Dan Bartholomae

The Annual Meeting included several key agenda items and actions. Discussions covered remarks by the Vice Chair and President, updates from the Faculty Senate, Western Student Association, and Graduate Student Association Presidents. A presentation was scheduled regarding the university's Research Innovation and Creative Scholarship Enterprise. Action items included the Annual Officer Election for the WMU Board of Trustees, proposed revisions to the WMU Board of Trustees Bylaws (last revised in 2002), and seeking authorization to enter into a new thirty-year Commercial Lease and Use Agreement with the City of Battle Creek for the College of Aviation property at Kellogg Field, which specifies initial rent of $157,717 with annual 2% increases. Consent items involved an agreement for the Montague House lease, curriculum proposals, the personnel report, and the renaming of the New Valley Residence Hall to "Valley Oaks."

This document functions as a glossary, meticulously defining key institutional metrics such as undergraduate and graduate enrollment, retention and graduation rates, Pell Grant recipients, student-to-faculty ratios, and undergraduate outcome rates. It also includes dashboard data illustrating trends for these metrics across various academic years.

The agenda for this meeting includes several key discussions and action items. The meeting will feature remarks from the Vice Chair of the Board, the President, and updates from the Faculty Senate President, the Western Student Association President, and the Graduate Student Association President. A presentation is scheduled to provide an overview of the university's research innovation and creative scholarship enterprise. Action items encompass the annual officer election, revisions to the WMU Board of Trustees Bylaws, consideration of a lease agreement for College of Aviation Property with the City of Battle Creek, and the transfer of stewardship of the Asylum Lake Preserve to Kalamazoo County. Consent items involve a lease agreement for the Montague House, curriculum proposals, the personnel report, and the renaming of the New Valley Residence Hall to "Valley Oaks."

The personnel report covered numerous actions across academic and non-academic staff. Academic actions included administrative appointments for departmental chairs and high-level university roles (e.g., Vice Provost), tenure-track appointments, term appointments, and adjunct appointments, all effective predominantly in 2026 or spanning 2026/2027. A significant portion of the report detailed sabbatical leaves granted for the 2026 or 2026/2027 academic year across various departments. Additionally, the report listed faculty returns to faculty status, faculty retirements with emeritus status, faculty resignations, and non-academic administrative appointments, retirements, and resignations.

The Western Michigan University Board of Trustees meeting included discussions on various topics. The agenda included acceptance of the agenda, remarks by the Chair of the Board and the President, and updates from the Faculty Senate President, the Western Student Association President, and the Graduate Student Association President. There was a presentation on the Voice of Bronco Success. Action items included student housing and meal rates for 2026/27, curriculum proposals, and a personnel report. The board also discussed the creation of a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, the creation of an Engineering Management Minor, and several Integrated Science Coordinate Minors. Additionally, they considered the creation of an Undergraduate Certificate in Cultural Resources Management, the deletion of two Master of Arts programs in Applied Economics, and the renaming of the Student Planned Major to Interdisciplinary Studies. The meeting also covered administrative and adjunct appointments, faculty retirements and resignations, and non-academic retirements.