CAPITAL PROJECTS

Ford Center 3rd Floor 

This project in partnership with Gadsden State Community College will allow JSU to occupy the entire second floor. Following your approval of $125,000 toward this project the bid was awarded to Barclay-Hayes in April 2003. Estimated completion date is early Fall Semester 2003.

Chimney Peak

The initial phase was completed and final inspection was conducted July 8th. ALDOT would not allow applying remaining funds toward paving Mountain Avenue. The City and University are assessing funding options for completion of the roadway. Due to a considerable amount of vandalism at the summit of Chimney Peak the University after meeting with Jacksonville City officials constructed a fence across the road approximately 300 yards below the tower.

Chimney Peak Observatory

The consultant verified the site location for the Chimney Peak observatory adjacent to the new antenna location. The construction documents for the observatory are in the preparation and development phase.

Ayers Hall Renovation

Chorba Contracting is making good progress on the renovation of Ayers Hall. The excavation for the foundation of the new three story wing is almost complete and the project is scheduled to be finished November 2004.

Roof Replacement 2002

This project included five roofs, Stone Center, Stephenson Hall, Sparkman Hall, McClellan CDC, and Coliseum. Total project cost was $1.26 million. Project is substantially completed with punch list items to be addressed.

Roof Replacement 2003

Bids were opened in late May with Alabama Roofing & Sheet Metal Company being the low bidder. Roofs to be addressed include Bibb Graves, Daugette Hall, Crow Hall, Dixon Hall, Curtiss Hall, and Fitzpatrick.

Soccer Field

This project which was awarded to Sports Turf in August 2002 will be complete and ready for the opening soccer game with the University of Alabama on August 29th. Project cost was $376,000 with punch list items being addressed at this time.

Baseball/Soccer Seating

Bob Smith Construction was low bidder based on bids opened in June 2003. However, the project cost based on the bid of $359,000 exceeded project funding. No award is planned at this time pending further review by the Athletic Department.

Underground Electrical-Coliseum, Soccer and Baseball Fields

Contract was awarded to Salt Creek Electric in March 2003. Project cost was $386,000. Underground conduit has been installed and cable installation is in-process. Soccer field poles are on site and should be installed by early August.

McClellan Building 3181

Thank you for your approval of this project in partnership with Gadsden State Community College to renovate the former military police and chemical school at McClellan. 

Multi-Purpose Building

The contract was awarded following Board approval to Tom Roberts Construction in April 2003. Project cost is $2.97 million. The project is approximately 6% complete. Wet conditions and soil compaction issues have delayed the project which was to be completed by August 1, 2004.

Field House Renovations

The Field House construction documents are being finalized with the Athletic Departments input and consideration. Construction plans and bids will be ready for approval by the Board at the October meeting with construction to begin at the end of the '03 football session. 

Library Elevator and Interior Improvements

The contract was awarded to Hudak and Dawson in June 2003. Notice to proceed was issued in July following Board approval by mail ballot. A pre-construction meeting was held July 10^th. The contractor has 365 days to complete the project.

Ramona Wood Heat Pump Replacement

This contract was awarded to Mid-South Controls in December 2002. The project cost which was approved by the board is $226,000. The project is approximately 65% finished with completion to occur before beginning of Fall Semester 2003.

Paving 2002

This contract was awarded to APAC-Alabama, Inc. in September 2002. Project completion has been delayed by wet conditions and is approximately 70% complete. The project should be completed before the start of the fall semester. The resurfacing includes the parking lots at the Library, Martin/McGee Hall, the Coliseum, Brewer Hall, and Building Services. Also, included are the driveway around the RV lot near the stadium and Trustee Circle

Paving 2003

Logan Construction was awarded this contract in January 2003. Project cost is $735,000. Project completion has been delayed by wet conditions and is approximately 65% complete. This will provide 159 additional parking spaces at two critical points of need on campus, 73 additional parking spaces will be added at Daugette Hall and 86 additional spaces at Stone Center. Completion is expected before start of fall semester barring any further rain delays.

Boiler Installation

The contract was awarded to Mid-South Controls in December 2002. All boilers are in place and piping connections are progressing. Work is approximately 63% complete with final completion to occur by October. The contractor is installing separate heating boilers at eight buildings on campus in conjunction with the Southern Company Energy Solutions, LLC (Alabama Power) master contract. This installation is part of our campus plan to eliminate the existing coal fired steam system that currently heats these buildings. The City of Jacksonville has installed new underground natural gas lines to the boilers.

Coliseum Track

The Coliseum Track work is scheduled to begin in early May when track events have been completed. The project includes repair and resurfacing of the track.

Lighting Retrofit

Braswell Electric was awarded this contract in November 2002. Following board approval of this project four of the initial five buildings have been completed: Wallace Hall, Stone Center, Mason Hall Home Economics side, and Merrill. Brewer Hall is in process at this time. The contractor was able to accomplish additional retrofits in the hallways and common areas within the existing budget.

Fitzpatrick Exterior Improvements

This contract was awarded to Hester Construction in April 2003. The project is approximately 18% complete at this time with completion to occur within 120 days of contract award.

