RD24 - Annual Executive Summary of the Interim Activity and Work of the Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University


    Executive Summary:
    As stated in Virginia Code § 23.1-1303, the governing board of each public institution of higher education shall submit to the General Assembly and the Governor an annual executive summary of its interim activity and work no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly.

    During 2016, the Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University held three regular meetings on April 21, 2016, September 22, 2016, and December 8, 2016, and its annual meeting on June 9, 2016. In addition to the regular and annual meetings of the Board and its standing committees (Academic & Research Advancement, Administration & Finance, Audit, Student Enhancement & Engagement, and University Advancement), the Board’s executive committee met once on March 21, 2016, an orientation for new Board members was held on August 8, 216, and the Board held its annual retreat on January 21, 2016. During these meetings, the Board received briefings and/or held discussions on the following topics:

    • New Football Stadium Proposal
    • Future Funding Strategies
    • Fundraising Update
    • Enrollment Trends
    • JLARC Span of Control
    • Admitted Student Day
    • FY 2016-2018 Operating and Capital Budgets
    • 2016-2017 Operating Budget and Tuition & Fees
    • 2014-2019 Strategic Plan Update
    • Proposal to Create Graduate School
    • Information Technology Services Disaster Recovery Test
    • Strategic Communication and Marketing
    • Faculty Demographic and Salary Comparisons
    • Research Update
    • Annual Debt Management Report
    • VRS Optional Retirement Plan
    • Ellucian Campus Ellumination Award
    • Financial and Administrative Performance Standards
    • JLARC Reporting Requirements
    • 24 Hour Roar
    • State Budget Update
    • Fair Labor Standards Act Update
    • ODU Center for Enterprise Innovation
    • ODU Highway Signage
    • New Dining Commons
    • Monarch Connect Student Mentor Program
    • Barry Art Museum
    • Alumni Relations Activities
    • Licensing Program Updates
    • Quarterly Investment Reports
    • Quarterly Capital Outlay Projects Progress Reports
    • Government Relations Internship Program
    • Quarterly Safety and Security Updates
    • Quarterly Athletics Report
    • Quarterly Reports on Student Demographics, Support Services and Initiatives
    • Quarterly Reports from Student Representative to the Board
    • Quarterly Reports from the Internal Auditor

    An exit conference with the Auditor of Public Accounts on the University’s audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015, was held with the Board’s Audit Committee on June 9, 2016.

    The following actions were taken by the Board during 2016:

    • 93 faculty appointments, 116 administrative faculty appointments, seven appointments with tenure, 31 emeritus/emerita appointments, one posthumous emerita appointment, and granted tenure to 28 faculty members
    • Appointed the Batten Endowed Chair in Cybersecurity and the Batten Professorship in Jewish Studies
    • Awarded two honorary degrees
    • Revised five Board policies and rescinded one Board policy
    • Two new degree programs: M.S. in Exercise Science, M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, M.S. in Sport Management and M.S. in Park, Recreation and Tourism Studies
    • Appointed faculty representatives to the Board standing committees
    • Appointed student representative to the Board
    • Elected Board Officers
    • 2016-2017 Tuition and Fees
    • 2016-2017 Operating Budget and Plan
    • President’s Compensation Package
    • Renamed the Office of Graduate Studies the Old Dominion University Graduate School
    • Renamed the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures the Department of World Languages and Cultures
    • Named Powhatan Complex Residence Halls in honor of four former rectors
    • Named the new residence hall the Hugo A. Owens House
    • Named the new dining facility the Kate and John R. Broderick Dining Commons
    • Supported the Foreman Field Stadium redevelopment design concept and plan and authorized President or his designee to negotiate and seek necessary governmental approval and appropriation, complete design and implement the project
    • Chartered the Barry Arts Museum Foundation
    • Approved Process for determining the use of the competitive negotiations method of procurement

    The Old Dominion University Board of Visitors continues to operate in a transparent manner, to the extent required by law, in all Board actions. Each of the meetings noted above were open to the public and notice was provided pursuant to Virginia Code § 2.2-3707. The agendas and minutes of the meetings are published on the Board’s website and the Commonwealth Calendar. Any business conducted in a closed session during any of these meetings was done in compliance with Virginia Code § 2.2-3711. The University’s Assistant Attorney General & University Counsel attends all meetings of the Board.

    The Bylaws of the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors are posted on the Board’s website and note the requirements of the Board in order to ensure the transparency of its actions. Sections 3.07 and 3.08 of the Bylaws require that all meetings of the Board be conducted in accordance with the Code of Virginia, the Bylaws and Board policies and procedures. This is more specifically addressed in Board Policy 1107, Board of Visitors Meeting Scheduling and Procedures. Section 3.07 also states that the Board shall request the presence of the University legal representative at all open and closed meetings and committee meetings, except those where the President is being evaluated or presenting portions of his/her Annual Report dealing with the evaluation of University officers (unless otherwise directed by the Attorney General).

    The Board of Visitors met twice with President John R. Broderick in 2016 in closed session to discuss his evaluation; his mid-year evaluation was conducted at the Board’s annual retreat on January 21, 2016, and the annual evaluation was done at the Board’s annual meeting on June 9, 2016, when the Board approved, by unanimous vote, the President’s compensation package.