October 1, 2021
Dear Colleagues:
I write to share a few highlights from today’s meeting of the Board of Trustees.
During the meeting, the Board received a report about this academic year’s enrollment from Paula Luff, our vice president for enrollment planning and management.
While our University has experienced a modest decline in the number of students from our pre-pandemic record enrollment, Paula focused on identifying the factors that may have contributed to these results, and she outlined our aggressive and comprehensive strategies to respond to these challenges. Our strategies include investing in new personnel who will provide academic and other support to our students, technology that will make those supports more efficient and effective, and financial support for students, which will enable them to persist and graduate.
As I shared during my Fall Convocation remarks, later this semester, I will begin visiting our colleges and divisions. The Provost will join me during these visits to the colleges. Together, we will share more information about these topics with you. At these meetings, I will invite you to offer your suggestions as to how you can contribute to the future success of our students.
The Board also heard a presentation about our College of Communication, Information, and Media from Dean Paaige Turner. Dean Turner shared recent highlights and achievements of CCIM students, faculty, and staff. She also discussed the recent name changes of our Department of Telecommunications to the Department of Media and our Department of Journalism to the School of Journalism and Strategic Communications.
Finally, the Board heard an update from guests Jim Williams and Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski about our University’s historic and innovative partnership with Muncie Community Schools.
Since our University’s partnership with MCS started in July 2018, there have been many positive outcomes. These outcomes—from stabilized enrollment to increased pay for teachers and staff to maintaining a balanced budget—demonstrate that MCS remains on a positive trajectory of improvement and that we are building a bright future for the children of Muncie and our community.
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).
