Approved

 

 

NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Minutes of the Regular Session

of

Thursday-Friday, July 19-20, 2007

 

 

A regular session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Thursday-Friday, July 19-20, 2007, in the Cohodas Administrative Center, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan.  The meeting was convened at 12:47 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 2007, in the Board of Trustees Room, 602 Cohodas, by Chair Mary C. Lukens.

 

Trustees present included:

 

      Mary C. Lukens, Chair                 Brian D. Cloyd                       Gilbert L. Ziegler       

      Alan T. Ackerman                        Jon G. LaSalle                         Leslie E. Wong, ex officio

      Stephen F. Adamini                      Douglas B. Roberts    

 

The Trustee absent was Samuel Benedict.

           

Senior staff and counsel present included:

 

      Catherine L. Dehlin, General Counsel

      Pamalene R. Grundstrom, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board

R. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board

      Theresa M. Nease, Administrative Assistant, Office of the President

      Susan Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

     

 

CLOSED SESSION AUTHORIZATION

 

President Wong presented the following recommendation:

 

It is recommended that the following resolution relative to holding a closed session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University be approved:

 

RESOLVED, that the Board shall meet in Closed Session at 1:30 p.m., on July 19, 2007, pursuant to Section 8 of the Open Meetings Act:

 

To consider matters connected with the strategy and/or negotiation of its collective bargaining agreements;

 

To consider the purchase or lease of real property on which the University does not hold an option;

 

To consult with the attorney for the University on matters relating to pending litigation, it being the opinion of the Board that consideration of such matters in an open meeting would have a detrimental financial effect on the litigation and/or settlement position of the University;

 

To consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute.

 

Dr. Douglas Roberts moved that the resolution be approved.  It was supported by

Mr. Jon LaSalle.  On a roll-call vote, the Board voted as follows:

 

                                         Aye                                                Nay

                                    Mr. Ackerman

                                    Mr. Adamini

                                    Mr. Cloyd

                                    Mr. LaSalle

                                    Ms. Lukens

                                    Dr. Roberts

                                    Mr. Ziegler                             

           None

 

The resolution was thus approved unanimously.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

President Wong introduced Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer to the Board of Trustees and Susan Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

 

 

FOUNDATION REPORT

 

Ms. Martha Haynes, Executive Director of Advancement, reported on Foundation activities and reviewed the results of the feasibility study done by Bentz Whaley Flessner.  Topics covered were feasibility study scope, factors in the analysis of campaign feasibility, key findings of the study, and major recommendations to pursue.  Discussion followed.

 

 

RECESS

 

Chair Lukens recessed the meeting at 1:17 p.m.

 

 

RECONVENE

 

Chair Lukens reconvened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2007.

 

Trustees present included:

 

      Mary C. Lukens, Chair                 Brian D. Cloyd (left at 11:00 a.m.)                

      Alan T. Ackerman                        Jon G. LaSalle                         Gilbert L. Ziegler

      Stephen F. Adamini                      Douglas B. Roberts                 Leslie E. Wong, ex officio                 

 

 

The Trustee absent was Samuel Benedict.

 

Senior staff and counsel present included:

 

      Catherine L. Dehlin, General Counsel

Pamalene R. Grundstrom, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board

Susan Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

      Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board

      Theresa M. Nease, Administrative Assistant, President’s Office

     

 

INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD

 

None 

 

 

FOCUS DISCUSSION 

 

Mr. Gavin Leach presented information on the State of Michigan budget and presented tuition and fee models, including increases of 9.0%, 9.5%, and 9.25%.  (The 9.25% proposal included the same dollar amount for resident and nonresident students).  It was clarified that each model assumes that the State of Michigan will return the delayed $4.2 million August payment in October 2007 as promised.  Discussion followed and staff members responded to questions and comments from Trustees. Discussion topics included 1.) the desire to continue to attract students from out of state who then may find employment in Michigan, 2.) the need to keep tuition increases consistent with the rate of inflation and the fact that the State cuts make this very difficult to accomplish, 3) the desire to not penalize nonresident students by raising their tuition more than resident students, and 4.)  the necessity to keep up with maintenance and capital improvement needs even in difficult budget times in order to avoid even higher costs in the future. 

 

The Board then took the following action:

 

It was moved by Dr. Roberts and supported by Mr. Ackerman to approve the 9.25% tuition and fees increase proposal, as presented.  (See Addendum #1.) On a roll-call vote, the Board voted as follows:

 

                                         Aye                                                Nay

                                    Mr. Ackerman

                                    Mr. Adamini

                                    Mr. Cloyd

                                    Mr. LaSalle

                                    Ms. Lukens

                                    Dr. Roberts

                                    Mr. Ziegler                             

           None

 

The motion was thus approved unanimously.

 

 

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Executive

 

Mr. Cloyd, Acting Chair of the Executive committee, reported on the meetings held on Monday, June 11, 2007,

and Thursday, July 19, 2007.  A copy of the reports are appended to these minutes (Addendum #2). 

 

 

RECESS – Chair Lukens recessed the meeting at 10:12 a.m. for a break.

 

 

RECONVENE -- Chair Lukens reconvened the meeting at 10:30 a.m.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS (continued)

 

Academic Affairs

 

Mr. LaSalle, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on a meeting held on July 19, 2007.  A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #3). 

 

Finance

 

Dr. Roberts, Chair of the Finance Committee, reported on a meeting held on July 19, 2007.  A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #4). 

 

Ad hoc Bylaws

 

Mr. Ackerman, Chair of the Ad Hoc Bylaws Committee, reported on a meeting held this morning.  A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum # 5).

 

 

APPOINTMENT OF AD HOC NOMINATING COMMITTEE

 

Chair Lukens announced the appointments to the Ad Hoc Nominating Committee as follows:

 

            Chair:              Alan T. Ackerman

            Members:        Samuel S. Benedict and Jon LaSalle

 

 

APPOINTMENT OF NMU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER

 

Chair Lukens announced the appointment of Mr. Gil Ziegler (replacing Mr. Brian Cloyd) as ex-officio member of the NMU Foundation Board.

 

 

ASNMU REPORT

 

Mr. Chris Storves, 2007-2008 ASNMU President, reported.  A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #6).   

 

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

President Wong reported on the recent staff changes in the President’s Division, Academic Affairs, and Finance and Administration.  Dr. Wong also gave a brief enrollment update.

 

President Wong introduced Rector Daniel and Adriana Garcia from the Universidad Regional del Norte (URN) in Chihuahua, Mexico.

 

 

ACTION ON FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS

 

        It was moved by Mr. Ziegler, seconded by Mr. LaSalle, and unanimously supported by the Board of Trustees to approve the Formal Recommendations, as amended.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION TO BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE THURSDAY-FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27-28, 2007, MEETING OF THE BOARD

 

President Wong made this announcement for the public record. 

 

 

Trustee Emeritus

 

Mr. Ziegler referred to an article in the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) newsletter referring to the desire to get Trustee Emeriti more involved in the university.  It was recommended to appoint an ad hoc committee to study this issue and to report back at the July 2008 meeting.  Ms. Lukens agreed.  She said past Trustee, Karl Weber, has done some work in this area and could be appointed to the committee.  She also suggested that Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Benedict serve on the committee.  Mr. Ziegler will follow through and contact Mr. Weber and Mr. Benedict.

                                               

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Chair Lukens adjourned the meeting at 11:18 a.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

___________________________________

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Pamalene R. Grundstrom

Secretary of the Board