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Santa Clara University

Board of Trustees Meeting, February 12, 2016

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  7. Board of Trustees Meeting, February 12, 2016

Highlights of Deliberations

At the recent Board of Trustees meeting on February 12, the Board approved the following: 

  • the creation of a new major in Ethnic Studies, as recommended by the Trustee Academic Affairs Committee;
  • the creation of a new major in Women's and Gender Studies, as recommended by the Trustee Academic Affairs Committee; 
  • the conferral of degrees on candidates for Spring 2016; and
  • a budget that includes a 3% merit increase for faculty and staff, and an increase of 4% in tuition, room and board.

Several members of the University community gave presentations to the Board. Dean Debbie Tahmassebi and Dean Caryn Beck-Dudley each briefed the Board on highlights from their respective college/school, and Jim Lyons reported on the status of the Comprehensive Campaign.  

The Board also examined the national developments that affect the racial climate on our campus.  Part of the meeting agenda included a panel comprised of Father Joseph McShane, SJ, president of Fordham University; Father William Leahy, SJ, president of Boston College; Fr. Matthew Carnes, SJ, associate professor of political science at Georgetown University; and professor Aldo Billingslea, associate provost of diversity and inclusion at Santa Clara. The panelists offered their reflections on the following questions, and the trustees then engaged in discussion:

  • What implications will recent racial and social movements have for your campus now and in the next decade?
  • What role should diversity and inclusion play in the mission of a Jesuit, Catholic university?

Following the action item approvals and discussion items, Robert Numan, president of the Faculty Senate Council, and Aaron Poor, Associated Student Government president, provided the Board with their respective reports.