Trustees to reflect on a year of the pandemic

The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees will hear a presentation reflecting on the past year of the pandemic's impact on the university when it meets virtually Thursday at 10 a.m.

The presentation by university leadership will focus on how the university community has adjusted and persevered since COVID-19 took hold in early 2020, forcing a major shift in how we live, learn and work.

Also on the agenda for Thursday's formal session, which is open to the university community and general public virtually via this link, is the approval of nearly 2,800 May graduates.

Wednesday's committee meetings also are open to the university community and general public virtually via this link. Along with reviewing several items that will be on Thursday's formal agenda, highlights of the committee meetings Wednesday include:

• Academic and Student Affairs — 2-3 p.m. — Provost Mary C. Schutten will update the committee on academic prioritization and Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president for student recruitment and retention, will provide an update on enrollment and student success efforts. Tony Voisin, associate vice president for student affairs, also will discuss the pandemic's impact on mental health within the campus community.
• Finance and Facilities — 3:15-4:15 p.m. — The committee will review and discuss the fiscal year 2020-21 financial update and stimulus funding. They also will receive updates on the capital planning process, budget planning and campus construction.
• Trustees-Faculty Liaison — 4:30-6 p.m. — Committee members will discuss the curricular process at CMU and receive a presentation on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Advocates Program from Veronica Barone, faculty in physics, and Andy Blom, faculty in philosophy and religion.

In accordance with the Board of Trustees bylaws, public comment will be allowed for Thursday's formal session by submitting a request online; comments must be provided in advance to be read at the meeting. Given the virtual meeting, public comment will not be delivered in person for this meeting.

The agendas for Wednesday's committee meetings and Thursday's formal session are available on the Board of Trustees website.