Executive Committee Meeting November 16, 2023

The Executive Committee met on November 16, 2023 at 11:45 a.m. in Meeting Room 201 of the Freeman Center with Chair of the Committee Lindsey Carney Smith, Esq., presiding.

Present from the Committee

Lindsey Carney Smith, Esq., Chair and Rector
John R. Lawson, II
Terri M. McKnight, CPA, Vice Rector
LTC (R) Boris G. Robinson, Acting Secretary
The Honorable Ronald L. Tillett
Lee Vreeland, Ed.D.

Absent from the Committee

C. Larry Pope (at large)

Present from the University

Amie Dale, Liaison to the Board of Visitors
Lisa Duncan Raines, Vice President for Enrollment and Study Success
Jim Hanchett, Chief Communications Officer
Kevin Hughes, Dean of Students/VP of Student Affairs
William G. Kelly, President
Quentin Kidd, Provost
Rob Lange, Dean of Admission
Jennifer B. Latour, Vice President for Finance and Planning and Chief Financial Officer
Christine Ledford, Vice President for Administration and Auxiliary Services
Maureen Matsen, Legal Counsel
Adelia Thompson, Vice President of Advancement

Others Present

Brentley Archer
Regina P. Brayboy
William A. Estrada, Esq.

Remote Participant

Christy T. Morton, Secretary
Remote participation permitted due to personal work-related travel to attend the Senate Finance Committee Retreat in Northern Virginia pursuant to Code of Virginia § 2.2-3708.3.

At 11:51 a.m. Chair Carney Smith called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone present. Due to Secretary Morton’s remote participation, Chair Carney Smith appointed Mr. Robinson as Acting Secretary.

Chair Carney Smith called for a motion to approve the minutes of the Executive Committee Meeting on September 14, 2023. Dr. Vreeland provided the motion, which was seconded by Mr. Robinson and the minutes were approved by a unanimous vote of the Board.

Turning to the business of the meeting, Chair Carney Smith provided an update on SCHEV new board orientation in Richmond over the last few days, reporting on the Governor’s priorities, key takeaways, and summarized the sessions and discussions. She called on Mr. Tillett to further explain the role of the Board. After a brief discussion on the role of the board, the conversation moved onto the topic of board governance. The Chair asked everyone to start thinking about 5-10 best practices for board governance for a discussion to be held at the end of the full board meeting.

The next order of business was a discussion on Executive Directive 6. Chair Carney Smith reminded everyone that we are already in compliance with this after updating the Campus Violence Prevention Policy at the September meeting. The Chair then asked President Kelly to provide detail about his messaging and the University’s response regarding the war in Gaza. President Kelly reported he sent a campus message of support for the state of Israel and denouncing the attacks by Hamas. He then sent a follow-up message that laid out the guidelines about how we as a university support free speech and how the university supports all of our students. President Kelly then reported that over the last few weeks our students have had two demonstrations by way of sit-ins. He assured the group that the university will both ensure the protection of First Amendment rights, as well as the safety and well-being of our entire campus.

Chair Carney Smith thanked President Kelly for being proactive and Dr. Hughes for all his staff does to make sure everyone is safe. She then asked the President to present on the College Stress Test. President Kelly began by encouraging the board to read the College Stress Test, provided background information on the book and the formulas within. He underscored that it was a cogent way to show a college its direction. President Kelly then reviewed the aggregated data based on inputting Christopher Newport’s data into the formulas drawing attention to the key variables and how we can use this data to look to the future based on trendlines. He summarized that we need to keep an eye on enrollment and work toward a continuing upward trend, that we’re in a great place on first-year retention, but where the university really needs to focus on net price. A robust discussion was had on unfunded mandates, appropriations and the possibility of cost sharing with the Commonwealth in the future. He finished his report by recommending that these numbers be reviewed year over year by the Board of Visitors.

Chair Carney Smith then continued with a second read of the By-laws amendment to athletics. She asked for questions, comments or revisions. There being none, she asked the committee to vote to recommend adoption to the full board. Mr. Lawson provided the motion, it was seconded by Vice Rector McKnight and approved unanimously.

The meeting continued with the first read of the By-laws revision for the addition of the faculty representative to the composition of the Board of Visitors. The Chair explained the development of this concept, the language and that it’s been greenlit by the faculty senate. Chair Carney Smith announced that Rachel Holland has agreed to serve and that she was invited to sit at the table at today’s meeting as a show of good faith, but her schedule would not allow her to attend. The Chair asked for comments or discussion on the first read and a brief discussion was held on the language and requirements.

Chair Carney Smith then asked President Kelly to share the good news about the restoration of travel and research dollars for faculty. President Kelly continued by announcing that the Real Estate Foundation voted last week to give one-time funding of $150,000 to the provost to distribute to our faculty for support, travel and research. Provost Kidd added that the feedback has been appreciative and that this support bridges the Academic Affairs budget so that over the next two years the funds can be built back into the regular budget.

Chair Carney Smith called for a motion to enter Closed Session Mr. Tillett provided the motion, it was seconded by Dr. Vreeland and the motion was passed by unanimous vote of the Committee. All observers were asked to leave.

The committee returned to open session and Mr. Robinson asked Ms. Dale for a roll call certifying that only public matters were discussed that were identified in the motion by which the executive or closed meeting was called. All committee members present, certified to the above by roll call: Chair Carney Smith, Vice Rector McKnight, Secretary Morton, Mr. Lawson, Acting Secretary Robinson, Mr. Tillett and Dr. Vreeland.

Chair Carney Smith called for a motion to recommend to the Board the 2% increase for the President’s salary pursuant to the discussion in closed session. Vice Rector McKnight provided the motion and Ms. Dale called for a vote by all committee members present. Chair Carney Smith, Vice Rector McKnight, Secretary Morton, Mr. Lawson, Acting Secretary Robinson, Mr. Tillett and Dr. Vreeland voted affirmatively. There were no dissenting votes.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.