September 2018 Board of Visitors Summary of Actions & Discussions

The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, in the Board Room of Madison’s Festival Conference and Student Center.

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

• Approved the April 27, 2018, Board of Visitors meeting minutes;
• Accepted committee reports from the Advancement, Athletics, Audit, Academic & Student Life, and Finance & Physical Development committees;
• Received a report on healthy communities presented by Ms. Donna Harper, vice president for Access and Inclusion, and Dr. Tim Miller, vice president for Student Affairs;
• Received a report on the Valley Scholars program by Valley Scholars Eleazar Cortes and Kristin Rhodenizer;
• Approved resolutions related to issuing bonds for and related to the reimbursement of capital expenditures on the Atlantic Union Bank Center and East Campus Parking Deck projects;
• Approved a workforce maintenance plan;
• Approved a resolution endorsing the university’s application for Level 3 authority under the Higher Education Restructuring Act;
• Approved utility easements related to campus construction projects;
• Approved amendments to the university’s six-year plan to be submitted to the General Assembly;
• Approved a resolution congratulating the JMU women’s lacrosse team on their 2018 NCAA Division I national championship;
• Met in closed session;

Was told by President Alger during his President’s Report:

• There are a number of construction projects under way around campus;
• The university has filled a number of key positions:
  • Tim Miller, vice president of Student Affairs
  • Mike Busing, interim dean of the College of Business
  • Robert Aguirre, dean of the College of Arts and Letters
  • Shawn Boyne, ACE Fellow
  • Tiveeda Stovall, director of Campus Compact for Virginia
  • Kevin Powell, scholar in residence
• The Engagement Fellows program has expanded from three to eight fellows;
• JMU has partnered with James Madison’s Montpelier;
• The university will host the 2018 Virginia Student Democracy Summit;
• David Rubenstein will speak at the next Madison Vision Series lecture on Sept. 17;
• The Madison Vision Series on Nov. 1, will feature two former members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat;
• Plans are ongoing for the Engagement for the Public Good Conference in November;
• The university has created an entrepreneurship minor open to students in all academic disciplines;
• JMU’s X-Labs was recognized with the Governor’s Award for Innovative Use of Technology in Education;
• The Furious Flower Poetry Center will host a 25th anniversary celebration Sept. 27-28, 2019, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture;
• The JMU women’s lacrosse team won the 2018 national championship;
• JMU’s social media properties were recognized as the most engaged properties among NCAA Division I schools in the nation.