The fall meeting of the Board of Trustees featured reports on the status and progress of the University, including a report from Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton regarding admissions, construction, financial issues, appointments and a new scholarship initiative.
In his remarks, the Chancellor noted the continuing success of the undergraduate admissions program in attracting the most academically talented class in the University’s history, numbering about 1,500 students selected from more than 23,000 applicants. More than 60 percent of the students come from more than 500 miles away and the class was evenly divided between men and women.
The Chancellor’s report noted significant construction achievements, including the BJC Institute of Health at Washington University, which is targeted for completion in December. The structure will be the largest building in the University’s history, and it is expected to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) when it is completed.
On the Danforth Campus, two new houses — South 40 and Umrath — opened to students in August with a convenience store, food services, fitness center and the Bear Necessities shop operated by the Women’s Society. The second phase of construction will be completed in August 2010 and will include a dining area and assembly space for residential college students.
More good news was the recent announcement of a LEED silver rating from USGBC for the Village East student apartment building. Other buildings that have earned certification are LEED gold for the Danforth University Center, and LEED for Seigle Hall and the Earth & Planetary Sciences Building. A just completed total renovation of century-old Busch Hall also may receive LEED certification.
At the Tyson Research Center in west St. Louis County, the new Living Learning Center opened during the summer and may qualify as one of the first completely green buildings to receive a Living Building Challenge designation from the Cascadia Region Green Building Council.
The Chancellor noted that the Stephen F. & Camilla T. Brauer Hall for Engineering will be completed in late spring 2010, ahead of schedule. Designed for gold LEED certification, the new headquarters for the School of Engineering will include facilities for the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering and the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The building will provide more than 150,000 square feet of learning and research space, including more than 30 laboratories and a distance-learning classroom intended to extend the engineering school’s reach around the world.
Wrighton also outlined the announcement of a new effort to secure support for scholarships called “Opening Doors to the Future: The Scholarship Initiative for Washington University.”
Trustee Vice Chair John McDonnell, retired chairman of the board of McDonnell Douglas Corp., reported specific details on the initiative that seeks to raise $150 million for scholarships and fellowships, including his $2 million challenge grant intended to encourage new and increased annual scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students. Chairing the initiative is Emeritus Trustee Robert L. Virgil, Ph.D., retired partner at Edward Jones and emeritus dean of the Olin Business School.
Also reviewed was the announcement to the WUSTL community in September that a shortfall of $30 million was expected in fiscal year 2011, due to income reductions derived from the loss of endowment value, which stood at $4.2 billion as of June 30, 2009.
Central administrative units and the six schools on the Danforth Campus all will be affected and will begin the process of resetting spending at a lower level. “Washington University has underlying financial strength, along with talented, creative and dedicated faculty, students and staff,” Wrighton told the trustees. “We have exciting aspirations for the future, and I remain confident about the continuing progress of the University as we strive to strengthen our quality and impact.”
The trustees passed memorial resolutions for two recently deceased board members — Margaret Busch Wilson and I.E. Millstone. A longtime trustee and national leader of the NAACP, Wilson was senior partner of Wilson & Associates at the time of her passing. Millstone was president of K & M Investors, as well as a major University benefactor and construction industry leader for the region.
The trustees received reports from the following standing committees: educational policy, audit, development, undergraduate experience, university finance, medical finance and the alumni board of governors.