January 2009 Trustee Meeting Summary

At the January board meeting the trustees had the opportunity to meet on the campus of Bethel Seminary San Diego for the first time. President Jay Barnes and Board Chair Dan Lindh planned this meeting to introduce trustees to Bethel’s ministry in the Southwest. Staff and faculty members working with Dean John Lillis offered great hospitality and created opportunities to discuss the work of the seminary on both coasts and in St. Paul. Twenty-eight trustees attended the meeting, with only five unable to attend. Eight St. Paul administrative staff members attended as well as a number of San Diego staff. Faculty and student observers from San Diego also welcomed the trustees.

President Barnes and John Lillis presented reports regarding Bethel Seminary San Diego. Both discussed ways in which the seminary can become a center for graduate and adult education in the southwest region, bringing non-seminary programs from St. Paul into San Diego. The president also discussed several transitions: new personnel and executive team structure, new facilities, and the current economic situation, with its opportunities and challenges. One of those challenges is the building expansion at the San Diego seminary. While the initial campaign goals for the San Diego expansion project were met, some revisions in the scope of the building and changing construction expenses have prompted a delay in the construction until revised estimates have been developed and we are able to secure the additional funds needed to complete the project.

Most of the meeting time, as planned by the president and Board Chair Dan Lindh, was devoted to a three-session workshop led by Robert Andringa, president emeritus of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The workshop focused on issues of governance, appropriate relations between the administration and the trustees, and engagement of the board on strategic issues. Trustees commented that the workshop provided significant help for establishing the board’s partnership with the president and the administration for the future.

The trustees met in committees established during the fall board meeting, and three of the five committees brought action items to the full board.

The Finance and Administration Committee met for four hours on Wednesday, the day before the trustee meetings, including a two-hour meeting with the Facilities and Forecasting Committee. Executive Vice President for Business Affairs Randy Thomann, new Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration Kathleen Nelson, and Senior Vice President for Strategic Planning and Research Joe LaLuzerne presented results from several weeks of meetings examining responses to the current economic situation. Important action items coming from the committee and enacted by the trustees included the following:

+ The board established full-year tuition for students in the College of Arts & Sciences.

+ The board adopted the committee’s recommendation for no increase in base salaries for employees for 2009-2010. The trustees will monitor fall enrollment and other economic factors affecting the university at their October meeting.

+ The board authorized the Executive Committee to approve the final 2009-2010 institutional budget when presented by the administration.

The Academic Programs Committee brought a number of personnel recommendations to the full board for action, and these were approved as presented.

+ Pending final interviews with the acting provost, granted initial tenure to the following faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences or College of Adult & Professional Studies and Graduate School: Bynthia Anose, Nancy Brule, Justin Byers, Curtiss DeYoung, Joy Doan, Judi Landrum, Wade Neiwert, Ruben Rivera, John Silvis.

+ Granted renewal of tenure to 19 faculty members in the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies and Graduate School.

+ Granted emeritus status to David Anderson and Judy Moseman.

+ Granted sabbatical leaves in 2009-2010 to John Cionca, Denise Muir Kjesbo, David Nah, Glen Scorgie, and Sam Rima.

The Facilities and Forecasting Committee also completed its review of a draft of the campus master plan developed by architect Norris Strawbridge of Brunner/Cott architects and planners. The board subsequently endorsed Strawbridge’s work, an interim master plan, as a template to reflect campus needs in support of the strategic plan of Bethel University.

The next meeting of the trustees will be on the St. Paul campus April 30-May 1. Current plans are for the primary emphasis to be on strategic planning.