JACKSON, Tenn. — April 6, 2018 — 51社区 trustees at their April 6 meeting approved a $91.2 million budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, a resolution of appreciation for the Lady Bulldogs basketball team and a number of Union faculty members for promotions, tenure and research leaves.
The new budget reflects about a 2.4 percent increase over the current year鈥檚 amended budget of $88.9 million. Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said the financial health of the institution remains strong, and that Union is committed to effective stewardship of the resources that God has provided.
In the Lady Bulldogs鈥� resolution, the Board of Trustees cited the team鈥檚 record this year of 33-4, its Gulf South Conference championship and its first trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four. The resolution also noted Chelsey Shumpert鈥檚 distinction as the conference Player of the Year, an NCAA Division II All-American and her Union record for most points in a season (856), in addition to Coach Mark Campbell鈥檚 recognition as the Women鈥檚 Basketball Coaches Association South Region Coach of the Year.
鈥淭he team measured its success less by on-court achievements than by the relational and spiritual maturation of the student-athletes,鈥� the resolution reads. 鈥淐oach Campbell publicly testified that his privilege of baptizing two members of the program represents a greater accomplishment than all of the team鈥檚 wins.鈥�
The resolution congratulated the Lady Bulldogs for their 鈥渆xtraordinarily successful season鈥� and expressed the Board of Trustees鈥� and Union administration鈥檚 appreciation for the team representing Union 鈥渋n a profoundly Christ-like manner, both on and off the court.鈥�
鈥淐oach Mark Campbell and the Lady Bulldogs excel as ambassadors for 51社区,鈥� said Lisa Rogers, chairman of Union鈥檚 Board of Trustees. 鈥淟istening to the post-game interviews with Coach Campbell and the players was a blessing to me and made me even more proud to be an alumna of Union.鈥�
Regarding faculty research leaves and promotions, Oliver said Union remains committed to supporting meaningful research among faculty and students, one of the themes included in the university鈥檚 strategic plan, 鈥淯nited in Spirit. Grounded in Truth.鈥�
鈥淭he quality of the Union faculty is one of the many strengths of 51社区,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲e are grateful that Union trustees continue to provide an environment that encourages professors to develop, learn and grow, thus setting an example for students on what it means to be lifelong learners and agents of discovery.鈥�
Georg Pingen (engineering), Kelvin Moore (theology and missions), Keith Bates (history), Chris Bailey (English) and Randall Bush (theology and missions) were approved for faculty research leaves during the 2018-2019 academic year.
Trustees approved Jill Webb for the honor of emeritus professor. Webb, professor of nursing and assistant director of the Honors Community, is retiring after the spring semester.
Promoted to university professor were Matt Lunsford (mathematics), Dottie Myatt (education) and John Netland (English).
Promoted to professor were Luna Bennett (pharmacy), Brad Green (theology and missions) and Kim Lindsey Goodrich (pharmacy).
Promoted to associate professor were Faith Zamamiri-Davis (biology), Beth Madison (biology), Bethany Murphy (pharmacy), Tammy Patton (social work) and Greg Ryan (political science).
Savannah Patterson (librarian) was promoted to assistant professor.
Faculty members granted tenure included Haelim Allen (art), Hayward Armstrong (theology and missions), Chris Bailey (English), Hunter Baker (political science), Kevin Chen (theology and missions), Jason Crawford (English), Steve Halla (art), Michael Hayes (chemistry), Emily Lean (business), Melissa Lefave (nursing), Dan Musselman (music), Melinda Posey (art) and Michael Schiebout (biology).