Board of Visitors Summary of Actions & Discussions

The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, 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 Sept. 13, 2019, Board of Visitors meeting minutes;
• Accepted committee reports from the Advancement, Athletics, Academic & Student Life, Audit, and Finance and Physical Development committees;
• Received a report on Professional and Continuing Education from Dr. Melissa Lubin, dean;
• Received a report on enrollment and undergraduate recruitment marketing from Donna Harper, vice president of Access and Enrollment Management, Dr. Melissa Lubin, dean of Professional and Continuing Education, Dr. John Burgess, dean of the Graduate School, Kerri Wilson, director of Admissions Marketing, and Leigh Williams, assistant director of Admissions;
• Approved changes to the faculty handbook;
• Approved an easement to the City of Harrisonburg for the installation of a fire hydrant;
• Approved summer tuition and fees;

• Approved changes to the Board of Visitors Manual;
• Met in closed session;
• Approved the purchase of real property:
  • 201 Port Republic Road for $245,000
  • 725 S. Main St. and 760 Walnut Lane for $2.4 million

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

• The Madison Vision Series has hosted two events this semester: one with author John Grisham with historian Jon Meacham, the other with Dr. Rosemarie Zagarri who focused on the impact of women in the founding of America;
• A JMU bumper sticker made a cameo appearance in a national Carmax television commercial. Carmax CEO Bill Nash (’91) and The Martin Agency CEO Kristen Cavallo (’91) are both JMU alumni;
• A grand opening for Paul Jennings Hall was held on October 11. Fourteen Jennings descendants were in attendance;
• The Furious Flower Poetry Center celebrated its 25th anniversary at a gala held in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.;
• The university has formed an economic development task force to develop a strategic plan for the university’s role in economic development both internally and externally;
• JMU has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state to participate in the Tech Talent Investment Program which will provide JMU with $14.3 million in state funding to produce additional computer science graduates over the next 20 years;
• JMU’s ROTC Duke Battalion earned first place at the Ranger Challenge competition;
• Laura Trull, assistant professor of Social Work, was awarded the United Way Collaborative Champion Award for her collaborative approach to community development and contributions to the greater good;
• Yvonne Frazier, program manager of Health Families of Page and Shenandoah Counties, received a Governor’s Honor Award for Enhancing the Prosperity and Quality of Life in Rural Virginia;
• President Jonathan Alger received one of two ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Standout Campus President Awards;
• Non-white students make up 1/3 of applicants and acceptances and 22% of enrolled students;
• Financial aid is the biggest barrier to yield for non-white students;
• Faculty and staff numbers by race/ethnicity have increased by several percentage points in recent years;
• Recent access, diversity and inclusion efforts include meetings with affinity groups, the new University Accessibility Committee, first generation programming involving faculty, staff and students, working with Virginia Latino Higher Education Network, diversity outreach and training in faculty searches, and following up on Task Force on Inclusion report including a comprehensive climate study.