To keep the School of Pharmacy current with national trends and industry demands, the Board of Trustees last Friday unanimously approved a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy studies that will incorporate two years of pre-professional study and two years of professional study.

With approval Tuesday from the Board of Governors of Higher Education, graduates of the program can now apply for acceptance into the new two-year Pharm.D. doctoral program.

Trustees approved the four-year Pharm.D. degree program in February, but the state Department of Higher Education later asked that the structure of the program be revamped before it took effect.

More than 100 students already in the school are applying for the new program - and would be in limbo without the change.

"The fact that we don't offer this degree will cripple or kill our School of Pharmacy," Michael Gerald, dean of the school, said prior to approval. Forty of 79 pharmacy programs nationwide offer a Pharm.D. program, responding to industry demands. People with bachelor's degrees in pharmacy are not even eligible to take license examinations, he said.

Trustees, meeting at the Student Union, also agreed to name the soccer stadium in honor of Joseph Morrone, ending a months-long disagreement over how to honor the retired men's soccer coach.

The Joseph J. Morrone Stadium - both the field and the stadium - will "recognize the significant growth of soccer at UConn," said Lew Perkins, director of athletics.

A $250,000 endowment to benefit men's and women's soccer student-athletes also has been established in Morrone's honor.

In other business, the board agreed to let faculty and staff members serve on trustee committees. The following members of the University Senate have been nominated to serve on trustee committees: G. Michael Howard, Peter Halvorson, Karla Fox, Jacqueline Seide, Peter Barth and Gary English.

Faculty and staff members on board committees will have no voting rights. Terms begin July 1.

UConn 2000 update
Trustees on Friday also received a status report about UConn 2000 projects. All projects under Phase 1 are progressing on time and within budget - and the pace of planning, bidding and construction is quickening.

"It's come to a point where you can't keep it all in your head - and it's going to get worse," Dale Dreyfuss, senior associate vice president for finance and administration, told trustees.

Adding seats to Harry A. Gampel Pavilion was finished a year ahead of schedule. Renovations to the Field House are expected to be completed in July, a month ahead of schedule. And the new chemistry building is right on schedule.

The on-time exception is the new downtown Stamford campus, which has been delayed due to lead paint removal and asbestos found in the ground. The projected opening date is now mid-October instead of September.

The board also voted to reallocate some UConn 2000 funds, deleting $8.2 million from a proposed University programs building - which will be funded through other money - and using that for the downtown Stamford campus, deferred maintenance and a heating plant upgrade.

Meanwhile, the sale of the second issuance of UConn 2000 bonds was snapped up quickly. Of the $120 million available, $90 million went to retail investors, a record for state-backed bonds.

Regional campuses
During their meeting, trustees also endorsed a statement about the mission and role of regional campuses.

Mark Emmert, chancellor and provost for University affairs, described "evolutionary change" among the regional campus system. In the past, he said, regional campuses were feeder systems. The mission outlined in the statement now calls on the regionals to be more fully integrated into the University as a whole. The goal, he said, is not to recreate the Storrs campus, but to focus on the unique needs of regional campuses - offering marine sciences at Avery Point and business-related courses in Stamford, for instance.

Students bound to the regional campuses for financial or family reasons also will be able to complete degrees in limited areas at the regional campuses, Emmert said.

"The challenge for us is to identify needs for students at regional campuses and find cost-effective means to give them curricular activities," he said.

In other business, the board:

• Approved rent increases of about 1 percent for 35 University-owned homes. The increases will help to cover renovations and maintenance costs. No increases are planned for Mansfield Apartments, Northwood Apartments, Lakeside or Greek houses.

• Denoted emeritus status to four retiring faculty and staff members: James Baird Jr., director of the Avery Point campus; Ann Hucken-beck, assistant vice president for enrollment management; Richard Stec, director of administrative services for the UConn Computer Center; and Carol Wiggins, vice president for student affairs. Wiggins received a standing ovation at the meeting and fought to hold back tears.

• Bade farewell to student trustee Kingsley Stewart, who leaves after two years of service.

"It's been an unforgettable and highly beneficial position," he said. "I am quite sure the respect accorded to me will be accorded to the next student." Four students are running for his seat on the board.