LIVE BLOG RECAP: Board approves tuition increase of 4.8 percent
Check here for a live blog recap from the Board of Trustees meeting Thursday morning. Central Michigan Life updated the blog throughout the meeting, as well as sent out tweets on Twitter. @CMLIFE.
Check back to cm-life.com for stories from the Board of Trustees meeting.
9:29 a.m. Vice-Chair Stephanie Comai announces Chairwoman Gail Torreano could not attend the meeting and welcomes Interim President Kathy Wilbur to her first board meeting as president.
9:30 Wilbur introduces Interim Provost Gary Shapiro and medical school Dean Cam Enarson.
9:39 Board grants emeritus rank to Police Chief Stan Dinius, Biological Station Director Dr. James C. Gillingham and General Counsel Eileen Jennings.
9:45 Trustee Hubbard moves to place salary adjustments, sabbatical leaves, awards received, appointments and reappointments of public school academies and appointments to the Clark Historical Library Board of Trustees to the consent agenda.
9:50 Trustee Kottamasu announces medical school fundraising goal of $25 million over 5 years.
9:52 Enarson updates board on medical school and announces good progress in the five categories of accreditation. He said he is pleased with receptivity, interest and commitment to medical school in the community.
9:59 Athletic Director Dave Heeke updates board on Events Center. He said goal in mind is to transform Rose Arena into a fully functioning, multipurpose events center to host concerts, athletic events, community events and graduations.
10:00 Events Center project includes improved seating, practice space, areas to host conferences and banquets, adding teaching spaces and expanding SAC, update lighting and sound systems, air conditioning, restrooms, family restrooms, permanent concessions, permanent ticketing area, media and event productions room and addition of a 4,000-square-foot lobby.
-Project has $21 million budget: construction $17.4 million and soft costs $3.6 million.
-Construction may begin as early as September and is scheduled to be completed October 2010.
-Goal is for Events Center to have same LEED certification as new education building.
10:24 Beaver Island Biological Station boat house at Whiskey Point to be renovated to allow sophisticated experiments and research for faculty and staff. Board approves renovations and cost of $850,000, funded through donations and grants.
10:29 Board approves $500,000 budget for 60,000-square-foot expansion to Health Professions building to meet LCME requirements for medical school.
10:32 Board approves renovations to Ronan Hall to begin in July.
10:56 Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette announces operating budget planning options to include 3.6 percent reduction in state appropriations.
11:19 Burdette proposes three different tuition models to board of 4 percent, 5 percent and 6 percent increases, $337, $340 and $343 per credit hour, respectively.
11:36 Trustee Sarah Opperman said board is "narrowing in" on increase between 4 and 5 percent.
11:38 Trustee John Hurd makes motion to increase tuition by 4.8 percent. Seconded by Kottamasu. Motion includes increase in financial aid for need-based students.
11:49 Board unanimously approves undergraduate tuition increase of 4.8 percent.
-2009/10 tuition will be $339 per credit hour for undergraduate students without CMU Promise.
-Out-of-state students to pay $789 per credit hour.
12:05 Board approves all items on consent agenda.
12:06 Co-Chair Comai said presidential search committee is advertising position and has 40 to 50 nominees and seven completed applications.
-Committee to keep open nomination process until Oct. 1, expects interviews to take place in late fall and have president for next academic year.
12:10 Board of Trustees meeting adjourns.
