Date: June 13, 2011
Contact: pr@andrews.edu
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The Andrews University Board of Trustees convened for their summer meetings June 5–6, using, for the first time, the boardroom of the Lake Union Conference building. Andrews is purchasing the building and according to President Niels-Erik Andreasen, it will be the new headquarters for the Board of Trustees meetings.
  
The first Board action taken was the reelection of officers of the University and the Board of Trustees. Bylaws require the elections take place within 90 days following the meeting of the constituency; the constituency met in March 2011.
  
The Board also voted a capital request of $150,000 for windows in Lamson Hall, which is included in the University’s capital budget plan.
  
Larry Schalk, vice president for Financial Administration, reported on operations. The Griggs University transfer is coming along nicely. There has been $1.25 million allocated to cover the cost of the transition. To date, approximately $500,000 of those funds has either been spent or allocated.
  
Andreasen said, “So far, it looks to be going well and we aren’t draining University resources to bring Griggs here.”
 
The budget for the past fiscal year, which ended April 30, was scheduled to end with an increase in net assets of $3.1 million; the preliminary draft is $1.2 million, a shortfall of approximately $1.9 million. “There is still a gain, but a smaller gain than what was budgeted,” said Andreasen. Undergraduate tuition was stable while graduate tuition fell behind. Other expenses ran ahead in certain areas including Student Life, plant operations, Human Resources—legal support for incoming international faculty, interest and depreciation.
  
The line of credit the University uses is $2.5 million less than last year in part because revenue generating sales and services were up. A large portion of the increased revenue is attributed to the Andrews University Press sales of the Andrews Study Bible, which has exceeded $1 million. Less than a year following its release, a second printing of 25,000 copies of the Bible has been procured. A third printing of an inexpensive edition to be used as giveaways by evangelists is also underway. Andreasen said contracts have been signed to translate the Andrews Study Bible into Spanish and Portuguese; another contract has been signed to turn the Andrews Study Bible into a digital medium for use on smartphones and iPads. Andreasen concluded by saying, “The Andrews Study Bible has done very well and is blessing many people.”
  
Andreasen shared a report on construction and fund-raising with the Board. The fund-raising initiative for the Undergraduate Learning Center has raised $8.2 million; there is still about$400,000 needed to reach the goal. Donations for Buller Hall, part of the Undergraduate Learning Center, received during this past fiscal year total $570,000. Those monies will be used to buy back bonds that were issued to borrow money to pay for Buller’s construction. University administration expects to have Nethery Hall, the second half of construction for the Undergraduate Learning Center, ready in time for classes resuming in August 2011.
  
Andreasen shared a report on enrollment projections from Stephen Payne, vice-president for Enrollment Management. Some highlights include freshmen admissions are up 7% and overall, applications are up 34%. Andreasen noted that these numbers could be deceiving because electronic applications make it easier to apply to multiple institutions. Transfers are down slightly and first-time graduate applications are up 29%. Overall, the net for next fall is a 6% enrollment increase.
  
There was a report from the President’s Council. They voted on two items to bring to the Board of Trustees. The first was a recommendation to not ignore the branding value of the Griggs name. Andreasen shared that heavy consideration is being given to renaming the Lake Union Conference building “Griggs Hall.”
  
The second recommendation was in regards to the engineering program. The President’s Council felt engineering should hold a strong place in the University’s strategic plan and that consideration should be given to establishing a School of Engineering.
  
Andreasen shared encouraging news from North Central Association. They have given a recommendation to the Higher Learning Commission Board to authorize Andrews to assume ownership of Griggs at the HLC’s June meeting.
  
The Board also discussed the five health professions in the College of Arts & Sciences: medical laboratory sciences, nursing, nutrition & wellness, physical therapy and speech-language pathology & audiology. Each department is doing well, reported Andreasen, but the challenge is each one is working very independently. The Board discussed the possibility of forming a School of Health Professions, which would initially house these five departments. Additional consultation and consideration will take place, and the Board will revisit the issue at a future meeting.

The Board also approved a number of faculty and staff appointments:
Faculty Appointments
College of Arts & Sciences: Romulus Chelbegean, part-time assistant professor of family studies, Department of Behavioral Sciences; Abigail Rahel Schafer, assistant professor of Hebrew Bible, Department of Religion & Biblical Languages; Wendy Thompson, assistant professor of social work, Department of Social Work

Promotion-in-Rank and Other Appointments
College of Arts & Sciences: Lael Caesar, research professor of Hebrew Bible, Department of Religion & Biblical Languages; Lena Caesar, adjunct faculty, Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology; Brian Manley, associate professor of art, Department of Art & Design; Peter Pribis, associate professor of nutrition & wellness, Department of Nutrition & Wellness; Tiffany Summerscales, associate professor of physics, Department of Physics; Jack Stout, professor of biology, emeritus, Department of Biology; David Village, professor of physical therapy, Department of Physical Therapy; Gary Wood, associate professor of political science, Department of History & Political Science; Dennis Woodland, professor of biology, emeritus, Department of Biology; Janice Wrenn, professor of social work, Department of Social Work.
School of Education: Gary Gifford, associate professor of leadership & educational administration, emeritus, Department of Leadership & Educational Administration; Sylvia Gonzalez, professor of leadership & educational administration/continuous appointment, Department of Leadership & Educational Administration; Robson Marinho, professor of leadership & higher education administration, Department of Leadership & Educational Administration

Staff Appointments
Darren Heslop, web designer/developer & photographer, Integrated Marketing & Communication; Ronisia Marinho, international financial advisor, Student Financial Services; Cara Perozo, catering manager, Dining Services

Change in Position Title
Audrey Castelbuono, associate vice president, Office of Development; Christopher LeBrun, senior development officer, Office of Development; Erno Gyeresi, associate director, University Press

Retirements
Reda Bidwell, Financial Records, three years of service; Dean Boward, Andrews Academy, 20 years of service; Frederick Kosinski, Department of Educational Counseling & Psychology, 38 years of service; Marla Marsh, Art & Design, 12 years of service; Virginia Nachreiner, Andrews Academy, 31 years of service; Susan Schwab, ITS, 21 years of service; Dixie Scott, Department of Physical Therapy, 19 years of service