No action items were presented during the meeting.
Board members expressed confidence in current operations and noted that planning and progress for next semester are on track.
In his report to the board, President Brad D. Smith highlighted the university’s upward student enrollment trajectory.
“Fall 2025 enrollment has now been published at a national level,” Smith said. “The results showcase how Marshall is well on its way to becoming a demonstration project for what is possible.”
Smith said national figures show enrollment is up about 1%, while Marshall saw more than a 7.5% increase. Retention, an important factor in student success, is also up.
Smith briefed the board on a series of 30 listening sessions for the campus community scheduled to take place between now and commencement. Dubbed Listening Tour 2.0, the initiative aims to capture meaningful insights that can help inform and advance the university’s future and is a follow-up to the 2022 listening tour, Smith said.
The board also recognized four faculty members for their outstanding contributions to the university.
Dr. Mark Zanter, professor of Music and director of the School of Art & Design, received a 2025 ASCAP Plus Award for his compositions, completed, performed, and recorded last year. The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers protects the rights of music creators by licensing and distributing royalties for public performances of copyrighted works.
Kae Bradley, Communication Studies instructor, received a $19,000 grant from the American Historical Association, in partnership with the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program, for “Appalachian Culture in ELL (English Language Learning) Education: A Primary Source-based Workshop for Educators and School Stakeholders. The project is a collaboration with Wayne County.
Dr. Mindy Yeager-Armstead, chair of the Department of Natural Resources & Earth Sciences, was featured in the Environmental Monitor for the work in her lab. Her grant-funded research involves improving flood predications in headwaters streams by linking traditional hydrologic models with remote sensing of watershed conditions. Her group focuses on the Fourpole Creek watershed, which routinely experiences significant flooding.
Dr. Amanda Capino, clinical associate professor of pharmacy, received the 2025 MHN Excellence in Pharmacy Advocacy Award for exceptional dedication, leadership and advocacy for the profession of pharmacy and patient care. The winners embody the spirit of advocacy by advancing the roles of pharmacy in healthcare, shaping the profession’s future, and improving patient outcomes.
The next scheduled meeting is set for April 8.