Addendum #3

SUMMARY

Board of Trustees

Academic Affairs Committee

December 15, 2011

Members Present:  Dr. L. Garnet Lewis, Chair, Mr. Stephen Adamini, Mr. Jon LaSalle, Mr. Richard Popp, Dr. H. Sook Wilkinson, Mr. Gil Ziegler, Dr. Paul Lang, Mr. Brian Cloyd, Dr. Les Wong, ex officio

The Academic Affairs Committee meeting was called to order at 2:41 p.m.

Academic Senate Update

Dr. David Boe, Chair of the Academic Senate, provided a summary of Senate activities including activities of the Committee on Undergraduate Programs, Graduate Programs Committee and the Liberal Studies Committee.  The Liberal Studies Committee has been charged with submitting a final draft to the Senate for a “first reading” early in the winter semester. 

Charter Schools Board Member Appointments

Mr. William Pistulka, Charter Schools Officer, proposed board member appointments for JKL Bahweting Public School Academy and North Star Academy.

After motion duly made and seconded the Committee recommends to the Board of Trustees the approval of the board member appointments.  This motion is part of the formal recommendations.

Mr. William Pistulka, Charter Schools Officer, presented a proposal for approval to authorize opening a new charter school, South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy, to be opened in the fall of 2012.  

After motion duly made and seconded the Committee recommends to the Board of Trustees the approval to authorize the opening of South Point Scholars Charter Academy in the fall of 2012.  This motion is part of the formal recommendations.

Mr. Pistulka informed the Committee that as of December 14, 2011, SB 618 was approved by the Michigan House of Representatives which lifts the legislative cap on charter schools authorized by the state’s public universities.  Mr. Pistulka also provided the Committee with a presentation on possible future Charter School expansion opportunities.

Enrollment/Recruitment Strategies

Ms. Gerri Daniels, Director of Admissions and Ms. Cindy Paavola, Director of Communications and Marketing, briefed the Committee on new recruitment and marketing initiatives.  New initiatives include minority recruitment publications, building new relationships with community partners, improving the more deliberate use of technology and testing new television and cable ad campaigns. 

Student Mental Health Issues

Dr. Marie Aho, Head of Counseling and Consultation Services, provided an update on student mental health issues and trends.  She indicated that there has been a dramatic upward trend in the number of students seeking counseling services and a shift from traditional counseling services to mental health treatment services. 

Sabbatical Report

Dr. Paul Lang, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, provided information on sabbatical leave applications.  Nine NMU faculty members have been awarded sabbaticals that will take place during the 2012-13 academic year.

Road Map Update

Dr. Paul Lang highlighted one item in the Road Map update involving the School of Nursing’s use of Facebook as a teaching tool.

Good of the Order

None.

Dr. Lewis thanked the Committee and the meeting was adjourned at 4:09 p.m.