On Tuesday, Aug. 14, the UNF Board of Trustees met to discuss outlining a process of board self-evaluation. Chair Sharon Wamble-King called the meeting to order and explained that this self-evaluation is to be further discussed with the full board, at the retreat on Sept. 20.

Vice President Karen Stone brought up that UNF was undergoing a reaccreditation process through the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on College.

“Under a new criteria for SACS there is a focus on board governance, board effectiveness, board self-evaluation” Stone expounded.

Also in attendance was UNF’s SACSCOC liaison and Director of Academic Programs, Shawn Brayton. While board members discussed the best process for the board evaluation, many added that examining how other schools have handled the situation and gathering ideas from their processes may help. Brayton responded that UNF is the first in Florida to undergo the new criteria for re-accreditation.

“We have the potential to create a pretty good best practice,” Stone responded.

There was a sense of expediency on the subject, as the school must be fully compliant by April when the visiting team from SACSCOC visits UNF’s campus. The board is setting a goal to have the documentation fully completed by December 2018.

In preparation for this, they have been studying the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges guidebook, attending webinars on assessing board performance, and will be visited by a consultant beginning at the September retreat to help lead them to success.

“There’s going to have to be some patience, and there’s probably going to be some back and forth, but I think at the end of the day we’ll be in a really good place in terms of gathering useful information that will help each one of us be more successful,” President David Szymanski said.

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