NEWS

CMU Board of Trustees to receive presentation by Innovation and Online

Election of Board officers also included in meeting agenda

The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees will meet in formal session on the Mount Pleasant campus on Thursday. During Thursday’s meeting, Betty Kirby, vice president of CMU Innovation and Online and Kaleb Patrick, associate vice president of CMU Innovation and Online, will present an update on progress made in the last year. Kirby and Patrick will describe their areas of focus to meet goals of increased applications and admission to CMU’s online programs.

The Board will also elect its officers for calendar year 2024.

Trustees will consider a motion to authorize 2024-25 deferred maintenance projects and will receive an update on future projects, including renovations to Merrill Dining. They also will consider approval of new lease agreements for a College of Medicine study space in Gross Pointe Woods and Innovation and Online in Traverse City, along with a lease renewal for the CMU Research Corporation.

CMU President Bob Davies will present a report to Trustees on the accomplishments of students, faculty, staff and the entire university during the fall semester. Also included on Thursday’s agenda are motions to approve Emeritus rank, endowments, scholarships and awards and to accept the quarterly report of research grants received.

Highlights for Wednesday’s committee meetings include:

Academic and Student Affairs Committee, 1:30-2:30 p.m. — Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president of Student Recruitment and Retention and Sarah Kasabian-Larson, director of Scholarships and Financial Aid, will provide an update on student scholarships and financial aid. Mary Kushion and Jodi Brookins-Fisher, faculty members in the College of Health Professions, will present the Student Affairs report. Provost Nancy Mathews will outline new initiatives in the Academic Affairs Division.

Finance and Facilities Committee, 2:45-3:45 p.m. — Scott Harsh and Alix Stewart of NEPC Investment Consultants will provide an investment update. Trustees also will receive a facilities update from Jonathan Webb, associate vice president of Facilities Management.

Trustees-Faculty Liaison Committee, 4:00-5:00 p.m. — Trustees will hear a presentation on the College of Business Administration’s HUB. Lori Driessnack, associate director of student services, and Amy McGinnis, faculty member in the College of Business Administration, will be joined by several students to discuss how the HUB connects students, faculty, staff and student organizations to resources, programming and support.

Trustees-Student Liaison Committee, 5:00-6:00 p.m. — Four student leaders will present updates and reports from their organizations. Tyler Zimmerman, president, and Ryan Biller, vice president, will provide the Student Government Association report; Hadlee Rinn, president, will report on Program Board; and Christian Toney, director, will give the Residence Housing Association report.

Agendas for the November meetings, including both Wednesday’s committee meetings and the formal session Thursday, are available on the Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes webpage.

Board of Trustees meetings are open to the university community and members of the public. All meetings will be held in the President’s Conference Room in the Bovee University Center, with seating for up to 25 individuals in the adjoining Lake Superior Room; all meetings are also available via live stream:

Per the Board of Trustees bylaws, individuals wishing to address the Board of Trustees during the public comment period must submit a request in advance of the meetings in one of two ways: