Feb. 10, 2022: Winter 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share a summary of the winter 2022 meeting of the Board of Trustees, which took place Feb. 2-4. Although originally scheduled to take place in New York City, all sessions were conducted virtually. Much of the Board's business was conducted through designated committees, as is customary, with substantive discussions held during executive sessions. I wish to thank the following faculty members for their participation: Professor Coralynn Davis, faculty chair; Professor Gary Steiner, faculty secretary; and Professors Beth Capaldi, Sue Ellen Henry, JT Ptacek, Tim Raymond, Linda Smolka, Stu Thompson and Lucas Waddell.

The meeting of the Academic Affairs Committee included a presentation on civic engagement, an initiative of The Plan for Bucknell 2025. Nikki Young, associate provost for equity & inclusive excellence, reported that more than half of the initiatives in the Civic Action Plan have been implemented, with the rest in progress. Professor Coralynn Davis, faculty chair, and Professor Tim Raymond, co-chair of the Committee on Instruction, spoke about the start of the spring 2022 semester and how faculty continue to meet the ongoing challenges of teaching during the pandemic. The committee also received an update on individual college strategic plans from Raquel Alexander, dean of the Freeman College of Management; Erin Jablonski, interim dean of the College of Engineering; and Karl Voss, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

In executive sessions, the full Board received updates on spring 2022 pre-arrival testing; student booster compliance; available space for isolation and quarantine; the renovation of Vedder Hall; the successful search for the position of chief of public safety and ongoing searches for the dean of the College of Engineering and the vice president for human resources; and recruitment and financial aid for the Class of 2026.

Robert Midkiff, vice president for strategic initiatives, presented a comprehensive update on the strategic plan, with a thorough review of the progress of each goal and a discussion of next steps. Provost Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak provided a report to the trustees, with topics including student fellowships, grant funding, the current searches for faculty and the dean of the College of Engineering, the Middle States reaccreditation process, institutional equity and Title IX.

In the shared governance session, the provost gave a presentation on the history of shared governance at the University. A newly formed trustee advisory group, consisting of trustees with professional experience in academia, will engage more robustly with faculty, strengthening connections and mutual understanding of roles.

The Student Life Committee heard an update from Fritz Family Dean of Students Amy Badal. She discussed the spring 2022 return of students to campus; student mental health; strategic plan initiatives related to student life; and new residence halls that have been proposed for Bucknell West. Jermaine Truax, director of athletics & recreation, presented information on the changing landscape of the NCAA, including its recent vote to separate divisions l, ll and lll, which creates an independent approach to their operations.

In the Advancement Committee meeting, Graham-Pelton representatives provided trustees with an update on the comprehensive campaign, which is still in its quiet phase and has raised around $90 million to date. Vice President for University Advancement Scott Rosevear shared that the Center for Career Advancement recently underwent an assessment to identify areas of strength and potential for growth and improvement, and that the University will begin implementing recommendations made in the resulting report. Major University events are scheduled to take place on campus, including Reunion Weekend (June 3–5), pandemic circumstances permitting.

As is customary at the winter meeting, the Finance Committee reviewed compensation for Bucknell's faculty and staff. This year, based on the recommendations of the administration, which were informed by the University Planning & Budget Committee, the Board approved increases to the faculty and staff compensation pools totaling 3.50% for fiscal year 2023. As a result, division and department leadership will receive a 3.0% pool for compensation increases within each of their respective areas, which will be used for salary increases based on individual performance. Those increases are anticipated to take effect July 1, 2022. There will be an additional 0.50% of this compensation pool set aside for purposes of promotions, equity and appropriate market adjustments.

Informed by the work of the Planning & Budget Committee, I endorsed and the Board approved a 3.25% increase in the University's comprehensive fee for the 2022-23 academic year, bringing the total to $77,104. We will share that information with our students and their families shortly. Increases to the comprehensive fee were kept unusually low during the past two years, and we remain cognizant of the financial strain many families are facing as the pandemic continues and inflation remains high. The 2022-23 increase is among the lowest ever and reflects our commitment to containing costs as we ensure quality.

The Board reviewed and accepted the administration's recommendation to initiate a feasibility study for a new "gateway" to campus that would create an enhanced campus arrival point for visitors and include a welcome center at the intersection of Seventh Street and Moore Avenue. The cost of the study is not to exceed $1 million.

In other business, six trustees were nominated for reelection for new terms, effective July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2027. They are Kirsten Schubauer Heinemann '81, P'12, P'15; Christopher O'Brien '80, P'18, P'20; Lisa Detwiler P'18; Donald Isken '75, P'12, P'20; Sunil Gulati '81; and John Reynolds '92. We are grateful for their continued service to the University.

As we approach the two-year mark of operations during the pandemic, I wish to thank the trustees for their guidance and support, which have been essential to the University's success during these challenging times. Our ability to continue to deliver an exceptional education to our students has been nothing short of remarkable, and I am grateful to be part of such a dedicated community.

My best,

John

John C. Bravman
President