Winthrop’s interim president to tackle enrollment, fundraising, communication
Winthrop University’s interim president officially started Monday, but George Hynd has been planning the school’s future for weeks.
Hynd’s goals include: increasing enrollment and fundraising; addressing maintenance problems on campus; overseeing the university’s re-accreditation; and improving communication between university leadership and the Winthrop community.
Hynd was named interim president following Dan Mahony’s resignation in December. Hynd will lead Winthrop through June 30, 2022.
The Herald sat down with Hynd on his first day. Here are highlights from his answers to some key questions.
What do you hope to accomplish in the next two years?
Hynd said he already has been thinking about a plan for how Winthrop may deal with Coronavirus.
“It’s imperative for us on campus to develop a plan,” Hynd said.
As dean of the College of Education at Purdue University, Hynd said he helped create a plan to deal with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) concerns. That plan included potentially canceling on-campus classes and moving them online.
“It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared,” Hynd said.
Hynd said he wants to better understand Winthrop’s budget and ensure it aligns with where the university is likely to stand financially in the next three to five years.
University budgets are largely based on enrollment, Hynd said. His goal it to look at enrollment and what increases are realistic in higher education today.
“Are we really going to increase our enrollments? That’s going to be an uphill climb,” Hynd said.
For the second year, Winthrop surpassed its record number of freshman applications. As of Feb. 5, 6,125 people had applied for the Winthrop class of 2024, up from 6,101 for fall 2019, according to the university.
However, Hynd said more applications does not automatically equal higher enrollment.
Hynd said the pool of potential university students is growing just about 5% in the south and 3% or lower in northern parts of the country. Some areas are seeing a decline, increasing competition among colleges, he said.
“There is not a large pool of new students that are available to universities,” Hynd said.
York County and the surrounding community are seeing growth that is bringing more students to the area. However, Hynd said many people in South Carolina are choosing to attend college out of state. He said Winthrop needs to invest more resources into recruiting at local high schools.
Retention is another area Winthrop needs to focus on, Hynd said. He said some students who start at Winthrop may leave for technical college by their second year.
Hynd also wants to increase faculty and staff salaries, which he said are low compared to universities of similar size.
Another goal is to look at what opportunities Winthrop has in working with the City of Rock Hill and local businesses to offer work experience for students, Hynd said.
Hynd also wants to create a facilities plan to address maintenance needs on campus. He said Winthrop has money from the state to address some of those needs.
“It’s not just Winthrop that has deferred maintenance. All of the universities in South Carolina are dealing with water or building issues of one kind or another,” he said.
Hynd also wants to improve communication between the board of trustees and the campus community. He first wants to learn what communication avenues Winthrop uses and what needs to be improved.
“That clearly is a priority for the students and the faculty. I want to be sure I honor their concerns that they’ve had,” he said. “I believe in communication up and I believe in communication down.”
Hynd plans to continue working on goals outlined in Winthrop’s strategic plan.
“We’ve had so many accomplishments through President Mahony’s hard work to move the institution forward on a number of different tracks and I want to be sure we continue in that direction,” he said.
The board of trustees wanted Hynd to serve two years to complete reaffirmation accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The association is the regional accrediting body for institutions awarding associate, baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degrees in the Southern U.S.
The accreditation process ensures Winthrop is making data-driven decisions and meets standards required for the programs offered at the school, Hynd said. Hynd worked on accreditation in his role at College of Charleston.
Accreditation includes looking at how Winthrop is making efforts to have a diverse staff, faculty and student body. It also ensures departments, colleges and facilities on campus are providing data related to their programs for use in making decisions on how the university should grow, discontinue and otherwise manage its programs, Hynd said.
“We should be using data to inform all of our decisions,” he said.
How will you increase fundraising for Winthrop?
“Any college or university president, fundraising is in the forefront of their mind,” Hynd said.
Universities are supported through state funding along with external grants and contracts, Hynd said. Getting support from community members, alumni and other donors benefits student scholarships and academic programs, he said.
“As president, my job is to foster excellent relationships with the legislature and legislative delegation,” Hynd said. “It’s also to represent what Winthrop is all about to supporters and alumni that can in turn benefit the institution through funding scholarships or funding resources for the various programs we offer.”
Many students who come to Winthrop are in need of financial support, Hynd said.
“We have a growing need for scholarship money for reducing the financial burden for our students,” he said.
What is your leadership style?
“I like to think, and I hope people feel this is validated after they meet me, that I’m approachable. I enjoy interacting with people,” Hynd said.
Hynd said he wants to enjoy his role.
“If I’m having fun and I’m engaged, it sends the message that this is the right place to be; this is the kind of university that students want to come to,” he said.
Hynd said he will encourage faculty, staff and students to share their ideas.
“People have good ideas and you have to be open to having them share those ideas with you,” he said. “I hope to move forward in establishing that kind of transparency and openness that I think is critical for a president today at any university, particularly here at Winthrop.”
Hynd and his wife Alison will hold events in the president’s house on campus where they will live. Hynd said he hopes the campus community gets to know Alison, a child neuropsychologist, as well as their 13-year-old golden retriever Curry.
Hynd and Alison have two daughters. Erin attends the Medical University of South Carolina and Elise recently graduated from the University of Georgia, according to Winthrop.
Hynd also has two children from a previous marriage. April lives in Hawaii and Brian lives in Oregon, according to Winthrop.
Hynd’s contract
Hynd signed his contract with Winthrop on Feb. 21.
Hynd will be paid a total of $321,334 a year, according to Winthrop. He receives a state-funded salary of $183,313 and an additional supplement of $138,021 a year from the Winthrop University’s nonprofit foundation.
University president salaries are set by the S.C. Agency Head Salary Commission and are funded by the S. C. General Assembly.
The Winthrop Foundation also will provide a retirement benefit for Hynd equal to 9.55% of the salary supplement. The foundation will also give Hynd an advance of $20,833 to use for fundraising activities, according to Winthrop.
Mahony was making around $346,979 a year as of Feb. 29 with a state salary of $186,979 and $160,000 in Winthrop Foundation supplements, according to Winthrop.
Winthrop also pays for the upkeep, maintenance and utilities for the president’s house, which is expected to be used for University-related business and events, according to Hynd’s contract.
Hynd moved to Rock Hill at the beginning of February to prepare for his new role, according to his contract. Winthrop agreed to pay Hynd up to $2,300 a month for costs related to temporary housing before the president’s house is ready.
Winthrop also will pay Hynd up to $5,000 for moving expenses.
Winthrop will provide Hynd a car to use during his term as president, according to the contract. Winthrop covers maintenance, insurance, gas, registration and other costs for the vehicle.
The contract also grants Hynd a faculty appointment as a non-tenured psychology professor. However, Hynd does not plan to teach, said Judy Longshaw, spokesperson for Winthrop.
