MEMORANDUM

January 14, 2008

The Board of Trustees met on campus Thursday and Friday, November 15–16, the second meeting of the 2007–2008 academic year. As is customary, board committees met throughout Thursday. Members of the board participated in a university-wide open forum in the Ward Circle building late Thursday afternoon. The forum, one of two held each school year, continues to provide students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to ask questions of and air concerns to the board and senior university administration.

At the board meeting on Friday, President Kerwin reported on the search for provost, vice president of development, and executive director of communication and marketing. President Kerwin also reported on the strategic plan. He noted the importance of having widespread, active campus participation in the plan’s development. He said he expected that the board would be engaged throughout the planning process and that he would report regularly to the board on the plan’s progress.

President Kerwin also reported that the presidential inauguration would take place on February 8, 2008 in Bender Arena. A campus-wide reception would follow the event, and celebrations would continue into the evening with the Inauguration Celebration and Founder’s Day Ball at the Italian Embassy. Inauguration-related events earlier in the week would focus on teaching, scholarship, creative endeavors, service, and the university’s alumni.

On the matter of institutional social responsibility, President Kerwin said the University Council would serve as the referral point for campus individuals and organizations to ensure prompt and fair treatment of the issues they raised. He also said the board would continue to use its committee structure to research and discuss board-level issues such as investment policy and would remain the final authority on those issues.

Among its actions, the board voted to terminate the MS in Management degree program in the Kogod School of Business and to adopt revised board policies. In addition, the board approved a resolution of appreciation for Dr. Robert Pastor who will end his term as vice president of international affairs at the end of the year.

Finally, the board heard a presentation on WAMU 88.5 FM, for which the Executive Committee is the license holder. At the conclusion of the meeting, President Kerwin thanked Dr. Jerome King Del Pino, general secretary of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church (GBHEM) for the organization’s increased support for student financial aid at the university.

The next board meeting will be Thursday and Friday, February 28–29, 2008.