Jennifer Placke

The committee held a meeting to review and approve the recommendation of a candidate for the upcoming student trustee position. The committee discussed the selection process and received information about the nominee's qualifications and goals, ultimately moving to forward the name to the full board for formal approval. Additionally, the committee recognized the outgoing student trustee for her service.

The committee reviewed and approved non-mandatory fee increases for the 2026-2027 academic year, specifically addressing aviation program costs, ground instruction software fees, and college-specific credit fees to support innovation and staffing. Housing rates for the 2026-2027 academic year were also approved, noting a weighted average increase to manage operational expenses amidst high occupancy. Additionally, the committee authorized the HVAC replacement and upgrade project for Blunt Hall, funded by housing department reserves. Informational presentations included an update on the governor's proposed state budget for higher education and a detailed review of the fiscal year 2024-2025 financial performance, highlighting strong fiscal stewardship despite Oracle project expenditures.

The committee reviewed and approved tenure recommendations for a cohort of 20 faculty members across multiple departments. Additionally, the committee discussed and approved revisions to three institutional policies: policy 1.011 regarding student and faculty participation in the development of campus policies and programs, and policy 1.020 concerning the confidentiality and privacy of student records, specifically updating titles, offices, and procedural language without altering fundamental student rights.

The committee reviewed and approved the fiscal year 2026 revised audit plan, noting adjustments due to changes in audit priorities and the identification of investigation needs. The committee also received a presentation on the fiscal year 2025 financial statement audit and NCAA compliance engagement, noting no findings for the financial audit and a corrected reporting issue regarding Pell grants for the NCAA engagement. Additionally, the committee reviewed recent departmental audit reports and the results of the 2025 client satisfaction survey, with plans discussed to refine the survey format and frequency.

The board meeting included a campus spotlight on the Little Govs Child Learning Center, highlighting its educational approach, staffing, and community partnerships, along with upcoming plans to rename and expand the program. The Board also received reports from the Academic Affairs, Audit, and Business and Finance committees. Action items approved by the Board included faculty tenure appointments, the fiscal year 2026 revised audit plan, non-mandatory fees for the 2026-2027 academic year, housing rates for the 2026-2027 academic year, and the Blunt Hall HVAC replacement and upgrade project.