Approved

NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Minutes of the Formal Session

of

Friday, December 13, 2013

A formal session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Friday, December 13, 2013, in the Marquette/Nicolet Rooms, University Center, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan.  The meeting was convened at 8:30 a.m. by Chair L. Garnet Lewis.

Trustees present included:

            L. Garnet Lewis, Chair           H. Sook Wilkinson (via telephone-               Thomas H. Zurbuchen

Stephen F. Adamini                8:50-9:15 and 11:25 – 12 noon)                     David S. Haynes, ex officio

            Steven M. Mitchell                Gilbert L. Ziegler      

            Richard M. Popp       

Trustees absent included:

Stephen L. Gulis, Jr.

Senior staff and counsel present included:

Paul L. Lang, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

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

Martha B. Haynes, Vice President for Advancement

Steven Neiheisel, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services

            Theresa M. Nease, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board

            Kurt McCamman, Legal Counsel

INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD

There were none.

MOMENTS OF SILENCE

Vice President Neiheisel read memorials for Brittany Nicholas who passed away on November 27, Randy Peterson who passed away on October 31, and Ryan Shaw who passed away on December 2.   The Board of Trustees observed a moment of silence in their memory.    

Provost Lang read a memorial for Professor Robert LaLonde, who passed away on October 8.  The Board of Trustees observed a moment of silence in his memory.

MOMENT IN NMU HISTORY

Dr. Russell Magnaghi, University Historian, presented on observance of the holidays on NMU’s campus over the years.   He distributed holiday recipes from 1916 and brought a very large box of Whitman Sampler chocolates to share with meeting attendees.

INTRODUCTION OF VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND STUDENT SERVICES

President Haynes introduced Dr. Steven Neiheisel as the new Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services.  Dr. Neiheisel started in his new position on November 1, 2013.

INTRODUCTION OF GRADUATING SENIOR SPEAKING AT MIDYEAR COMMENCEMENT

Vice President Neiheisel announced that Ms. Charlotte Cialek, a Biochemistry major from South Lyon, MI will represent the graduating class of Winter 2013 at Commencement ceremonies tomorrow.  On behalf of the Board, Chair Lewis congratulated Ms, Cialek and presented her with a plaque.  A photo was taken.

PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH

Chair Lewis reported on the progress of the Presidential Search.  The Search Committee has met and has finalized the Presidential Profile.  The Search is on schedule and is proceeding well.  Information on the search can be found at http://www.nmu.edu/presidentialsearch/.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AND HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT

President Haynes announced that Mr. Ernie Telford, Retired Chairman and Consultant for the American Wholesale Insurance Group, will be the December 2013 Commencement Speaker and will receive the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Business. 

ASNMU UPDATE

Ms. Amber Lapota, President of ASNMU, was unable to attend the meeting.  No report was given.   

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

President Haynes reported on the Forrest Roberts Theatre presentation of Les Miserable and showed a video clip of one of the scenes.  The production sold out before the opening.  As a result, they were able to add additional performances. 

Ms. Jaylee Brown, a student athlete on the Cross Country Women’s team and her coach, Ms. Jennifer Ryan were introduced.  Ms. Brown is a sophomore studying Community Health Education with a minor in Physical Education/Coaching.  She is on both the cross country running team and the track and field team.  She was an alternate for the recent 2013 NMU NCAA Regional cross country team that finished 5th of 27 teams and narrowly missed a trip to the NCAA National Championships.

Ms. Brown was in the 6km race at the Roy Griak Invite in St. Paul, MN racing for NMU.  The Roy Griak Invite is the largest cross country race in the US with over 2,000 total racers competing of the races.  As Ms. Brown approached the finish line with 50 meters to go, she saw a runner down and reaching out, trying to get up to finish the race.  This runner had either tripped or fell in exhaustion.  Many runners passed her by, but Ms. Brown stopped, helped her up by literally picking her up, putting the other runners arm around her shoulder and encouraging her to start walking and then jogging to the finish line. 

Ms. Brown made sure the other runner could finish and then finished her race.  The Board congratulated Ms. Brown honored her with a round of applause.  A photo was taken with Ms. Brown, President Haynes, Chair Lewis, and Vice Chair Popp.

President Haynes reported on the success of the NMU Women’s Cross Country team. 

• The team won two meets and finished in the top 10 in all 7 meets this season.

• The team finished in 5^th place out of 27 schools competing at the NCAA Midwest Regional and missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships by just one spot as the top 4 teams from the Midwest Region earned trips to Spokane. This season was the highest that the team has placed since 2007, when they also placed fifth.

• The team was ranked in the Top 20 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) Division II National Coaches Poll.

• Sophomore Mary Kate Cirelli, from Rutland, VT, was named to the Midwest All-Regional team.

President Haynes reported on the success of the Women’s Volleyball Team.   He introduced Mr. Dominic Yoder, Head Coach, and Ms. Inga Kurgonaite, Assistant Coach.

• The Wildcats ended the season with a 23-10 overall record and a 15-3 conference record, tied for 2^nd place out of 16 schools in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

• Senior Lina Lopes, a left-side hitter from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was an All-GLIAC First Team selection after finishing fifth in the GLIAC in total kills. Lina ended her NMU career with 1,328 kills (2^nd most in NMU history).

• Senior Kellisha Harley, a setter from Lakewood, CO, was an All-GLIAC First Team selection after finishing third in the GLIAC in assists per set.

• Senior Kalli Herron, a left-side hitter from Peru, IL, was an All-GLIAC Second Team selection after finishing seventh in the GLIAC in total kills.  Kalli ended her NMU career with 1,008 kills (14th most in NMU history).

