NEWS

Trustees to discuss a new five-year strategic plan

Audit report and presidential priorities also included in meeting agenda

A new plan for Central Michigan University’s future will be the focal point of next week’s meeting of the CMU Board of Trustees.

Following the universitywide Strategic Envisioning Process that began in 2019, and after a year of community engagement and planning work involving multiple individuals and university offices, a final draft of a new five-year strategic plan is ready for Trustees to discuss during Thursday’s formal session.

The plan, which includes revised university mission and vision statements and several new priorities, objectives and goals, is the final product of more than 200 pages of input from students, faculty, staff, alumni, supporters, community partners and other stakeholders. An overview of the strategic planning process, including a list of campus engagements, is available on the strategic planning website.

Also included on Thursday’s agenda, independent auditing firm Plante Moran will present the university’s audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. President Davies also will present the year-end report on presidential priorities and initiatives from the 2022-2023 academic year. Trustees will then discuss and vote on presidential priorities for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Highlights for Wednesday’s committee meetings include:

Policy and Bylaws Committee, 1:15-1:30 p.m. — Trustees will hear a recommendation from Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president of student recruitment and retention, related to the first increase in the new student orientation fee in 16 years.

Academic and Student Affairs Committee, 1:45-3:00 p.m. — Members of the leadership team from the Division of Student Affairs will provide an update on an initiative to foster a sense of belonging among CMU students. Provost Nancy Mathews will give an overview on the visioning process to develop a new academic plan for CMU. Vice President DeHaemers also will provide a brief enrollment update.

Finance and Facilities Committee, 3:15-3:45 p.m. — Mary Hill, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, and Jonathan Webb, associate vice president of Facilities Management, will provide an update on completed and ongoing facilities projects.

Trustees-Faculty Liaison Committee, 4:00-5:00 p.m. — Trustees will hear two presentations on artificial intelligence and its impact on higher education. Stefanie Lassitter, director of instructional development in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support, and Troy Hicks, chair of the Department of Teacher and Special Education, will discuss ways CMU and faculty members are addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by the growing use of artificial intelligence.

Trustees-Student Liaison Committee, 5:00-6:00 p.m. — Four student leaders will present updates and reports from their organizations. Tyler Zimmerman, president, and Ryan Biller, vice president, will provide the Student Government Association report; Hadlee Rinn, president, will report on Program Board; and Christian Toney, director, will give the Residence Housing Association report.

Agendas for the September meetings, including both Wednesday’s committee meetings and the formal session Thursday, are available on the Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes webpage.

Board of Trustees meetings are open to the university community and members of the public. All meetings will be held in the President’s Conference Room in the Bovee University Center, with seating for up to 25 individuals in the adjoining Lake Superior Room; all meetings are also available via live stream.

View the Wednesday committee meetings via livestream.
View the Thursday formal session via livestream.

Per the Board of Trustees bylaws, individuals wishing to address the Board of Trustees during the public comment period must submit a request in advance of the meetings in one of two ways: