April 1, 2011
University Planning Council
Minutes for April 1, 2011
Present: Buffy Bagwell, Jane Fernandes, Vic Foster, Eric Gant, Archer Gravely, Bill Haggard, Julie Heinitsh, Jim Kuhlman, Erica Abrams Locklear, Ted Meigs, Chris Miller, Kevin Moorhead, Gary Nallan, John Pierce, Anne Ponder, Christine Riley, Rachel Whaley
Absent: Katja Greeson, Patrice Mitchell, Linda Nelms, Dave Peifer, Lorena Russell
Guests: Rob Nelson (Master Planning Consultant)
UPC met on April 1 from 8:55 to 9:55 in 221 HU.
1. Chancellor Ponder convened the meeting and provided a general information update. She commented on President Ross’s recent visit and observed that he seemed to have affection for our campus. President Ross will also be on campus in May as our commencement speaker, and there will be an opportunity for the community to meet him at the reception following graduation. Provost Fernandes was pleased to report that President Ross seemed to understand our mission and that our current teaching loads were unreasonable. Chancellor Ponder informed UPC of a UNC-GA legislative proposal for regulatory relief and reform that would reduce the level of bureaucracy in purchasing, construction processes, and other areas. This proposal raises the dollar amount that requires state-level approval and shortens the time required for the approval process. UNC-GA is also seeking to relieve the Office of State Personnel (OSP) of the responsibility for managing UNC staff employees. President Ross has stated that based on the experience with UNC hospitals and the community college system, staff will be better off managed by the University than OSP. UNC-GA has a new VP for Human Resources and he is willing to visit UNC Asheville to discuss this proposal. UNC Asheville’s HR Office and CSAC will coordinate the details of the visit. Chancellor Ponder also announced the introduction of a bill in the NC House that would remove the benefit of re-employment rights for state employees reduced in force. She noted that opposition to the bill seems to be running ahead of meaningful discussion of the bill with UNC, and we will continue to track its standing.
2. Mr. Nelson gave UPC an update on the campus master planning process. He noted that the master plan is a Board of Trustee responsibility. Our last plan was completed in 2005 and it is now out-of-date. We are now in the conceptual phase and ‘doing our homework’ before we bring in professional designers and architects in the next phase. The master planning steering committee consists of the following members:
- Nathan Ramsey, Vice Chair of UNC Asheville Board of Trustees
- Sue McClinton, Trustee
- Anne Ponder, Chancellor
- John Pierce, Vice Chancellor for Finance & Operations
- Keith Krumpe, Dean of Natural Sciences
- Christine Riley, Chief of Staff
- Rob Nelson, consultant and facilitator
We have also established a working group which will formulate recommendations to the Steering Committee on how to move forward to the Board of Trustees in May. Working Group members include:
- Rob Nelson, consultant, Chair of Working Group
- Don Gordon, Director of Design & Construction
- Melissa Acker, Landscape Architect
- Eric Boyce, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police
- Kimberly Newsome, AVC for Student Affairs
- Dee Eggers, appointed by Faculty Senate
- Gregg Kormanik, appointed by Faculty Senate
- Renee Bindewald, student appointed by SGA
- Ben Judge, student appointed by SGA
- Max Queen, VP Administrative Services, AB Tech - community member
Mr. Nelson stated that the working group has held numerous forums and focus groups with faculty, staff, students, and alumni and will provide a report to the Faculty Senate in late April. The master planning process has focused on: (1) the use of existing space; (2) condition of space; and (3) need for space in the future. The working group is also studying the use of the open tracks of land north and south of campus and parking. He noted that we will have conflicting goals. With the state revenue situation we probably won’t see any new buildings soon and the only buildings on the horizon are new student residence halls. This is the time to take stock of where we are in having the right people and functions in the optimal location. Dr. Krumpe is currently doing a space utilization study for Academic Affairs. For the remainder of the meeting, Mr. Nelson invited UPC responses to the following master plan questions.
- What improvements are needed to our existing campus and our current use of space to better reflect UNC Asheville’s strategic vision and to ensure a quality education for our students?
- What aspects of the UNC Asheville physical campus do you value and feel are most important preserve [this could be a building, a view, an experience, a custom, a ‘look,’ etc.].
- What do you believe students value most about our physical campus?
- What do you find difficult, cumbersome, confusing or unhelpful about the physical campus?
- What do you believe students find difficult, cumbersome, confusing or unhelpful about the physical campus?
- If you could change one fundamental thing about our physical campus, what would that be? [examples: location, architecture, number/size of buildings, overall building/classroom design, transportation options and routes, the visitor experience, infrastructure issues, signage, lighting, process for allocating space, residence halls, where functions are located on campus, dining facilities, use of green space for research/informal use, social spaces/pathways, etc.].
More information about the master planning process is found on the UNC Asheville web site: