Oct. 31, 2022: Fall 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting Update

Dear Colleagues,

I write to share this summary report of the fall 2022 Board of Trustees meeting, which took place on campus from Wednesday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 21. I am grateful to everyone who planned and participated in these important discussions. My thanks to Professor Alan Cheville, faculty secretary; and Professors Sally Koutsoliotas, Dustyn Martincich, Joe Meiser, Evan Peck, J.T. Ptacek, Linda Smolka, Ryan Snyder, Stu Thompson and Lucas Waddell for their participation in various committee meetings. Faculty Chair Coralynn Davis was unable to attend; we expect the faculty chair will provide an update to the Board at the February 2023 meeting.

We were pleased to welcome our two new trustees for 2022-23, Martin Gilliard ’99 and Laurie Schmidt ’99, who were voted in as members at our April meeting and whose term officially began July 1, 2022. I thank them for accepting our invitation to serve their alma mater in this crucial role.

In the Academic Affairs Committee meeting, Professors Matt Bailey, Peter Brooksbank and Brian King reported on their work on data science, which was supported by an Interdisciplinary Collaborations grant from the Office of the Provost. Professors Jan Knoedler and Van Cyr, co-chairs of the Committee on Staff Planning, presented that committee’s work, including its development of the postdoc-to-tenure-track fellowship (PTTF) program. Anjalee Deshpande Hutchinson, interim associate provost for equity & inclusive excellence, and Angèle Kingué, associate provost for retention & inclusive excellence, shared their work on PTTF, which revolves around retaining faculty of color at Bucknell. Karl Voss, the Douglas K. Candland Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, presented information on the college’s revised core curriculum.

In an executive session, Provost Mermann-Jozwiak updated the Board on Angèle Kingué’s new role as associate provost for retention & inclusive excellence, in which she works closely with underrepresented faculty and professional staff, partnering with administrators across the University to help ensure these colleagues are fully supported. The provost noted that faculty and staff have been making adjustments as we continue to experience the pandemic’s lingering impact on academics, student mental health and engagement; and she discussed ways that faculty have worked to make their pedagogies more learner-centered. She also reported that our Middle States re-accreditation process is well underway, with the self-study on track to be submitted next fall.

In the Student Life Committee meeting on Thursday, Director of Athletics & Recreation Jermaine Truax provided an update on the current climate in the NCAA and the focus areas for the transformation of DI athletics.

Fritz Family Dean of Students Amy Badal presented on the implementation of new campus resources based on student feedback gathered through the “We Herd You” campaign. She also shared information about student wellness as well as the 2022 MyVoice student survey, which is administered every three years to assess student perceptions of campus life. Preliminary results will be discussed at the winter trustee meeting, with a full review in April.

In the Advancement Committee meeting, trustees received an update from Vice President for University Advancement Scott Rosevear, who reported on the decision to combine Family Weekend and Homecoming Weekend into one event next year. We will assess the results of this joint flagship event to determine whether we will continue this approach in the future. Much of the session focused on the progress of the comprehensive campaign, which has raised $116 million in its quiet phase and is scheduled to go public in 2025-26.

Finance Committee members reviewed operating results for FY2022 as compared to projections. The FY23 projections look to be on budget, largely due to a large first-year class enrollment, the receipt of $3.5 million in FEMA/PEMA relief funds and continued vacancies throughout the University.

Associate Vice President for Facilities Jeff Loss and Director of Planning, Design & Construction Dominic Silvers updated the committee on projects completed this summer, including the installation of a new practice field at the Pascucci Family Athletics Complex; renovations to Vedder Hall and Fran’s House; the Rooke Chemistry renovation and Mods replacement projects currently underway; and the projects scheduled to begin this year, including the Gateways and Trax, Kress, Harris, Hunt and Larison halls.

In the Investments Committee meeting, a representative from Commonfund, Bucknell’s strategic investment adviser, presented an update on the state of the University’s investment portfolio. National and global economic and political factors impacted the endowment, which at the end of FY22 was valued at $1.06 billion, down from $1.15 billion in January 2022. Net returns were -3.5% against our policy benchmark of -7.9%. Strategic allocation of our portfolio helps Bucknell weather such conditions.

In an executive session on Thursday, Vice President for Enrollment Management Lisa Keegan shared information on the Class of 2026, which comprises 1,034 students. It is the largest and most diverse incoming class in Bucknell history, and includes the University’s largest-ever population of first-generation students, domestic students of color and Pell-eligible students. The class enrolled with a 36% discount rate and received $22.9 million in financial aid. She also presented recent highlights of marketing efforts created through collaborations between Admissions and Communications, including the College Admissions Insider podcast.

In another executive session, I provided an update to the trustees on the Lower Campus Planning Study, which includes the area of campus from below Dent Drive to the Cemetery House on Seventh Street, and from Miller Run waterway/Art Building to Route 15. Representatives from the two firms conducting this study, RAMSA and DLR, presented a summary of their information-gathering process and early impressions of findings. The study includes a review of academic space utilization and an in-depth assessment of the Elaine Langone Center, as well as a housing study and an assessment of housing conditions.

In my presidential update to the full Board in an executive session, I was pleased to introduce new colleagues Nicole Whitehead, vice president for human resources; and Brad Putman, Richard E. Garman Dean of the College of Engineering; and to thank Professor Cindy Guthrie for agreeing to serve as interim dean of the Freeman College of Management. I also introduced Anjalee Deshpande Hutchinson, who has graciously agreed to serve as our interim associate provost for equity & inclusive excellence. As I shared with campus recently, this position will be elevated to a new senior leadership role — the vice president of equity & inclusive excellence. A national search is underway, and the successful candidate will oversee a new unit at Bucknell, the Office of Equity & Inclusive Excellence.

Finally, I was pleased to announce that in support of our commitment to access, we have created a new signature program: the Gateway Scholars. Beginning with the Class of 2027, this program will meet all demonstrated financial need for 20 high-achieving, first-generation students each year. Importantly, it will also provide support for the scholars throughout their Bucknell journey. As a first-generation student myself, I am extremely grateful to Bob ’84, P’16 and Sue Gamgort ’84, P’16, whose generosity made the Gateway Scholars program possible.

During the trustee business meeting, the Board approved tenure motions for faculty members outside of the normal review cycle. In another motion, the trustees approved the election of trustee emeritus status to Michael Flowers ’76, Steve Holmes ’79 and David Maurrasse, effective Oct. 21, 2022. We thank them for their years of dedicated service to the Board.

The trustees finished the fall meeting by approving an extension of my contract to continue as president of Bucknell through at least 2028. I am grateful for their confidence in my leadership, and I look forward to the opportunity to keep working with the Board, faculty and staff as we continually strengthen the Bucknell experience for our students.

The University is off to a strong start for academic year 2022-23. As we continue to pursue the goals of The Plan for Bucknell 2025, I am confident that we will only become stronger in our ability to deliver unparalleled educational opportunities to current and future students. I am grateful to the trustees and our faculty and staff for their collaboration and commitment to ensuring that Bucknell continues to thrive.

My best,

John C. Bravman
President