UNIVERSITY ACTIVITIES

Fall Application Count 

The accepted new student application count for Fall Semester 2003 is 3,008 as of July 23^rd. This is the 2^nd highest count for the new student applications for the last eleven years, only last Fall Semester 2002 was higher as of this time last year. 

Summer enrollments, Summer Semesters I, II and marathons, ended in overall total headcount and credit hour production below that of last year. Although graduate enrollment and credit hour production increased on main campus and Gadsden it was not enough to offset losses in undergraduate enrollment on campus.

The demographics for Alabama still indicate only a 1% increase in the 18 year old population for the next 10 years. It will be a challenge to reach our goal of a 10,000 student headcount. But I am confident that our faculty, staff and students will reach this goal as I know they are working hard.

Introduction of Clint Carlson

Jacksonville State University's new vice president for administrative and business affairs, Mr. G. Clint Carlson, II assumed his new position on July 1st bringing more than 25 years of financial experience in the areas of business, government and higher education.

Since 1998 Mr. Carlson has served as vice president of financial affairs for the Troy State University System, overseeing such areas as financial planning, human resources, physical plant and purchasing. He also served as treasurer of the TSU Foundation.

Mr. Carlson's experience includes working at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1992 to 1998 as director of managerial accounting and later as director of accounts payable. He also served as acting secretary / treasurer and assistant treasurer of the Clemson University Research Foundation.

From 1984 to 1992 he worked as a consultant and manager in public accounting for Grant Thornton in Atlanta, where he was responsible for project management and deliverables. Mr. Carlson served as an accounting officer for the Georgia Secretary of State from 1982 to 1983.

He worked as a project consultant for the Georgia Department of Administrative Services in Atlanta from 1980 to 1982, and as an auditor for the Georgia Department of Transportation from 1978 to 1980.

Mr. Carlson has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1983. He holds a bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern and a master's degree from Clemson University, both in accounting.
 

Announcement of Jim Fuller

I am very pleased to announce that Jim Fuller has been named Jacksonville State University's fourth full-time athletic director following Tom Seitz, who left JSU July 14^th to lead the USA Water Polo Association. I want to thank Tom Seitz for his professionalism and all that he did for JSU athletics and wish him well in his new position.
 

Mr. Fuller will officially begin his duties August 4th, although he attended the Ohio Valley Conference football media days this last weekend. 

We have fond memories of Jim's time here and we are glad that he will be back in our community. He had very strong support from his references and from our Gamecock fans. I appreciate Dr. Bill Fielding, chairman of the search committee and the committee members for doing such a thorough job, in such a timely manner.

A native of Birmingham, Jim began coaching football at his alma mater of Fairfield High School before moving on to Jacksonville State in 1970. He was an assistant coach for the Gamecocks from 1970-73 and again from 1975-76. He was named the head coach of JSU in 1977. 

He compiled a 48-20 record and led JSU to the Division II Playoffs six of seven years and captured four Gulf South Conference Championships. For his accomplishments, he was named Gulf South Conference Coach-of-the-Year three times and Regional Coach-of-the-Year twice. 

In 1983, he was hired at The University of Alabama by Ray Perkins and remained there for 15 years. After retiring from the coaching in 1997, Fuller dabbled in sales and the restaurant business until 2003. We are glad he decided to get back to the athletic world and we know he will be an asset for all 16 JSU sports and all our student athletes. 

GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

All of us in education know that education is the key to good jobs. Whether we work in kindergarten through high school or higher education, we know that education is the key to improvements in the quality of our state.

We also know that Alabama is in the worst crisis since the great depression. The deficit is $675 million dollars and "filling the hole" will not address any of Alabama's long term problems. Unfortunately cuts are not enough. Already Governor Riley has cut 230 million dollars from state government by reducing the number of state employees, selling state cars, freezing pay raises and eliminating pass through state pork spending. Additional revenue is needed to fund basic state services and support any improvements in education.

Governor Riley's Accountability and Tax Reform Plan is the best solution to the problems that have kept Alabama at the bottom of every meaningful list of state accomplishments. Whether the list is education, health care, public safety, or services to seniors Alabamians don't deserve to be ranked at the bottom. 

This reform represents a sound investment in Alabama's future, a future we can all share. Alabama can be a state where our children learn the skills to compete, where they have the opportunity for good jobs, and where they can live and raise a family. Alabama's tax system will be fair and taxes will continue to be among the lowest in the country. We will join our Governor in his efforts to reform Alabama government, by demanding sound fiscal management in our schools, controlling rising costs, and firing incompetent staff. By supporting Governor Riley's tax plan we will help to create a world class education system and funding for the Alabama Reading Initiative, the Math and Science Initiative and college scholarships for the students who excel in high school and continue to excel in college.

I am very proud of our JSU Alumni Association for their support of the tax plan and for paying for the special edition of the Gem of the Hills you have before you. I hope you will each take time to read this issue and share it with your family members and others. I am also very pleased that the Alumni Association has passed a resolution in support of the tax plan and we have later in our agenda a resolution in support of the tax reform and accountability initiative.

Mr. Chairman I would now ask Dr. Turner to provide the Academic Report. 

Mr. Chairman, that concludes my report.