Board of Trustees: Live Blog
10:20 a.m. The approval of the action items on the consent agenda has been passed.
No new business is coming before the board.
Meeting adjourned.
************
10:10 a.m. Trustee Kottamasu and Rao are discussing the accreditation of the planned medical school.
Rao seems to feel the accreditation institution thinks that CMU can help produce more physicians because of a foundation in science course offerings.
Rao said they are discussing an interim dean for the school because things are progressing "so rapidly."
"We're going to look at what are options are for adding that member to our team," said Rao.
Trustee Torreano says she gets a lot of external positive feedback on the medical school.
***********
10:05 a.m. The capital outlay budget request is under discussion.
Vice President Wilbur has said CMU may be able to latch onto some of the stimulus money for infrastructure and capital projects for a planned bio-tech building on campus.
A contract with the Michigan Department of natural resources is under discussion.
The discussion has moved to the naming of several facilities within the soon-to-be completed Education Building on campus.
**************
10 a.m. The Board has authorized Rao to contract with Adidas to purchase athletics apparel and shoes.
Athletics director Dave Heeke spoke up, praising the football team for drawing positive public attention.
Heeke said New Balance also bid on the contract. Nike withdrew their bid.
***********
9:55 a.m.: Motions are being passed authorizing the purchase of the technology equipment mentioned below.
The motion to authorize the president to ratify and sign a collective bargaining agreement with the broadcast and office professional employees has been moved off the agenda.
*********
9:50: Facilities Committee report.
For property at 1120 S. Mission Street, near the Special Olympics building, the CMU received some land with contamination that have been cleaned up as much as possible, said vice president of finance and administrative services David Burdette.
They are riling a deed restriction on the property.
"This is really in the university's best interest to file for this deed restriction, so the property cannot be used for any other purposes that what it's now used for," said university President Rao.
The motion has passed.
*************
9:45 a.m.: The recommendation of a new charter school in Taylor is under discussion.
Rao is highlighting the physicians assistant program, which has been garnering media attention around the world lately for several successful projects.
**********
Rao has said that through the efforts of vice president Kathy Wilbur, CMU has arranged to host a special meeting of Michigan Senators regarding the state budget.
Rao said that the school is still in the process of determining the amount of money CMU can expect from the federal stimulus package signed on Tuesday.
Rao said the school still needs to raise expectations despite the ongoing challenges.
$1.6 million will be spent totally on several pieces of equipment, a gas chromatograph spectrometer for the College of Technology, and a new Neuro Kinetics clinic rotary chair for health professions
*************
Board chair Gail Torreano has welcomed the new trustees John Hurd and and Sarah Opperman to the table.
"It's an extremely strong board, and now it's even more strong," said University President Michale Rao.
A round of clapping ensues.
It's a full room. Every seat is filled with faculty, staff and administrators wearing suits.
***************
The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Check back periodically for updates.
