Approved
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Formal Session
of
Friday, May 1, 2015
A formal session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Friday, May 1, 2015 in the University Center of Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan. The meeting was convened at 9:00 a.m. in the Marquette-Nicolet Room by Chair Richard M. Popp.
Trustees present included:
Mr. Richard M. Popp, Chair Ms. Tami M. Seavoy
Mr. Scott L. Holman Dr. H. Sook Wilkinson
Dr. L. Garnet Lewis Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen
Mr. Robert E. Mahaney Dr. Fritz J Erickson, ex officio
Mr. Steven M. Mitchell
Senior Staff and Counsel present included:
Ms. Martha Haynes, Vice President for Advancement
Ms. Lesley Larkin, Acting Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mr. R. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board
Dr. Steven A. VandenAvond, Vice President for Extended Learning and Community Relations
Ms. Cathy A. Niemi, Secretary of the Board of Trustees
Mr. Kurt McCamman, Legal Counsel
Senior Staff absent included:
Dr. Steven R. Neiheisel, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services
Chair Popp congratulated Trustee Wilkinson on her new book, Asian American’s in Michigan, Voices from the Midwest, which was published in March 2015.
Chair Popp congratulated Dr. Zurbuchen on his 18-year project involving a satellite that was designed to crash into Mercury, which crashed into Mercury at approximately 3:00 p.m. (est) Thursday, April 30, 2015.
INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE BOARD:
Dr. Rebecca Mead, President of the American Association of United Professors (AAUP), and Ms. Sara Potter, an instructor in the department of Communications and Performance Studies, addressed the Board regarding the current AAUP negotiations. (Addendum #1)
Chair Popp thanked Dr. Reed and Ms. Potter for their comments.
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF NMU STUDENT
Acting Provost Larkin read a memorial for Mr. Cody Revord, a 17-year old student from Marquette who participated in NMU’s Middle College, who died on February 19, 2015. The Board of Trustees observed a moment of silence in his memory.
HLC ACCREDITATION UPDATE
Acting Provost Larkin provided an HLC Accreditation update. She said that NMU has made a lot of progress in the area of accreditation this semester. An Accreditation Steering Committee was restructured which will assist the University in selecting and implementing action plans and, most importantly, engaging the campus as a whole in NMU’s accreditation efforts. A group of administrators recently went to Chicago to attend the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) Strategy Forum which provided the opportunity to interact with other AQIP campuses and to work on the area of leading and communicating, which was identified by the Higher Learning Commission as an area of opportunity for NMU. The group also developed ideas for a new action plan that will focus on involvement, communication, and transparency. NMU has three action projects underway.
Ms. Kim Barron, Director of Institutional Accreditation and Assessment, provided a recap of the Strategy Forum and the AQIP action projects. (Addendum #2)
FOCUS DISCUSSION
Mr. R. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration, presented on the financial overview of the University. Staff responded to questions from Trustees. (Addendum #3)
INTRODUCTION OF GRADUATING SENIOR SPEAKING AT MIDYEAR COMMENCEMENT
Acting Provost Larkin announced that Ms. Kylee Slough, a Criminal Justice major from Oconto, Wisconsin, will represent the graduating class at the spring 2015 Commencement ceremonies on Saturday morning, May 2, 2015. On behalf of the Board, Chair Popp congratulated Ms. Slough and presented her with a plaque. A photo was taken.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER AND HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT
President Erickson announced that Dr. Barry West, Chief Information Officer (CIO) / Chief Privacy Officer for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), will be the May 2015 Commencement Speaker and will receive the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Business.
ASNMU REPORT
Ms. Lindsey Lieck, President of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, presented on the year’s activities and goals:
· ASNMU had a full board for the majority of the year. Goal for upcoming year is to have a full board by the first week in October and to maintain the board throughout the year
· ASNMU passed a resolution in support of the creation of a medical amnesty policy at NMU. Goal is to reach out to other universities in Michigan and Wisconsin to see what policies they have looked into on their campuses.
· ASNMU held 4 events that brought students and administrators together for discussions on housing, campus sustainability, and dining, as well as a meeting with President Erickson and Marquette City Manager Bill Vajda. Goal is to set a full schedule of these events to cover the first semester.
· ASNMU has a strong crew of 9. Goal is to build up ASNMU as a stronger resource and voice for students.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Erickson reported the following:
· Introduced Dr. Steve VandenAvond, the new Vice President for Extended Learning and Community Engagement. Dr. VandenAvond’s role is to help promote and develop opportunities for students away from campus. One major goal is to provide educational opportunities, Northern credits, in partnership with school districts across the Upper Peninsula and beyond.
