The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, June 16, 2006, 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:

• Elected Joe Damico ('76, '77) of Libertyville, Ill., as rector of the JMU Board of Visitors and Meredith Gunter of Charlottesville, Va., as vice rector. 
  
  
• Heard a report on the Madison Century capital campaign from Dr. Joanne Carr, senior vice president for university advancement. 
  
  
• Approved two new undergraduate degrees — an information analyst bachelor of science with concentrations in national security and competitive analysis and a bachelor of science in engineering. 
  
  
• Approved a FY 2006-07 budget of $334.4 million, an increase of $38.2 million or 12.8 percent over the previous year. The board's approval will be revisited upon the General Assembly's final passage of a state budget. 
  
  
• Approved three new bond issues to finance the construction of a new parking deck, acquisition of real estate and renovation of Hoffman Hall. 
  
  
• Approved the purchase of MemorialHall. 
  
  
• Was told by President Linwood H. Rose:
  • that James Madison University was ranked 17th in the nation for graduation rates among all U.S. colleges and universities by The New York Times;
    
    
  • that the College of Business was ranked 35th in the nation among undergraduate business schools by Business Week magazine;
    
    
  • that Madison produced more Ph.D.s in the last five years than any other U.S. master's-level university;
    
    
  • that the university had recently received two seven-figure gifts and that the Division of University Advancement has raised more than $12 million so far in FY 2006, a record year for private giving at the university;
    
    
  • that the Harrisonburg City Council approved the sale of the Memorial Hall property to JMU; and,
    
    
  • that the Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance held its symposium, "Homeland Security: Engaging the Front Lines," at the National Academies of Science in Washington, D.C.