In its first gathering under President Christina Paxson, the Corporation will meet this weekend to hear updates about Paxson's recently formed strategic planning committees. The weekend will also include the official inauguration of Paxson as the University's 19th president.
The six planning committees - focusing on areas including faculty retention, financial aid, online education, doctoral education, curricular innovations and University infrastructure - were convened at the start of the month to research topics that could influence Paxson's academic agenda.
Because the committees were only recently formed, the meeting will serve mainly as an update on what the committees have discussed thus far and what the Corporation can "expect as the year unfolds," said Russell Carey '91 MA'06, executive vice president for planning and policy.
Though Paxson has already met most Corporation members, the occasion is "momentous" in a presidency, Carey said.
The Corporation may hear updates on the proposal to create a school for public health, Carey said. The proposal is slated to be voted on at the next faculty meeting. If passed, it would require approval from the provost, president and Corporation to be enacted. But, there is "nothing concrete" for the Corporation to act upon until the faculty vote, Carey said.
Members of the Corporation's Campus Life Committee will also review plans to implement gender-neutral housing for first-years. Though the gender-neutral plan does not require Corporation approval, members' "input and perspective" can still prove valuable, said Margaret Klawunn, vice president for campus life and student services.
The University currently plans to implement gender-neutral housing for first-years by fall 2013, she added.
The weekend will also serve as a chance to honor the start of Paxson's term. An inauguration celebration will take place tonight at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and the official inauguration convocation will be held Saturday afternoon on the Main Green.
Administrators also expect the University to receive monetary gifts over the weekend, said Marisa Quinn, vice president for public affairs and University relations. Last February, the Corporation approved $28.6 million in gifts, and last October it approved over $30 million.
The meeting will be the first for three new Corporation members: Craig Barton '77, William Twaddell '63 and Alison Cohen '09. Cohen is one of the Corporation's two young alumni trustees.
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