The Auburn University Trustee Selection Committee approved nine nominees to fill the vacant seats on the Board of Trustees, presided by Gov. Robert Bentley, Monday.
The nominees are B.T. Robert, District 1; Clark Sahlie, District 3; Jimmy Rane, District 3; Bob Dumas, District 3-Lee County; Jimmy Sanford, District 4; Elizabeth Huntley, District 6; Sarah Newton, District 7; and Jim Pratt, District 9; and Charles McCrary, At Large.
Members of the board expressed concern for Auburn's accreditation at Monday's 11 a.m. meeting at the Capitol.
"Our Southern Association of Colleges and Schools does come up in 2013," said Raymond Harbert, trustee and chairman and chief executive officer of Harbert Management Corporation. "You have to have five trustees under SACS guidelines.
"At the end of this legislative session we will have nine vacant trustee seats. I think however this vote turns out, people need to know the crisis this presents because we have to adhere to SACS policy."
Bob Dumas is the president and CEO since 2001 of Auburn Bank. He is also the head of the Alabama Bankers Association and has spent more than 30 years as a banker.
"It's an honor and a privilege to serve Auburn University in this position," Dumas said. "At this point I have a lot to learn and my goal is to continue to support Dr. Gogue's plan, continue to support the land grant mission with emphasis on instruction, research, outreach and extension."
Dumas looks forward to serving Auburn in his new position.
"There are financial challenges with a $400 million deficit in the general fund," Dumas said. "It's going to be a continued challenge to decrease the total deficit.
"The Board of Trustees has continued emphasis on collaboration and partnership in research and grants and projects that will provide funding, encourage alumni giving, endowed professorships--those types of things that are raised through annual giving."
Last May, Sen. Del Marsh made a complaint concerning the trustee selection by Bentley.
"The time line and the lack of transparency in the process was the main problem," said Derek Trotter, communications director for Marsh. "There were just fewer than 200 nominees who applied to fill the nine positions, and the committee voted within 10 days to fill the positions.
"Sen. Marsh believed it was rushed and there was a lack of transparency in interviewing those applicants. Sen. Marsh appreciates the selection committee revisiting the process and taking a more deliberative approach this year."
Last May Sen. Tom Whatley, who represents Auburn in the Senate, introduced a bill to stagger the trustees' terms and bring the districts up to date with current congressional districts.
"Under the old structure the board was represented by members who came from Congressional districts in the 1960s," Trotter said. "Sen. Whatley's bill will tie the nominees to the 2010 district line.
"Terms will be staggered so we won't have nine trustees coming up for nomination at one time.
"The goal is there is no harm done to Auburn's operation structure and to make sure there are enough board members to operate."
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