2019

The Board of Trustees held its Fall Meeting and retreat from October 30 to November 1, 2019 at Lawrence’s northern campus, Björklunden vid Sjön. The purpose of the retreat was to review data on the higher education sector, discuss survey results on Lawrence’s institutional identity, and review the Veritas est Lux implementation plan, which will guide institutional work for the next three years.

Lawrence’s Strategic Plan, Veritas est Lux, identifies a wide range of institutional aspirations. Extensive research and institutional data have enabled the University to focus on its most pressing needs in light of the rapidly changing higher education sector. Discussion at the fall retreat centered on establishing a clear and highly focused
approach for advancing Lawrence’s development over the next three years in the form of an implementation plan. The implementation plan outlines five priority areas which were developed through a process that began at the Spring 2019 Meeting of the Board
of Trustees. Paramount to our implementation efforts will be to (1) sustain financial equilibrium, (2) deepen the academic program, (3) raise retention rates, (4) strengthen the co-curricular experience, (5) and support the academic enterprise.

The formal meeting of the Board took place on November 1, 2019. During the meeting, reports were delivered from the President and the Chair of the Board. Trustees approved the granting of an honorary degree for Commencement 2020.

In the course of the meeting, the Board:

• Approved the granting of an honorary degree during 2020 Commencement.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for February 5-7, 2020.

The Board of Trustees held its spring meeting from May 15-17 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 15. The topic of the discussion was “belonging”. Vice President for Student Life Chris Card kicked off the conversation by sharing that belonging might be defined as students’ perceived social support on campus, a feeling of being connected or feeling cared about, accepted, respected and valued by the group. Students in attendance shared the places where they felt that they did and did
not belong. The group also discussed strategies that may help to increase students’ sense of belonging at Lawrence. It was noted that diversity and inclusion efforts on campus were appreciated, that more could be done to incentivize interactions between student groups (including politics, religion, College and Conservatory, etc.) and that formal mentorship programs could be beneficial. In attendance were students from a range of class years and affiliations, trustees, and members of the President’s Cabinet.

During the meeting, reports were delivered from the President and the Chair of the Board. Trustees and the president’s cabinet revisited the university’s strategic plan, Veritas est Lux, and advised on priority areas for the next academic year. At the meeting, the Finance Committee endorsed the proposed FY20 budget, including a special endowment draw. The Board also approved a Real Estate Transaction Policy.

In the course of the meeting, the Board:

• Approved the election of Mei Xian Gong ’11 as a Recent Graduate Trustee
• Approved the election of Frederick Fisher as a Term Trustee
• Approved the election of Cheryl Wilson Kopecky ’72 as a Term Trustee
• Approved the election of Jon M. Stellmacher as a Term Trustee
• Approved the appointment of Michael Cisler ’78 as a Non-Trustee Committee Member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee
• Approved the appointment of Steven Mech ’93 as a Non-Trustee Committee Member of the Buildings and Grounds Committee
• Approved the promotion of Scott Corry to Professor (Mathematics)
• Approved the promotion of Andrew Knudsen to Professor (Geology)
• Approved the promotion of David McGlynn to Professor (English)
• Approved the promotion of Rob Neilson to Professor (Art)
• Approved the promotion of Arnold Shober to Professor (Government)
• Approved the granting of an honorary degree for the 2020 Commencement speaker to be announced in early 2020.

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for October 30-November 1, 2019 at Björklunden.

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.