Board of Visitors Meeting April 26, 2005

The Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University met on April 26, 2005, in the Alumni Room of the Student Center with Rector William P. Heath, Jr. presiding.

Rector Heath opened the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of Rosemary's father, Dr. Forrest Dunaway.

Rector Heath then called for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2005 meeting. Mr. Wilson provided the motion, seconded by Ms. Ford and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

President's Report

President Trible told the Board that this had been a most successful academic year and a year of great progress. A town meeting was held earlier this week with faculty and staff where he shared the success of the university, future plans and goals.

President Trible told the board that he is the newly elected chair of the President's Council which consists of all the President's of the public universities in Virginia . The presidents work closely together throughout the year and combine their efforts when working with the General Assembly. He noted that this is a very critical time because of the new higher education restructuring legislation. He explained that the restructuring legislation grants expanded and enhanced administrative and financial powers to all the public colleges and universities. The legislation establishes a 3-level structure and schools can access an array of powers in the areas of procurement, capital outlay and personnel. In return for the expanded freedom of operation, schools individually and collectively will be required to help achieve important state goals such as increasing enrollment, improving retention and graduation rates and facilitating the passage of students from the community colleges to 4-year institutions. He further explained the legislation stating that each university will be required to submit a 6-year enrollment plan, 6-year academic plan and 6-year financial plan. I n order to access the powers provided by the legislation, each university must have the Board of Visitors pass a Resolution by August 1 that commits them to meet the State's goals. A draft Resolution was distributed and President Trible outlined the goals set forth.

President Trible updated the Board on the status of admissions stating that almost 1000 more students have applied this year than a year ago; there is a 5% increase in the number of students who say they will attend CNU; and a freshman class of 1150 to 1300 is anticipated. The average GPA is 3.4 and SAT is 1159 which is16 points higher than the class last year. He reported that efforts to expand the number of minority students is moving forward noting that this year more students of color have applied to CNU, more minority students have been accepted and more have said they will attend. The number of leadership and honors students will also be the largest ever.

President Trible told the Board that athletics had another successful year and student life had been much more active in challenging the students beyond the classroom. Currently there are 2,600 students on campus and next year there will be 3,000. President Trible stated that the demand for residential housing exceeds our supply even though there will be 400 students housed in CNU Village and students will also be living in the Relax Inn. There are discussions underway to establish residential colleges where students who have distinguished themselves in some significant way are invited to live. These residential colleges have been successful at other universities and the experience helps students connect more successfully with their school and it is hoped to help retention rates.

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Finance and Audit Committee Report

Mr. Joseph reported that the Finance and Audit Committee met and reviewed the statement of revenues and expenditures for the nine months ended March 31, 2005. There was an overview of the capital project summary and it was reported that the projects are moving well and are fully funded and will be completed in time for their intended purposes. He asked Ms. Perry to present the proposed tuition and fee resolution to the Board.

Ms. Perry reviewed in detail the proposed increases in tuition and fees and room and board. It was recommended that the out-of-state tuition remain the same as last year noting that the State requires out- of-state students to pay the full cost of their education. She noted that the recommended tuition increase for in-state full-time undergraduate students of $290 will generate approximately $1.3 million in additional non-general fund revenue and that will be combined with the additional state funding of $1.9 million to support the addition of 25 new faculty positions, several staff positions, and salary increases that were approved by the General Assembly. The $222 increase in the comprehensive fee will generate $1.3 million, which will be used to support salary increases, bring the new student center on line and support the debt associated with the operation of the student center, additional staff positions in student life, and activities of student life and athletics. The total in-state tuition and fees recommended for full-time undergraduate students is $5,826 and $12,898 for out- of-state students. In the annual room and board fee there is a recommended increase of $300 and no increase in the board fees. The room fee increase supports CNU Village coming on line and the lease agreement with the Foundation to operate that facility as well as Potomac River Hall. She also reviewed the proposed per-credit hour tuition and fee structure and room and board fee structure. She noted that in comparison to the other universities CNU falls in the middle in relation to tuition and fees and CNU is the fourth highest with the addition of room and board. She said the proposed increases come to the Board on the recommendation of the Budget Advisory Committee and she thanked the committee for their hard work. Mr. Joseph said that the Resolution also comes to the Board as a recommendation from the Finance and Audit Committee. Rector Heath called for a discussion and Resolution 1: Tuition and Fees and Room and Board was passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

Mr. Brauer explained Resolution 2: Textbook Website Listing Procedures . He told the Board that the State is requiring that the Board of Visitors implement procedures for making textbooks available to students on the website and this resolution outlines that procedure. This Resolution comes to the Board as a recommendation from the Finance and Audit Committee. Rector Heath called for a discussion. There being no discussion, Resolution 2 was passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

