Board of Visitors Meeting, June 10, 2005
The Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University met on June 10, 2005, in the Alumni Room of the Student Center with Rector William P. Heath, Jr. presiding.

Rector Heath welcomed everyone present and then called for a motion to approve the minutes of the April 26, 2005 meeting. Mr. Mottinger provided the motion, seconded by Ms. Hoinkes and passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

President's Report

President Trible told the Board that this had been a very successful academic year with an explosion in applications. A total of 6100 applications have been received which is a 1000 more than last year. The SAT average for the incoming class is 1165 (23 points higher than last year's class) and the GPA average is 3.4. This year there will be a class of approximately 1300 freshmen. He also reported that CNU's efforts to increase ethnic diversity of the student body had been showing signs of improvement over the last two years. Last year 12.2% of the freshman class was African American compared to a projection of 14% this year. The number of minority students increased from 5.3% of the freshman class to 6.2%. Also, the number of African American applicants increased from 552 last year to 732 this year. He reported that the number of African American students admitted increased rather substantially and the number of minority students indicating they will attend CNU also increased. He reviewed a handout showing the percentage of African American students at public four year institutions. Nine percent of the total number of students at CNU are African American which ranks CNU 3 rd among all the schools in Virginia . President Trible thanked Mr. Holloman and the members of the Captains for Excellence Task Force and asked him to share their efforts.

Mr. Holloman told the Board that 8 students were in the program the first year and 20 this year and the goal was to reach 150 as funding becomes available. He explained that the Captains for Excellence Program prepares students for college by assisting them in preparing them to take their SATs, encouraging them to attend college, and helping them find financial aid. It is their hope that this program will become a model across the state. He noted that the Superintendent of Newport News Public schools is actively involved and working to help identify students for the program.

President Trible reported that the proposal to expand the program requires a financial commitment from CNU and a commitment from Newport News Schools. In addition, efforts are underway to secure federal funding to expand the program.

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President Trible mentioned a few highlights:

• 47 new full-time faculty have been hired, including 30 new faculty positions. That, in addition to the 25 new faculty positions being added next year, will increase the size of the faculty by 55 new positions.
• The Business School received AACSB accreditation
• Returning faculty will receive a 13% salary increase
• A retention planning committee was established to improve retention and graduation rates.
• Administrative offices are designing programs to improve customer service and improve business practices.
• Opportunities are being created for students to study abroad at Oxford , London , Prague and an office of International Education was established.
• A new academic department in Leadership Studies has been established
• The Board will be asked to authorize a new undergraduate program in Chemistry.
• Academic reorganization will create separate Departments of Music, Theater and Arts.
• Opening of the first phase of the Ferguson Center for the Arts and Potomac Residence Hall and construction began on the expansion of the library and new student center. CNU Village will open in August
• Next year there will be learning communities for freshmen to better connect and engage them and make them academically successful
• Plans are being finalized for new core curriculum

President Trible discussed the restructuring act for higher education. He said the Board will be asked to approve a boiler plate resolution which is being adopted by all the schools which will make CNU eligible to benefit from the Act. President Trible announced that he is the new chair of the Council of Presidents and will help lead the restructuring initiative.

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Finance and Audit Committee Report

Mr. Joseph reported that the Finance and Audit Committee met and received a report from the State Auditors and that this was the first time they had met with the state auditors. CNU continues to get clean audit reports. The committee reviewed the statement of revenues and expenditures for the last ten months and CNU continues to operate on budget.

Capital projects were reviewed and he noted that funding had been secured to cover the increased costs of current projects.

Mr. Joseph noted that two resolutions came to the committee and will be recommended to the full Board for approval – the Operating Budget and the Higher Education and Restructuring Act. Mr. Joseph then asked Ms. Perry to review the Higher Education Restructuring Act.

Ms. Perry stated that this s a boiler plate resolution being adopted by all the Boards across the state. It simply states that CNU will meet the goals as set out by the Governor and General Assembly. By passing the resolution CNU will be eligible to participate in the benefits available through the restructuring act which are primarily financial in nature. Following adoption of the resolution, CNU will begin to work on the 6-year financial plan which is due October 1 st .

Rector Heath told the Board that Resolution 2 comes as a recommendation from the Finance and Audit committee and called for any discussion and a vote. Resolution 2: Enclosure 3: Resolution for Higher Education Restructuring Act was passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

Ms. Perry then distributed and discussed in detail the Operating Budget for 2005-2006 which also comes to the Board as a recommendation from the Committee. Ms. Perry began with an overview of the priorities and goals of the University and presented the budget based on an enrollment projection of 4,335 FTE. After review and discussion the Resolution was presented to approve a total budget of $90.1 million representing $45,063,391 in Educational and General Programs; $3,042,752 in Student Financial Aid; $38,544,595 in Auxiliary Enterprises with an allocation of comprehensive fees to the programs within Auxiliary Enterprises; $3,081,446 in Financial Assistance for Educational and General Services and $371,880 in unrestricted contributions.

Rector Heath called for questions and a vote on Resolution 1; Handout 1: Operating Budget for 2005-2006 . The Resolution was passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

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Academic Affairs Committee

Ms. Hoinkes stated that there was no Academic Affairs Committee meeting however she called on Dr. Douglas Gordon and Dr. Bobby Bartels for a presentation and overview regarding the core curriculum at CNU. Dr. Gordon thanked the Board for their ongoing support of the revitalization of the liberal learning core curriculum at the University.

Ms. Hoinkes presented Resolution 3: Enclosure 4: New Degree Program – Bachelor of Science in Chemistry . She stated that approximately 40 students are already pursuing a minor in Chemistry and Ms. Hoinkes moved for approval. Rector Heath called for a discussion and questions. Mr. Mottinger then seconded the motion and the resolution was passed by unanimous vote of the Board.

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Alumni Society Report

Ms. Janet Barker reported that Mr. Ray Willis had been appointed to the Alumni Board in an effort to also increase minority enrollment at CNU and Terry Mars had joined the Board. Terry is from Northern Virginia and will help establish an Alumni Chapter there.

Student Life Committee

Mr. Holloman told the Board that the committee heard a report from Dr. Doughty on learning communities. He explained that in learning communities a group of freshmen who share 2 or more courses, may house together, and often include co-curricular activities designed to have the students more engaged at the university and better prepare them for life and to help them successfully graduate. The Committee also discussed admissions and they are quite pleased with direction of minority enrollment and the work of the Task Force. Dr. Purtle addressed the retention efforts of the faculty. Their goals include improving student success rates, enhancing student engagement, implementation of an early intervention program for at risk students, improving academic advising and improving the quality of all university services.

Vice President of the SGA, Ms. Molly Buckley, told the Board that the SGA was looking at amending the early registration policy for PLP and honor students in an effort to make sure there are enough classes for everyone. President Trible noted that one of the challenges is offering enough classes for all students to graduate in 4 years.

There was no motion to enter closed session since there was only one other resolution. Ms. Hoinkes moved to approve Resolution 4: Enclosure 5: Leave of Absence for Instructional Faculty , seconded by Ms. Crittenden 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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