Board of Visitors Meeting, June 16, 2006
Summary of Actions/Discussions


Approved Minutes for this Meeting (MS Word Format)

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 Memorial Hall.

• 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.