Oct. 4, 2013 BoV Summary

Summary of Actions/Discussions

 The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, October 4, 2013, in the Board Room of Madison’s Festival Conference and Student Center.

 Following is a summary of actions taken by the Board and key areas of discussion at the board meeting:

• Approved the June 6-7, 2013 BOV meeting minutes;
• Approved committee reports from Athletics, Audit, Development, Education & Student Life, and Finance & Physical Development;
• Received the President’s Report presented by President Jonathan Alger;
• Received a State of the Brand presentation from Mr. Andy Perrine, Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing;
• Received a University Strategic Plan Update presented by:
  • Dr. Mark Warner, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and University Planning and Dr. Brian Charette, Associate Vice President for Planning
• Approved the Six Year Plan presented by:
  • Dr. Mark Warner, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and University Planning, Dr. A. Jerry Benson, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Mr. Charles King, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance;
  • The Six Year Plan is required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011, which requires Virginia’s public institutions of higher education to prepare and submit such a plan.  JMU’s Six Year Plan consists of the Academic, Finance, and Enrollment/Degree projections for the period. The document is a work in progress and serves as a planning tool for the future and can be amended annually based on new goals, the economy, the Governor’s budget and priorities, and the General Assembly.  The Six Year Plan is flexible and is intended to represent possibilities that may or may not be implemented. 
• Approved the 2014-2016 Biennial Budget Requests presented by Mr. Charles King, Senior Vice President for Administration & Finance;
• Received an “It’s Complicated” (Madison Collaborative) presentation from Dr. William Hawk, Chair, and Dr. Lori Pyle, Associate Chair of the Madison Collaborative. For more information, please visit https://www.jmu.edu/mc/;
• Approved the following real estate transactions following Closed Session: 
  • Purchase of 601 Hickory Hill Drive for $282,500
  • Purchase of 600 Locust Hill Drive for $246,500
  • Purchase of 609 Locust Hill Drive for $250,000
  • Purchase of 717 South Mason Street for $1,550,000
• The Board of Visitors received the report from CarrSports today. Rector Joseph Funkhouser, on behalf of the Board, expressed appreciation for the care taken in the preparation of the report. The Board concurred with the administration’s recommendation that the University release the report publicly and engage the various University constituencies in a dialogue on these issues within the larger context of the University’s strategic plan. Rector Funkhouser also commented on the Board’s appreciation for the administration’s commitment to transparency and civil discourse, and to an inclusive process that is grounded in facts and evidence. The Board is looking forward to the thoughtful feedback of the University community as it prepares for the future of James Madison University.
• President Alger thanked the Board of Visitors for their support of the administration’s recommendation to release the report from the consultants and to engage the University constituencies in a dialogue on these issues within the larger context of the University’s strategic plan. President Alger also thanked CarrSports Consulting for their thoughtful and thorough analysis. Beginning with the Presidential Listening Tour last year, President Alger expressed his continued commitment to foster an environment in which members of the University community can learn from and with each other through open communications and civil discourse. President Alger outlined that as with all other issues and challenges facing the University, questions related to athletics and conference alignment must be addressed within the broader framework of the University’s mission, vision and strategic plan going forward. All divisions and units within the University are participating in the strategic planning process. President Alger anticipates a constructive dialogue with the University’s many constituencies on the issues presented to the Board of Visitors today. As the University goes forward, President Alger encouraged everyone to work to model the civil discourse that James Madison himself encouraged. In closing, President Alger highlighted the fact that the University now has data and facts on which to base a thoughtful and informed consideration of the issues we face. These data along with the open and inclusive process that the University community has put in place will help in making decisions about the University’s future wisely.

Was told by President Jonathan Alger:

-     JMU Recognitions:

• Dr. Linda Halpern, Vice Provost for University Programs, was named the 2013 recipient of the Joseph Katz Award by the Association for General and Liberal Education;
• Dr. Steven Whitmeyer, Professor of Geology and Environmental Science, received an NSF grant to fund his work with Google Earth for Onsite and Distance Education;
• Dr. Theresa Clarke, Professor of Marketing, guided her students Josh Baugher and Carla Reese to victories in the international Google online marketing competition;
• JMU was again ranked as the #2 public regional university in the South by U.S. News and World Report’s 2014 edition of Best Colleges;
• JMU is among the institutions profiled in The Princeton Review’s “The Best 378 Colleges:  2014 Edition.” JMU also ranked #2 for best campus food and #16 for best college newspaper;
• JMU was listed in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2014, which spotlights about 300 of the “best and most interesting” colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, and U.K.

-       Leadership Update:

• Welcome Dr. Mary Gowan, Dean, College of Business;

-       Updates on Enrollment, 1787 Orientation and Community Outreach;

-       Updates on Special Initiative Reports:

• SCHEV 6-year Plan
• SACS Final Determination
• Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action
• Madison Vision Series: Contemporary Issues in an Engaged Society;

-       Facility Updates:

• Duke Hall
• Student Success Building
• Grace Street Housing
• Main Street Median
• Ice House

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