The Board of Trustees held its spring meeting from May 17-19 on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton, WI. Ahead of the meeting, the Board was provided with materials to prepare for conversations on campus. Included in the materials were administrative reports from the president’s cabinet and the observers representing the Faculty Governance Committee, the Lawrence University Community Council (LUCC) and Lawrence University Alumni Association (LUAA).
The meeting began with a reception and dinner with students on Wednesday, May 17. Seniors preparing to graduate in June shared the topics of their Chandler Senior Experience research projects. It was noted that the relationship between the Chandler Senior Experience and Freshman Studies programs offered a great balance in shaping a unique liberal arts education. Students agreed that the opportunity to combine intellectual and personal interests and complete a piece of formal writing that will help form decisions about future endeavors were great strengths of their Senior Experience research, despite varying experiences across departments. In attendance were seniors from both the college and the conservatory, committee chairs and the executive board, trustees, members of the president’s cabinet, and observers.
During the meeting, reports were delivered from the President and the Chair of the Board followed by a discussion of the Strategic Plan Refresh, which will shape university priorities through at least 2022, and pertinent data from the most recent Fact Book. Topics included retention, graduation, and the university’s financial resources. The Board specifically discussed the need for continued dialogue in closing the projected budget shortfall. The Academic and Student Affairs Committee provided an update on how Lawrence is preparing for reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. There was an update on the comprehensive campaign from and the approval of the 2017-18 budget.
In the course of the meeting, the Board:
• Approved the election of the Officers of the Board.
• Approved the election of Derrell Acon ’11 as a Recent Graduate Trustee.
• Approved the election of Lydia Howarth ’75 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the election of David Knapp ‘ 89 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the election of Sara Quandt ’73 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the promotion of Andrew Mast to the rank of Professor.
• Approved the promotion of Lifongo Vetinde to the rank of Professor.
• Approved the revised Investment Committee Charge
• Approved the corporate Resolution
The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for October 25-27, 2017 on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton, WI.