Brian Childs

The agenda item pertains to the Secretary to the Board of Trustees Election. The recommended action is for the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees to elect Stacy Thinnes as the Secretary to the Board of Trustees.

This document presents recommendations for the Community Building pillar, one of seven key priorities for Western Michigan University's strategic plan. The plan focuses on cultivating a campus culture grounded in communication, collaboration, and engagement to foster a sense of belonging, safety, and support for all constituents. Key objectives include providing robust, accessible opportunities for campus collaboration, facilitating consistent and transparent communication, and pursuing mutually beneficial partnership opportunities. The intended outcomes are to strengthen relationships within the university and with the greater regional community, enhance WMU's reputation, and streamline processes for improved efficiency and engagement.

This document presents recommendations for Western Michigan University's internationalization efforts, developed by a cross-campus working group. It focuses on five key objectives: advancing an institutional culture of internationalization, strengthening global learning opportunities for faculty, staff, and students, increasing international mobility competitiveness, developing and refining faculty and staff global engagement programs, and integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies into all international initiatives. The overarching goal is to provide extensive global learning opportunities to foster cross-cultural competence and contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

This Strategic Plan for Western Michigan University, covering 2022-2032, serves as a roadmap for the institution as a premier, comprehensive, doctoral high-research university. It outlines seven key priorities: Academic Excellence, Community Building, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Internationalization, Research and Creative Scholarship, Sustainability, and Well-being. The plan aims to empower every individual to grow, thrive, and belong, contributing to a better world through creativity, research, innovation, and compassion, while fostering an inclusive and supportive educational environment.

This document outlines a comprehensive recommendation for integrating sustainability into all aspects of university functions, prioritizing investment in this commitment at the highest institutional level. The core priorities encompass building a campus-wide culture of sustainability, developing climate change literacy among the university community, achieving carbon neutrality, and continuously improving facilities and infrastructure for a more sustainable and healthier campus environment. Key intended outcomes include achieving platinum STARS status by 2030, a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2011 baseline, and reaching carbon neutrality by 2040, thereby positioning the institution as a leader in higher education sustainability.