Approved
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Formal Session
of
A formal session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Friday, December 10, 2010, in the Cohodas Hall, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan. The meeting was convened at 9:00 a.m. in the Board of Trustees Room, 602 Cohodas by Chair
Douglas B. Roberts.
Trustees present included:
Douglas B. Roberts, Chair Larry C. Inman Jon G. LaSalle
Stephen F. Adamini L. Garnet Lewis* (via phone) Gilbert L. Ziegler
Brian D. Cloyd H. Sook Wilkinson Leslie E. Wong, ex officio .
Senior staff and counsel present included:
Catherine L. Dehlin, General Counsel
Susan J. Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
R. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board
Theresa M. Nease, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board
*for Agenda Items #1-6 and #8d-11
Dr. John MacDevitt, Counseling Psychologist/Professor of Counseling Services and Consultation Services, addressed the Board regarding his concerns about staffing levels within the Counseling Center.
MOMENTS OF SILENCE
Mr. William Bernard led the Trustees and staff in a moment of silence for NMU student, Mr. Clint Roberts, a transfer student new to NMU this semester who died in a motorcycle accident on October 10.
Mr. Gavin Leach led the Trustees and staff in a moment of silence for two NMU staff members: Mr. John A. Tessaro, Equipment Supervisor in Athletics who passed away on Saturday,
November 6, 2010, and Mr. Dave Faiella, Sports Information Director in Athletics, who died on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.
FOCUS DISCUSSION (Addendum #1)
Mr. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration, reviewed NMU’s health care policy and services on campus, including: 1.) health care costs and the effort to control these costs, 2.) NMU Health Center services, 3.) wellness efforts, 4.) the impact on NMU from the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), 5.) retiree health care, 6.) emerging trends, 7.) current health care plans and agreements, 8.) peer comparisons, and 9.) future changes and directions. Dr. Les Wong, President, reviewed efforts on campus for a smoke-free environment. A renewed interest will be taken in enforcement of current smoking rules and regulations with the goal to eventually become a smoke-free campus. Consultants from the American College Health Association have recently been on campus to review NMU’s Health Promotion program as well as associated operations in Recreation/Wellness, Counseling and Health Services. Staff responded to questions and comments from Trustees.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
AQIP (Addendum #2)
President Wong reviewed the AQIP accreditation process and next steps for NMU. The North Central Association, using the AQIP process, recently completed a reaccreditation visit to NMU. These reaccreditation visits occur every seven years. Every four years a Systems Portfolio is completed and reviewed by AQIP with a response sent back to the University. A team from NMU is using this latest response in preparation for participation in a required Strategy Forum in Chicago in April. NMU has shown great improvement since the 2006 Appraisal. The Board and staff discussed continued quality improvement and the need to be proactive in determining the culture of the university.
Athletic Season
NMU had a very successful Fall athletic season with the Women’s Volleyball and Soccer teams making the NCAA tournaments. The philosophy of the coaching staff in regards to student athletes, student success, effort on the field, and participation in campus events has never been healthier. They have started an internal contest that will result in budget enhancements. Student athletes earn points for attending other student events on campus such as plays, concerts, and other sport team competitions.
Internships and Scholarship
A significant amount of creative research is being done at the undergraduate level in various successful ways. The Freshmen Fellows program was established to provide an opportunity for academically talented freshmen to be paired with faculty members on activities in laboratory research, social-based research, and field-based research. It has had a dramatic effect on recruiting for academically talented students. This program has been extended to become a University Scholars Program to help support these students beyond their freshmen year. The McNair Scholars program, funded through a three-year grant from the Dept of Education, has a goal to increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from under-represented groups. NMU currently has 25 students, predominantly sophomores, that are low income, first generation, and underrepresented in graduate schools. The hope is this program will increase opportunity in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) areas for nontraditional students. A big thank you goes to faculty mentors that take on these students as it has a positive effect on their intellectual development.
RECONVENE -- Chair Roberts reconvened the meeting at 11:00 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AND HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT
President Wong announced that Dr. Daniel Mazzuchi, Retired Physician and Community Leader, will be the December 2010 Commencement Speaker and will received the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.
INTRODUCTION OF GRADUATING SENIOR SPEAKING AT MIDYEAR COMMENCEMENT
Associate Provost for Student Services and Enrollment, William Bernard, announced that Mr. Jordan Graves, a Media Production and New Technology major from Spring Grove, Illinois will represent the graduating class of Winter 2010 at Commencement ceremonies tomorrow. Mr. Graves was unable to attend the meeting. An engraved plaque will be presented to him prior to the Commencement Ceremonies.
