Torico Bell

The Board of Visitors met to interview and discuss candidates for the Presidency.

The Virginia State University Board of Visitors held a new board orientation and annual retreat. The retreat included a welcome from the Rector and President, introductions of board members and officers, and presentations on university governance, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the higher education landscape. Discussions also covered governing in the age of artificial intelligence, led by Dr. Daniel Greenstein, and leadership beyond the gates, led by Mr. Peter McPherson.

The Board of Visitors meeting included a presentation and discussion of the VSU Strategic Plan for 2025-2028, titled "Greater by Design," which focuses on advancing the institution's mission and vision with artificial intelligence (AI) playing a central role. Key priorities include advancing student success, institutional effectiveness, academic excellence, mission advancement, visibility, and impact. An overview of Virginia State University's Six-Year Plan (2025) was also presented, outlining the university's long-term strategic goals and initiatives. Board members participated in roundtable discussions with vice presidents regarding their areas of responsibility.

The committee meeting included presentations and discussions on the 2020-2021 budget, the impact of not opening the campus in the fall, and the utilization of auxiliary reserves. There were discussions about potential debt restructuring by the state to provide relief to institutions, as well as concerns about budget cuts and staffing vacancies. An update on technology projects undertaken because of COVID was scheduled for the next meeting. The committee convened a closed session to discuss National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) matching funds. An overview of the Internal Audit's corrective action plan was presented, including a breakdown of various risk categories and outstanding cases.

The Virginia State University (VSU) Board of Visitors (Board) meeting included an overview of the new board member orientation sessions and the annual retreat. Presentations were given on the University's history, mission, vision, and strategic plan priorities. The President presented VSU's overall enrollment trends with comparative data, a student profile, and the top 10 VSU majors. The Board members assembled for a session with the President's leadership team where vice presidents shared challenges, successes, and the ways their respective areas added value to the University.