The Seattle University Board of Trustees held its quarterly meeting and annual Retreat on May 2-3, 2018. The following is a summary of Board action during the meeting.
Ignatius Medal: The Board approved the awarding of the St. Ignatius Medal to Stevens and Tricia Trainer.
FY 19 Budget: The Board approved the FY 19 Budget.
School of Law Quasi-Endowment: The Board authorized the transfer of up to $2 million dollars from the School of Law quasi-endowment to the University’s operating budget to address an anticipated operating deficit in the SOL in 2019.
STM Master of Arts: The Board approved a new Master of Arts degree in the School of Theology and Ministry.
Matteo Ricci College: The Board resolved to discontinue the operation of Matteo Ricci College as a separate college effective July 1, 2018 and authorized the administration to take all steps necessary to incorporate MRC academic programs, faculty and staff into the College of Arts & Sciences.
Presidential Compensation: The Board approved an FY19 compensation increase for President Sundborg consistent with the wage pool it approved for the SU community. President Sundborg assigns his compensation to the Jesuit Community at Seattle University. He and other Jesuits do not retain their paychecks.
Online Program Management: The Board authorized the administration to take all steps necessary to enter into formal agreements regarding online programming with third-party online program managers. The Albers School will be the first to launch two fully online graduate degree programs.
Connolly Center: The Board approved removing the name of the late Archbishop Thomas Connolly from the university’s athletics and recreation center and renaming it Redhawk Center. This action followed a review of a report by the Seattle Times that contained letters demonstrating Archbishop Connolly’s failure to take action regarding a known pedophile priest. The Board is the final authority regarding the naming or renaming of campus buildings.
Other Agenda Items: In addition to the above actions, the Board engaged in discussions around Board roles and responsibilities and identified strategic priorities for the Board; received a report on the university’s Student Success Initiative; received a report on tenure outcomes in 2017-18 and the tenure density rate; participated in a discernment activity around the future of Seattle University; heard from the SGSU student body president; and listened to a panel of two undergraduate, one graduate and one law student on their experience at SU.