The Board of Trustees held its winter meeting from February 13-15 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 observers representing the Faculty Governance Committee and the Lawrence University Community Council (LUCC).
The meeting began with a Diversity and Inclusion workshop on Wednesday, February 13 followed by a dinner with facilitated discussion. The workshop and dinner were led by consultant Tanya Odom. Central to these discussions was the idea of equity and the
extent to which all members of the university community, regardless of background, are provided an equal opportunity for success.
During the meeting, reports were delivered from the President and Chair of the Board. The Board reviewed the overarching strategic goals outlined in the university’s strategic plan, Veritas est Lux. Discussion was focused on decreasing operating costs while
maintaining efficiency and quality of service. The Finance Committee discussed the cessation of the Perkins loan program and recommended that the Board use Lawrence’s share of Perkins loan repayments through Fiscal Year 21 be used to fund supplemental grants for students originally qualified for Perkins funds. The Academic and Student Affairs Committee gave a report on the results of the campus climate survey administered in spring of 2018. Key concerns were pedestrian safety, especially on College Avenue, and a lack of acceptance of multiple perspectives on campus. Issues of campus climate have been made a priority on campus and future Board meetings.
At dinner on Thursday, February 14, the President introduced new staff members including the new Riaz Waraich Dean for the Center for Career, Life and Community Engagement, Title IX coordinator, and the Assistant Dean of Students and the Director of the Diversity and Intercultural Center. They were also joined by newly tenured faculty.
In the course of the meeting, the Board:
- Approved the granting of an honorary degree for the Report to the Community
- 2019
- Approved the promotion of Allison Fleshman to the rank of Associate Professor
- Approved the promotion of Alyssa Hakes to the rank of Associate Professor
- Approved the promotion of Brian Piasecki to the rank of Associate Professor
The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for May 15-17, 2017 on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton, WI.