Trustees evaluate Dunn with high praise for leadership record

KALAMAZOO—Acting at their Dec. 5 meeting, Western Michigan University trustees unanimously approved a positive annual evaluation for WMU President John M. Dunn.

Reading a prepared statement from the board, Trustee Ken Miller of Kalamazoo noted the board's overall assessment of Dunn's performance and singled out a number of areas of special note.

"The Western Michigan University Board of Trustees is pleased with the performance of President John Dunn and with WMU under his leadership," Miller said. He then listed a number of accomplishments by Dunn since his arrival at WMU in 2007:

            • Development and implementation of the University's first strategic plan in many years,

            • Improvement in WMU's standing with partners in Lansing, at the Higher Learning Commission and with many other strategic organizations,

            • Improved financial strength of the University, including years of balanced budgets during some extraordinarily difficult economic times,

            • Leadership in the creation of the WMU School of Medicine and in the affiliation efforts between WMU and Thomas M. Cooley Law School,

            • Increased enrollment of international and nontraditional students and increased diversity among the student population, and

            • Improved relations, involvement and giving among alumni.

"Significantly, Dr. Dunn has brought stability in leadership and direction to this University," said Miller." Although there are always challenges in leading such a large and diverse institution, President Dunn leads our University community through these challenges always after careful consideration and with the best interests of the University and its stakeholders in mind."

Miller concluded by saying that while challenges remain, "the board believes that President Dunn is the right person to continue to lead our University through these challenges, and we place our full confidence in him as president of Western Michigan University."

The board chose to separate the presidential evaluation and compensation discussions and will address the latter at a different time.