March 26, 2021
Dear Colleagues:
I write to share a few highlights from today’s meeting of the Board of Trustees.
The Board approved my recommendation to dedicate Ginn Woods, a 161-acre property owned by our University, as a state nature preserve.
Ginn Woods is located approximately 12 miles north of campus, and it is the site of the second largest stand of old-growth forest remaining in Indiana. It is home to an uncommon diversity of plants and animals. The property was owned by a single family before our University began purchasing the land in 1970. Ginn Woods has a history of minimal human disturbance and stands as a last remnant of the natural environment that once covered most of Indiana.
For decades, students from our University and from Burris Laboratory School have visited Ginn Woods, which is managed by staff from our Field Station and Environmental Education Center. Our students and faculty visit the woods to conduct biological research, including amphibian monitoring, tree mapping, and studying the effects of climate change on tree growth.
Our University’s interest in preserving Ginn Woods aligns with our strategic imperative to advance our legacy of environmental stewardship and with our institutional commitment to sustainability, as defined in our campus master plan.
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission must now approve the proposed dedication. Later this year, we will hold an event to recognize the significance of this commitment.
In other business, the Board heard a presentation about our inclusive excellence work. Rose Costello, associate vice president for human resources, provided an assessment of our affirmative action goals, and Marsha McGriff, associate vice president for inclusive excellence, presented an overview of our 2020-21 annual diversity report and our 2019-24 inclusive excellence plan. During the presentation, Seth Beckman, dean of our College of Fine Arts, shared details about the college’s inclusive excellence plan. All of our colleges have created unit-level plans as part of our comprehensive approach to building an inclusive culture on our campus.
The Board also heard a presentation from members of our Student Government Association. In the past year, the current student officers helped register students to vote, developed an intercultural dialogues course for students, and piloted a program to provide free menstrual products in Student Center bathrooms. The officers also shared comments and concerns from students about their experience of living and learning on campus during the pandemic.
Also at the meeting, Dave Ferguson, dean of our Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP), updated the Board about positive enrollment trends in the college and recent ECAP achievements, including our expanded CAP:Indy initiative and our new community design center inside the Muncie Mall.
At the end of the Board meeting, I made a few comments. If you would like to read my remarks, please visit the website (PDF).
