The Tufts University Board of Trustees convened last weekend for the second of its three annual meetings last weekend, focusing its discussions on student life.
The trustees met for a general Board meeting on the morning of Feb. 10. Afterwards, they met with students, faculty, and staff for a luncheon before splitting into committee meetings in the late afternoon. The following morning, the Board convened for another general meeting before departing from Tufts.
Secretary of the Trustees Linda Dixon said that no major decisions were up for a vote in this round of meetings - discussion was the priority.
"What we did in setting up the weekend was to try to get the Trustees into the shoes of those of us who work on student life and in student academics in order to get a sense of the complexity of [these] issues, of the emotional content of these issues, and how difficult these issues really are," said James Glaser, Dean of the Undergraduate Experience.
To this end, at the first general board meeting, Dean Glaser and Dean of Students Bruce Reitman presented the quandary of housing allocations for new dormitory Sophia Gordon Hall before leaving the Trustees to debate possible solutions.
Discussion was extended to other areas of student life at the Trustees' luncheon with students, faculty, and staff. Attendees were divided amongst tables to discuss solutions to problems relating to issues like alcohol use, academic integrity, and the social scene on campus.
"The trustees not only appreciated but enjoyed [the directed conversation with students] and got a sense of how intellectually engaging and impressive our students are. They got a sense of what it is like to teach and interact with these students," said Glaser.
In the past, student-trustee communication during the luncheon has planted the seeds for significant projects such as Dowling Hall and the construction of Sophia Gordon Hall.
After the luncheon, the Board broke into its committee meetings.
The Academic Affairs committee heard from a panel of four students who gave the trustees further insight into the student experience at Tufts. These students included engineer and soccer player Lydia Claudio, Programming Board Chair Caroline Kennedy, and Residential Assistant (RA) Dana Foster, all seniors, and TCU Senator junior Mitch Robinson.
The trustees found the students' discussion of minority life, athletic life, and programming activity at Tufts helpful, a discussion that "keeps us grounded" in the reality of student life, Dixon said.
"It was a nice give-and-take," Dixon said. "They tried to put the students at ease."
TCU Senate Trustee representative Cho-Yau Ling also gave a presentation on "expanding Tufts' Global Perspective." His three-part proposal included an expansion of the Foreign Language programs at Tufts to include Hindi, increased financial aid for International Students, and the implementation of a program partnering seniors' International Relations research with faculty from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
The Administration and Finance Committee reviewed the budget for the year. One unforeseen item causing an "enormous problem" for Tufts is rising fuel costs, according to Dixon.
Thanks to Tufts' energy-saving measures and good financial management, Dixon said the budget situation had still turned out better than anticipated. "We expected to end up in very good shape, [and] we finished up in extremely good shape," she said.
Trustee Representative Laura Fruitman also spoke on improving relations with alumni. She proposed an alliance with the Nationwide Algonquin Club to create a "Tufts Club" that would help bring together alumni in major metropolitan areas.
Under the proposal, the alumni association would subsidize a membership to the club, which would include access to a club facility that would provide dining options, athletic facilities, and short-term lodging.
The Advancement Committee looked at progress on the "quiet stage" of the capital campaign - which, according to Dixon, was progressing admirably.
"We're on target for announcing the campaign formally in the Fall," Dixon said.
Dixon said that the University is expected to gather nearly 40 percent of funds that it plans to raise in a capital campaign before it can formally announce its fundraising goal.
"We have to look like a winner right out of the box," Dixon said, explaining the structure. "No one should have the slightest hesitation that we make our goal," and, accordingly, hesitate to donate.
A presentation from Mary Jeka, Vice President of University Relations, showcased improve
