Approved
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Minutes of the Regular Session
of
A regular session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University was held on Thursday-Friday, July 19-20, 2007, in the Cohodas Administrative Center, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan. The meeting was convened at 12:47 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 2007, in the Board of Trustees Room, 602 Cohodas, by Chair Mary C. Lukens.
Trustees present included:
Mary C. Lukens, Chair Brian D. Cloyd Gilbert L. Ziegler
Alan T. Ackerman Jon G. LaSalle Leslie E. Wong, ex officio
Stephen F. Adamini Douglas B. Roberts
The Trustee absent was Samuel Benedict.
Senior staff and counsel present included:
Catherine L. Dehlin, General Counsel
Pamalene R. Grundstrom, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board
R. Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board
Theresa M. Nease, Administrative Assistant, Office of the President
Susan Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
CLOSED SESSION AUTHORIZATION
President Wong presented the following recommendation:
It is recommended that the following resolution relative to holding a closed session of the Board of Trustees of Northern Michigan University be approved:
RESOLVED, that the Board shall meet in Closed Session at 1:30 p.m., on July 19, 2007, pursuant to Section 8 of the Open Meetings Act:
To consider matters connected with the strategy and/or negotiation of its collective bargaining agreements;
To consider the purchase or lease of real property on which the University does not hold an option;
To consult with the attorney for the University on matters relating to pending litigation, it being the opinion of the Board that consideration of such matters in an open meeting would have a detrimental financial effect on the litigation and/or settlement position of the University;
To consider material exempt from discussion or disclosure by state or federal statute.
Aye Nay
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Adamini
Mr. Cloyd
Mr. LaSalle
Ms. Lukens
Dr. Roberts
Mr. Ziegler
None
The resolution was thus approved unanimously.
INTRODUCTION
President Wong introduced Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer to the Board of Trustees and Susan Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
FOUNDATION REPORT
Ms. Martha Haynes, Executive Director of Advancement, reported on Foundation activities and reviewed the results of the feasibility study done by Bentz Whaley Flessner. Topics covered were feasibility study scope, factors in the analysis of campaign feasibility, key findings of the study, and major recommendations to pursue. Discussion followed.
Chair Lukens recessed the meeting at 1:17 p.m.
RECONVENE
Chair Lukens reconvened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2007.
Trustees present included:
Mary C. Lukens, Chair Brian D. Cloyd (left at 11:00 a.m.)
Alan T. Ackerman Jon G. LaSalle Gilbert L. Ziegler
Stephen F. Adamini Douglas B. Roberts Leslie E. Wong, ex officio
The Trustee absent was Samuel Benedict.
Senior staff and counsel present included:
Catherine L. Dehlin, General Counsel
Pamalene R. Grundstrom, Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary of the Board
Susan Koch, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer of the Board
Theresa M. Nease, Administrative Assistant, President’s Office
None
FOCUS DISCUSSION
Mr. Gavin Leach presented information on the State of Michigan budget and presented tuition and fee models, including increases of 9.0%, 9.5%, and 9.25%. (The 9.25% proposal included the same dollar amount for resident and nonresident students). It was clarified that each model assumes that the State of Michigan will return the delayed $4.2 million August payment in October 2007 as promised. Discussion followed and staff members responded to questions and comments from Trustees. Discussion topics included 1.) the desire to continue to attract students from out of state who then may find employment in Michigan, 2.) the need to keep tuition increases consistent with the rate of inflation and the fact that the State cuts make this very difficult to accomplish, 3) the desire to not penalize nonresident students by raising their tuition more than resident students, and 4.) the necessity to keep up with maintenance and capital improvement needs even in difficult budget times in order to avoid even higher costs in the future.
The Board then took the following action:
Aye Nay
Mr. Ackerman
Mr. Adamini
Mr. Cloyd
Mr. LaSalle
Ms. Lukens
Dr. Roberts
Mr. Ziegler
None
The motion was thus approved unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Executive
Mr. Cloyd, Acting Chair of the Executive committee, reported on the meetings held on Monday, June 11, 2007,
and Thursday, July 19, 2007. A copy of the reports are appended to these minutes (Addendum #2).
RECONVENE -- Chair Lukens reconvened the meeting at 10:30 a.m.
COMMITTEE REPORTS (continued)
Academic Affairs
Mr. LaSalle, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, reported on a meeting held on July 19, 2007. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #3).
Dr. Roberts, Chair of the Finance Committee, reported on a meeting held on July 19, 2007. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #4).
Ad hoc Bylaws
Mr. Ackerman, Chair of the Ad Hoc Bylaws Committee, reported on a meeting held this morning. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum # 5).
APPOINTMENT OF AD HOC NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Chair Lukens announced the appointments to the Ad Hoc Nominating Committee as follows:
Chair: Alan T. Ackerman
Members: Samuel S. Benedict and Jon LaSalle
APPOINTMENT OF NMU FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER
Chair Lukens announced the appointment of Mr. Gil Ziegler (replacing Mr. Brian Cloyd) as ex-officio member of the NMU Foundation Board.
Mr. Chris Storves, 2007-2008 ASNMU President, reported. A copy of the report is appended to these minutes (Addendum #6).
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Wong reported on the recent staff changes in the President’s Division, Academic Affairs, and Finance and Administration. Dr. Wong also gave a brief enrollment update.
President Wong introduced Rector Daniel and Adriana Garcia from the Universidad Regional del Norte (URN) in Chihuahua, Mexico.
It was moved by Mr. Ziegler, seconded by Mr. LaSalle, and unanimously supported by the Board of Trustees to approve the Formal Recommendations, as amended.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION TO BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THE THURSDAY-FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27-28, 2007, MEETING OF THE BOARD
President Wong made this announcement for the public record.
Trustee Emeritus
Mr. Ziegler referred to an article in the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) newsletter referring to the desire to get Trustee Emeriti more involved in the university. It was recommended to appoint an ad hoc committee to study this issue and to report back at the July 2008 meeting. Ms. Lukens agreed. She said past Trustee, Karl Weber, has done some work in this area and could be appointed to the committee. She also suggested that Mr. Ziegler and Mr. Benedict serve on the committee. Mr. Ziegler will follow through and contact Mr. Weber and Mr. Benedict.
Chair Lukens adjourned the meeting at 11:18 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________________
Pamalene R. Grundstrom
Secretary of the Board