Board of Visitors Summary of Actions/Discussions: Sept. 28, 2012
The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday,
September 28, 2012, 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 June 1, 2012 BOV meeting minutes;
- Received the President’s report presented by Mr.
Jonathan Alger;
- Approved committee
reports from Athletics, Audit, Development, Education & Student Life, and
Finance & Physical Development;
- Received an update on
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
presented by Dr. Herb Amato, Associate Dean in University Studies, and Dr. R.
Ann Myers, Department Head of Social Work.
- Received a
presentation on the Quality Enhancement Plan from Dr. Lee Sternberger,
Executive Director of International Program.
- Heard a presentation
on the Six-Year Plan presented by Dr. Mark Warner, Senior Vice President for
Student Affairs and University Planning, Dr. A. Jerry Benson, Interim Provost
and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Mr. Charles King, Senior
Vice President for Administration and Finance;
- Approved the 2013-2014 budget requests presented
by Mr. Charles King, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance.
Was told by President Jonathan
Alger:
- that 124 new faculty joined the university for 2012-2013
(77 were full-time);
- that there are 4,325 (current projection) first-year
students;
- that the total enrollment is 19,873 students: 18,067
undergraduates; 1,806 graduate students (current projection);
- that the College of Integrated Science and Technology
split into two new colleges: Health and Behavioral Studies; Integrated Science
and Engineering;
- that there’s been 46 percent growth in STEM graduates
over the past four years;
- that we currently offer five master’s programs, six
graduate certificate programs, and two undergraduate certificate programs
online, plus 510 course sections online in the academic year 2011-2012 (a 12
percent increase in course sections in one year), enrolling 6,509 students (a
14 percent increase in the number of students enrolled);
- that the “Why Madison?” Presidential Listening Tour
continues with on-campus meetings including faculty, staff and students. The “Why Madison?” Presidential Listening
Tour’s external events to date include Harrisonburg, Richmond, Virginia Beach,
Reston, Alexandria, Portola Valley, CA, and San Francisco, with more to come;
- that university has reached out to community
organizations and government officials, with more outreach planned in the
coming months;
- that the 4-VA telepresence programs continue, including
courses in intelligence analysis and foreign languages. This partnership consists of Cisco, University
of Virginia, Virginia Tech, George Mason University and JMU;
- that the governor has provided a grant for planning a
lab school with Harrisonburg City Schools (Dr. John Almarode is principal investigator);
- that student move-in was a success with help from
student organizations, university offices and city/county law enforcement;
- that a successful block party for new students was
hosted by the City of Harrisonburg;
- that the Madison Future Commission has been created to
help form the basis of the strategic plan (with final approval by the BOV);
it’s the most intensive strategic planning process since the Centennial
Commission in 1998. Strategic planning
committees include Academics, Fundraising, Faculty and Staff Success, Student
Life and Success and Resources.
Committees will include input from a broad membership of 150+
individuals including faculty, faculty emeriti, staff, students, community
members and officials, former BOV members, alumni, parents, Foundation Board
members, etc. The strategic process will
create a bold plan that aligns the university’s mission, values and strategic
direction with goals and objectives. The
commission will conduct a SWOT analysis and environmental scan. The BOV will be involved through the process
(including a presentation at the next BOV meeting; June retreat). The BOV will receive a short survey in October
to get feedback on the university vision.
The goal is to have the plan approved by next summer or by September;
- that he will direct Mr. King and the Provost to lead a
task force including instructional faculty, administrative and professional
staff, and classified staff with the purpose of analyzing compensation issues
and make recommendations to the administration and the BOV.
- The Virginia Longitudinal Data System (VLDS) and Wage
Outcomes Reports is a collaborative effort among the State Council of Higher
Education for Virginia, the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia
Employment Commission, the Virginia Community College System and the Virginia
Information Technologies Agency. Through
the VLDS, each agency makes available individual level, de-identified data to
track outcomes of students across the state (post-graduation outcomes). VLDS data are limited to the Virginia
workforce but may help develop a clearer understanding of outcomes related to
different degrees.
- University Park opened, with soccer fields, track,
recreational fields and facilities. The
Bioscience Building is open for the new academic school year. The nursing program has moved to Burruss
Hall. The engineering program has moved
to the former Nursing space in the Health and Human Services Building. Current renovations include Duke Hall and
Constitution Hall, which is the future site of the Student Success Center.
Updates to JMU senior leadership team
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