GVSU Board of Trustees extends president’s contract, raises tuition 4%, room and board fees

ALLENDALE — Grand Valley State University’s Board of Trustees approved a contract extension through June 2031 for President Philomena Mantella, as well as hikes to tuition, room and board and parking permits.

The decisions were made at the board’s Friday, April 17, meeting, which also saw the approval of the first Ph.D curriculum in computer programming.

Chair Elizabeth Emmitt proposed to extend Mantella’s term from July 1, 2029, to June 30, 2031. The proposal was not on the agenda prior to the meeting, but was briefly mentioned as a contract amendment in the larger packet.

The extension was unanimously approved by the board.

Read More: Board of Trustees extends Mantella’s contract, raises tuition

“Since the board approved Reach Higher Together, our strategic plan until 2030, I believe now is the right time to consider this extension to ensure stability and retain the president’s leadership through the entirety of the plan,” Emmitt said.

Faculty voiced discontent with both Mantella and the board during the meeting’s public comment section. 

Figen Mekik, a professor involved in outreach for the open letter, expressed concern over a perceived lack of shared governance.

“It is very disappointing that today, our Board of Trustees chose not to hear the faculty and the students, and made a very premature decision about extending President Mantella’s contract for really no reason at all,” Mekik said.

Two trustees, Susan Jandernoa and Noreen Myers, commented in support of the extension.

“This action reflects the board’s confidence in President Mantella’s leadership but also our shared understanding of what it takes to move an institution forward in a time of rapid change,” Jandernoa said. 

Chair of the University Academic Senate, Courtney Karasinski, stressed the importance of open dialogue during her UAS address to the board.

“Faculty members are integral to decision making at the university,” Karasinski said. “Academic governance must be representative, accountable and transparent. Open and lively communication is essential to university life. The continued pursuit of excellence by the faculty is the best means for advancing the university’s mission, vision and values.”

The board also approved proposals that will raise the cost of living for students, including a 4% raise on tuition, 2.8% raise on room and board and 2% increase to parking permits. Trustee Ronald Hall shared a report on the raises. 

“The university approaches affordability holistically, considering tuition, fees and living costs together because we know that reflects the real student experience,” Hall said. 

Hall stated that even with tuition adjustments, the average net cost to students continues to decline.

“Grand Valley has made measurable progress in lowering costs, including reducing net price for incoming students by nearly $2,800 over five years and maintaining one of the lowest cost positions among Michigan’s public universities,” Hall said. 

Hall cited inflation as the main reason for the raises. 

Another decision was the approval of GVSU’s first doctoral program. The board unanimously approved a Ph.D in computer programming. The area of study will cover topics including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-centered computing, data science and health, and bioinformatics. 

“We want to acknowledge Provost Drake’s commitment to broad engagement and to the following established faculty governance processes through the review of this program,” Jandernoa said. “Following a robust presentation and discussion, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee recommends approval to the Ph.D degree and the new Ph.D in computer programming.”

The program received support from the College of Computing Curriculum Committee and the University Curriculum Committee, however, UAS did not approve the program. The Faculty, Salary and Budget Committee and the Graduate Council also did not approve the program. In a packet provided to the Lanthorn by UAS, it was revealed that 19 members supported the proposal, while 30 opposed it.

Karasinski commented on faculty involvement in the development of the program.

“The provost supported the proposal, and shared a thorough and thoughtful rationale for her decision, acknowledging the concerns raised during the process and committing to oversight with clear metrics for success,” Karasinski said. “Several faculty members, including many who did not support the proposed program, have expressed appreciation for the way this decision was made and communicated.”

The PhD in computer programming, paired with a $166m investment in Blue Dot in February, reflect a focus on computing and new technology. 

After the meeting, former Student Senate President Evan Jackson stated that collaboration between various sections of the GVSU community was his biggest takeaway.

“One key takeaway that I have from this meeting is the shared commitment to the future of Grand Valley across all our community,” Jackson said.