Samford University's board of trustees executive committee approved two new faculty members and approved the naming of a new languages facility in a regular meeting Feb. 26 in Birmingham.
New faculty members are:
Lisa Allison, assistant professor of nursing. Allison anticipates completing the doctor of nursing practice degree this spring from the University of Alabama. Since 1999, she has been a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Children's Hospital of Alabama.
William Nathan Kirkpatrick, assistant professor of kinesiology and nutrition science. Kirkpatrick has a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Georgia and currently is assistant professor at Belhaven University, Jackson, Miss.
Trustees gave formal approval to the naming of a new language technology center in the Department of World Languages and Cultures for retired faculty member Grace Weeks Marquez. Marquez, a 1942 Samford graduate, served on the Spanish faculty and was department chair before her retirement. She was founder of Samford's first language laboratory in the 1960s. The new facility, located in Chapman Hall, is scheduled for completion in summer 2013.
Michael Kendrach, professor of pharmacy, was appointed as the new Anthony and Marianne Bruno Professor in Pharmacy. Twenty other faculty members were reappointed to endowed chairs.
Trustees also gave preliminary approval to a $142 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The current budget is $141 million. Included in the new budget is a 3.9 percent increase in full-time undergraduate tuition.
Harry B. Brock III, Samford's vice president for business and financial affairs, described the budget as "challenging, but realistic." The budget does not provide for any merit salary increases and maintains flat operating budgets. The increases cover debt service, employee pension costs and fixed expenses.
Trustees also approved the first major revision of the staff handbook since 1999 and a major revision of the university's records management policy that more accurately reflects current procedures, according to Brock.
In a series of reports, trustees learned that the university's endowment on Dec. 31 was $247.6 million and that final spring enrollment is 4,592, a slight decrease from spring 2012. Although undergraduate enrollment is up, there were decreases were in two professional programs, law and pharmacy.
R. Philip Kimrey, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, reported that applications and paid deposits are up over the same period in 2012.
W. Randy Pittman, vice president for university advancement, reported gifts to date of about $13 million, up approximately $1.8 million over the previous period in 2012.
The next full meeting of the board of trustees is May 7.