There were no public comments. 

D. Phillips welcomed everyone and introduced E. Gregoire, Chair, Presidential Search Committee to provide an update on the Presidential Profile. 

E. Gregoire reported that the search committee met on Friday, December 15 to review the profile. The initial draft was shared with the committee and board members. The comments from the Board’s recommendations and the committee’s input were incorporated into the document. He stated they recognized the challenges that Fitchburg State is facing but they are attractive challenges. Specifically, important feedback was focused on student and academic programs, and showing opportunities for those programs. The committee had a robust conversation on how to note in the profile the balance of Covid’s impact on the community and managing around those obstacles. The committee had a healthy discussion on the professional and personal qualities needed in the next President. There was a lot of discussion around these characteristics. There were modifications from the attributes in the should category to the must category. 

E. Gregoire next reported that the Board of Higher Education have made recommendations. The profile has been updated to reflect those changes. The search committee positively approved the profile. He thanked Ryan Crawford, and Greg Duyck from WittKieffer for their guidance and feedback.

D. Phillips thanked E. Gregoire for the update. She stated that search committee voted to approved the profile and recommend to the full board.

D. Phillips opened the meeting up for discussion on following:

Opportunities and Expectations, Collaboratively Envision Future Opportunities and Strategies, Communicate Clearly About New Directions and Move to Implement, Continue to Explore and Expand New Offerings and Serve Diverse Student Populations, Enhance the Fitchburg State Community, and Engage External Partners in Advancing Shared Goals. 

There was a discussion on the topic of new offerings. The language used in the profile regarding the new programs needed to be modified. We are waiting for final official approval for two new programs from the Board of Higher Education. 

C. Stimpson joined remotely at 8:32 am

D. Phillips next ask for feedback on the other sections in the profile specifically professional qualifications and personal qualities.

There was a discussion. 

E. Gregoire provided the timeline for meetings and interviews moving forward. There will be a search committee meeting at the end of January to discuss questions for the candidates. The next meeting would be at the end of February or early March to review applications. The first round of interviews will begin the second week of March. 

J. Flanagan joined remotely at 8:43 a.m.

E. Gregoire talked about the how the first round of interviews would take place, either via zoom or in person. The timeline for interviews was discussed. 

E. Gregoire closed the meeting by thanking Greg Duyck, and Ryan Crawford for their work. He also thanked Jessica Murdoch and Kelli Lundgren for their efforts in putting the document together and keeping the various drafts in order.