Proposed

 

NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Minutes of the Special Formal Session

of

Friday, October 10, 2025

 

A special formal session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Friday, October 10, 2025, via Zoom video conference.  The meeting was convened at 10:06 a.m. by Chair Stephen E. Young.

 

Trustees present included:

Mr. Stephen E. Young, Chair

Mr. Steven W. Lindberg

Ms. Venus Joy Brown

Mr. Gregory J. Seppanen

Ms. Lisa I. Fittante

Mr. Greg M. Toutant

Ms. Melissa A. Holmquist, Vice Chair

Mr. R. Gavin Leach, ex officio

Ms. Brigitte R. LaPointe-Dunham

 

 

Senior Staff and Counsel present included:

Ms. Cathy A. Andrew, Secretary of the Board of Trustees

Mr. Jamie Beauchamp, Controller

Mr. Matt Franti, Assistant Vice President – Budget and Finance

Ms. Rebecca J. Schneiderhan, Assistant Controller

Ms. Ashley Higginson, Legal Counsel

 

Guests present included:

Ms. Michelle Fowler, Principal – Rehmann Robson

Ms. Kadra Kierczynski, Senior Manager – Rehmann Robson

 

The meeting was live-streamed at: 

 

https://nmuwildcast.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=03f2880d-ab7c-47c1-9292-b36c00de0d63

 

ROLL CALL

Secretary Andrew took roll call and noted a quorum was met with all eight Trustees present.

 

EXTERNAL AUDIT – AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 (Addendum #1)

Interim President Leach introduced Ms. Michelle Fowler and Ms. Kadra Kierczynski from the external audit firm of Rehmann Robson.  Interim President Leach noted that the university just completed the 2024 – 2025 financial audit and asked Ms. Fowler to walk through the audit.  Ms. Fowler provided some highlights of the audit, noting they reviewed the audit in detail with the Board of Trustees Finance Committee last week.  Ms. Fowler stated the audit is complete and the NMU received an “unmodified opinion” – what’s basically called a “clean opinion” and is the best type of opinion the University could receive.

 

The following action was taken:

 

It was moved by Trustee Holmquist and seconded by Trustee Seppanen that the NMU Board of Trustees accept the financial audit report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, as presented.

 

Discussion followed:

 

Trustee Holmquist said it’s always nice to see an unmodified opinion and everything looks fantastic.  She thanked the team and all individuals who participated in the audit.

 

Being no further discussion, Chair Young called the question

 

On a roll-call vote, the Board voted as follows:

 

Aye

Nay

Stephen E. Young

 

Venus J. Brown

 

Lisa I. Fittante

 

Melissa A. Holmquist

 

Brigitte R. LaPointe-Dunham

 

Steven W. Lindberg

 

Gregory J. Seppanen

 

Greg M. Toutant

 

 

Motion carried.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Young thanked everyone for and adjourned the meeting at 10:18 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

/signed/Cathy A. Andrew

Secretary of the Board of Trustees