To: PLU Community
From: Office of the President
Overview
The PLU Board of Regents held its fall meeting October 17-19, 2019. The Board welcomed new regents Dr. Tony Andrade ’07 (Honolulu, HI); Dr. Jeffrey Greene (Gig Harbor, WA); Bishop Laurie Jungling (Great Falls, MT); Dr. Sara Kass ’88 (Bethesda, MD); and Mrs. Linda Strand ’67 (Mercer Island, WA). New advisory members joining are Dr. Mary Ellard-Ivey as a faculty representative; staff representative Andy Foltz, PLU Staff Council chair; and student representatives Todd Dizon, ASPLU vice president; Sam Ebner, SAAC president; Kenzie Gandy, ASPLU diversity director; Kennedy Gwin, ASPLU president; Mark Hernandez, ASPLU public relations director, Rayna LaFave-Clark, RHA president; and AJ Moore, RHA vice president. Carlos Alvarez, ASPLU finance director, was welcomed back for his second year of service.
Board Actions
- Approved the Candidates for Degrees (Undergraduates: August 3, 2019 and Graduates: August 16, 2019).
- Approved the 2019-2020 Board Committee assignments.
- Approved the appointment of Ms. Teri Phillips as Chief Operating Officer, effective August 1, 2019.
- Approved 2020 Summer Sessions undergraduate tuition at $900 per credit hour and summer online course rate at $450 per credit hour with a technology fee of $40 per online course.
- Approved graduate tuition rates beginning summer 2020 for individual cohort programs.
- Established 2020-2021 full-time undergraduate tuition.
- Approved the creation of a Master of Science in Kinesiology, beginning Summer 2020, as approved by Faculty Assembly on September 20, 2019.
- Approved the creation of a Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, including the addition of a major and minor in Criminal Justice to existing Sociology degree offerings, as approved by Faculty Assembly on October 18, 2019.
- Authorized the Administration to proceed with construction of the School of Nursing Clinical Learning and Simulation Center once sufficient funding has been secured.
- Authorized the Administration to proceed with the buyout of Lorig Associates percentage of the Garfield Commons, LLC Partnership and the refinancing of the Garfield Commons, LLC loan.
- Approved a formal process for setting annual Regent giving goals, affirming the Board’s commitment to 100% board giving.
- Accepted the 2018 403(b) Audit and the 2018-2019 Audited Financial Statements.
Key Reports
The Regents heard reports on enrollment management; progress on the Strategic Plan; and the Presidential Commission on Innovation and Change. The Regents also participated is a discussion session focused on 5.2b of the Bylaws and heard a report from the PLU Staff Council.
Other Committee Activity
Academic Affairs
The committee received a report on the NWCCU accreditation process and submission of the Year One Report on September 15, 2019; an overview of the program review process, including the components of the review and the programs currently engaged in the review process; and an update on the creation of an Office of Sponsored Programs, as well as outcomes from the National Council of Undergraduate Research Administrators’ program review conducted in Spring 2019. Dean of School of Education and Kinesiology Karen McConnell provided a report on the creation of a Master of Science in Kinesiology; Kate Luther, Chair of the Department of Sociology, discussed the creation of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and the addition of a major and minor in Criminal Justice to current degree offerings; and Ad-Hoc Committee of General Education Review and Revision Co-Chair Michelle Ceynar and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Programs Jan Lewis provided an update report on the committee’s work.
Budget, Finance, Audit & Compliance
Reviewed and accepted the 2018 403(b) Audit and the 2018-2019 Audited Financial Statements. The committee recommended approval of the proposed 2020 summer tuition and graduate tuition rates as well as the 2020-2021 proposal for undergraduate tuition. The committee discussed the School of Nursing Clinical Learning and Simulation Center and the Garfield Commons LLC Partnership and made recommendations to the full Board for action. The committee also received a report on the state of affairs of PLU facilities and the results of a recent pricing study completed by Ruffalo Noel Levitz.
Enrollment & Student Life
The committee heard an update on the Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, which included recruitment and retention dynamics as well as progress made on SEM Plan strategic priorities. The committee also discussed the proposed room and board fees for 2020-2021. ASPLU President Kennedy and SAAC Secretary Kennedy Robillard provided update reports on the work of both organizations.
University Relations
Received a report on the outcome of the 2019 Bjug Day of Giving, current fundraising efforts, the Olson locker room renovation project, Constituent Engagement work, presidential welcome events, and Marketing & Communications projects. The committee also discussed campaign preparation, the outcome of the Campaign Preparation Audit, composition of the Board of Regents, as well as Regent giving.
Additional reports were presented by Dr. Michelle Ceynar, faculty chair; Mrs. Linda Strand, Alumni Board representative; Ms. Rayna LaFave-Clark, RHA president and Cecilia Lewis, RHA activities and outreach director. Dean of Inclusive Excellence Jennifer Smith and Associate Vice President for Diversity, Justice, and Sustainability Angie Hambrick also provided a report on their work across campus.
The next meeting of the Board of Regents will be held February 7-9, 2020.