The James Madison University Board of Visitors met on Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Festival Conference and Student Center.
The following is a summary of the actions taken by the board and the main topics discussed at the board meeting:
Approved the minutes of the Board of Visitors meeting of February 18, 2022 and the activity report;
Accepted committee reports from the Academic Excellence, Advancement and Commitment, Athletics, Audit, Governance, Finance and Physical Development, and Student Affairs Committees;
An update on the General Assembly was provided by Caitlyn Read, Director of Government Relations;
Proposed tuition and fees for 2022-23 and proposed budget for 2022-23 were presented by Towana Moore, Acting Vice President of Administration and Finance;
A reaffirmation of the University’s mission statement was presented by Brian Charette, Special Assistant to the President;
An update on racial equity and diversity, equity and inclusion was provided by Deborah Tompkins Johnson;
Tim Miller, Vice President for Student Affairs, led an update on COVID-19;
The Board of Visitors voted to approve the proposed tuition and fees for 2022-23, the proposed summer tuition and fees for 2022-23, and the proposed budget for 2022-23, pending the outcome of the state budget ;
It was voted by the Board of Visitors that the University reaffirm the current mission statement;
The Board of Visitors voted for the next Council Rector to be Maribeth Herod, Vice Rector Chris Falcon and Council Secretary Donna Harper.
President Algiers shared during his Presidential Report:
- There was a 44% increase in freshman applicants (31,711), 44% being out of state and 33% being underrepresented minorities and a 41% increase in early action applicants ( 18,589);
- To date, 3,410 Freshman Class of 2026 filings have been received, including 2,446 in-state and 964 out-of-state. Freshman demographics include 19% underrepresented minorities, 13% first-generation, and represent 37 states and 46 countries. There were 344 transfer deposits received;
- Findings from the campus climate study have been received and will be reviewed by the implementation team to coordinate responses;
- The College of Arts and Humanities has introduced the next cohort hire that will focus on Latinx studies on campus;
- Updates on civic engagement were presented at the national Campus Compact conference which included a plenary session with JMU Alum Harry Dunn and the Madison Center for Civic Engagement will now be led by Acting Executive Director David Kirkpatrick;
- Farah Pandith was Monday’s Madison Vision Series speaker and led a discussion on the importance of combating hate in the world. She also received the 2022 Madison Award for Public Good;
- JMU participated in a recent summit at the Stanford School, which focuses on promoting innovative thinking in higher education. JMU continues to encourage interdisciplinary programs and initiatives;
- JMU will receive $620,000 in federal funding for faculty recruitment and retention at the university as part of the fiscal year 2022 federal spending bill. The University also supports a teacher residency program, which is facilitated by the College of Education;
- The Provost Award for Excellence in Research and Fellowship will be presented to Ailton Coleman, Health Sciences; Kelly Naletelich, Marketing; Maryam Sharifian, Early Elementary and Reading Education; Matt Pardo, theater and dance; Rebecca French, Libraries; Paul Raston, chemistry and biochemistry; Case Watkins, Justice Studies; and Kayla Yurco, integrated sciences;
- In support of JMU’s transition to R2 status, the inaugural 2022-2023 Fellows were announced: Christopher Berndsen, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Maureen Shanahan, art, design and art history; Matthew Rebhorn, English;
- The College of Visual and Performing Arts honored the life of former Dean George Sparks with an inspiring tribute featuring student performances;
- The JMU Brass Band was invited to represent the United States in the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, and is the only American group to be invited.
- For the third year in a row, JMU has been named one of Fulbright’s Top Producing Institutions for American Scholarships among Master’s Degree-granting Colleges and Universities;
- JMU’s Supermileage engineering team created a fuel-efficient vehicle that completed the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Speedway and received the DuPont-sponsored safety award;
- JMU’s Debate Team finished the season ranked 4thand in the country by the Cross Examination Debate Association; and
- Lacrosse is ranked No. 11 and the Sun Belt transition continues with campus tours and visits to SunBelt offices.