Dear colleagues, Last week, the Board of Trustees held a three-day retreat to review and renew Ohio Wesleyans

Strategic Plan, which was developed five years ago, and provide input on plans to launch a comprehensive campaign for the University. Also participating in the retreat were six faculty members (Dale Brugh, Amy Downing, Shala Hankison, Bart Martin, Paula White, and Chris Wolverton) and other senior University leaders. I am delighted to report that the retreatand the Winter meeting, which concluded the retreatwere very successful. The retreat began with a presentation by Doug Smith, a member of the Board of Trustees at DePauw University and the son of Gordon and Helen Smith. The Board was struck by the similarity of challenges faced by our two institutions, and this helped provide a context for the Boards discussion of Ohio Wesleyans particular responses to the challenges we face. In their examination of the Strategic Plan, the Board discussed what they believed were the most powerful aspects of the plan, the most pressing unfinished business of the plan, what was missing from the plan, and what should be removed from the plan. The Board expressed confidence in and commitment to The OWU Connection as the foundation for Ohio Wesleyans distinctive approach to a full and well-rounded liberal arts education for todays students. A presentation to the Board showed that during the first five years of the Strategic Plan, the number of OWU students with travel-learning and theory-to-practice experiences has increased by a factor of four. They also expressed a strong conviction to support the growth of the endowment, and they commented on the need to continue to invest in student financial aid, classroom technology, our fine faculty, and improved and expanded student housing options. The Board spent a great deal of time discussing the upcoming comprehensive campaign. The feasibility study, consisting of interviews with approximately 50 of our top donor prospects, will begin next week. The Board anticipates receiving initial results of the feasibility study at its May meeting and likely will move at that time to set a goal and begin the silent phase of the campaign. At the Full Board Meeting on Saturday, the Board took the following actions. Student Housing Master Plan The Board passed a resolution accepting the initial Student Housing Master Plan and directing the administration to continue developing plans for a proposed Phase One, which calls for a $25 million investment in a combination of new construction and restoration of existing facilities. The resolution also asks for concrete recommendations for financing and for use of funds, as well as a detailed timeline for implementation of Phase One, to be presented to the Board at its May meeting. Tuition and Fees

The Board passed a resolution to increase tuition and fees for the 2014-15 academic year by a total of 3.8 percent. Tuition will increase 3.5 percent, the tier two room rate will increase 6.3 percent; and the average board plan rate will increase 3.5 percent. Looking ahead The retreat and Board meeting comprised an extraordinary three days, in which a great deal was accomplished. And, of course, the high point of the event was the commitment of Lou Simpson 58 and Kimberly Querrey to donate $8 milliontied for our largest gift in the history of the Universityto fund the continued renovation of historic Edwards Gym and the complete renovation and rebirth of the former Pfeiffer Natatorium into the Simpson-Querrey Fitness Center. The state-of-the-art Simpson-Querrey Fitness Center also includes a long-awaited, on-campus dance studio for the department of Theatre and Dance, and renovation of faculty offices, classrooms, and a laboratory for the department of Health and Human Kinetics. Our donors expressed particular interest in the fact that this project reflects the integration of body and mind in a commitment to the whole person, and that it benefits academic programs while also providing space promoting health and wellness that is accessible to the entire campus community. Members of the Board were particularly appreciative of the contributions made by the six members of the faculty who participated in the retreat. In addition to participating actively in breakout sessions and plenary discussions, three members of the faculty Amy Downing, Paula White, and Chris Wolverton - made specific presentations at various points in the retreat. The commitment and hard work of the trustees, faculty, and staff at this retreat give me confidence that the future of Ohio Wesleyan is very bright. I look forward to working with you throughout the exciting year ahead to enrich the future of this University. Rock