The Board of Trustees wrapped up the 2004-05 academic year with a June meeting that lasted less than 45 minutes.

The board voted to adopt the operating budget for the 2006 fiscal year. The $72.1 million budget includes a 7.2 percent tuition increase and a 3 percent pay increase for faculty, administrators, classified and hourly employees.

The board re-elected Bruce Benson as chair, Anne Rice as vice chair and elected President-Designate Stephen Jordan as secretary and Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance Natalie Lutes as treasurer. The board swore in Mark Martinez and Adele Phelan and added one new member, Student Trustee Brian Glotzbach, who succeeds Stephen Hay.

As part of its consent agenda, the board approved a new study-abroad course in the Department of Hospitality, Meeting and Travel Administration. Cruise Tourism - Caribbean Caves and Cauldrons is a participatory study of six Caribbean islands' natural and cultural landscapes and how they relate to sustainable tourism practices. Students will learn the complexities of cruise ship tourism and its impact on small island communities. The three-credit weeklong course will be offered next March.

Discussion on changes to the Handbook for Professional Personnel was tabled. With July's meeting canceled, the next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 3, in Tivoli 320.