Student Life Committee Meeting April 18, 2024

Present from the Board

LTC (R) Boris G. Robinson
Brentley K. Archer
Daniel M. Gade, Ph.D.
Sean Miller
Kelli Purdy Meadows, CPA, CCIFP
Christy Morton

Absent from the Board

Terri M. McKnight, CPA
Lee Vreeland, Ed.D.

Administration, Faculty, and Students

Dr. Lisa Duncan Raines, Vice President for Enrollment, Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Kevin Hughes, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Rob Lange, Dean of Admission
Dr. Ben Lynerd, Faculty Senate Representative
Kate Bennett, Student Government Association President

Visitors

Ashleigh Andrews, Senior Associate Vice President and Chief People Officer
Justin Davenport, Chief Information Officer
Dr. Chip Filer, Vice President for Facilities and Campus Operations
Dr. Rachel Holland, Professor
McKenzie Hurley, Student Government Association President Elect
Dr. Quentin Kidd, Provost/Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer
Tom Kramer, Executive Director of the Wason Center for Civic Leadership and Legislative Liaison
Dr. Evanne Raible, Senior Director of Transfer and Student Success Services
Julianna Wait, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services
Katie Wellbrock, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs

Call to Order

Committee Chair Robinson called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

Brentley Archer made a motion to approve the February 8, 2024 Committee on Student Life minutes as submitted, and Sean Miller seconded the motion. The minutes were passed unanimously.

Student Government Association

Kate Bennett greeted the Committee, providing an update on student organizations to include activities, awards, events, and leadership elections and inductions for the 2024-25 academic year. Four of the Panhellenic organizations on campus have welcomed new members, and the Student Government Association’s President-Elect, McKenzie Hurley, was introduced. As this was the last meeting to include the current SGA President, the Committee thanked Kate for the leadership provided.

Admission

Dr. Rob Lange began the Admission presentation with a report on application numbers for first-time-in-college students. Although the number of applications received have been near-record (second to only 2016 on this date), he acknowledged that deposits were down by 14% with the May 1 deposit deadline approaching. According to Dr. Lange, this decrease is no surprise, given the Department of Education’s delayed rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Christopher Newport’s distribution of financial aid offers for first-time-in-college students began during the week of April 8 and are ongoing, whereas the process usually starts in January and is mostly complete by March. Families of admitted students rely on financial aid offers to make important enrollment decisions.

Dr. Lange also shared that there is a decline in the number of students submitting the FAFSA; nationally, there is a 40% decrease, and state-wide, there is a 20% decline. To allow students and families sufficient time to make enrollment decisions, Christopher Newport has delayed the deposit deadline to May 15 for students who have filed a FAFSA. He emphasized that Christopher Newport was one of the first institutions in the state to distribute first-time-in-college student financial aid packages. Dr. Lange will have better data to report at the June Board of Visitors meeting, but remains hopeful.

Dr. Lange highlighted some new initiatives such as direct admission for out-of-state students, low income, and first-generation college students. Collectively, these have contributed to the near record number of first-time-in-college student applications. Two new admitted student events were added to the regular recruitment schedule this year; A Day in the Life of a Captain and Drop Your Anchor, both of which exceeded registration expectations.

Enrollment, Student Success and Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Duncan Raines welcomed the Committee and addressed the difficulties associated with the Department of Education’s rollout of the new FAFSA. She confirmed the Financial Aid team has adopted an “all hands on deck” approach to best serve both incoming and returning students, and expressed her appreciation for their tireless efforts. Dr. Duncan Raines reported that aid offers were first released during the week of April 8, with priority given to the incoming class. The Department of Education continues to roll out updates and remedies - many of which require action from students and/or parents. The remainder of aid offers for first-time-in-college students with completed FAFSA applications will go out in the next week. Based on conversations with colleagues across the state, Dr. Duncan Raines indicated the University is ahead of many of our peer institutions with delivery of aid offers.

Dr. Duncan Raines discussed the continued focus of work-based learning opportunities for our students. According to our most recent survey data, over 60% of our current seniors began the semester having completed some type of work-based learning experience. The State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV) is conducting a study as to whether some type of work-based learning experience should be a graduation requirement. While these experiences are valuable and increase post-graduate earnings, making this a requirement would include significant unfunded institutional costs. Dr. Duncan Raines asked the committee to keep the University in mind if they learn of organizations with work-based learning opportunities that might be a good fit for our students.

Dr. Duncan Raines reported that the number of transfer student applications, admits, and intent to enroll are up for fall 2024. She shared that transfer students typically do well academically, and routinely transfer both with and without an associate’s degree. Agreements with schools in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) allow our involvement with these students early, to bring them to campus for academic, cultural and athletics events so that these prospective students can become acclimated with our campus community early. In addition, Christopher Newport University is able to provide early co-advising so that prospective VCCS transfer students can plan ahead and be efficient with their choice of courses.

Student Affairs

Dr. Hughes greeted the group by highlighting how well University students have performed at a multitude of national leadership conferences. He credited the University with having one of the most accomplished undergraduate leadership programs in the country, with one student having earned a Fulbright scholarship to teach in Spain and another accepting an invitation to attend the Student Leader Global Summit in South Africa.

Academic integrity numbers continue to be a challenge, having doubled over the last two academic years. Mental health challenges continue to exist and largely include students in good academic standing. Case management services are a necessity because of the increase in the number of cases.

Dr. Hughes addressed legislative updates, indicating there were a number of pieces of legislation passed that affect student life on campus. He mentioned HB 98 involving victims of bullying and hazing; HB 1342 involving Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) in health clinics on clinics on campus; and HB 163 relating to information requirements on student identification cards. Dr. Hughes also discussed SB 509, a SCHEV study on disability accommodations and evaluation. These do not require Board action. HB 713 will require Board action and is likely to be a conversation with the June or September meeting as Boards are required to develop policy for student safety and emergency preparedness. The University will be required to create and provide active shooter training for students.

Dr. Hughes provided an update from the Title IX Next Steps Committee, sharing that the search for the Director of Compliance and Title IX will close on April 29. In addition, he discussed the drafting of a position for a confidential case manager, a confidential employee resource without the obligation to report, so that students have an additional resource available. Dr. Hughes discussed the outsourcing of investigations, decision making, and advocacy.

Dr. Hughes provided an update on the After Action Report for the November 29 weapons discharge event on campus. He referenced signage and policies in both the Student Handbook and the Residence Hall Handbook. He also advised the Committee about the need for a comprehensive campus policy on weapons. The University is in the process of gathering information from institutions across the Commonwealth and will present findings and recommendations to the Board.

Resolutions and Committee Actions

There were no resolutions or formal committee actions.

Adjournment

With no further discussion needed, Chair Robinson adjourned the meeting at 1:08 p.m. with all in favor.