The NMU Board of Trustees met on Friday, Sept. 19. The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. by Chair Steve Young. All members were present during the roll call and the approval of the agenda. Before starting the meeting, there was a moment of silence for deceased NMU students Jackson Gervasio, Joel Wisuri, Trevor Forsythe and Liam O’Day. Afterwards, Secretary Cathy Andrew requested to address the board, which was the official start of the meeting.

They began with a discussion on childcare, which was led by Interim President Gavin Leach and Vice President Rhea Dever. The Board then discussed the Northern Michigan University’s Cold Case Program, highlighting its success in solving a 39-year-old sexual assault case using forensic investigative genetic genealogy.

“For students like myself, the cold case program is more than a class. It’s an opportunity to do meaningful work that has a real impact,” said Devin Montano, a senior criminal justice student. “Many cold case programs seek justice while teaching the skills, professionalism and persistence that this line of work demands. It sets interviews apart, equipping students with the credibility and career readiness to work alongside experts on behalf of the criminal justice program.”

Another speaker at the board meeting was student and president of Student Veteran Association, Landon Gray, who asked the board to consider expanding resources for the group as he reported three veteran students have become homeless this year.

Cassidy Gibson, the president of Associated Students of NMU (ASNMU), spoke on behalf of the organization to the Board of Trustees. In her speech, she thanked the board for their time and informed them that they onboarded 11 new members.

“We’re at the point where we’re able to crack down,” Gibson said. “If you’re not able to do your job, there’s someone else who wants it. So we’re in a position right now where we’re getting students who are engaging, and it’s feeling really good.”

She gave the Board of Trustees information on what ASNMU does and how it works towards helping students.

“One of the big things we do at ASNMU is try to read what’s on students’ minds and listen to what they have to say,” Gibson said. “One of the biggest things that’s been on students’ minds is campus resources. We have food pantries in Jacobetti and Gries Hall. Also, outside of the Dean of Students Office, there are tables with food and free school supplies. Students are also interested in how executive orders coming out of Washington will affect student funding from our SFC committee. So we’re just working closely with the administration to see how we can move forward with that.”

The Student Finance Committee (SFC) funds many NMU student organizations. Recently, the student activity fee went up to $51.37.

“We have earmark allocated fund groups who get money every year from the student activity fee, and SFC reallocates that money when needed,” Gibson said. “So they assess what these organizations are doing with the student activity fee, and how it can be better. This year, we’ve had a lot of student organizations come to us asking for a raise in the fee. So we have a committee in charge right now to see if that’s needed.”

Gibson went further into other concerns that students had when it came to NMU.

“This won’t come as a surprise to anybody, but parking is always on students’ minds. Although we can’t do anything at the moment, as ASNMU, to mitigate that, it’s one of our biggest jobs to listen to hear what they have to say,” Gibson said. “Then, of course, as Chairman Young mentioned, the Presidential Search is a thing on students’ minds. Not only are they wondering who the next president will be, but [also] when he’ll come.”

Gibson updated the board on their plans for the future, including the Wildcat wallet and the yearbook revival.

“One of the things we’re trying to get back this year is businesses to connect, get discounts and also get more people to their business,” Gibson said. “Our academic affairs put a resolution for it to revive the yearbooks.”

Gibson then explained that ASNMU values visibility, as she wants students to know that they can be involved in future plans at NMU.

“We want to get in the faces of students so they don’t have to come to us. We’re trying to send our student representatives out to student organizations,” Gibson said.

Next, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) presented a staff report on how negotiations were going well. Afterwards, Leach gave a quick report on how the search for a new president at NMU is going smoothly. Committee reports were also given out. These reports focused on the Academic Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee.

The Academic Affairs Committee convened at 9:11 a.m. and adjourned at 9:45 a.m, on Friday, Sept. 19.

“The Committee received informational reports and presentations on the following academic senates, charter schools, Departments of Social Work. The committee formally recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the following: new board appointments for Tawasha Public School Academy, South Point Scholars Charter Academy, board reappointments for Burton Glenn Charter Academy, East Shore Leadership Academy, Francis Ray Public School Academy, George Crockett Public School Academy, Mount Pa Wash Public School Academy, North Star Montessori Academy, South Point Scholars Charter Academy and Walton Charter Academy,” said trustee Steven Lindberg.

The finance committee convened at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 and adjourned at 4:08 p.m.

“The committee accepted the audit and open issues report as written and received informational updates on major facilities and capital projects. The committee recommended that the Board approve the following items, as included in the board formals: the fiscal year 2025 and 2026 budgets for auxiliary operations, Housing and Residence Life general and designated funds, the five-year Facilities Master Plan, the 2027 capital project request, the 2026 long-term maintenance project list and capital projects exceeding $250,000,” said Vice Chair Melissa Holmquist.

Young then discussed the future of the NMU Foundation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The meeting was then adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

“We’re all here to support the university,” Holmquist said. “We want to be here to continue to support our students, our faculty and staff, and I think it’s a good reminder that we need to continue to have those conversations and really work together for the university.”