WSU, Board of Governors - IN PERSON ONLY

This specific meeting is supposed to be held in the ballroom in the student center! I got here early to scope the scene out- but it seems like there’s an entirely separate one happening also? Interesting.

I wandered in! Talked to some nice ladies! They set me straight, it is indeed in the ballroom!

Found it! On the right hand side as soon as you walk up the stairs !

It’s pretty empty so far, but I found a giant tub with ice and apple juice inside. Scoreee. Love a good refreshment.
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I can’t remember if I’m allowed to report on people outside of the meeting- so I won’t be speaking with them.

But there’s an interesting looking group of people sitting next to me.

You can find today’s agenda here:

bohttps://bog.wayne.edu/meetings/2025/06-26

Going to charge my phone a little before the meeting starts! Back in a few!

Met up with another Documenter! Hey Sydnie girl!!! Let’s get this bread.
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Plenty of people are filing in for the meeting now, and I’ll say straight up that the name tag situation is a little rough. I can’t see most of them due to the individual sitting in front.

The presentation is nice and clear though! Which I appreciate quite a bit as I’ll be photographing often.

This meeting is called to order at 3:45!

Oh wow, I’m sitting directly behind the wife of a deceased alumni named Eugene Driker. An award named in his honor is being given right now.
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tohttps://today.wayne.edu/news/2022/12/05/driker-posthumously-presented-with-inaugural-award-in-his-honor-50097

The speaker is singing high praise for James and Patricia Anderson, the recipients of said award. Applause goes around the room.
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Turns out I was sitting behind them too! A photographer greets them as they accept their honors.

James is giving a speech on starting his own small business way back when. Giving a shout out to Ned Staebler, who sits in the row before him. In front of the microphone.
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https://wayne.edu/people/ew6660

“If I hadn’t gone to Wayne state there’s no chance I would’ve been able to start my business…”
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James continues to share, cracking a joke about AI and claiming his company started it first.

He’s a charming fellow. The audience chuckles a couple times for him as he regales how he met his wife- through Wayne state. Adorable.
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James says he cares about Metro Detroit- and that his money circles through his community via this University.

“There is no time limit on inventing a better future.”
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Standing applause.

He steps away from the microphone, and now we talk about approving the agenda. It’s time to get serious.

It’s approved. The personnel recommendations are also approved.

Moving on to the Establishment of Endowment. The next meetings are also approved. Now we’re talking about the Academic Student Affairs Committee.
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The student code of conduct is looking at an amendment concerning the use of AI

Onto the Business and Finance committee- a project is approved for the college of education. And a renewal on the university’s line of credit was also approved.
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The representative brings forward recommendations for tuition and auxiliary fee rates.

The recommendation/ proposition is that the tutition and fee be increased by 4.5 ish percent for undergraduate, and graduate students and .. something else I can’t hear.
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She speaks rather quickly, but a recording of this meeting will be available on the Documenter’s website.

The motion is carried. The auxiliary budget is also presented and approved.

Onto the health affairs research and development committee, its Governor offers a contract for approval. Asking for An exclusive license for intellectual property related to treatment of vaginosis- from a company whose name I didn’t catch.
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It’s approved.

Dr.Kimberly is now giving us the rundown of good things happening around the university, I managed to snap a picture of one of the slides here.

Numbers concerning the academic success of student athletes at Wayne State University.

You know that interesting group of people I spoke of? There’s more of them. Lots of people in red shirts. Extremely interested in what they’re here for.

There was a mention of this and I found it interesting enough to grab a link!
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https://today.wayne.edu/news/2025/05/21/live-innovate-play-program-at-wayne-state-creates-new-engine-for-student-innovation-66401

Strategic plan update! KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator!

I finally caught a glimpse of the red shirt logo! UAW! United Auto Workers! Now I’m really interested…

Currently the board is discussing Research and Discovery, who’s representing Governor talks about how receiving grants really accelerates their growth and encourages people to work harder.

Community engagement rep. Talks about the success of an opportunity partnership engagement program- fostering connections with the community better.
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https://engagement.wayne.edu/partner-with-wsu

Now talking about where WSU is in terms of the Strategic plan and its process.

Introducing the Strategic Plan Refresh Committee now, there’s a slide full of names but I’m not taking a picture of that one because I’m sure it’s on the website.

“The committee will have some version of a draft to share … at the end of the summer.”

No more from the Strategic Plan Update! Wow. Quick meeting. It’s already time for public comment.
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Is it odd to say that I feel like the energy in the room has shifted a bit?

The board emphasizes that they do NOT need to respond to these comments and are simply listening.
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7 commenters in person today, with the first one being a woman named Teresa Williams.

A Wayne state Alumni, and teacher who worked for dps. She says she hasn’t been able to understand how students are chosen for Wayne State’s Law-school.
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Asking for a rubric on how to get in, because she’s spoken to many people and the process is vague. She wants transparency.

Next is James Joseph. He makes a proposal to integrate meditative and contemplative practices into the university. Speaking to the poor mental health of college students as a gap in curriculum.

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Self regulation as a skill to be taught by the institution. Using the term “Heartfullness.”

He says that this program is sponsored for free, and that he’d be happy to start a pilot program in the library. More about Heartfullness here.
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hehttps://heartfulness.org/magazine/the-field-of-consciousness

James Middleton (Red shirt!!) says Wayne state has cost UAW a million dollars- the IT department, Financial aid, Grant writers, help desk… the list goes on of places the UAW does Wayne State’s heavy lifting.
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He says their negotiations have been handicapped. That this is an act of betrayal.

“It’s unfortunate that the university has taken the stance that hey- we’d rather be more legal than ethical.” (Paraphrasing.)
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Saying we’ve done everything that they asked and only last week have they received a legitimate offer from the University on the aforementioned agreement.

I couldn’t hear this woman’s name but our next commenter is also in a red shirt!
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She says she believes in Wayne State, and yet she’s waiting for Wayne State to believe in her and her fellow union members. Her wages and contract have been in limbo for the last year.

I think this is the contract mentioned.
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https://hrs.wsu.edu/employees/labor-relations/collective-bargaining/wsu-uaw/wsu-uaw-contract-2024-2026/

Next speaker! UAW speaker as well, concerned about university wasting money on SHEILD* security services instead of paying them. Or investing in the people, community or infrastructure.
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(I don’t think I heard the name of the security company correctly. Will clarify.)

Another speaker, member of the coalition of unions at Wayne state- is here to address Their contract with outside security vender- the same one mentioned before.
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Saying that the contract says they’re present as a deterrent- for 2,000$ a day.

She says the security makes a hostile environment, and mentions how UofM also has a contract with who have been trailing and eavesdropping on UofM students. In plain clothes.

I received a packet but I don’t think I’m allowed to read it till the meeting is over. The speaker thanks Wayne state for their time and asks them to terminate the contract with CITY SHEILD.
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(I did get it right.)

The next commenter also asks the university to stop working with CITY SHEILD. Saying the security stay in their running, stationary vehicles polluting the campus more every day- and that there are cameras all over the university doing their job better.

Paraphrasing here, ‘We believe these cameras and campus police are more effective ways to monitor this campus than the SHEILD security guards.’

She thanks them for their time. Public comment is concluded. Everybody is hustling out of here which is hilarious kind of after such a tense moment.

Realizing now that I don’t remember the meeting being adjourned but it ended at basically 5pm on the dot.

If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line!! Records of this meeting and more on https://documenters.org ❣️