On March 5 at 4:30 PM, a presidential meeting relaying info from the yearly board of trustees meeting was held in Buller Hall. Board members were present for the meeting, and the audience consisted of faculty and staff. University president Dr. John Wesley Taylor V began the meeting at 4:35 PM by introducing the new Diversity Officer, Dr. Hucks, who would present the opening prayer. Following the prayer, a report on the board of trustees meetings, which had ended shortly before, was provided. Meetings had been taking place since that Sunday, as the typical process involves committees collecting information, discussing data, and proposing ideas, with sub-committees presenting everything to the greater committee. The board consists of 41 individuals, including the president of the institution. Half of the remaining members are denominationally employed, while the other half are not. It was also explained that university students were incorporated into the meetings so there would be voices representing the student body experience. President Taylor also stated that he has spoken with faculty and staff.
The board discussed multiple subjects, primarily focused on determining how the school is performing and strategies to improve areas with room for growth. The president also announced that AU’s strategic plan involves empowering our future by having more consistent changes to our planning rather than remaining static and bound by our standardized five-year plans.
The university president highlighted notable areas where the school is flourishing and contributing to those outside the institution. For example, he mentioned that Andrews University adds to the world through its work in the archeology field. Additionally, they brought attention to the success of Envision magazine, produced by the Department of Visual Art, Communication, and Design. The magazine was recently awarded the 2023 Pacemaker Award in the feature/general audience category of magazines, adding to previous awards the publication has won in the past. As for graduation rates, the university scores higher in graduation rates across ethnic groups, with the cited statistic that AU has grad rates that are “18% higher” for both Black and Hispanic students.” Additionally, the board celebrated the “vibrant spiritual communities on campus.” President Taylor presented benchmark data from NESSE and SDA institutions for comparison. As this is a Christian campus, the spiritual atmosphere on campus is a priority, and board members spent time during their meetings discussing how to incorporate faith-focused activities strategically.
Despite signs of life in the spirituality department, the NESSE data indicates that Andrews University does not score as well for overall student engagement, which is something the university could improve on. The board also wishes to rename the Bridge to Success program - designed for students who may need help getting into college, especially individuals who fall into the category of first-generation students - to Gateway to Andrews. The vision is also to double the number of students in this group. The hope is that new approaches, including adopting a “global campus” approach will bring growth and synergy to the institution.
Another major topic of discussion was finances. Based on the report made by the finance committee, the board said that the university must lower administrative and operational costs in order to conclude the fiscal year in June, breaking even. They will be developing an enrollment growth plan, choosing benchmarks, increasing efficiency, and making any changes necessary for things to progress to where they need to be by the deadline. However, there were not many specific examples provided as to how this will be achieved. Some individuals are concerned younger, non-tenured faculty may be let go to cut costs. Officially, the wider campus community will not be informed of details yet, as the new plan with goals and proposed changes will be presented to the board by May 1. Those in positions of leadership who will be making decisions related to these financial challenges are looking at what similar institutions are doing financially and working with the CIO. Additionally, there is a special capital campaign to be launched in honor of the 150th anniversary happening this year. The administration hopes to be successful in providing extra funds.
Another project the university is currently fighting to find funding for is Lamson Hall renovations. The President's Counsel took up a special offering towards the project -which is currently scheduled for this summer -as the school needs a total of 2 million dollars to fund the project. The special offering amounted to $300,000 towards the goal. It has been years since Lamson Hall underwent major renovations and this is just one step toward the goal of attracting more female students. Andrews University’s female population does not reflect the same percentages of female enrollment as most education trends show, and the state of the women’s dormitory may have some influence on these numbers. Thus, the board views this renovation as strategic. The announced plan is to bring Maranatha volunteers to renovate the dorms and then Garland apartments this summer, with volunteers returning in future summers to continue renovation projects. As of the meeting, the university had raised about 1.1 million dollars toward the 2 million goal. The money, they said, needs to be completely accounted for by the end of March. The president then implored all those in attendance, saying “we’d like you to contribute whatever you can.” He also mentioned if anyone knows individuals who may be able to help, informing them of the project is one way to chip in. President Taylor appeared hopeful, stating “we certainly have challenges, but we have a God who specializes in challenges.” He concluded by explaining that the goal is to bring the university to a position where it is thriving, and growth is still needed to reach sustainable levels. Then a prayer was said, and the audience was dismissed.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.