While the name-changing, and record-setting, donation from Raymond Harbert to the College of Business received most of the attention, there were several other major decisions made during the Board of Trustees' meeting Friday, June 21.
The board unanimously approved a resolution naming Atlanta-based architecture group jB+a the designers of the redevelopment of Toomer's Corner. The group was behind the redevelopment concept that was unveiled at the Final Roll celebration following April's A-Day scrimmage.
Dan King, vice president of facilities management, recommended jB+a over eight other firms that were interested in the project. The cost of the project was not discussed by the property and facilities committee on Friday.
The board also approved a new strategic plan that will focus on five priority areas at the University for the next five years. The plan calls for enhancements in student success, faculty excellence, research work, public engagement and resource focusing.
"We believe it is a bold plan that will strengthen Auburn's role and prominence as an outstanding land-grant institution," Provost Timothy Boosinger said.
Boosinger helped develop the new plan with faculty, student, staff and administrative representatives.
Four University departments were given school designation by the board on Friday: the department of communication and journalism; the department of fisheries and allied aquacultures; the department of industrial and graphic design; and the department of kinesiology.
SGA President Harrison Mills took part in a presentation to the board on the new Recreation and Wellness Center, which will have its grand opening August 19. The presentation included a slideshow of the center's biggest amenities, such as the one-third mile running track that will corkscrew through the building.
In addition to the College of Business, another campus area's renaming was approved by the board. The Agricultural Engineering Annex, which the University was recently granted $4.6 million to renovate, will now be known as the Biological Engineering Research Laboratory. The name change is said to better reflect the research being coordinated in the area by the department of biosystems engineering and other collaborative programs.
The board also elected trustee Jimmy Rane to the position of president pro tempore, where he will work closely with President Jay Gogue. Rane, the chairman, president and CEO of Great Southern Wood, Inc., was reappointed to a second seven-year term in 2012.
"I am very humbled that you would bestow this job on me, and I am excited about the opportunity to serve, and I'm going to devote all my energy to try to make this successful," Rane said.
Rane, who will serve an initial one-year term as president pro tempore, will replace Harbert.
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