Christopher Newport University
Board of Visitors Meeting ~ Final Minutes
May 7, 2004

The Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University met on May 7, 2004, in the Alumni Room of the Student Center with Rector Dr. H. W. Trieshmann presiding.

Rector Dr. Trieshmann welcomed all those present and opened the meeting reviewing the many accomplishments to the university since his time on the Board, including campus improvements, the increase in the number of students and their SAT and GPA scores, increase in the number of residential students and also the increase to the University budget over the years.

President Trible said that this has been a most successful year.   The applications and credentials of students continues to increase; over 100 million in capital construction continues, the first phase of the center for the arts and the Potomac River residence hall are nearing completion; and the faculty has completed a full restructuring of the liberal arts and science curriculum enriching the academic life of the university.   He stated that all the constituents of the university have been hard at work on the strategic plan and the CNU student athletes have had a successful year winning the President's Cup once again.

Finance and Audit Committee Report
Chairman Bill Heath told the Board that Comptroller, Mari Beth Trun, reviewed with the committee the financial statements of the University and there is a positive cash flow and the financials are in good shape. There was capital update and all projects are moving forward. President Trible noted that a builder has been selected for the library and student center projects and construction can begin once the budget is passed in Richmond.

Vice President Bill Brauer reviewed with the Board Resolution 1: Cancellation of Accounts Considered Uncollectible. He stated that this is done annually and he noted that before this action is taken every possible effort is made to collect. The Finance Committee recommended Resolution 1 for approval.

Mr. Heath asked the Chief of Staff, Cindi Perry, to review Resolution 2: Tuition and Fees, Room and Board. Ms. Perry first thanked the members of the Budget Advisory Committee for their hard work over the last few years, specifically Virginia Purtle and Bobby Bartels.

Virginia Purtle reported that 5 senior faculty members had been working on the budget committee. The cuts over the years have been very devastating and the faculty is looking forward to a better year and asked the board to approve the budget as recommended.

Ms. Perry explained that at this time there is no approved state budget so we do not know how much revenue we will be authorized to collect.   Certain assumptions were made based on information from prior years in order to set fees for the upcoming year.    She reviewed the assumptions with the Board as well as the proposed tuition and fees and room and board rates noting the percent of change from the previous year and the comparison to where CNU is to other state institutions, noting that we are very competitive.  

Following discussion, Chairman Heath, on behalf of the Finance and Audit Committee, recommended that Resolution 2: Tuition and Fees and Room and Board, be approved by the Board as presented.

Academic Affairs Committee Report
Provost Summerville called on Dr. Tom Berry and Dr. Tim Marshall to discuss the Discontinuation of the Master of Science Degree in Applied Psychology.   They noted there has been a decline in enrollment in the Master in Applied Psychology over the last three years.   However, the undergraduate program remains very strong.   The faculty of the Department of Psychology has concluded that the level of faculty effort which must be committed to sustain this program is incompatible with the number of students to be served.   The faculty, by unanimous recommendation, asked for the discontinuation of the Masters program.   

Dr. Mottilla reviewed with the Board the reasoning for the discontinuation of the Bachelor of Science in Accounting stating that the state has changed the requirements for the CPA exam, requiring a fifth year of study (150 hours) in order to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam.   This requirement, in effect, renders the BSA program obsolete.   The School of Business will add an additional major field of study (in accounting) to be subsumed under the BSBA degree for those students wishing to enter the field of accounting.

Presentation of Task Force on Curriculum and Academic Life
Dr. Douglas Gordon reviewed the work of the Task Force on Curriculum and Academic Life at length with the Board members and President Trible thanked Dr. Gordon, Dr. St. Onge and Dr. Kidd and all the members of the task force for their hard work.   Dr. Gordon noted that this proposal has gone before the undergraduate curriculum committee, faculty senate and student government association.   The committee has been at work since January 2003, and in record time, they have presented, discussed and made a dramatic transformation of the University's liberal learning community.   He noted that Dr. Bobby Bartels was appointed as Assistant Academic Dean for Liberal Learning and a faculty council on liberal learning has been appointed in order to implement these changes in curriculum and academic culture. The changes are to be implemented by fall semester 2006.   Dr. Susan St. Onge and Dr. Quentin Kidd reviewed in further detail the task force proposal with the Board.

Student Life Committee Report
Chairman Debbie Budlong reported on the Student Life Committee meeting and provided the attached recruiting highlights.   The President of the Student government Association, Melissa Bell, reported that the SGA was transitioning and creating a new constitution.   The new SGA will have 20 senators who will be elected, an executive and judicial branch. President Trible commended Melissa Bell and Ashley Boyd on their efforts.

Rector Trieshmann called for a motion to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2003 Board meeting. The motion was provide by Mr. Heath, seconded by Mr. Thomas and passed by unanimous vote of the Board. He also called for a motion to approve the minutes of the April 8, 2004 Executive Committee meeting. The motion was provided by Mr. Hornsby, seconded by Mr. Thomas and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

Rector Trieshmann called for motions to approv the following:

Resolution 1: Accounts Considered Uncollectible. Mr. Hornsby provided the motion, seconded by Mr. Joseph and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

Resolution 2: Tuition and Fees and Room and Board. Mr. Thomas provided the motion, seconded by Mr. Hornsby and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

Resolution 3: Discontinuation of the Master of Science Degree in Applied Psychology. Ms. Budlong provided the motion, seconded by Mr. Joseph and passed by unanimous vote of the Board

Resolution 4: Discontinuation of Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. Ms. Quesinberry provided the motion, seconded by Mr. Thomas and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

Resolution 5: The Task Force on Curriculum and Academic Life. Ms. Quisenberry provided the motion, seconded by Mr. Hornsby and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

Review of the Strategic Plan, Vision 2010
Provost Summerville and Dr. Virginia Purtle reviewed with the Board the Strategic Plan. Dr. Summerville noted that this plan is "a coming together" of capital improvements to the university, the student body, and of the academic culture. Dr. Purtle recognized the assistance of Dr. Linda Gordon for her work on this effort. She has noted that it has been a very involved process which include the entire university community and surrounding community. The strategic plan is the roadmap for CNU and outlines the goals and objectives for the coming years. President Trible asked the Board to review the document in its entirety and in June, there will be further discussion and approval by the Board.

Alumni Society Report
Ms. Joy Kilgore reported to the Board on the activities of the alumni society to date. She noted that the society had pledged to obtain $60,000 in scholarships in 5 years, but that goal was met in 1 year. In addition, she noted that the society was inducted into the Founder's Circle this year, recognizing lifetime contributions of $100,000 or more.Ms. Kilgore noted that after meeting with the past president's council, President Trible and others on campus, plans have been formed for an alumni house to be built on campus and the past president's council has committed $250,000 for this project. e noted that Ron Gallagher is the new Alumni Society President. shmann 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)(7) Litigation, and 2.2-3711(a)(8) Gifts, Bequests and Fundraising. Mr. Heath provided the motion, seconded by Ms. Budlong and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

The Board returned to open session at 10:45 a.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. Thomas,Mr. Holloman, Ms. Quesinberry, Ms. Budlong, Mr. Heath, Mr. Hornsby, and Rector Trieshmann certified to the above.

Following closed session, Mr. Christopher Simpson gave a presentation on CNU's marketing plan.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Deborah L. Budlong, Secretary
Beverley Mueller
Administrative Assistant To the Board
   Dr. H.W. Trieshmann, Jr.