Present:
Mona D. Albertine, Rector
Randall R. Eley
Elizabeth F. Foster
Benjamin W. Hernandez
Elizabeth S. Hughes
Martha K. Leighty
J. William Poole
Karen C. Radley (Saturday and Sunday)
Patricia B. Revere
Nanalou W. Sauder
Daniel K. Steen
Fred D. Thompson, Jr. (Saturday and Sunday)
Also Present:
William M. Anderson, Jr., President
Mary Randolph Corbin, Executive Assistant to the President
Richard V. Hurley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Friday)
Presidential Search Advisory Committee (Saturday)
Jeffrey Rountree (Saturday morning)
John Kuhnle and Elizabeth Dycus of Korn/Ferry International (Saturday)
The Rector, Ms. Albertine, convened the meeting of the University of Mary Washington Board of Visitors at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2005, in the King Carter Room of The Tides in Irvington, Virginia. She welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced the three new members of the Board, Ms. Foster, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Steen.
Mr. Hurley presented by PowerPoint a program on the University’s financial system titled “Finance 101.” A general discussion followed of the University’s statistical profile that was mailed to Board members prior to the meeting.
Dr. Anderson explained the “charter legislation” passed by the General Assembly in April 2005 titled the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act. The Act provides financial and operational flexibility at three different levels, the third being the most flexible, to institutions that agree to meet specific criteria. Institutions are required to participate at the first level this year, and may petition for the higher levels in subsequent years. In order to participate, institutions must commit by Board resolution before August 1, 2005, to meet 11 performance goals. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is developing institutional performance benchmarks for the stated goals. Each institution must provide SCHEV enrollment projections in order to accommodate anticipated new students, and, by October 1, 2005, submit a six-year financial plan to meet the benchmarks.
Dr. Anderson noted the positive aspects of the Restructuring Act. In addition to operational flexibility, a benefit of participation is the General Assembly’s commitment to fund faculty salaries at the 60th percentile of an institution’s peer group and base adequacy, based on the availability of funds. While the restructuring is a work in progress, the Commonwealth is thinking globally and in the future. Ms. Sauder and Ms. Revere expressed concern about passing a resolution when the benchmarks remain unknown. Dr. Anderson responded that given the University’s record of meeting State management standards for the past 20 years, it would be easy to meet the benchmarks once they are developed.
On motion by Mr. Poole and seconded by Ms. Sauder, a resolution was unanimously adopted by all Board members present to participate in the higher education restructuring at level one. [The Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors revised the resolution on July 29, 2005; see minutes of that meeting.]
Dr. Anderson presented by PowerPoint the University’s projected fall headcount enrollment from 2005 to 2011, noting constant, modest growth, virtually all of which will be at the College of Graduate and Professional Studies, as well as modest growth of freshman, in-state students.
On motion by Mrs. Hughes and seconded by Mr. Hernandez, the following resolution was unanimously adopted by all Board members present:
RESOLVED by The Rector and Visitors of the University of Mary Washington that the enrollment projections to the year 2011 are hereby approved as presented for submission to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. (Attached hereto as Appendix A).
Mr. Hurley presented boards showing the current capital projects at the University, including the surface parking lot, the indoor tennis center, the addition to Belmont, the second building at the Stafford campus, the parking deck, and the bell tower.
Ms. Albertine adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Dinner was provided by Dr. William B. and Dr. Theresa Y. Crawley at their home, Bayberry Cove.
Ms. Albertine reconvened the meeting at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, in the King Carter Room. Mr. Rountree presented by PowerPoint a progress report on the Centennial Campaign, which is in the quiet phase and has already met the preliminary goal of $40 million. A discussion followed on the importance of timing the announcement of the public phase with the presidential transition, noting that the public phase will be the new president’s campaign.
Ms. Albertine adjourned the meeting at 9:45 a.m. in order for the Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) to meet. At 2:00 p.m. she reconvened the meeting of the full Board with the PSAC, and reviewed the chronology of the search to date, beginning with President Anderson’s announcement in February 2005, of his intention to retire on June 30, 2006. A request for proposals for a search consultant resulted in a contract with the firm KornFerry International, and specifically Mr. John Kuhnle and Ms Elizabeth Dycus.
A search committee was appointed to serve as a whole for the University, acting independently of internal and external University constituents, although each of five members does represent a different constituency. Comments from campus forums were circulated to the six Board members who do not serve on the PSAC. The position announcement will run in the September 1 edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education, among other publications. The PSAC expects to present two or three candidates, unranked, to the Board for interview in January and selection. An announcement of the new president is planned for February 2006.
Ms. Albertine adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m. Dinner was provided aboard the yacht Miss Ann. Ms Albertine reconvened the meeting at 9:05 a.m. on Sunday, July 17, in the King Carter Room. Dr. Anderson reviewed the guiding academic philosophy of the University of Mary Washington from 1983 to the present, concluding that the opportunity for the future is the further development of the academic program as an enterprise striving for excellence. He encouraged the Board to seek additional ways to enrich the learning experience and to increase opportunities for the faculty to work with students to strengthen the teacher/scholar model.
Dr. Anderson informed the Board that the cost estimate of the convocation center has raised from $25 million to $30 million, and questioned whether the current design is appropriate for an institution of UMW’s size and mission. He suggested that the Board approve an equity adjustment for assistant professors in the fall, and announced two real estate acquisitions, a property in close proximity to Belmont, and a gift of 238 acres that connect to the Stafford campus. Dr. Anderson proposed the formation of a task force with Stafford County to plan collaboratively an educational park. He also discussed preliminary plans for the College of Graduate and Professional Studies to affiliate with another postgraduate college.
Ms. Corbin presented options for external University signage on the Fredericksburg campus, including several proposals from BMWW, the firm that designed the University logo and seal. The Board agreed that the signage in the two stone walls at Brompton should be changed to read “Brompton, Home of the University of Mary Washington President,&rdquo
; and that bronze signs should be added to the columns at the main gates on Double Drive reading “University of Mary Washington” and “Founded in 1908.”
The Rector entertained motions to elect two members-at-large to the Board of Visitors Executive Committee. On motion by Ms. Sauder and seconded by Ms. Revere, Mr. Thompson was unanimously elected to serve. On motion by Mr. Poole and seconded by Ms. Hughes, Ms. Radley was unanimously elected to serve.
There being no further items on the agenda, in compliance with Article VI of the Bylaws, the Rector declared the meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.