2018

The Board of Trustees held its fall meeting from November 1-3 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 and the Lawrence University Community Council.

The meeting began with a reception and dinner with students on Thursday, November 1. The topic of the discussion was the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life. The university’s Center for Spiritual and Religious Life is entering its third year and the dinner conversation sought to gauge the impact of the Center and its mission on the lives of students. Most students reported coming to Lawrence with a variety of religious experiences. Students reported that places where spiritual encounters happen range widely across campus from places like Sabin House, local houses of worship, nature, music spaces, and Björklunden. Though most students reported they felt open about sharing their religious identities, it was recognized that tensions can sometimes arise. Sabin House is a critical space for a variety of conversations around spirituality and
religion on campus. Students cite that their spiritual identity has been greatly enhanced since coming to Lawrence and that they have developed connections to wellness and wellbeing through spiritual exploration.

During the meeting, reports were delivered from the President and Chair of the Board. The Board reviewed the President’s priorities for the academic year as well as a summary of results from the Campus Climate Survey administered in spring of 2018. Survey findings suggest that there is an overall feeling that the campus is committed to becoming more inclusive but there are concerns about lack of respect for differing social and cultural perspectives, difficulties communicating across differences and an overall stressful culture. Pedestrian Safety was the focus of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Lawrence continues to work with the City of Appleton to make crosswalk and lighting improvements. The Enrollment Committee celebrated a strong incoming first-year class of 400 students. Lawrence continues to make progress towards
achieving a graduation rate of 85% through work with a recruiting consultant in addition to analyzing why students choose to leave Lawrence. The Finance Committee continues to consider program enhancements that can lead to increased auxiliary revenue as well as expense reduction measures to achieve a balanced budget.

In the course of the meeting, the Board:
• Approved the granting of an honorary degree during 2019 Commencement

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for February 13-15, 2019 on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton, WI.

The Board of Trustees held its spring meeting from May 16-18 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 16. The topic of the discussion was the experience of student-athletes at Lawrence. Many of the students noted that they wanted athletics to be a part of their college experience. They felt that Lawrence offered the academic experience they were looking for with the added opportunity to be a part of a team. Students talked positively about the relationships they had built with their teammates and coaches and how these relationships had come to shape their college experience. It was mentioned that there were difficulties in the Alexander Gym and the Wellness Center being located on opposite sides of the river. Some felt that there could be better communication and support from teams that use the differing facilities. Some also mentioned that there was room for improvement in terms of the quality of the facilities and equipment, but that this had not impacted their decision to choose Lawrence. In attendance were student athletes from numerous athletic teams, committee chairs and the executive board, trustees, members of the president’s cabinet, and observers.

During the meeting, reports were delivered by the President and Chair of the Board. The board reviewed current enrollment data and data illustrating where it would make sense for Lawrence to deepen its market presence beyond core markets of Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Madison, and the Fox Valley. As of May of 2018, enrollment activity had increased compared to the previous year at the same time. The Board approved of a new degree, the Bachelor of Musical Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation, to be granted at Lawrence. Additionally, the Board approved the 2019 budget.

In the course of the meeting, the Board:

• Approved the election of the Class of 2021 Term Trustees for terms ending June 30, 2021.
• Approval of the re-appointment of Non-Trustee Committee Members for two-year terms beginning July 1, 2018.
• Approved the election of the Officers of the Board.
• Approved the election of Quoc Bao Nguyen Ha ‘07 as a Recent Graduate Trustee.
• Approved the election of Sidney K. Ayabe ’67 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the election of Christopher W. Murray ’75 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the election of Dennis L. Klaeser ’80 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the election of Barbara Smith Lawton ’87 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the election of Dean G. DuMonthier ’88 as a Term Trustee.
• Approved the appointment of Jeffrey A. Fox ’72 as a Non-Trustee Committee Member of the Development Committee.
• Approved the appointment of J. Terrence Franke ’68 as a Non-Trustee Committee Member of the Investment Committee.
• Approved of the appointment of Jason Spaeth ’92 as a Non-Trustee Committee Member of the Investment Committee.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for November 1-3, 2018 on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton, WI.

The Board of Trustees held its winter meeting from February 14-16 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, and the Lawrence University Community Council (LUCC).

The meeting began with a reception and dinner with students on Wednesday, February 14. Students who had completed an internship or research experience had the opportunity to share how their experience impacted their course of study and further prepared them for their life after Lawrence. Students agreed that their peers should begin to seek out internship and research opportunities early in their time at Lawrence to maximize career exploration and skill-building opportunities. In attendance were Lawrence students from both the college and the conservatory, 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 an update on pertinent data from the 2017 Fact Book. Topics included public perceptions of higher education, including a conversation about legislative affairs and connections with local representatives on important issues, and
suggested future partnerships and commencement speakers for Lawrence. The Academic and Student Affairs Committee provided an update on the Life After Lawrence Task Force, the results of an external review of the office of career services, and proposed work expected to take place to further aid students in preparing for their
lives after college.

In the course of the meeting, the Board:
• Set the Comprehensive fee for the 2018-2019 academic year
• Approved the granting of an honorary degree to of the 2018 Commencement speaker.
• Approval of the Promotion of Celia Barnes to the rank of Associate Professor of English and award of tenure
• Approval of the promotion of Alison Guenther-Pal to the rank of Associate Professor of German and award of tenure
• Approval of the award of tenure to J. Copeland Woodruff, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Opera Studies
• Approval of the promotion of Kurt Krebsbach to the rank of Professor

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for May 16-18, 2018 on the Lawrence University campus in Appleton, WI.