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December 2022 Board of Trustees Meeting Recap

January 27, 2023

Dear members of the SLU community,

I write with an update on the December meeting of the Saint Louis University Board of Trustees. The meeting began with remembrance and prayer for Trustee George Paz, who passed away unexpectedly in October, and for Uthej Kunta and Shiva Dattaa Keligari, our graduate students who died in late November in a tragic drowning incident. These losses remind us how precious our SLU community is and why we must continue to show care and support to one another.

President’s Report

In my quarterly report, we looked back on 2022, which was a year of remarkable growth and transformation that included:

During the meeting, our trustees received the first copies of the printed 2022 President’s Report, which highlights these and many other highlights from the past year. Seeing our many accomplishments together in a single publication is a powerful way to share SLU’s distinctive story of growth and transformation. Copies of the report have since been distributed across the campus. You can also download the report online here. 

Approval of Rochelle Smith as Executive Officer

Rochelle Smith, M.S., who brings to SLU extensive expertise in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education to her new role as our vice president for diversity and innovative community engagement, was formally introduced to the Board. Trustees also approved her as an executive officer of the University, which follows their approval of SLU’s other executive officers during the October meeting.

New MA in Spanish Education

The Board approved a new MA in Spanish education, a collaborative effort of the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and the School of Education aimed at meeting the societal need of Spanish teachers in primary and secondary education. One of the new program’s unique aspects is that part of the education pedagogy courses is taught in Spanish. And graduates of the program will be certified to teach in Missouri upon graduation.

FY24 Budget

As we continue to engage in sound financial planning that supports our mission, we updated the Board on the conversations occurring among more than 60 campus stakeholders as we work to develop the University’s normal operating budget for FY24. Ultimately, our trustees are responsible for approving SLU’s budget, which includes new tuition rates and the annual merit pool. The budget will continue to be a key topic of discussion for the Board’s next two meetings, and once approved, we will share details with you.

School of Medicine Strategic Plan

Dr. Christine Jacobs, dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs, gave an update on the school’s strategic planning process, which has included extensive community engagement through listening sessions, town halls and a school-wide survey. Now completed, the school’s transformative five-year plan has at its core excellence in medical research, education and clinical care. You can learn more about the plan on the School of Medicine website. 

Campus Master Plan

We shared with the Board that we are launching a process to update SLU’s campus master plan, which was completed in 2017. To be wise stewards of SLU’s resources, we must continue carefully managing the space on our St. Louis campuses. Our updated plan will ensure that our use of space supports our strategic goals, our growing academic programs and the changing needs of employees with flexible work arrangements. Look for more information about this process in the coming weeks and months.

In Conclusion

As I have noted previously, SLU is fortunate to have engaged and committed trustees who care deeply about the success of our students, faculty and staff. Their leadership — and their generosity — are among the reasons that we are able to grow and thrive as OneSLU. Please know that our Board of Trustees appreciates all that you did to make SLU successful in 2022. Working together, I am confident we will reach even greater heights in 2023.

Sincerely,

Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
President