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William & Mary leaders present five‑year strategic plan and curriculum data; board approves executive appointment and awards president bonus
Summary
At the retreat, President Katherine Rowe outlined a shortened strategic plan to 2026 and key priorities; Provost Peggy Agouris presented ten‑year enrollment and major trends showing a 37.3% decline in humanities credit hours and a 46.4% increase in natural sciences. Following closed‑session consultation, the Board approved an executive appointment and awarded President Rowe the maximum contractual bonus.
President Katherine A. Rowe told the Board that the university will pursue a five‑year strategic plan (target to 2026) built around four planning themes—clarity, urgency, capacity and data—and three high‑level priorities: educate for impact, expand reach and evolve for excellence. Rowe said departments will be required to create implementation plans aligned with those priorities.
Deans in attendance told the Board the strategic themes aligned with their school plans. Dean John T. Wells (VIMS), Dean Larry B. Pulley (Mason School of Business), Dean Maria Donoghue Velleca (Arts & Sciences) and other academic leaders described complementary planning work.
Provost Peggy Agouris presented quantitative ten‑year trends used to inform a sustainable‑curriculum review: undergraduate humanities credit hours declined by 37.3% over ten years while natural sciences increased by 46.4%; Social Science and interdisciplinary studies were relatively flat. Agouris said the administration is using this data to identify program opportunities, synergies across schools, and to guide resource reallocation and new-program proposals.
The Board recessed into closed session for personnel performance discussions and legal consultation under Va. Code. After reconvening in open session and certifying compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Board approved Resolution 1 to fill vacancies in the Executive Faculty (moved by Mr. John E. Littel, seconded by Ms. Mari Carmen Aponte) and unanimously approved awarding President Rowe the maximum bonus permitted under her contract (moved by Mr. Littel, seconded by Ms. Aponte). Both actions were taken by voice vote.
Why it matters: The strategic-plan timeline and the sustainable‑curriculum review signal administrative priorities for program development, faculty hiring and budgetary allocation. The Board’s personnel actions completed evaluation processes and implemented appointments and compensation decisions reported in the retreat minutes.
Next steps: Administrators will present implementation plans, budget implications and program proposals in upcoming Board meetings; the Board scheduled meetings for September 23–24 and noted Convocation and Homecoming dates.
