Summary of Actions/Discussions
Approved Minutes for this Meeting (MS Word Format)
The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, September 23, 2005, 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 a new doctorate of musical arts degree in the School of Music.
• Heard proposals for a new bachelor of science degree in information analysis and a new master of science degree in international security in civil-military relations.
• Heard a report from Dr. John Noftsinger, associate vice president for research and program innovation, on new research and grants. Noftsinger informed the board that JMU is now ranked 317th in the nation in research and development and faculty at JMU were awarded $21 million for sponsored research and grants last year. A panel of faculty also presented on their research projects.
• Approved a new Six-Year Plan as required by the Higher Education Restructuring Act and university policies required for level 1 delegated authority under the act.
• Granted a set of easements to the City of Harrisonburg and others to allow for the improvement of roads, sewer and water lines.
• Approved a revision of the university Non-Discrimination Statement to include sexual orientation.
• Approved an additional 1 percent allocation to the state-appropriated salary increase of 4 percent for instructional faculty.
• Was told by President Linwood H. Rose:
- that James Madison University received over 19,000 applications for a projected freshman class of 3,500 this fall;
- that minority enrollment in the newly enrolled freshman class increased from 8.5 percent in 2004 to 11.6 percent in 2005;
- that JMU received private gifts funding the university's first two academic chairs; and,
- that JMU employee giving rose 50 percent from 9.75 percent to 15.2 percent.