JACKSON, Tenn. — April 26, 2019 — 51社区 trustees at their April 26 meeting approved a $95.7 million budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, including nearly $2 million in additional financial aid for students.
Trustees also approved a number of Union faculty members for promotions and tenure and celebrated the five-year anniversary of Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver and his wife Susie.
鈥淥ne of the things we鈥檙e committed to is making a Union education affordable for families,鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淲ith the addition of almost $2 million budgeted for financial aid, that will open the door for a number of students to attend Union who otherwise might not have been able to.鈥�
The 2019-2020 budget is 3.3 percent higher than this year鈥檚 budget. A little more than $1 million of that increase is due to the merger between Union and the Memphis Center for Urban and Theological Studies. Trustees heard an update from Oliver about the merger with MCUTS and continue to look forward to the Aug. 1 date when that process will fully take effect.
Trustees approved promotion to professor for Chris Bailey (English), Hunter Baker (political science), Kim Jones (pharmacy), Emily Lean (business), Melissa Lefave (nursing), David Malone (English) and Ashok Phillip (pharmacy).
Promoted to associate professor were Henry Allen (history), Rebecca Bohner (social work), Karen Dotson (social work), John Klonowski (communication arts), Anita Langston (nursing), Katrinna Matthews (social work), Jacob Shatzer (theology and missions), Colene Trent (business) and LeAnne Wilhite (nursing).
Megan Pittman (nursing) was promoted to assistant professor.
Faculty members granted tenure were Janna Chance (English), David Malone (English), Daniel Slater (business) and William Thierfelder (biology).
In addition, the trustees took time to reflect on the operations and effectiveness of the board. This self-evaluation, Oliver said, was designed to help trustees be the best stewards of their responsibilities.
On Thursday evening prior to their meeting, trustees and members of the Union Foundation Board and the Union Board of Regents honored the Olivers for five years of service to the university. Oliver was elected president of Union in February of 2014. Chad Wilson, chairman of Union鈥檚 Board of Trustees, said over the past five years that Oliver has communicated excellently to the university鈥檚 constituents and given them confidence in Union鈥檚 firm commitment to Scripture and traditional Christian principles.
鈥淒r. Oliver has doubled down on the mission and the core values of the university, and I think that鈥檚 a big deal,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淲hen you have a transition of leadership, sometimes you have continuity in vision, and sometimes you don鈥檛. The fact that Dr. Oliver has embraced Union鈥檚 identity and found kinship within his own heart for it is significant.鈥