• Senior Sarah Hamilton, a middlehitter from Galesburg, MI, was an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection after finishing fourth in the GLIAC in attack percentage, and was also named to the GLIAC All-Tournament team. 

President Haynes reported on the United States Olympic Education Center.

• NMU developed a financially sustainable model for the U.S. Olympic Education Center, soon to be called the U.S. Olympic Training Site at Northern Michigan University.

• NMU secured a three-year agreement with USA Wrestling as well as a one-year agreement with USA Weightlifting.

• NMU is very close to having a fully executed agreement with the United States Olympic Committee.

The NMU Marching Band recently played in Grand Rapids, MI at Grand Valley State University.  While in the down state area, to participate in the recruitment effort, they played at two area high schools, Lowell High School and Mackinaw City High School.

President Haynes reported on the ROTC Program at NMU.  He credited Congressman Benishek for helping get a letter signed by every congressman and all thirteen universities in Michigan to the Secretary of the Army and the Secretary of Defense objecting to the cutting of several ROTC programs.  Due to the support from Senator Stabenow and Senator Levin, Chair of the Armed Services Committee, NMU was able to negotiate an extension of our contract with the ROTC.  NMU continues to work on keeping this program open at NMU. 

President Haynes introduced two students, Mr. Tyler Pickard and Mr. Asher Weekley, from Grand Rapids University Prep School.  This is a charter pilot within the Grand Rapids public schools that President Haynes helped establish.  Former NMU Chairman, Mr. Brian Cloyd, was the former Chairman of the Board at Grand Rapids University Prep.   The two students were visiting NMU as part of the Campus Visit Assistance Program.

The State President’s Council of Michigan published a study on the economic footprint of Michigan’s Fifteen Public Universities.  A copy of the report was distributed to Trustees.

JABBER AND MEDIA SITE LIVE DEMONSTRATION

Mr. Eric Smith, Director of Broadcast and Audio Visual Services; Mr. Patrick Lakenen, Audio Video Operations Supervisor; Mr. Chris Lewis, Information Systems Manager; Mr. Max Graves, Audio Visual IT Specialist; and Mr. David Maki, Chief Technology Officer, presented and interactive demonstration of Jabber Video Conferencing and Media Site Live technology used at NMU.  (See Addendum #1)

TOBACCO FREE CAMPUS

Ms. Cindy Paavola, Director of Communications, presented on the process NMU has used for reviewing whether NMU’s campus should go tobacco free. (See Addendum #2)  She presented a recommendation from the Tobacco Free Review Committee:

• NMU to become tobacco-free as of August 1, 2014.
• The ban would include all tobacco products as defined by the American College Health Association (ACHA)
• Policy would cover all university property and university-owned vehicles.
• The only exclusions would be:
• Public sidewalks and roadways
• Personal vehicles with windows fully closed (see below motion for additional provision)
• NMU Golf Course (review in 2016)

After discussion the following action was taken:

It was moved by Trustee Adamini and seconded by Trustee Mitchell, to adopt the Tobacco Free Committee’s recommendation with the additional provision added that no minor children be present in the vehicles with windows fully closed.  The motion carried five to one.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Academic Affairs

Mr. Ziegler, Acting Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on a meeting held on Thursday, December 12, 2013.  A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #3). 

Finance

Mr. Adamini, Acting Chair of the Finance Committee, reported on a meeting held on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.  A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #4). 

Executive

Mr. Popp, Chair of the Executive Committee, reported on meetings held on Thursday, November 12, 2013 and Thursday, December 12, 2013.  A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendums #5 and #6).

APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD STANDING COMMITTEES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2014

Chair-elect Popp announced that the recommended 2014 NMU Board of Trustees Standing Committee Appointments are included in the formals (Formal Recommendation F-3).  The appointments are as follows:

2014 NMU BOARD OF TRUSTEES STANDING COMMITTEES

Academic Affairs Finance Executive

Thomas H. Zurbuchen, Chair          Stephen L. Gulis, Jr., Chair          L. Garnet Lewis, Chair

Gilbert L. Ziegler                            Stephen F. Adamini                      H. Sook Wilkinson

L. Garnet Lewis                               Steven M. Mitchell                      Stephen L. Gulis, Jr.

Richard M. Popp, ex officio            Richard M. Popp, ex officio         Richard M. Popp, ex officio

David S. Haynes, ex officio            David S. Haynes, ex officio         David S. Haynes, ex officio

Trustee Popp suggested that the Committee structures be revised so that Trustee Mitchell serves on the Academic Affairs Committee and Trustee Ziegler serves on the Finance Committee.  This will be adjusted during approval of the formal recommendations.

Chair-elect Popp also announced the ex officio appointments of Mr. Stephen L. Gulis, Jr. and Mr. Steven M. Mitchell to the NMU Foundation Board of Trustees for calendar year 2014. 

ACTION ON FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS

It was moved by Trustee Mitchell and seconded by Trustee Popp to approve the Formal Recommendations.

It was moved by Trustee Ziegler, seconded by Trustee Popp, and unanimously supported by the Board to amend the formals to reflect a change in the Committee membership whereas Trustee Gil Ziegler serves on the Finance Committee and Trustee Steve Mitchell serves on the Academic Affairs Committee.

The motion to approve the Formal Recommendations as amended was approved five to one. (Addendum #7)

ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED INFORMAL SESSION TO BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE THURSDAY-FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13-14, 2014, MEETING OF THE BOARD

President Haynes made this announcement for the public record. 

RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING CHAIR

Chair-elect Popp recognized outgoing Chair Lewis for her service to NMU.  President Haynes and Chair-elect Popp presented Chair Lewis with engraved marble bookends.  A photo was taken.

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Lewis adjourned the meeting at 11:14 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________________

Theresa M. Nease

Secretary of the Board