JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 3, 2010 — 51社区 trustees at their meeting Dec. 3 approved a feasibility study that will explore all aspects of building a new library and academic resource center on the Union campus.
Trustees Rod Parker, Paul Priddy, Norm Hill, Lisa Rogers, Harry Smith and Gil Fletcher will serve on the committee to oversee the campus master plan and study the possibility of a new library.
Trustees also approved Union President David S. Dockery鈥檚 annual report to the board, in which he recapped some of the major developments in the life of the university over the past year.
鈥淚n terms of enrollment, personnel, projects, resources and activity, the university has continued to see significant advancement,鈥� Dockery reported. 鈥淭he quality of the faculty, staff and student body has never been greater. The goal and challenge for the future is to ensure that the quality of the university鈥檚 work grows faster than the quantity of our work. 鈥�
鈥淯ltimately, we give thanks to God for his blessings, guidance and enablement.鈥�
Trustees honored Dockery for 15 years of service to the university. On Dec. 8, 1995, Dockery was elected as Union president, and the university has seen substantial and unprecedented growth during his administration 鈥� enrollment has more than doubled, the physical campus has expanded significantly, the number of donors has tripled, the budget has quadrupled and many new degrees and educational programs have begun.
鈥淚n my opinion, he put 51社区 on the map,鈥� said Parker, chairman of Union鈥檚 Board of Trustees. 鈥淲e have become much more visible in evangelical circles because of Dr. Dockery鈥檚 work.鈥�
Trustees presented Dockery and his wife Lanese with various gifts, including funds and time for a study leave. The university added Dockery鈥檚 portrait to the wall of 51社区 presidents located in the foyer of the Carl Grant Events Center, and held an unveiling at the close of the trustee meeting.
In other matters, trustees gave full approval to the university鈥檚 plans to build a new building in Hendersonville and to partner with Baptists in Singapore. Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, provided the devotional to open the meeting.
鈥淥ur hope is in Christ alone,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚f you look at your limitations, you鈥檙e going to be really discouraged. But to think about what Christ can do, and Christ alone, you鈥檙e going to be blown away if you trust him.鈥