The UOG Board of Regents held their most recent meeting on Thursday Nov. 16 at 5:30 pm in the RFK Library’s AV room. A working session was held 1 hour prior to this at the President’s Conference Room in the SBPA building.

According to the UOG website, the University’s Board of Regents has general supervision over UOG. They, “Set the policies governing the duties, conditions of employment, compensation, and salary of all University employees.” An annual budget submitted to the legislature is also their duty.

The board meets no less than 4 times a year. This meeting was their fourth for 2016.

In attendance were board members, various UOG faculty and professors, representatives from Student Government Association, as well as some members of the public.

The meeting began with opening remarks from the chairperson, Ms. Antoinette Sanford and UOG president and Board Executive Secretary Robert A. Underwood.

One recurring theme in board member’s remarks was concerns about funding for the university.

“My biggest concern here, for the record, is the fact that we are still severely underfunded. We’ve had meetings with the president and the administration, and they are very very concerned,” Chairperson Ms. Antoinette Sanford said in her opening report.

UOG President Robert Underwood’s opening report mirrored Chairperson Sanford’s in this aspect.

“We are in a very severe financial situation,” said Underwood. “We’ve had to hold back spending and slow down other spending, and it has been very difficult on almost everybody.”

SGA president Samantha David also expressed how the financial issues have resulted in a smaller than usual SGA Thanksgiving event, which will be a small luncheon this year.

“We do understand the financial crisis,” David said. “We used to have it as a big event but now it is smaller scale and we are looking to people and department heads to donate food and drinks to celebrate the holidays.”

Other reports included a new research boat for marine laboratory, a new director of marine laboratory, and mention of a new bike program that allows students to rent bikes for use on or off campus.

The remainder of the meeting went smoothly with recently tenured staff being recognized and all resolutions passing without opposition.

For more information about the Board of Regents visit the UOG website page at http://www.uog.edu/administration/board-of-regents/board-of-regents-home. You can also contact Christine Mabayag at 735-2990 or Louise Toves at 735-2995 for information regarding scheduled meeting dates.