At its meeting May 8, the Board of Trustees of Coastal Carolina University elected officers for a two-year term beginning July 1.

D. Wyatt Henderson was re-elected chair of the board, William S. Biggs was elected vice chair, and Charles E. Lewis was elected secretary/treasurer.

The board also approved a tuition and fee increase of 3.03 percent for in-state students. Out-of-state tuition and fees will increase by 3.23 percent.

In-state tuition and fees will increase $155 per semester. Out-of-state tuition and fees will increase $380 per semester.

Housing fees will not increase for the next fiscal year or in the foreseeable future as a result of the property refinance plan initiated last year by the board that is expected to save the University $25 million over the next 27 years. Technology fees also will not increase for the next fiscal year.

Resident meal plans will now include five additional days of service, and the cost will increase between $75 and $125 depending upon the meal plan selected by the student. Aramark, the University's contracted food service provider, is the recipient of the meal plan fees.

"If you extract the cost of the meal plan, which we pass on to Aramark, our actual total cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and other fees, represents a real increase of 1.65 percent," said Board of Trustees Chairman D. Wyatt Henderson. "Factoring in inflation rates over the past five years - considering that CCU did not raise its in-state tuition rate for a two-year period between 2012 and 2014 - our students will actually pay slightly less in 2015 dollars for the cost of their education than they did in 2010 dollars."

Also at the meeting, members of the Horry County Legislative Delegation presented retiring CCU professor and administrator Edgar L. Dyer with a resolution commending his long service to the University and the community. Dyer, executive vice president and chief operating officer, will retire in July after 39 years at CCU.

The CCU also voted to name Dyer special consultant to the president after his retirement. In addition, the board presented a resolution to Chyrel Stalvey, who is retiring after 20 years of service as administrative coordinator in the Office of the President at CCU. The board also recognized S.C. Rep. Wayne George for previous service as a CCU trustee. CCU student Benjamin Alberry was recognized by the board for his volunteer service to Special Olympics, and outgoing Student Government Association President Eliana Padrón was recognized for her service to the students of CCU.

The board also approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Coastal Carolina University Research Foundation Inc. and CCU. The CCU Research Foundation has been established as a 501(c)3 corporation to raise and manage public and private grant resources to promote research and development activities.

Lease renewals were approved for classroom space at Litchfield Landing and at Horry Georgetown Technical College's Grand Strand campus, as well as to Winthrop University for the Small Business Development Center.

The board approved a $240,000 discretionary fund for CCU President David DeCenzo for fiscal year 2015-2016. The fund allows the president to pursue opportunities to promote the University and to raise funds for the institution.

The board approved promotions for faculty members Nyeita M. Irish, Timothy Meyler, Shannon Stewart and Sara Sabota to the position of senior lecturer.