WMU Home > WMU News >

WMU News

Hettinger, Asmonga-Knapp to be sworn in as trustees

April 22, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Gubernatorial appointees James Hettinger and Mary Asmonga-Knapp will be sworn in as new members of the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees Friday, April 24, just before the board holds a public session to tackle such agenda items as a new employee contract and 2009-10 apartment rental and room and board rates.

During a 12:45 p.m. public ceremony in Room 157 of the Bernhard Center, Hettinger of Fennville, Mich., and Asmonga-Knapp of Battle Creek, Mich., will be sworn in by Chief Judge Stephen D. Gorsalitz of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Family Division in Kalamazoo. Both new trustees were recently appointed to eight-year terms on the WMU governing board by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

A formal session of the board will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the same location. Agenda items include consideration of a new contract with the WMU Chapter of the Teaching Assistants Union. The three-year contract with the new union will be effective Aug. 18. TAU chapter members ratified the contract terms on April 9.

Also on the agenda is a recommendation to increase residence hall room and board rates and campus apartment rental rates by 2.9 percent for the 2009-10 year. For students already living in traditional campus residence halls and purchasing dining plans, rates will remain the same as part of WMU's Western Edge compact. That compact ensures a student's room and board rate will remain the same for up to four consecutive years, beginning with the first year the student submits a housing contract.

Additional agenda items to be considered include reports on gifts, grants, personnel reports and curricular changes; renewal of a lease agreement; adoption of a program to prevent identity theft; and a formal policy to govern an ongoing student-managed investment fund that was launched earlier this year.

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/news