No Report
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Academic Affairs
Mr. LaSalle, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on a meeting held on Thursday, December 9, 2010. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #3).
Mr. Adamini, Chair of the Finance Committee, reported on a meeting held on Thursday, December 9, 2010. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #4).
The following action was taken:
It was moved by Trustee Inman, seconded by Trustee LaSalle, and supported unanimously, to approve the validation phase for steam optimization and plant expansion with biomass with respect to the Cogeneration Project.
It was moved by Trustee Adamini, seconded by Trustee Cloyd, and supported unanimously, to approve the Merit, Inc. Assurance Agreement.
Executive
Mr. Brian Cloyd, Chair of the Executive Committee, reported on a meeting held on Thursday, December 9, 2010. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #5).
The following action was taken:
It was moved by Trustee Cloyd, seconded by Trustee Adamini, and supported unanimously, to approve a 4% increase in compensation for President Les Wong for the current fiscal year.
Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee
Mr. Brian Cloyd, Chair of the ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee, reported on a meetings held on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, Friday, November 19, 2010, Monday, November 22, 2010, and Thursday, December 9, 2010. Copies of the reports are appended to these minutes (Addendums #6, #7, #8, and #9).
The initial charge to the ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee was to create a diverse group of stakeholders from around the University to review issues for a high level focus of the Board of Trustees. The Committee identified three strategic issues: 1.) branding, 2.) tuition elasticity, and 3.) entrepreneurial initiatives. Of these three issues, branding was chosen as the most critical. Branding should not be confused with marketing. Branding is what we aspire to be as an organization and what the promise of the University is. The Committee is in the process of interviewing consultants to perform a data-driven analysis to assist in determining NMU’s brand. The results will determine what the Board’s focus will be and will assist the Board in making key high level decisions. The Committee was on a timeline to have chosen a consultant at this point and to propose to the Board to move quickly into implementation. However, the Committee recommended that the project be paused at this point in order to allow questions and comments from the full Board and to allow ample time to inform the public and to solicit feedback. The Committee plans to choose a vendor in early January and have the selected vendor present to the Board of Trustees at a future meeting.
APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD STANDING COMMITTEES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2010
Chair-elect Cloyd announced that the recommended 2011 NMU Board of Trustees Standing Committee Appointments are included in the formals (Formal Recommendation F-1). The appointments are as follows:
2011 NMU BOARD OF TRUSTEES STANDING COMMITTEES
Academic Affairs
Finance
Executive
L. Garnet Lewis,
Chair
Stephen F. Adamini, Chair Jon G. LaSalle,
Chair
Jon G.
LaSalle
Larry C.
Inman
Stephen F. Adamini
Douglas B.
Roberts
Douglas B.
Roberts
L. Garnet Lewis
H. Sook
Wilkinson
Gilbert L.
Ziegler
Douglas B. Roberts
Brian D. Cloyd, ex
officio Brian D. Cloyd, ex
officio Brian D. Cloyd, ex officio
Leslie E. Wong, ex officio Leslie E. Wong, ex officio Leslie E. Wong, ex officio
2011 AD HOC COMMITTEE
Strategic Planning
L. Garnet Lewis,
Chair
Jon G.
LaSalle
Brian D. Cloyd
Chair-elect Cloyd also announced the ex officio appointments of Mr. Gilbert Ziegler, Mr. Larry Inman, and Dr. Sook Wilkinson to the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees for calendar year 2011.
It was moved by Trustee LaSalle, seconded by Trustee Inman, and unanimously supported by the Board of Trustees to approve the Formal Recommendations. (Addendum #10)
RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING CHAIR
Chair-elect Cloyd recognized outgoing Chair Roberts for his service to NMU. President Wong and Chair-elect Cloyd presented Chair Roberts with engraved marble bookends and a photo album commemorating his service as Chairman of the NMU Board of Trustees. A photo was taken.
2000 TIME CAPSULE OPENING
Trustee Gil Ziegler opened the Board of Trustees Time Capsule from 2000. Board of Trustee Emeriti Robert “Buzz” Berube and Scott Holman read their predictions for their vision of NMU in 2010. Current Board members read the predictions of past Board members unable to attend the meeting. The Predictions from the Year 2000 Time Capsule will be submitted to the University Archives. Trustee Ziegler suggested the current Board carry on the tradition of the Time Capsule by bringing their predictions for their vision of NMU in the year 2020 to the February Board meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED INFORMAL SESSION TO BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE THURSDAY-FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17-18, 2011, MEETING OF THE BOARD
President Wong made this announcement for the public record.
Chair Roberts adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Theresa M. Nease
Secretary of the Board