FLORENCE — The Francis Marion University Board of Trustees has approved a resolution for the issuance of athletic facilities revenue bonds not to exceed $9 million.
The resolution, passed during the board’s quarterly meeting Friday, also gives the president authorization to approve all final bond documents.
The athletic facilities revenue bonds will be used for the construction of a new outdoor athletic facility to be located on the west side of S.C. 327.
The university is pressing forward with plans to move its athletic facilities to a new campus and free up the back part of the central campus for the future development of academic buildings.
Plans for the athletic facility were delayed a year because of the economic climate.
The new athletic complex will include baseball, softball and soccer fields as well as a track, intramural fields and a field house.
The university’s tennis courts won’t move to the new facility.
FMU President Dr. Fred Carter said the new facility will be a stunning addition to the existing campus.
“It’ll provide state-of-the-art athletic facilities in a campus that will be pristinely beautiful as our current campus,” Carter said. “I think, not only will the faculty and students be very proud of this new addition, but I think this community will be very proud of it, too.”
In addition to the issuance of the bonds, the board also approved a resolution for the conveyance or transfer of about 85 acres of property on the west side of S.C. 327 owned by the Francis Marion University Real Estate Foundation for the development of the athletic complex.
The transfer of the property to the university was approved by the FMU Real Estate Foundation Board of Trustees in October, according to the resolution.
A third resolution concerning a policy to determine the lawful presence of students attending the university also was approved by the board.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
State law requires public higher education institutions to define and use a process for determining the lawful presence of students.
The board’s meeting on Friday was the end of its annual two-day retreat where board members meet with members of the university’s faculty and staff, to discuss present and future projects, programs and services.
During Thursday’s session, the board heard reports on several campus programs and initiatives including the McNair Scholars program, the Performing Arts Center, the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty and the university’s Advancing Rural Community Health program.
Carter also discussed a new Master of Science in nursing degree and the university’s efforts in seeking funding for a nurse practitioner and physician assistant program.
The board also heard information on the athletics department’s efforts to move its entire program to Division I membership.
On the Web: Francis Marion University, www.fmarion.edu
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