May 2023 Board of Trustees Meeting Recap

May 17, 2023

Dear members of the SLU community, 

As a follow-up to my recent budget update, I write to share additional insights into our discussions with the Board of Trustees during the fourth and final Board meeting of the fiscal year on May 5. 

There was much good news to share as we continued to advance the key priorities guiding our work this year: Academic Excellence, Sound Financial Planning and Budgeting that Supports our Mission, Advancing our Values-Driven Culture and Climate, and Holistic Student Well-being and Success. 

• We continue to advance our enrollment strategy, working toward an optimal balance of graduate, undergraduate and transfer enrollment.
• Research funding continues to grow at 10% on average since FY20, with total grants projected to exceed $60.7M for FY23.
• The Taylor Geospatial Institute wrapped up an impressive first year, securing $15M in external grant funding and awarding $1.7M in seed grants to consortium faculty. 
• The vibrancy of Midtown continued to grow with the launch of City Foundry’s second phase, the opening of The Armory and construction starting for The Edwin and Top Golf.
• The Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis once again selected SLU as a top workplace for women.
• SLU will launch a local Ignatian Colleagues Program in the fall, following a successful pilot program this year.
• The JED Task Force will release a strategic plan for supporting student emotional health in the coming months as SLU continues its partnership with the JED Foundation.
• The Department of Public Safety will develop a strategic plan to strengthen community partnerships and enhance campus safety and security, among other goals.
• Numerous faculty and students have been honored with prestigious awards and appointments this spring.

Several members of our SLU community offered reflections for the Board during the May meeting, including: 

• Outgoing Faculty Senate President Terry Tomazic, Ph.D., and SGA President Aric Hamilton, whose leadership this academic year ensured that the voices of students and faculty were heard and represented in important University decisions.
• 2023 Truman Scholar Gabby Chiodo, one of only 62 students to receive a Truman Scholarship, chosen from a pool of more than 700 candidates.
• Kevin Karam, S.J. and Noah Banasiewicz, S.J., two scholastics from our thriving community of Jesuits.
• Head Women’s Basketball Coach Rebecca Tillett, Head Men's Basketball Coach Travis Ford, and exceptional student-athletes Brooke Flowers and Larry Hughes Jr.

In addition to approving the FY24 budget, the Board of Trustees approved several Faculty Manual amendments. Those amendments and the updated manual are posted on the SLU Faculty Manual web page. The Trustees also voted to elect a number of new board members. We look forward to sharing that news in a separate announcement in the near future.

As I close this final Board update for FY23, I want to acknowledge the members of our Board of Trustees for their contributions to the many successes of the past year and for helping us prepare for a thriving future ahead. Their commitment to the mission emanates throughout our University, and thanks to their continued support, we are firmly on the path of transformation. 

Sincerely, 

Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D.
President