The Board of Trustees met Thursday and Friday in the Bryant Conference Center to discuss matters concerning all three campuses in the University of Alabama System.
It was decided that Ray Hayes, current executive vice chancellor for finance and operations, will step in as Chancellor of the UA System once Robert Witt retires. Witt recommended Hayes for the position. President Pro Tempore Karen Brooks said she thinks Hayes will help move the system in the right direction.
“I’m honored that Chancellor Witt and the board have confidence in me,” Hayes said. “I really appreciate all of that. I look forward to working with Chancellor Witt this coming year, and we’re going to have a very smooth transition.”
The board also made decisions about budgets for the system and voted to move on to the next step for several projects.
At the University in Tuscaloosa, the board approved the architectural design and authorized construction contracts for the future North Bryce Parking Lot. There are also plans for renovation of Little Hall, and the board authorized negotiations with an architect for the project. Architect negotiations for the nearly 26 million dollar renovation of University Hall were also approved.
The board passed the purchase of a five color printing press for the new mail and print services facility, as well as the purchase of Local Electrode Atom Probe.
The ground lease for Hotel Capstone was also amended, pushing the extent of the lease until Sept. 30, 2045. The rent percentages were also altered, increasing .25 percent over ten years. Plans are in place to renovate the hotel.
The meeting also marked the end of Paul Bryant Jr.’s 15 years on the Board of Trustees.
At the end of the meeting, Trustee John England Jr. spoke in support of Witt’s recommendation of Hayes for Chancellor.
“I want to say this publicly,” England said. “I am aware, as others are aware, that we received some concerns from faculty about having input about the chancellor. We had in our midst an outstanding candidate… And so we did not have that national search, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t considered.”
