On April 17, the University’s Board of Trustees approved a $181.3 million operating budget for the next fiscal year, a $9.4 million, or 5.5 percent, increase over the current budget. The Board also approved several new academic programs and approved tenure and promotions for faculty.
“In preparing next year’s budget, we sought to hold our tuition increases to a minimum in recognition of the current economic climate, while also ensuring that the University maintains progress toward meeting the goals in the 10-year plan that was approved by the Board of Trustees in 2008,” said President William D. Underwood. “We have been fortunate in that we continue to experience record-setting enrollments – particularly in our graduate and professional programs – and the University is enjoying very strong momentum in the midst of a challenging environment.”
Tuition for Mercer’s undergraduate programs will increase by 2.9 percent, the smallest tuition increase at Mercer in at least 15 years. Last year’s increase for Macon undergraduate programs was 6.5 percent, compared with 6.8 percent in 2007 and 7 percent in 2006. Some graduate and professional programs will not see any increase in tuition next year, while others will go up 2.9 to 6.9 percent.
The board also approved several new undergraduate and graduate degrees programs. The College of Continuing and Professional Studies will add an undergraduate major in human resources administration and development for students in Mercer’s Regional Academic Centers. The School of Engineering is adding two new master’s programs – a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Systems. A new Master of Arts in Christian Ministry will be offered by the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology.
New certificate programs that were approved include career development in the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, and minority health and health disparities, and rural health, both in the School of Medicine.
The board also approved tenure and promotions for the following faculty.
College of Continuing and Professional Studies
Dr. Hani Q. Khoury, associate professor of mathematics, science and information systems, was promoted to professor.
Dr. David W. Lane, associate professor of counseling and human science, was promoted to professor.
Dr. Arthur J. Williams, associate professor of counseling and human science, was promoted to professor.
College of Liberal Arts
Dr. William Davis was named professor emeritus of Spanish.
Dr. Robert Hargrove was named professor emeritus of chemistry.
Dr. Roger Jamison was named professor emeritus of art.
Dr. Janell Johnson, assistant professor of Christianity, was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure.
Dr. Lori Johnson, assistant professor of political science, was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure.
Dr. Margaret Symington, associate professor of mathematics, was granted tenure.
Dr. Charlotte Thomas, associate professor of philosophy, was promoted to professor.
Dr. Douglas Thompson, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies, was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure.
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Dr. Lisa M. Lundquist, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, was promoted to clinical associate professor.
Dr. Leisa L. Marshall, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice, was promoted to clinical professor.
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing
Dr. Sue Bulfin, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Mary Beerman, instructor, was promoted to assistant professor.
Fran Kamp, instructor, was promoted to assistant professor.
Daphnee Stewart, instructor, was promoted to assistant professor.
Dr. Elaine C. Grier, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Dr. Ann Keeley, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Dr. Grace Lewis, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Dr. John Summerville, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Julie Jones, instructor, was promoted to assistant professor.
School of Engineering
Dr. Sinjae Hyun, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, was promoted to associate professor.
Dr. Laura Lackey, associate professor of environmental engineering, was promoted to professor.
School of Medicine
Dr. Himangshu S. Bose, academic associate professor of biochemistry, was granted tenure.
Dr. Steven Carpenter, academic assistant professor, was promoted to academic associate professor.
Dr. Martin L. Dalton was named dean emeritus and professor emeritus of surgery.
Dr. Richard Fehlenberg was named associate professor emeritus of community medicine.
Dr. Shi-Wen Jiang, academic associate professor of molecular biology, was granted tenure.
Dr. Edward C. Lauterbach, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, was named professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
Dr. John Sippel was named professor emeritus of basic medical sciences.
Dr. Roberta Weintraut, academic assistant professor of family medicine, was promoted to academic associate professor.
Dr. Michael Zoller, clinical associate professor of surgery, was promoted to clinical professor of surgery.
Stetson School of Business and Economics
Dr. Tammy Crutchfield, associate professor of marketing, was promoted to professor.
Dr. James Hunt, associate professor of business law, was promoted to professor.
Dr. D. David McIntyre, assistant professor of accounting, was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure.
Dr. Penelope Prime, professor of economics, was granted tenure.
Tift College of Education
Dr. Jaquelyn Culpepper, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor and granted tenure.
Dr. Jianhua Feng, associate professor, was promoted to professor.
Dr. Carolyn Garvin, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Dr. Ismail Gyagenda, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Dr. William Lacefield, associate professor, was promoted to professor.
Dr. Susan Malone, associate professor, was promoted to professor.
Walter F. George School of Law
Sarah Gerwig-Moore, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Linda Jellum, associate professor, was granted tenure.
Suzianne Painter-Thorne, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
Karen Sneddon, assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor.
University Libraries
E. Lee Twombly, instructor, was promoted to assistant professor.
