Board of Visitors Summary of Actions and Discussions

The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, Feb. 7, 2020, in the Board Room of Madison’s Festival Conference and Student Center.

The following is a summary of actions taken by the board and key areas of discussion at the board meeting:

• Approved the Nov. 15, 2019, Board of Visitors meeting minutes;
• Accepted committee reports from the Advancement, Athletics, Academic & Student Life, Audit, and Finance and Physical Development committees;
• Approved a resolution authorizing certain university officers to transact business with banks and other financial institutions;
• Received a report on the strategic plan from Dr. Brian Charette, special assistant to the president for strategic planning and engagement, Dr. Marilou Johnson, vice provost for faculty and curriculum, and Sheila Smith, associate vice president for advancement planning and operations;
• Received a report on the College of Integrated Science and Engineering from Dr. Bob Kolvoord, dean of the College of Integrated Science and Engineering, Dr. Henry Way, associated director of the School of Integrated Science, Francesca Ross, and Amber Swindells;
• Received a General Assembly update from Charles King, senior vice president for administration and finance;
• Approved the JMU Emergency Operations Plan;
• Met in closed session

Was told by President Jonathan Alger during his President’s Report:

• The JMU football team’s appearance in the FCS national championship garnered national television exposure and great alumni engagement;
• Jennifer Morgan (’91), Carrie Owen Plietz (’97), and Kathy Warden (’92) were the panelists at the most recent Madison Vision Series event on the “Future of Work;”
• The next Madison Vision Series event will feature Farah Pandith, former special representative to Muslim communities, on April 7 at 6 p.m. in Wilson Hall;
• Professor Bernie Kaussler has been awarded the first Cinquegrana Presidential Chair of Faculty Teaching Excellence and Research;
• The Colonial Academic Alliance has awarded $40,000 grants to Paul Mabrey, assistant professor of communications, and Dr. Emily York, assistant professor of Integrated Science and Technology;
• The JMU Libraries has received a $150,000 planning grant to support the Furious Flower Poetry Center;
• JMU has been selected for the Beckham Scholars Program, one of 12 institutions nationally;
• JMU’s online MBA program was ranked 15 and the online nursing program was ranked 30 by U.S. News and World Report;
• JMU has partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to promote participating in the census this year;
• Heather Coltman and representatives from the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and the Center for Global Engagement visited the Universidad Iberoamericana in the Dominican Republic to explore study abroad opportunities and discuss civic engagement initiatives;
• JMU was featured as a case study in The Chronicle of Higher Education for teaching students to think outside the box;
• JMU’s Carnegie Community Engagement classification has been renewed through 2026;
• JMU partnered with the Virginia business community and Growth4VA to host an event in Richmond to announce a partnership with Handshake;
• An admissions video produced by Communications and Marketing won a Gold Award for Best Recruitment Video from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and a Silver Award from Educational Digital Marketing.