The James Madison University Board of Visitors met on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 1 p.m. in the Board Room of the JMU Festival Conference and Student Center.

The following is a summary of key areas of discussion at the board meeting: 

• Received the president’s report from Mr. Jonathan Alger during which the board was told:
  • The JMU football team won the FCS national championship and Coach Mike Houston was named American Football Coaches Association FCS Coach of the Year;
  • 870 students graduated at the two December commencement ceremonies;
  • Dr. Heather Coltman, dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at Florida Atlantic University, has been hired as JMU’s new provost beginning in July 2017;
  • Mr. Patrick McQuwon has been hired as the executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship;
  • A search is being conducted for an executive director for the Center for Civic Engagement;
  • JMU is taking the lead on the creation of a Virginia chapter of Campus Compact;
  • The Madison Singers gave a concert at the Augusta Correctional Center in October;
  • Plans have begun for a follow-up to the Kosovo Partnership summit recently held.  The next summit will be held in Kosovo;
  • 4-VA now includes five institutions and includes a number of areas of cooperation including collaborative research, course design, course sharing and degree completion;
  • Dr. Caroline Lubert, professor of Mathematics and Statistics, and Dr. Theresa Clarke, professor of Marketing, will receive the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award;
  • JMU’s Reading Road Show (the Gus Bus) was one of 12 national winners of the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, which were presented at the White House by First Lady Michelle Obama.
  • Received a state budget update from Mr. Charles King, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration;
  • Received a report on the Center for Assessment and Research Studies from Dr. Keston Fulcher, Executive Director;
  • Received a report about DEEP Impact from Mrs. Valerie Ghant, director of the Center for Multicultural Student Services;
  • Received a report from Snavely Associates from Mr. Andy Perrine, Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing, Mr. Jon Snavely and Mr. Ron Wendeln.

The Board of Visitors took the following actions:

• Approved the minutes of the September 30, 2016 meeting;
• Approved summer 2017 tuition and fees:

• Approved the purchase of real property at 702 Hickory Hill Drive for $310,000.