At its regular quarterly meeting today, Coastal Carolina University's Board of Trustees reviewed a preliminary version of a Campus Master Plan being developed by Sasaki Associates Inc., a planning and design firm based in Watertown, Mass. Representatives of the campus and the community have been involved with Sasaki Associates in the development of the plan since March.

The preliminary plan would transform CCU into a pedestrian-oriented campus within Chanticleer Drive, the academic core of campus. Parking lots would be situated around the perimeter of the campus. Trustees will evaluate the preliminary plan and make recommendations to Sasaki Associates.

When complete, the Campus Master Plan will indicate the location of buildings and other campus facilities, open space, vehicular circulation and parking, pedestrian circulation and infrastructure improvements. Sasaki Associates will provide an academic space needs analysis based on current and future academic programming and a schedule of cost estimates for improvements and new buildings, and a schedule for implementation. The final plan will be presented to the board in February.

The board approved awarding December 2010 commencement speaker Dick Raskopf, publisher of the Sports Illustrated Golf Group, the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters. Raskopf is publisher of the Sports Illustrated Golf Group, which includes GOLF magazine, Golf.com and SI Golf Plus. Raskopf, who began overseeing the GOLF properties in November 2008, has worked for Time Inc. for more than 25 years. He was founding publisher of Time Digital, which was later relaunched as ON magazine.

Two retiring faculty members were named Distinguished Professor Emeritus: Michael M. Lackey, head of Technology and Systems for Kimbel Library and Albert J. Taylor, professor of marketing and law. Lackey and Taylor will retire in December and May, respectively.

The board also approved the purchase of the Colors on Parade building, located at 642 Century Circle, which currently houses the University's procurement offices and warehouse space. Student laboratory fees were approved for the spring semester for new courses and new degree programs.

The board also passed a resolution commending Coach Gary Gilmore and the 2010 CCU baseball team for its winning season.