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Academic Affairs Committee

Ms. Hoinkes stated that the Academic Affairs Committee met and Dr. Purtle provided a report on CNU's retention efforts. She asked Dr. Purtle to share her report with the full Board. Dr. Purtle said that a master action plan for improving student success as evidenced by retention and graduation rates was developed by a Retention Planning Team composed of faculty, students and staff from throughout the University. She outlined the recommended goals, strategies and action plan and her report is attached. A discussion followed about learning communities and efforts on campus to improve services to students. Ms. Hoinkes stated that the addition of the Ferguson Center for the Arts, should be added incentive for our students and inquired about its use for the student body. President Trible responded that the Ferguson Center for the Arts is a partnership with the community to enrich the lives of our students, faculty and staff and there will be a mix of activities in the Center including a number of teaching and learning spaces. All of CNU's theater and music programs are located in the Center, as well as faculty offices, and CNU theater and music performances will be held in the music and theater hall. In addition, the Executive Director has negotiated with the performers to spend time with our students by way of special classes or open rehearsals and tickets to the performances will be made available to our students.

Provost Summerville was called upon to review with the Board Resolution 3: Plan of Compensation . He stated that this Resolution comes to the Board each year and outlines the compensation for the faculty in the upcoming academic year. There are four provisions which are required by the Governor's consolidated salary authorization document which he outlined for the Board. Ms. Hoinkes said that the committee recommends approval by the full Board of Resolution 3. Rector Heath called for a discussion and the motion passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

President Trible explained that based on the tuition and fee structure passed earlier, that CNU will provide an average 4% increase for faculty, a 4% increase for staff and a 3% increase (which is mandated by the state) for classified and hourly employees.

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Student Life Committee Report

Vice President O'Connell said that it has been a very successful year for engaging our students. He said that CNU's residence halls have now been accepted as a member of the National Residence Halls Honorary Association which recognizes top leaders in residence halls and is restricted to 1% of the students living in the hall. He reminded the Board that commencement will be held May 7 at 10:00 a.m. and the commencement speaker will be Rev. Dr. Ralph Waller, Principal of Harris Manchester College of the University of Oxford . President Trible noted that CNU has now developed a partnership with the University of Oxford and CNU students will be studying at Harris Manchester in the summer. In addition, 3 or 4 of our students will be studying at Oxford during the regular academic term.

Vice President O'Connell told the Board that Mehreen Farooq has been elected the new SGA President and that the SGA has three top priorities this year. First, they want to ensure the continuing compensation for residence assistants and this will be accomplished by the increase in the comprehensive fee. The SGA would also like to have early registration periods for the President's Leadership Program and Honors program students eliminated. The third initiative is to provide a pick up service for students who need help getting back to campus late at night. This request will be reviewed and discussed with the alcohol task force.

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Alumni Society Report

Mr. Ron Gallagher reviewed the activities of the Alumni Society Board during the past year and noted that they are exploring the possibility of establishing a Northern Virginia Chapter of the Society. Janet Barker will be the next Alumni Society President and the Society will continue its efforts to increase its membership and partnership with the CNU community. President Trible thanked Mr. Gallagher for his service to CNU and for the good work of the Alumni Society.

At 1:35 p.m. Rector Heath called for a motion to enter closed session under Freedom of Information Act 2.2-3711(a)(1) Personnel, 2.2-3711(a)(3) Real Estate, 2.2-3711(a)(8) Gifts, Bequests and Fundraising and 2.2-3711(a)(10) Honorary degrees. Mr. Mottinger provided the motion, seconded by Mr. Duncan and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

The Board returned to open session at 2:00 p.m. and the Rector asked for a roll call certifying that only public matters identified in the public motion by which the executive or closed meeting was called were discussed. Board members Mr. Joseph, Ms. Frank, Mr. Duncan, Ms. Ford, Ms. Luter, Ms. Budlong, Rector Heath, Mr. Hornsby, Ms. Hoinkes, Mr. Passaro, Mr. Mottinger, Mr. Wilson, and Ms. Crittenden certified to the above.

Rector Heath called for a motion to adopt the following resolutions which were discussed in closed session:

• Resolutions 4 and 5: Promotions of Instructional Faculty
• Resolution 6: Change of Appointment Status of Instructional Faculty
• Resolutions 7 and 8: Award of Emeritus Status
• Resolutions 9 and 10: Administrative and Professional Faculty Leave for Education and Research Purposes

Ms. Budlong provided the motion, seconded by Ms. Ford and passed by unanimous vote of the Board. Rector Heath called for a motion to grant Rev. Dr. Ralph Waller an honorary degree at commencement which matter was discussed in closed session. Mr. Passaro provided the motion, seconded by Ms. Ford and passed by unanimous vote of the Board. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Deborah L. Budlong, Secretary

Beverley Mueller Administrative Assistant To the Board

William P. Heath, Jr., Rector

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