JMU - Board of Visitors Meeting

Board of Visitors Meeting, Jan. 12, 2001
Summary of Actions/Discussions

The James Madison University Board of Visitors met at 1 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2001, CFW Room of the Integrated Science and Technology/Computer Science Building. Following is a summary of actions taken by the board and key areas of discussion at the board meeting:

The board announced that it expected the JMU administration to make a recommendation to the board's Athletics Committee concerning the university's intercollegiate athletic program by March 1. After the recommendation is made, the Athletics Committee will hold a public meeting prior to the March 23 full board meeting. If the administration's recommendation to the committee proposes that a particular sports program be eliminated, or severely curtailed, the committee will hear presentations from representations of that sport. The announcement followed a two-hour closed session to discuss the JMU athletic program. A series of recommendations have been made concerning the athletic program by the Centennial Sports Committee. The administration has not yet made any type of recommendation to the board. The board met with representatives from the Attorney General's Office to discuss legal ramifications of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act as they apply to intercollegiate athletics.

President Linwood H. Rose reported to the board on the following items:

A JMU graduate, Cynthia Goshorn (Ed.S., '96), was named School Psychologist of the Year.

Tom Martin, men's soccer coach and Dave Rinker, women's cross-country coach, were named Colonial Athletic Association Coaches of the Year in their respective sports.

The university received an "exceptional" rating from the Commonwealth on a recent audit of the JMU Accounts Payable Department.

JMU is second in the nation among master's level universities in the number of students taking part in studies abroad programs.

The JMU Marching Royal Dukes will appear in President Bush's Inaugural Parade.

Relocation of the speech communication program from Anthony-Seeger Hall.

The addition of four new universities Hofstra University, the University of Delaware, Drexel University and Towson University to the Colonial Athletic Association.

A summary of the "Measuring Up 2000" report which graded state public higher education systems and ranked Virginia 15^th in the nation with a "B" grade in economic and civic benefits; preparation; completion rates; and participation rates; and a "C" in affordability.

A report on the General Assembly's Joint Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding Policies, which concluded that JMU is the most underfunded public college or university in Virginia. JMU's current yearly budget for E&G programs is $116.2 million. The legislative committee said that JMU should have an additional $24 million to $26 million per year.

An announcement that JMU and Blue Ridge Community College have executed a new articulation agreement.

A report on SCHEV's new system-wide measures for institutional effectiveness reports.

An announcement that President Rose is one of 14 members named to the National Advisory Committee to the James Madison Commemoration Commission.

The board agreed to ask the General Assembly for additional funding that would include a $6.4 million increase in the university's base operational funding, a salary increase for faculty and a $27 million chemistry and physics building. Budget amendments approved include:

$764,843 to provide salary increases for faculty that would average 3.3 percent. That percentage increase for JMU faculty was recommended by the State Council of Higher Education.

Funds to construct a new $27.3 million chemistry and physics building. The new building would be the third in a series of connected academic buildings on the JMU campus east of Interstate 81. JMU has already been allocated $1.25 million in planning money for the building.

$1.75 million for a facilities management building on the east side of Interstate 81.

$795,954 to restore operational cuts proposed by the governor.

$1 million for an increase in energy costs.
(Gov. Gilmore's proposed budget for JMU already includes $3.7 million for maintenance work on campus buildings and $8.6 million in a proposed bond issue to renovate and expand Harrison Hall to accommodate several communications programs in the Colleges of Arts and Letters. Planning money for that building has already been approved. The governor also asked the General Assembly to increase financial aid at JMU by $485,657 and requested a 3.5 percent salary increase for the university's non-teaching staff.)