Slippery Rock University’s council of trustees approved a naming resolution to honor the University’s baseball coach at its quarterly business meeting, Sept. 19, in the Russell Wright Alumni House and Conference Center.
The council approved to name the playing field at Critchfield Park as “Messer Field” in recognition of pledged philanthropic support of the SRU varsity baseball team by alumni and friends and to honor head coach Jeff Messer. The field and stadium collectively is now named “Messer Field at Critchfield Park.”
Entering his 41st season as head coach at SRU, Messer has guided The Rock baseball team to remarkable success, as he is ranked ninth in NCAA Division II with 1,154 career wins. Alumni from the baseball team have embarked on a $100,000 fundraising campaign in support of the Messer Field Naming project that will support the program and its student athletes.
The only other executive action taken was the council approving the certification of the order of succession, which is a plan for executive management that is reviewed and updated each year if the president is temporarily unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the position or in the event of a vacancy.
Also at the business meeting, the council received the President’s Report and reports from standing committees, as well as updates about the following topics: contracts, active projects for facilities and planning, human resources personnel items, budget/finance, divisional reports, and the comprehensive planning process.
Four committee meetings were conducted prior to the business meeting, Sept. 18-19.
The Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting included presentations from the following administrators:
- Michael Zieg, provost and vice president for academic affairs.
- Timothy Slekar, associate provost of academic innovation and dean of graduate studies and continuing education.
- Michael May, vice president for enrollment management.
- Ken Bach, senior director, university marketing and communication.
- David Wilmes, vice president for student affairs.
The Finance and Administrative Affairs Committee meeting included:
- A presentation about the 2025-26 fiscal year budget by Carrie Birckbichler, vice president for finance and administration.
- Information items regarding the comprehensive planning process, contracts, purchases, financial reports, facilities and planning projects, human resources personnel items, a divisional report and a draft of the proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget request.
The Governance Committee meeting included:
- A discussion about the emeritus policy that was approved by President’s Cabinet to include council emeriti designation.
- Information items regarding academic affairs information workshop from Aug. 28, calendar mentions and council bylaws.
The University Advancement Committee meeting included an SRU affiliate work group update and presentations from the following administrators and representatives:
- Tony and Regina Robinson, co-chairs of the University’s comprehensive campaign.
- Tim Richart, senior director of annual giving and alumni engagement.
- Dave Hollenbaugh, executive director of the SRU Foundation, Inc., with Mark Palmer, chair, SRU Foundation Board of Directors, providing the foundation’s quarterly report.
The next trustees meetings are scheduled for Dec. 11-12.
More information, including a link to meeting materials, will be available on the council of trustees webpage.
