Audit Charter, and the Enterprise Risk Management Annual Work Plan, with specific attention to AI governance, cybersecurity, and risk accountability. Informational items covered a compliance and ethics update, including results from an external program review and mandatory training, and a comprehensive update on internal and external audit activities, investigative caseloads, and corrective action monitoring. Additionally, the committee discussed governance and fiduciary concerns regarding the National Alumni Association and the broader oversight of university direct support organizations.

The committee reviewed the 2027-2028 Legislative Budget Request, which includes funding proposals for agricultural research, workforce development, a research acceleration initiative for Carnegie R1 classification, a Center for Legal Impact and Technology, and engineering cluster hires. Additionally, a new institute for cardiometabolic health disorders was presented to address chronic diseases and healthcare workforce needs. The committee also received a government relations update regarding appropriations in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, including funding for infrastructure and program support. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual evaluation timelines for the President and the board's self-assessment process.