SRU trustees round out Presidential Search Committee; recognize departing student trustee
Sen. Mary Jo White, Slippery Rock University trustee, addresses the crowd during the Dec. 8 quarterly business meeting of the University’s council of trustees.
Dec. 8, 2017
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The final piece of Slippery Rock University's Presidential Search Committee was put into place today when the University's council of trustees voted to name Janet Sargert as the final member.
Sargert, a 1963 SRU graduate and owner of Sargert Consulting Services who sits on the Slippery Rock University Foundation, Inc. board of directors, fills the third and final "at-large" position on the search committee.
Slippery Rock University student trustee
Monica Traggiai, is presented with a
Certificate of Commendation by William
McCarrier, chair of SRU’s council of
trustees. Traggiai concluded her
appointment on the COT at the Dec. 8
meeting due to graduation.
SRU's presidential search was extended at the University's Oct. 6 quarterly business meeting when the trustees failed to approve a motion to advance the names of two candidates - Bruce Murphy, president of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana and Amir Mohammadi, vice president for finance, administration and advancement services at SRU - to Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education board of governors for consideration as SRU's 17th president.
Membership on the committee is prescribed by Pennsylvania's State System Board of Governors Policy Section 1983-13-A: Process for Recommending a Presidential Appointment.
With the approval of Sargert, a recommendation for approval of the full search committee will be forwarded to the interim chancellor of the State System for approval.
The trustees began the meeting by hearing an update regarding the College of Education presented by Keith Dils, COE dean; and then presented a Certificate of Commendation to outgoing student trustee Monica Traggiai, who is concluding her appointment on the COT due to graduation. The commendation recognized Traggiai's, "outstanding service to the University and especially her leadership in fostering communication between and among the trustees and students...her integrity...and the honor she brought to the University through her dedication and achievements."
Through committee reports, the trustees received an update from David Jacobson of CliftonLarsonAllen regarding the University's financial statement and audit overview.
"This year's financial audit went very smoothly and we are pleased to once again have a clean audit of the institution," said Molly Mercer, SRU associate vice president for finance. "We appreciate the hard work of our finance and administrative personnel that make this positive outcome possible."
The COT also received updates on the graduate survey; McKeever Environmental Learning Center; parking; the University's master plan; fundraising plans; alumni engagement; and reviewed University financial statements, including the quarterly financial report.
As part of its action agenda, the trustees adopted a resolution to reallocate previously approved bond funds in the approximate amount of $2.5 million from the renovations of Bailey Library, Strain Safety and Spotts World Culture buildings to be used for the Performing Arts Center project.
In other action, the trustees approved the minutes from the Oct. 6 quarterly and Nov. 20 special meetings; approved annual certifications of compliance for all affiliated entities; and approved compliance contracts, fixed assets, services and supply purchase orders.
The council's next meeting will be March 22-23, 2018.
MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robb.king@sru.edu