Meeting Minutes, August 18, 2003
BackCreator: Offices of Board of Trustees and President
Subjects: Administration, Board of Trustees, BOT Minute Books
Date: August 18, 2003
Format: Text/pdf
Original Format: Computer file
Resource Identifier: August 18 2003.pdf
Collection Number: UA 1
Language: English
Rights Management: Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by Michigan State University and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.
Contributing Institution: Offices of Board of Trustees and President; University Archives & Historical Collections; MATRIX
Contributor: Offices of Board of Trustees and President
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Transcript: MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
August 18, 2003
Interim President Simon called the special meeting of the Board of Trustees to order at 12:00 noon in the President’s Conference Room, 450 Administration Building.
Trustees present: Dolores M. Cook (by telephone), Joel I. Ferguson (by telephone), Colleen M. McNamara (by telephone), Donald W. Nugent (by telephone), Randall L. Pittman (by telephone) and David L. Porteous (by telephone).
Absent: Dorothy V. Gonzales and G. Scott Romney.
University Officers present: Interim President Simon; Vice President Poston (by telephone), Secretary Carter, Vice President and General Counsel Noto, Vice Presidents Huggett, June and Webster, Executive Director Williams and Senior Advisor and Director Granberry Russell. Faculty Liaison present: James Potchen. Student Liaisons present: Missy Kushlak and Kimberly Yake.
All actions taken were by unanimous vote of the Trustees present, unless otherwise noted.
1. On a motion by Mr. Porteous, supported by Mr. Pittman, THE BOARD VOTED to approve the agenda.
2. President’s Report:
Interim President Simon reported that activity on campus is picking up. Freshman move-in day is August 20th.
3. Public Participation on Items Germane to the Agenda
There were no requests to address the Board of Trustees on issues germane to the agenda.
4. Personnel Action
Authorization to Extend Presidential Leave and Interim Appointments
Chairman Porteous offered a Resolution, (attachment A) relative to extending President McPherson’s unpaid leave from Michigan State University and related interim appointments.
On a motion by Mr. Porteous, supported by Mr. Ferguson, THE BOARD VOTED to adopt the attached Resolution.
Mr. Porteous said that on August 16th, he received a phone call from Ambassador Paul Bremer. The Ambassador indicated there are several very important unfinished matters that President McPherson is working on in Iraq as part of his special assignment. Those duties will not be completed by the first of September. They include establishing the central bank in Iraq and working with international banks as they begin to invest in and establish themselves in Iraq. The Ambassador expressed confidence that President McPherson is ideally suited and qualified to complete both tasks; he indicated Mr. McPherson would be able to conclude work on those projects if Michigan State University would extend the President’s leave to September 30th. Ambassador Bremer assured Chairman Porteous that President McPherson will return to the University no later than September 30, 2003.
Mr. Porteous said there is no question as to the importance of the work that Mr. McPherson is involved with – it is critical to the rehabilitation of the country of Iraq. The Ambassador expressed appreciation for Michigan State’s willingness to grant leave from the University for this important assignment and feels it is very important that President McPherson be allowed to extend his leave for an additional two to three weeks.
Trustee Porteous indicated that he feels that Dr. Simon has been doing an outstanding job as Interim President and that is why he feels comfortable in presenting this Resolution.
Trustee Nugent inquired whether interim appointments would continue through September 30th if President McPherson returns to the University prior to that date.
Vice President Noto said that is how he interprets the Resolution. For example, President McPherson may spend some time in Washington, D.C., if he returns to the United States prior to September 30th. Therefore, Dr. Simon should continue as Interim President through September 30th, even if President McPherson is back in the U.S. before that date.
Trustee Pittman noted that this interpretation of the Resolution will also afford President McPherson a few days to transition back into his duties at Michigan State University.
5. Chairman’s Report
Trustee Porteous passed.
A. Trustees’ Comments
1) Trustee Cook said the press reported yesterday that the banks are about to be turned over to the people of Iraq and the interim government. Currency is arriving. So the information given to Mr. Porteous by Ambassador Bremer concurs with the media account.
2) Trustee Ferguson passed.
3) Trustee McNamara passed.
4) Trustee Nugent passed.
5) Trustee Pittman passed.
6) Trustee Porteous expressed his appreciation to the members of the Board for accommodating a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees on short notice.
6. Public Participation on Issues Not Germane to the Agenda
There was no public participation.
