The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, April 10, 2015, 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 January 16, 2015 BOV meeting minutes;
• Approved committee reports from Athletics, Audit, Education & Student Life, and Finance & Physical Development;
• Received the President’s Report presented by President Jonathan Alger;
• Received a report on Diversity Efforts presented by Mrs. Donna Harper, Vice President for Access & Enrollment Management, Mr. Art Dean, Executive Director for Campus & Community Programs for Access & Inclusion, Dr. David Owusu-Ansah, Executive Director for Faculty Access & Inclusion, and Ms. Emya Lee, Centennial Scholar;
• Viewed a demonstration of the Madison App presented by Mr. Andy Perrine, Associate Vice President for Communications & Marketing;
• Received a report on Civic Engagement presented by Dr. Jessica Adolino, Associate Dean, College of Arts & Letters, and Dr. Margaret Mulrooney, Associate Vice Provost, University Programs;
• Received a General Assembly Update presented by Mr. Charles King, Senior Vice President for Administration & Finance;
• Approved 2015-16 undergraduate and graduate tuition & fees:

• Met in Closed Session;
• Approved the following real estate purchases:
  • 712 Locust Hill Drive for $385,000. 

Was told by President Jonathan Alger:

• The Madison Collaborative: Ethical Reasoning in Action is nearing completion of its second year and is being integrated across campus including in Student Affairs and Academic Affairs programming;
• JMU received a gift of over $3 million from G.J. and Heather Hart;
• Three important Academic Affairs searches have been completed. Dr. Adam Murray will serve as Dean of Libraries and Educational Technologies. Dr. Jie Chen will serve as Dean of the Graduate School. Dr. Bradley Newcomer will serve as Director of the Honors Program;
• Full-time classified, wage and A&P faculty will receive a bonus this month. Faculty members received a salary increase earlier this year;
• Professor Lawrence Lessig will speak on April 13 as part of the Madison Vision Series. Drs. Michael Signer and Riane Eisler spoke earlier in the year as part of the series;
• The university has participated in several recent meetings including The Globally Sustainable Self Summit, the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the National School Superintendents;
• Recognized the achievements of several students, faculty members and organizations:
  • Students James Brady and Adam White and alumnus Patrick McCauley for receiving Fulbright Awards;
  • Student Amanda Crandall for being accepted into the NOAA Ernest F. Hollings scholarship program;
  • Big Brothers / Big Sisters of JMU received the 2015 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Award;
  • The JMU Debate team was named by the Cross Examination Debate Association as the top public debate team in the nation for the sixth time in nine years.  Student Lindsey Shook received the Galentine Award for the top female debate coach in the nation. President Jon Alger received the Public Advocate of the Year Award;
  • The Graduate Nursing Program was ranked #122 out of 500 by the U.S. News and World Report;
  • Recognized the achievements of several athletic teams:
    • Women’s basketball captured the CAA championship and participated in the NCAA tournament;
    • Men’s basketball earned a share of the CAA regular season title;
    • Softball and lacrosse have been ranked in the top 25 of their respective sports’ poll;
    • May commencement speaker will be ESPN personality and JMU alumna Lindsay Czarniak ’00.