The James Madison University Board of Visitors met Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, 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 April 27, 2018, Board of Visitors meeting minutes;
  • Accepted committee reports from the Advancement, Athletics, Audit, Academic & Student Life, and Finance & Physical Development committees;
  • Received a report on healthy communities presented by Ms. Donna Harper, vice president for Access and Inclusion, and Dr. Tim Miller, vice president for Student Affairs;
  • Received a report on the Valley Scholars program by Valley Scholars Eleazar Cortes and Kristin Rhodenizer;
  • Approved resolutions related to issuing bonds for and related to the reimbursement of capital expenditures on the Atlantic Union Bank Center and East Campus Parking Deck projects;
  • Approved a workforce maintenance plan;
  • Approved a resolution endorsing the university’s application for Level 3 authority under the Higher Education Restructuring Act;
  • Approved utility easements related to campus construction projects;
  • Approved amendments to the university’s six-year plan to be submitted to the General Assembly;
  • Approved a resolution congratulating the JMU women’s lacrosse team on their 2018 NCAA Division I national championship;
  • Met in closed session;

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

  • There are a number of construction projects under way around campus;
  • The university has filled a number of key positions:
    • Tim Miller, vice president of Student Affairs
    • Mike Busing, interim dean of the College of Business
    • Robert Aguirre, dean of the College of Arts and Letters
    • Shawn Boyne, ACE Fellow
    • Tiveeda Stovall, director of Campus Compact for Virginia
    • Kevin Powell, scholar in residence
  • The Engagement Fellows program has expanded from three to eight fellows;
  • JMU has partnered with James Madison’s Montpelier;
  • The university will host the 2018 Virginia Student Democracy Summit;
  • David Rubenstein will speak at the next Madison Vision Series lecture on Sept. 17;
  • The Madison Vision Series on Nov. 1, will feature two former members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat;
  • Plans are ongoing for the Engagement for the Public Good Conference in November;
  • The university has created an entrepreneurship minor open to students in all academic disciplines;
  • JMU’s X-Labs was recognized with the Governor’s Award for Innovative Use of Technology in Education;
  • The Furious Flower Poetry Center will host a 25th anniversary celebration Sept. 27-28, 2019, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture;
  • The JMU women’s lacrosse team won the 2018 national championship;
  • JMU’s social media properties were recognized as the most engaged properties among NCAA Division I schools in the nation.



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