… on the recent meeting of the MIIS Board of Trustees

The Monterey Institute Board of Trustees had its final meeting on April 10 in Monterey. After June 30, the current MIIS board will be reconstituted as a board of governors, overseeing the Institute on matters in which the Institute will continue to have significant autonomy, such as academic and student affairs, fundraising and communications, and campus facilities, while also serving the Institute in an advisory role on critical financial matters where the Middlebury board will have final fiduciary responsibility.

The Board recognized retiring members Vic Micati and Russ Leng and expressed gratitude for their invaluable service. It also:

• approved the slate of members for the newly created International Leadership Council, a 24-member affiliate group that will replace the former Board of International Advisors, and focus on supporting the work of the Institute’s academic administration;
• recommended to the Middlebury board the approval of the Institute’s FY 11 budget;
• recommended to the Middlebury board the approval of the revised faculty handbook;
• recommended to the Middlebury board the approval of an updated mission statement that more accurately describes the Institute after its reorganization and integration with Middlebury

Board discussion in the various committees centered around a working document entitled “The Road Ahead,” which chronicles the recent evolution of the Institute into a graduate school of Middlebury College, and identifies directions for future development, along with resources needs and opportunities for support that will help us to achieve our goals.  This document is attached, and we encourage all members of the community to read it, provide feedback, and contribute ideas via the MIIS@Work blog.

The new Monterey Institute Board of Governors will have its first meeting in Vermont on October 2, and return to Monterey for its regular January meeting in early 2011.