· Congratulated Vice President Haynes and the Advancement office for the work they did in securing the gift from Dr. Beaumier to produce a Welcome Center on campus. This center will make it easier for people coming to campus to get information and find their way around campus, as well as serve as a home for the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center.
· AQIP Strategy Forum and the Higher Learning Commission’s accreditation process. NMU will be working on the Transparency Project – a comprehensive, forward-looking process to create a transparent campus environment.
· Invited to join the First Lady Snyder’s planning summit on sexual assault and violence on campus. NMU will be sending a team of 20 (students, faculty, and staff) to that summit in June.
· Recognized Dr. David Wood, the Distinguished Faculty Award recipient.
· Core Values and Strategic Plan – will begin the launch of the Core Values this fall and will begin a collaborative process to develop the Strategic Plan
· Provost Search update – two finalists were on campus for interviews during the past two weeks. A decision will be made within the next two weeks.
· Congratulated the Alumni relations staff for the alumni events that were scheduled throughout this past year. These events provide strong relationships with NMU alums across the country.
· Economic development activities – working with a group to launch the Innovation Marquette satellite SmartZone, which is an exciting partnership between NMU and the broader community to support economic development. Was selected by Governor Snyder to serve on the MEDC Executive Committee.
· Athletic programs:
§ Ski Team: Frederik Schwenke – NCAA Champion in 20K classic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhzR0w7jwAc), All-American, and Co-Male Athlete of the Year; Kyle Bratrud – U.S. National Champion in 15K freestyle, All-American, Co-Male Athlete of the Year, and competed in U.S. World Juniors
§ Women’s Swimming and Diving: Debbi Lawrence – All-American (3 times) and female athlete of the year; Molly Kearney – All-American (2 times)
§ Men’s Basketball: Terry Nash – Humanitarian of the Year
§ Hall of Fame: Inducted five new Wildcats: Darry Plandowski, Heather Drukker, Jennifer Friedrich, Sue Veselik, and Ricky Volcy.
President Erickson answered questions from Trustees.
Session recessed at 10:41 a.m.
Session reconvened at 10:51 a.m.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Executive
Mr. Popp, Chair of the Executive Committee, reported on the meeting held on Thursday, April 30, 2015. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes. (Addendum #4)
Academic Affairs
Dr. Zurbuchen, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on a meeting held Thursday, April 30, 2015. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes. (Addendum #5)
Finance
Mr. Holman, Chair of the Finance Committee, reported on a meeting held on Thursday, April 30, 2015. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes. (Addendum #6)
Based on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Board took the following action:
It was moved by Trustee Mahaney, seconded by Trustee Seavoy, and supported unanimously by the Board, to approve the West Hall major mechanical heating systems improvements at a cost of $960,000.
ACTION ON FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS
It was moved by Trustee Lewis, seconded by Trustee Wilkinson, and supported unanimously by the full Board, to approve the Formal Recommendations. (Addendum #7)
REVISED NMU BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING DATES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2015
The following action was taken:
It was moved by Trustee Mitchell, seconded by Trustee Holman, and supported unanimously by the full Board, to approve the changes to the 2015 Board of Trustees meeting dates as follows:
|
DATE AND TIME |
LOCATION |
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Monday, February 9 – 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 10 – 9:00 a.m.
|
Retreat Held on Campus |
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Thursday, April 30 – 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 1 – 8:00 a.m. (Commencement Saturday, May 2)
|
Board of Trustees Meeting Room 602 Cohodas Hall Northern Michigan University |
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Thursday, June 18 – 9:00 a.m.
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Board of Trustees Meeting Room 602 Cohodas Hall Northern Michigan University
Some Trustees will be participating via remote access
|
|
Thursday – Friday, July 23 – 24, 2015 |
Business portion will be held on site in the Board of Trustees Meeting Room, 602 Cohodas Hall, on Thursday, July 23, 2015
Retreat portion may be held offsite on Friday, July 24, 2015
|
|
Thursday, September 17 – 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 18 – 8:00 a.m. |
Board of Trustees Meeting Room 602 Cohodas Hall Northern Michigan University
|
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Thursday, December 10 – 11:30 a.m. Friday, December 11 – 8:00 a.m. (Commencement Saturday, December 12) |
Board of Trustees Meeting Room 602 Cohodas Hall Northern Michigan University
|
ANNOUNCEMENT OF INFORMAL CLOSED SESSIONS TO BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015, AND THE THURSDAY – FRIDAY, JULY 23 – 24, 2015 SESSIONS OF THE BOARD
President Erickson made this announcement for the public record.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Popp adjourned the meeting at 11:14 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy A. Niemi
Secretary of the Board of Trustees