Approved

 

NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

 

Minutes of the Formal Meeting

of

Thursday, February 17, 2011

 

 

A Formal Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Thursday, February 17, 2011, in Cohodas Hall, at Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan.  The meeting was convened at 1:00 p.m. in the Board of Trustees Room, 602 Cohodas, by Chair Brian D. Cloyd.

 

Trustees present included:

 

      Brian D. Cloyd, Chair                   L. Garn Lewis                         Leslie E. Wong, ex officio

      Stephen F. Adamini                      H. Sook Wilkinson                             

      Jon G. LaSalle                               Gilbert L. Ziegler       

 

Trustees absent included:

 

      Stephen L. Gulis, Jr.

Richard M. Popp              

 

Senior staff and counsel present included:

 

      Theresa M. Nease, Secretary to the Board of Trustees

Catherine L. Dehlin, General Counsel

      Susan J. Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

      R. Gavin Leach, V.P. for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board

 

 

BUSINESS SESSION

 

Chair Brian Cloyd read the following statement for the public record:

 

The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees would like to take this opportunity to formally recognize the many, many NMU students, staff and faculty who played a role in putting on the overwhelmingly successful visit by President Barack Obama to the NMU campus on Thursday,

February 10, 2011.  It was again an outstanding display of NMU talent. We know there were many long hours involved behind the scenes to make the event appear almost effortless to those in attendance, the cameras of the national media, and to people throughout the nation and around the world viewing the speech via the Internet.  In particular, the Board would like to thank those students and staff who went directly from the President Obama speech to setting up for several other activities being held in the NMU Sports Complex that same night and throughout the upcoming weekend.  Your dedication does not go unnoticed, or unappreciated. As Dr. Wong said in his opening remarks at the event, it truly was a great day to be a Wildcat, as is every day.

 

 

 

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT

 

Dr. L. Garnet Lewis, Chair of the ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee, reported on the meetings held on

January 13, 2011 and February 14, 2011.  (Addendums #1 and 2

 

Following the recommendation of the Strategic Planning Committee, the Board then took action as follows:

 

         It was moved by Trustee LaSalle, seconded by Trustee Wilkinson, and supported unanimously by the Board that Stamats, Inc. be hired to perform a branding identity study of Northern Michigan University pending a final negotiation of terms and conditions. 

 

 

SMOKING UPDATE

 

President Wong updated the Board on the status of the smoke free campus discussions.  There are a number of incentives in Governor Snyder’s and President Obama’s proposed budgets that point to healthier campuses.  Despite the fact that NMU’s campus is split 50/50 in going smoke free it might be that the financial incentives and health care incentive savings would indicate that going smoke free might be beneficial.  The issue will be how the University will benefit from various health care incentives by helping faculty, staff and students become smoke free.  President Wong will be working with students over the next several months, and there may be a proposal coming before the Board in the near future.   The office of Human Resources is researching successful strategies used in the private sector to develop incentives for employees to cultivate healthier habits or sign up for smoking cessation programs.  Trustee LaSalle stated he would like to see at least sixty percent of the students vote for this before we head in that direction.  This can be accomplished through education and program availability.

 

 

PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING

 

Vice President Leach reported on the progress of performance contracting stating that two facilities have been completed.  The next phase will include ten facilities:  Berry Events Center, PEIF, West Science, Art and Design, Cohodas Hall, Learning Resources Center, Hedgcock, Whitman Hall, and the Services Building.  They are looking at upgrade and replacement of equipment including air handling, electrical, water conservation, variable air volume control, electronic control devices, building automation devices, and lighting control.  This is a $5.3 million project with guaranteed saving of $500,000 annually in utility costs.  An audit would be performed annually, and if these targets are not met, the company will pay the difference.  The goal is to replace old equipment in a way that will pay for itself eventually.  This will produce long-term base savings as well as improve the lighting and air handling within the buildings to produce a better environment for staff and students on campus.

 

The Board reviewed possible colors for the Dome re-roofing project which includes placing NMU’s name on the exterior.

 

 

2011 BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING CALENDAR

 

The Board was presented with a proposal to adjust the 2011 Board Meeting schedule to align with Homecoming and the Foundation and Alumni Board meetings. 

 

 

The Board then took action as follows:

 

It was moved by Trustee Lewis , seconded by Trustee LaSalle, and supported unanimously to change the September 22-23 Board meeting to September 29-30, 2011.

 

 

NMU BOARD COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

 

Chair Cloyd reviewed the proposed revised committee appointments for 2011 as follows:

 

Academic Affairs                    Finance                                     Executive

    L. Garnet Lewis, Chair             Stephen F. Adamini, Chair       Jon G. LaSalle, Chair

Jon G. LaSalle                           Stephen L. Gulis, Jr.                 Stephen F. Adamini

Richard M. Popp                       Gilbert L. Ziegler                      L. Garnet Lewis

H. Sook Wilkinson                    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                                                         

 

 

ACTION ON FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS 

 

The Board took the following action regarding the Formal Recommendations:  (Addendum #3)

 

            It was moved by Trustee LaSalle, seconded by Trustee Lewis, and unanimously supported by the Board of Trustees to approve the Formal Recommendations.

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED INFORMAL SESSION TO BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE THURSDAY-FRIDAY, APRIL 28-29, 2011, MEETING OF THE BOARD

 

President Wong made this announcement for the public record. 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Chair Cloyd adjourned the meeting at 1:35 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

­_______________________________________

Theresa M. Nease

Secretary to the Board of Trustees