CMU Trustees approve historic partnership to bolster medical education

The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees voted Friday to recognize two $40 million contributions from Covenant HealthCare and  MyMichigan Health to strengthen medical education and the health and wellbeing of the entire Great Lakes Bay region. The two gifts are the largest ever committed to CMU and will support the shift of the CMU College of Medicine to a new medical education facility in the Medical Diamond in Saginaw.

CMU President Neil MacKinnon said the historic partnership will make a tremendous impact.

“This extraordinary collaboration brings two of our state’s most respected health care systems together with our university to strengthen medical education, enhance the medical student experience, improve patient outcomes and expand healthcare access here in the Great Lakes Bay Region,” MacKinnon said.

He said the unique collaboration aligns perfectly with CMU’s mission and vision and will benefit each organization and the people and patients they serve. It also will bring the majority of CMU medical students into one geographic location, a best practice in medical education.

The agreement also means the CMU College of Medicine will have a new name: the Covenant HealthCare College of Medicine at Central Michigan University. The Saginaw facility will be named the CMU MyMichigan Health Medical Education Building.  

Campus construction and renovations

Trustees approved several campus renovation, construction and deferred maintenance projects that were presented to the Finance and Facilities Committee on Thursday.

Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Jonathan Webb shared plans to renovate Merrill Residence Hall, Ronan Hall, the Combined Services Building, Grawn Hall, Sloan Hall, Powers Hall and Warriner Hall. He said all projects are part of CMU’s master plan for campus facilities. Trustees approved all projects in Friday’s formal session.

Webb also said design of the new Golf Training Facility on the south end of campus is underway, with construction set to begin in May 2026 now that it has secured Board approval.

“It is a purpose-built facility that will allow us to get out of leased space and bring our student-athletes onto campus,” Webb said.

Trustees also approved annual funding for 33 campus infrastructure and maintenance projects classified as deferred maintenance.

Academic and Student Affairs

In Thursday’s meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Senior Director of Admissions Bob Garcia provided an update on student enrollment and retention. He said main campus domestic undergraduate applications for Spring 2026 semester are up and online undergraduate student enrollment also has increased year over year.

Garcia said his team is particularly proud of the retention rate of first-time college students, which continues to be about 95%.

“One of the key things for our retention success has been the things Dr. Evan Montague’s team has been doing with Student Success Seminars for students who have challenges in their first semester,” he said.

Challenges remain with international student enrollment, according to Garcia. He said the largest obstacle remains students’ ability to obtain visas to study in the United States, and most universities are experiencing this difficulty.

In a separate presentation to the committee, director of the CMU CARES program, Andrea Roggenbuck, explained the trends their team is responding to in order to support struggling students. She said CMU CARES received 513 referrals during the fall semester through November 1.

The Academic and Student Affairs Committee also received an update on Higher Learning Commission accreditation efforts from Senior Vice Provost Dave Patton. He reported that CMU is on schedule to be prepared for an HLC campus visit in April 2026.

President’s report

President MacKinnon began his report to the Board of Trustees in formal session Friday by thanking Trustee Todd Regis for his service as Chair of the Board the past two years. Trustee Denise Williams Mallett will become chair on January 1, 2026.

With this week’s debut of CMU’s Central Bound agreement with Lansing Community College, MacKinnon said CMU took a big step toward making a CMU degree more flexible, affordable and convenient.

Central Bound is a partnership between CMU and community colleges designed to offer dual admission and co-enrollment, allowing students to continue community college coursework while beginning progress toward a CMU degree without the need for transferring.

MacKinnon reported CMU’s new Strategic Enrollment Management Plan is in its final draft and on track for implementation. He said the plan contains 33 strategies to increase CMU market share, improve student success, promote CMU’s distinctive position and increase online programs.

Progress continues toward achieving the goals of CMU’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, MacKinnon said. He pointed to the effort to increase community engagement, particularly in the Mount Pleasant community, and took a moment to cheer on the Mt. Pleasant Oilers high school football team as they head to the state semi-finals.

MacKinnon concluded his report with an optimistic message about the future of the university.

“I remain convinced that even brighter days are ahead, and I am grateful for the Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and community whose fired-up attitude ensures CMU will thrive,” he said.

Other committee business

In a meeting of the Trustees-Faculty Liaison Committee, manager of the Standardized Patient Simulation Center, Robert Bouwman, explained how the CMU College of Medicine’s Standardized Patient Program gives medical students valuable hands-on experience in communicating with patients and performing physical examinations.

With standardized patients acting like actual patients and interacting with medical students, Bouwman said there is an opportunity for the future health professionals to learn, practice and make mistakes without causing harm.

In a meeting of the Trustees-Student Liaison Committee, Student Government Association President Akua Amofaa Acheampong and Vice President Kathryn House offered updates on Student Government Association activities. Program Board President Kendall Fowler and Residence Housing Association Director Max Fusaro also provided updates from their organizations.

Additional board actions

The CMU Board of Trustees also approved several other items Thursday, including:

• Emeritus rank for faculty and staff members
• Faculty personnel transactions for sabbatical leaves
• Prospective graduates for Fall 2025
• Honorary degree recipients
• An international student deposit
• State capital outlay report and project request
• Campus contracts for natural gas and electricity
• A Consumers Energy utility easement
• Enrollment marketing budget increase for fiscal year 2026
• Delegation of lease authority for CMURC, Smart Zone and Public Broadcasting
• Private gift report from University Advancement
• New and changing endowments, awards and scholarships
• An appointment to the Clarke Historical Library Board of Governors

Concluding the formal session, outgoing Chair Todd Regis, who will remain a Trustee through 2030, thanked the entire Board of Trustees for the privilege of serving as the group’s leader.

“For two years we’ve had some challenges. We’ve had some fun. We’ve been bold and we’ve gotten through a lot of stuff,” Regis said. “I’ve learned that at CMU, first you become part of it, then it becomes part of you.”

An electronic copy of the president’s report will soon be available on the Office of the President web page, and meeting minutes will be added to the Board of Trustees webpage following their approval at the next meeting.