Welcome to Merrimack College’s

Board of Trustees’ Orientation

Keriann Clinton, Andy Hampton, Mike Ahern

Orientation Schedule

Time Session8:30AM-9:30AM Welcome

9:30AM-10:30AM Merrimack 101

10:30AM-11:30AM Board of Trustees 101

11:30-12:30PM The Future of Merrimack College

12:30PM-1:30PM Closing

A Renewed MissionMerrimack College has renewed its mission and vision for the 21st

century. In December 2008, the Board of Trustees approved a more clear and compelling mission statement that guides us in our strategic planning. 

Chaired by Rev. Ray Dlugos, O.S.A., vice president of mission and ministry, a 20-member committee comprised of faculty, students, staff and administration worked to elicit involvement and input from our entire college community. They were charged with refining the mission of Merrimack College to better express the true spirit of the College. 

Our entire community has had the opportunity to provide their thoughts and to help shape the future of Merrimack College. This will continue to be very important as we embark on our strategic planning process. This mission and vision statement is our guiding beacon for the future.

A Renewed Mission

Our Mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts, and empower lives.

VisionInspired by the Catholic faith and Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue, our vision is to:

• Prepare students to adapt creatively to tomorrow’s realities through

excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and the professionals; • Build a community of scholars welcoming and respecting a diversity of

backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and perspectives;• Cultivate the intellectual, moral, spiritual, physical, and personal awareness

needed to make wise choices for life, career, and service; • Encourage and support scholarly work that contributes to the wisdom on

which society bases it’s decisions;• Engage other educational institutions, industry, and agencies of social

change in collaborative efforts fostering a just, peaceful, and sustainable world.

About Merrimack

Merrimack College is a selective, four-year, independent college in the Catholic, Augustinian tradition located in North Andover, Massachusetts.

It offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, business, science and engineering, and education; it also offers master’s programs in education and a range of certificate, licensure and degree completion programs.

Merrimack has been ranked one of the top 10 best colleges in the Northeast in the last 3 years by U.S. News and World Report.

About Merrimack Stats and Facts

• Founded in 1947 by the Order of St. Augustine O.S.A. as a direct response to the needs and aspirations of local G.I.’s returning home from WWII

• Over 2200 students representing 22 states and 20 countries• 220-acre campus with 40 buildings • Over 90 academic programs including 39 major areas of

study • 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio• 156 Full-Time Faculty Members• Over 60 student clubs and activities • 74% of students live on campus• NCAA Division I men’s hockey• 21 Men’s and women’s NCAA Division II sports

About MerrimackAugustinian Tradition

Merrimack’s community is committed to scholarship and service to others, and provides students myriad opportunities to develop intellectually, spiritually, socially and ethically.  At Merrimack, our dedication to the Augustinian values of hospitality, community, and the pursuit of truth will make you feel right at home as you explore the world and gain the experiences you need to chart your future.

President Christopher E. Hopey, Ph. D.

• Name the 8th President of Merrimack College on July 1, 2010

• Originator of the collaborative community efforts resulting in the Strategic Plan

• Increase opportunities to study abroad, new degree programs and building renovations

• Has over 20 years of higher education leadership experience

• Ph. D. from UPENN • Authored numerous

journal articles

Merrimack College

Board of Trustees 101

• Board Composition– 27 Members– Predominantly Male– White – Business Background– Member Bio’s

Background Info

• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

• Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

Responsibilities • “…the Board of

Trustees provides general oversight of the College's property and business affairs. The Board delegates operational vision and leadership of the College to the President.”

• “…primary responsibility is to ensure the financial and academic integrity through delegation to it’s administrative agent, the President…”

Nuts and Bolts• Between 20 – 35

Members• Augustinian Friars IN

GOOD STANDING consist of 1 for every 5 “lay” trustees

• Meet four times a year• Yearly retreat in sunny

Florida!• 11 Standing Committees*

• 1.Executive• 2.Audit• 3.Academic and Faculty

Affairs• 4.Advancement• 5.Finance• 6.Enrollment Management• 7.Mission Effectiveness• 8.Planning• 9.Compensation• 10.Governance• 11.Investment

• *Limited interaction with non-voters (Faculty Administration and students)

Advancement Goals

Development of 10 year plan

• 2010 is when it all began• 9 months of discussion• Multiple campus-wide meetings• Board retreat• Key leaders of stakeholder groups

– Such as faculty and staff

Core ValuesMerrimack College seeks to nourish and sustain its five core values:

Leadership

Community

Awareness

Scholarship

Service

Expected Outcomes

• Re-invigorate our identity as a Catholic College in contemporary culture.

• Involve all members of the community in the careful and humble self-reflection essential to wisdom.

• Develop a seamlessly integrated academic culture of excellence in which vibrant intellectual activity intersects with the physical, social, and spiritual development of our students.

• Lay the foundation for the College to grow in size, diversity, and stature as well as to take our rightful place as a leading institution of higher education.

• Become a laboratory for leadership and teamwork producing graduates ready to compete and collaborate in the process of shaping the culture of tomorrow.

• Challenge our community to enlighten minds with truth, engage hearts with love, and empower lives for the work of justice.

Main Goals

• “Create a modern academic enterprise grounded in innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship”

• “Develop a contemporary Catholic mission”• “Create an intellectually vibrant, socially”

engaged, entrepreneurial student experience • “Inspire and engage our people, culture, and

community“• “Strengthen our value proposition and

competitive position”

Resources

Merrimack. 2010. Advancing Merrimack in the 21st century: The agenda for distinction. Retrieved from: http://www.merrimack.edu/strategicplan/brochure.htm

Merrimack College. About Us. Retrieved from: http://www.merrimack.edu/about/