Oct. 25, 2018: Fall 2018 Board of Trustees Update

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing with a summary of our fall 2018 Board of Trustees meeting, which took place on campus from Wednesday, Oct. 10, through Friday, Oct. 12. As is customary, the board had substantive discussions during its executive sessions and conducted much of its business through its designated committees. My thanks to Prof. Bill Kenny, faculty chair; Prof. Gary Steiner, faculty secretary; and Profs. Morgan Benowitz-Fredericks; Sharon Garthwaite; Chris Magee; Ryan Snyder; Ben Vollmayr-Lee and Brian Williams for attending the various committee meetings throughout the day on Thursday. I'd also like to acknowledge and thank Profs. Matt Bailey, Neil Boyd, Abby Flynt, Peter Jansson and Brian King for their participation in the Academic Affairs committee meeting.

At the same time our board meeting was occurring, a group of Bucknell students, faculty and staff were in France as part of the ongoing Bucknell in World War I project. This collaboration, led by Prof. David Del Testa, has provided students with an extraordinary experiential learning opportunity and unearthed some remarkable stories about Bucknellians who served in the war. The group held a live video conference with our trustees on Thursday morning for a brief discussion about the project. They broadcast from Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in Seringes-et-Nesles, France, the final resting place of two Bucknellians: Harry Hodge, Class of 1911, and William Fetzer, Class of 1904. The moment was a special opportunity for our trustees to engage with our students directly. I am grateful to all of those who worked to make it possible.

Among the primary topics covered during this meeting were the University's strategic planning efforts. Board Chair Chris O'Brien, with input from Interim Provost Robert Midkiff and me, led a productive conversation regarding the strategic planning process. The discussion emphasized the Strategic Priorities and the important work that remains between now and April, when the final strategic plan will be presented to the board for adoption.

In other board business, the trustees engaged in a robust conversation around dining at Bucknell, informed primarily by the results of the MyVoice student experience survey and a 2017-18 study conducted by Brailsford & Dunlavey, a program management and development advisory firm with extensive experience in higher education. The conversation focused on our approach to topics such as meal-plan options, pricing, food insecurity on campus and dining venues, and how they affect the broader student experience. We will continue to evaluate dining services at Bucknell and examine opportunities to adjust certain practices and policies in order to strengthen the sense of community across the student body.

The board received an update on the design of a new facility for both the Freeman College of Management and the Department of Art & Art History. As you may recall, last April the board approved the creation of construction documents for the building. We continue that work, which is the final phase before approving construction itself. We expect to request board authorization for construction as early as February 2019. Breaking ground on the facility remains contingent upon adequate fundraising.

The anticipated approval of this building, combined with the construction of Academic East and the aging of some the infrastructure that supplies the majority of air conditioning to the campus, requires upgrades to our chilled water plant. The board approved $6.2 million to expand and improve the facility, located next to the Publications, Print & Mail printing facility on South 7th Street. The project will allow us to invest in more energy-efficient units. Construction is expected to commence in April 2019 and conclude in May 2020.

The board also approved $800,000 to move forward with designing renovations to Vedder Hall. The residence hall, constructed in 1965, houses more than 350 students. The project, which still requires final approval from the trustees, would include replacing the aging HVAC system and parts of the roof, along with upgrades to the bathrooms and other finishes.

During our annual Academic Year Celebration, which was held Thursday evening, we had the pleasure of recognizing our new faculty colleagues, as well as the impressive accomplishments of so many of our faculty and staff. I would like to conclude by echoing what I shared with those of you in attendance that evening: Educating young people is among the noblest of professions and a tremendous responsibility. As a community, we embrace that charge in impressive and inspiring ways. I look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen the Bucknell experience and, ultimately, transform the lives of our students.

My best,

John