This report for calendar year 2023 constitutes the annual report for the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Board of Visitors. It is submitted to the General Assembly, the Governor, and made publicly available on the VMI Board of Visitors website in accordance with § 23.1-1303 of the Code of Virginia. It provides an overview of board activities as is statutorily required. The VMI Board of Visitors is comprised of sixteen members nominated by the Governor of the Commonwealth, along with the Adjutant General of Virginia as an ex officio member.

During the year, the board considered and addressed a wide variety of topics to include fiscal and budgetary oversight and determinants (i.e., approval of the fiscal 2024 operating budget and tuition and fees establishment), finalization of an institute strategic plan, generalized and specific enrollment challenges, diversity, equity, and inclusion matters, academic and athletic affairs, and personnel matters. With respect to academic outcomes, the Board approved 152 Bachelors of Science and 159 Bachelors of Arts degrees that were awarded to the VMI Class of 2023 in May. The Board’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts continued to be supported by its Inclusive Excellence Committee, guided by the following objectives adopted by the Board 8 July 2021:

• To create and foster a more diverse VMI.

• To create and foster a safe, equitable and inclusive environment for all on Post.

• To assure that we maintain a safe, rigorous process for escalating issues which have the potential to violate the Code of a Cadet.

Regularly scheduled, full board meetings were live streamed via the internet to provide real-time public access in accordance with House Bill 2120. An archive of agendas and other supporting material for each board meeting, as well as email addresses (individual and collective) allowing board members to receive public communications pertaining to board business, were prominently maintained on the Board of Visitors website. Following each board meeting, detailed minutes were publicly posted on the board’s website at: https://www.vmi.edu/about/governance/board-of-visitors/past-meetings/ in accordance with Va. Code § 2.2-3707(H) and may be referenced for additional context beyond the scope of this report. All meetings were conducted pursuant to notice as required by Va. Code § 2.2-3707 (C). VMI’s legal counsel, from the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, attended Board meetings on invitation in accordance with Va. Code § 23.1-1303 (B).

By the authority vested in me by the VMI Board of Visitors, this Report is hereby tendered pursuant to § 23.1-1303 (B) of the Code of Virginia.

/s/ Mr. Thomas R. Watjen ’76
President, VMI Board of Visitors