7. An Executive Session was not requested
8. On a motion by Mr. Pittman, supported by Mr. Nugent, THE BOARD VOTED to adjourn at 12:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
L. Susan Carter
Secretary of the Board of Trustees
Request a ReproductionOF
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
August 18, 2003
Interim President Simon called the special meeting of the Board of Trustees to order at 12:00 noon in the President’s Conference Room, 450 Administration Building.
Trustees present: Dolores M. Cook (by telephone), Joel I. Ferguson (by telephone), Colleen M. McNamara (by telephone), Donald W. Nugent (by telephone), Randall L. Pittman (by telephone) and David L. Porteous (by telephone).
Absent: Dorothy V. Gonzales and G. Scott Romney.
University Officers present: Interim President Simon; Vice President Poston (by telephone), Secretary Carter, Vice President and General Counsel Noto, Vice Presidents Huggett, June and Webster, Executive Director Williams and Senior Advisor and Director Granberry Russell. Faculty Liaison present: James Potchen. Student Liaisons present: Missy Kushlak and Kimberly Yake.
All actions taken were by unanimous vote of the Trustees present, unless otherwise noted.
1. On a motion by Mr. Porteous, supported by Mr. Pittman, THE BOARD VOTED to approve the agenda.
2. President’s Report:
Interim President Simon reported that activity on campus is picking up. Freshman move-in day is August 20th.
3. Public Participation on Items Germane to the Agenda
There were no requests to address the Board of Trustees on issues germane to the agenda.
4. Personnel Action
Authorization to Extend Presidential Leave and Interim Appointments
Chairman Porteous offered a Resolution, (attachment A) relative to extending President McPherson’s unpaid leave from Michigan State University and related interim appointments.
On a motion by Mr. Porteous, supported by Mr. Ferguson, THE BOARD VOTED to adopt the attached Resolution.
Mr. Porteous said that on August 16th, he received a phone call from Ambassador Paul Bremer. The Ambassador indicated there are several very important unfinished matters that President McPherson is working on in Iraq as part of his special assignment. Those duties will not be completed by the first of September. They include establishing the central bank in Iraq and working with international banks as they begin to invest in and establish themselves in Iraq. The Ambassador expressed confidence that President McPherson is ideally suited and qualified to complete both tasks; he indicated Mr. McPherson would be able to conclude work on those projects if Michigan State University would extend the President’s leave to September 30th. Ambassador Bremer assured Chairman Porteous that President McPherson will return to the University no later than September 30, 2003.
Mr. Porteous said there is no question as to the importance of the work that Mr. McPherson is involved with – it is critical to the rehabilitation of the country of Iraq. The Ambassador expressed appreciation for Michigan State’s willingness to grant leave from the University for this important assignment and feels it is very important that President McPherson be allowed to extend his leave for an additional two to three weeks.
Trustee Porteous indicated that he feels that Dr. Simon has been doing an outstanding job as Interim President and that is why he feels comfortable in presenting this Resolution.
Trustee Nugent inquired whether interim appointments would continue through September 30th if President McPherson returns to the University prior to that date.
Vice President Noto said that is how he interprets the Resolution. For example, President McPherson may spend some time in Washington, D.C., if he returns to the United States prior to September 30th. Therefore, Dr. Simon should continue as Interim President through September 30th, even if President McPherson is back in the U.S. before that date.
Trustee Pittman noted that this interpretation of the Resolution will also afford President McPherson a few days to transition back into his duties at Michigan State University.
5. Chairman’s Report
Trustee Porteous passed.
A. Trustees’ Comments
1) Trustee Cook said the press reported yesterday that the banks are about to be turned over to the people of Iraq and the interim government. Currency is arriving. So the information given to Mr. Porteous by Ambassador Bremer concurs with the media account.
2) Trustee Ferguson passed.
3) Trustee McNamara passed.
4) Trustee Nugent passed.
5) Trustee Pittman passed.
6) Trustee Porteous expressed his appreciation to the members of the Board for accommodating a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees on short notice.
6. Public Participation on Issues Not Germane to the Agenda
There was no public participation.
7. An Executive Session was not requested
8. On a motion by Mr. Pittman, supported by Mr. Nugent, THE BOARD VOTED to adjourn at 12:12 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
L. Susan Carter
Secretary of the Board of Trustees
