The fairly new Board of Trustees for the University of Memphis met Wednesday and debated over a few issues facing the campus community.
The board approved two new academic programs, announced a paid parental leave for university employees and revealed an updated campus master plan for construction.
The university will implement two new programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Mass Media and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision.
The U of M will also offer a paid six-week parental leave, both maternal and paternal, for employees who are new parents.
President M. David Rudd said the program would include both adoptive and biological parents, and it will “absolutely” cover same-sex parents as well, according to The Commercial Appeal. The U of M is the first higher education institution will offer this incentive in Tennessee.
The board also proposed a new campus plan for construction around Southern Avenue. The Scheidt Family Music Center should soon be the first project to break ground.
