At the Board of Regents committee meeting, topics of discussion included enrollment numbers, the approval of a new department and the approval of names for various buildings.

Brian Meredith, the chief enrollment and graduation officer, released the Fall 2015 Enrollment Report at the meeting.

According to the report, fall 2014 total enrollment was 20,174, and fall 2015 total enrollment was 20,146. This indicates a loss of 32 students and a 0.2 percent difference.

“I would say that’s almost flat. I don’t know if it’d be a decline,” Meredith said.

Meredith said first-time freshmen and transfer students are up. He said these two demographics are important for the growth of the university.

“I think it enhances the diversity of our class. We’re receiving a very highly capable, academically competitive class, and they’re ready to hit the ground running,” he said.

The Finance and Budget Committee, Academic Affairs Committee and Executive Committee all brought forth action items and information items.

Student Government Association President Jay Todd Richey also took the oath of office to serve as Student Regent.

The Finance and Budget Committee called for the approval of Action Item FB-1: Approval of Personnel Actions.

The item requested the approval of stipend payments and one-time compensation payments for a number of faculty and staff members. The action was approved.

Action items AA-1: Approval of Department of Physical Therapy and AA-2: Approval of Emeriti Appointments were also approved.

AA-1 requested approval to create a department of physical therapy within the College of Health and Human Services effective July 1, 2016.

Currently all faculty associated with the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program are housed in the department of allied health in the College of Health and Human Services. The growth of enrollment associated with the program aided in the creation of the department within CHHS.

“It has been the university’s intention to create a Department of Physical Therapy within the College of Health & Human Services once a core group of faculty had been established and the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program had become fully accredited,” the item reads.

Action Item EX-1: Approval of Designated Rooms was approved. This item requested acceptance for naming the rooms and other areas in honor of donors’ contributions to the Honors College International Programs, Academic Complex, Gordon Ford College of Business and Smith Stadium.