Campus Report

Report from the Board of Trustees

Office of Communications
February 13, 2020

The Kenyon College Board of Trustees convened in Naples, Florida, on February 6 and 7. The central topic of the winter meeting was the next strategic plan, which will take shape over the next year and build on the foundation of Kenyon 2020. To frame the conversation, President Sean Decatur provided an assessment of Kenyon’s current position, and economist David Feldman ’78, co-author of “The Road Ahead for America’s Colleges and Universities,” offered a view on the landscape of higher education. Trustee Barrett Toan ’69 will chair a core committee on strategic planning, joined by four fellow trustees and four members of senior staff; Chair of the Board Brackett Denniston ’69 and President Decatur will serve ex officio. The core committee will shape a process that includes representatives from the broader campus this spring. 

In addition, the board approved the operating budget proposed for the 2020–21 fiscal year, which was set at $162,630,000. Highlights include:

  • A 7.7 percent increase in the financial aid budget, totaling $43,840,000 for the 2020–21 fiscal year.

  • A 5 percent reduction in health premiums for employees and the College, effective July 1, 2020; as announced in April 2019, the College also will introduce a vision plan, redesign the two existing health plans, and offer a third, high-deductible plan through a health savings account (HSA). Details on all health plans will follow in a separate communication to employees.

  • A 2 percent increase in the general salary pool for employees earning less than $100,000 and a flat $2,000 increase for those earning $100,000 or more. Increases for union members are dictated by contract.

  • A 3.9 percent increase in total student charges, which will rise to $73,930 for the 2020–21 academic year.

In other business:

  • The board approved the mission and values statement drafted by a committee of faculty, students and staff and presented by Provost Joseph Klesner on behalf of the Kenyon community.

  • The board adopted a memorial resolution honoring Bruce Haywood H’80, former provost and professor of German; Joseph F. Slate H’88, professor emeritus of art; Kristen Van Ausdall, professor of art history.

  • The board adopted a resolution honoring outgoing Chief Business Officer Mark Kohlman, who served as a member of senior staff since 2008.

President Decatur reported on admissions and retention, health and counseling services, and recent faculty and alumni achievements. Vice President for Advancement Colleen Garland provided an update on the Our Path Forward campaign, which has raised $258 million in total commitments. The Investment Committee received reports on endowment performance and discussed investment policy. And the Title IX and Nondiscrimination Policies Committee received a report on potential changes to federal Title IX regulations. 

On Thursday afternoon, Bill Troutt, president emeritus of Rhodes College, and Pam Flaherty P’00,’04, trustee emerita at Kenyon and Johns Hopkins University, joined for a discussion of board governance. The output of the discussion will be taken up by the Trustee Affairs Committee, chaired by Pam Hoehn-Saric ’80.