The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, June 8, 2001, in the Board Room of JMU's Chandler Hall. Following is a summary of actions taken by the board and key areas of discussion at the board meeting:
- Approved an operating budget of $219.9 million for the university in 2001-2002, a 4 percent increase over the current year's $211.4 million budget. The majority of the budget ($121.2 million) will go toward education and general programs those dealing with academics and student support. Another $82.3 million will go toward auxiliary enterprise services non-academic functions such as housing and dining areas. The remainder of the budget will go to financial aid ($4 million) and sponsored programs ($12.4 million).
- Approved a six-year capital outlay plan for the university. The plan proposes a variety of new construction and renovation projects in the next three biennia. Around $211.4 million in expenditures is proposed for the 2002-2004 biennium, $156.8 for 2004-2006, and $145.2 million for 2006-2008. Major facilities proposed for funding in the first biennium are the third academic building in the CISAT area, a $36.6 million center for the arts and a $22.8 million music recital hall.
- Re-elected Zane D. Showker of Weyers Cave as rector (chairman) of the board. Showker, chairman emeritus of HFP-Sysco in Harrisonburg, was first elected rector last year. He has been on the board since 1994. Paul J. Chiapparone of Dallas, Texas, was re-elected vice rector. Chiapparone is executive vice president of EDS, an electronic data systems corporation. He was rector of the board from 1996 to 1998, was elected vice rector last year and has been a board member since 1995. Dr. Barbara P. Castello, vice president for university relations at JMU, was re-elected board secretary.
- Approved a new Faculty Handbook.
- Approved a revised law enforcement mutual aid agreement between JMU, the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. A mutual aid agreement between the police forces of the three jurisdictions has been in place since 1994 but needed to be updated because of recent changes in the law.
- Discussed, in a committee meeting Thursday night and at Friday's board meeting, the funding and operation of The Breeze, JMU's student newspaper. No action was taken. At the March board meeting, one of the visitors had expressed concern over the Turf, an insert that has appeared in several issues of The Breeze.
- President Linwood H. Rose reported to the board on the following items:
- JMU ranked 21st in the nation in the number of students participating in the Peace Corps. There are 37 active volunteers in the Peace Corps from JMU.
- Twenty-nine JMU students were invited to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Lexington, Ky.
- The JMU marching band will be one of the few bands to take part in the annual Macy's Parade on Thanksgiving Day.
- A $9 million Commonwealth Information Security Center to help combat attacks on computer systems will be established at JMU.
- The new the parking deck will open in July. The Leeolou Alumni Center and conference center will be completed in April, 2002.
- The four new members of the Colonial Athletic Association the University of Delaware, Drexel University, Towson University and Hofstra University will join the conference this coming academic year, a year earlier than previously anticipated.
Board of Visitors
