The Board of Trustees approved a yearly evaluation of President Eli Capilouto on Tuesday to examine his strategic vision for the university.

Board Chairman Britt Brockman said it would be used to evaluate Capilouto’s success.

The motion was approved by 19 members. Trustee Irina Voro was the only trustee to oppose the motion.

“We feel it’s time to change the process of which we evaluate the president,” Brockman said. “The new process … would encompass many more constituency groups.”

There will be 20 to 30 confidential interviews with representatives from groups including Student Government, University and Staff Senates, the Alumni Association, elected officials and donors.

The interviews will be conducted by the board’s Executive Committee, and will focus on:

• University strategy and priorities — Has the president effectively worked with key constituents to identify the current reality the university faces? Has he articulated his priorities and explained the rationale?
• Leadership — How effective is the president in creating a learning environment that reinforces UK’s values, and is he effectively leading the organization in executing these?
• Organization and team — Is the president working to design an organization that will produce strategic and operational execution?
• Relationship with constituencies — Has the president established a relationship with the Board that allows the Board to contribute to UK’s advancement, and has he engaged constituencies?
• Financial management — Is the president managing the institution’s resources while incorporating the financial goals?
• Fundraising — Is the president committed to raising funds for the university, and does he have the skills necessary to succeed?
• Future consideration — Has the president made it so the university will progress in the next year, three years and five years?

The evaluation should be completed by the June Board meeting.

Brockman said the president’s contract provides for potential performance bonuses based on the results of the evaluation. However, Capilouto said that regardless of the results, he would turn down any bonus, according to a news release.

Trustee Sheila Brothers commended the people who worked on the plan and said she thinks “it’s a wonderful step forward.”

Housing update

Angie Martin, UK’s treasurer and vice president of finance, updated the Board of Trustees on the student housing development.

Phase I, for the new residence hall on Haggin Field, is currently being executed, she said. The university has also been looking at property taxes, outstanding

debt, and the building and demolition schedule.

UK Beyond Coal

Earlier on Tuesday, UK Beyond Coal met with the Board finance subcommittee to discuss incorporating solar energy as well as signing the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment.

Elaine Alvey spoke on behalf of the group, asking the Board to consider making changes.

“I think the board was really open to hearing what we had to say,” Alvey said. She said the trustees had a lot of questions and seemed to want to be a part of the conversation.

Patrick Johnson, another a member of the group, also thinks the trustees were receptive.

In October the group spoke in front of the Board, asking them to consider using geothermal energy by looking at Ball State University’s geothermal plan. The university is now including geothermal energy in the new Haggin Field dorms.

Now, the group is asking the university to look at the University of Toledo and its solar capabilites, Johnson said.

Its members are also asking the university to sign the ACUPC, like other universities in the state, such as the University of Louisville, Centre College and Northern Kentucky University, have.

He said the commitment means the university acknowledges that global climate change is real, and universities play a role in it.

Johnson said the university is “entrenched in the coal industry,” but students are starting to see its “cozy relationship” with the industry.

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