Oakland University

The Board of Trustees formal session focused on a recommendation to revise the Graduate School policy regarding Ph.D. program requirements. The key proposal discussed was to reduce the minimum number of credits required for a Ph.D. program from 80 to 60. This change was aimed at aligning Oakland University with peer institutions and providing additional flexibility.

The Senate meeting featured discussions on significant curriculum and policy changes, most notably the approval of a modification to the Undergraduate Degree Requirement Policy which lowers the minimum credit threshold. The Senate also passed motions regarding the revision of Graduate School policies, including reducing the minimum number of credits for Ph.D. programs, and reorganized several academic majors and specializations. Procedural actions included appointing members to various Senate standing committees and revising the charge of the Senate Budget Review Committee. Informational updates were provided regarding university enrollment strategies, academic affairs, and departmental reports.

The meeting included several key discussions presented in the President's Report. Topics covered included strategic updates and key achievements, a presentation on The OU Pledge initiative by the Senior Director of the Career and Life Design Center, and campus safety and operational updates, noting the High Temperature Hot Water System as a high priority. Further segments detailed Fall 2025 Commencement statistics, the Glenn McIntosh "Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance" Leadership Award, results and opportunities identified from the Employee Engagement Survey, the adoption of the Okanagan Charter as part of the Healthy Campus Initiative, student success plans including the FTIAC Retention Plan, the Spirit of Place Public Arts Competition, Changemaker Challenge Grants (highlighting three awarded projects), Sustainable University progress regarding renewable energy at Sunset Terrace, updates on student awards and honors, and the launch and goals of The OU Pledge. Additionally, the board honored Trustee Joe Jones as he transitions to a new role.

The document outlines the President's Report for the Board of Trustees meeting. Key discussion topics included celebrating the Men's Basketball Team championship, an update on addressing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) challenge led by Deans Chamra and Harper, a presentation on academic excellence by the College of Arts & Sciences Dean, and reports from the Art & Art History Chair and Biological Sciences Chair. The Provost's report covered commitment to student/faculty success, research development, community engagement, and support for DEI. Other segments highlighted rankings achievements from The Wall Street Journal regarding value for investment and social mobility, campaign progress exceeding $150M, campus safety, research expenditure growth (reaching $38M in FY2022), enrollment trends showing increases in applications and credit hours, and the achievement of a Moody's A1 Stable Rating reflecting fiscal responsibility. The document also noted progress on the STRATEGIC PLAN 2030 and initiatives related to the AI Taskforce and an upcoming AI Speaker Series beginning Fall 2024.

The meeting agenda included a President's Perspective & Pride segment, an update on University Advancement, and a profile of the School of Engineering & Computer Science. Key topics covered historical milestones of OU, campus safety enhancements including increased monitoring cameras and emergency planning group meetings, and a symposium on the future of nursing addressing shortages and policy changes. Faculty recognition events were noted, as well as a remembrance ceremony for deceased community members. Partnerships discussed included a collaboration with Easterseals MORC for behavioral health workforce development, a $5M gift from the OU Credit Union for naming rights to the O'rena, and the OU Credit Union's role as title sponsor for the Michigan Climate Summit. Commencement ceremonies with 2,802 graduates were reported, alongside accessibility and affordability initiatives detailing tuition coverage metrics. The Advancement update highlighted fundraising data, including leadership giving participation and results from the OU Day of Giving. Meadow Brook Hall visitor and revenue statistics were shared, along with Prime Officer Awards recognition. Philanthropy impacts covered scholarship support, OUWB Holocaust Education funding, and the Augmented Reality Center (ARC) soft opening. Advisory board updates were provided for the Kresge Library and the School of Engineering & Computer Science, followed by an overview of SECS student success initiatives, research highlights including NSF awards and congruressionally directed funding, and community engagement efforts serving K-12 students in STEM.