Spring Trustee Meeting Summary

More than 30 trustees met April 30-May 1 in the new Paul L.H. Olson and Pamela G. Olson Boardroom and the conference rooms on the fourth floor of the Brushaber Commons. The Finance and Administration Committee and the Committee on Trustees held their first meetings the evening before the official opening on Thursday morning, in order to begin on an extensive agenda. President Barnes reviewed progress on his stated goals for the university, articulated to the trustees a year ago. The primary focus of the trustees at this meeting, beyond important “routine” business, was discussion of a Board Policy Manual to guide the administration and the board into strategic thinking. More than four hours of committee meetings and plenary sessions were devoted to this, considering a draft of the policy manual developed by the Committee on Trustees and administrative staff. The committee and staff members will continue to work on the document this summer, in order to present it for board approval in October.

As part of the regular agenda, the trustees acted on recommendations brought by the administration and the Executive Committee. These included the appointments of eight new faculty members and appointment of Katrina Chapman as university registrar. The board authorized sabbaticals for seminary faculty Steve Sandage and John Lillis; authorized promotions for seminary faculty Jeannine Brown and Dan Gurtner; and granted initial tenure to seminary faculty member Justin Irving. The board granted renewal of tenure to seminary faculty members Mark McCloskey, Paul Ferris, Steve Sandage, and Keith Olson. Robert Rakestraw and Leland Eliason were honored with emeritus status. Promotions and other personnel actions from the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Adult & Professional Studies, and Graduate School will go before the Executive Committee in May.

A joint motion from the Finance and Administration Committee and the Academic Programs Committee directed the administration to monitor and review progress of Bethel Seminary of the East to reach a break-even position on direct costs by 2010-2011. The committee further directed the administration to develop a comprehensive plan for the entirety of Bethel Seminary as part of the Bethel University strategic financial plan. This plan would move the seminary toward a break-even operation on direct costs. A report will be given at the January 2010 meeting.

The trustees also approved the 2009-2010 budget. In so doing, they asked for an update on enrollment, scenario planning, and various construction items. They directed the administration to maintain a $2 million contingency, to monitor enrollment carefully through the summer, to preserve a balanced budget, and to continue to work on structural issues to create budget capability to advance key initiatives, allow the retrofitting of vacated space, and address employee compensation. While very encouraged by the enrollment report, their concern about the economy suggested caution in financial planning and budgeting.

President Barnes also briefed the trustees on the provost search. He reviewed the two candidates under consideration and the next steps in the process.