Nov. 19, 2025: Fall 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting Summary

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share this summary report of the fall meeting of the Board of Trustees, which took place on campus from Wednesday, Oct. 22, through Friday, Oct. 24. I offer special thanks to those who helped plan and participated in the meeting, especially Faculty Chair Erik Lofgren and the Bucknell Student Government officers, who gave informative presentations to the trustees.

As I emphasized in my November 10 University Address, we are at a critical juncture in institutional history, and our entire campus community has the opportunity to shape Bucknell in ways that will ensure our ability to thrive for many years to come. This theme shaped conversations at the fall meeting, which emphasized the importance of strategic thinking, agility and Bucknell's proactive response to the many challenges to higher education.

The Board welcomed Jaynemarie Angbah '03; Barbara Rose O'Connor '89, P'20; Steve Wise '94; and Paul Wythes '90, who were voted in as new trustees during the April Board meeting and whose terms began July 1. I am grateful to these dedicated alumni for agreeing to volunteer their leadership expertise and help guide the University in this important role.

The trustees and invited guests gathered to celebrate the Dominguez Center for Data Science and the Perricelli-Gegnas Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation in a formal dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Those gathered heard inspiring words about the power of interdisciplinary collaboration made possible by the generosity of trustees Michael Dominguez '91 and Scott '94, P'25 and Susan Gegnas Perricelli '94, P'25. Following the ribbon-cutting, guests enjoyed tours of the centers hosted by students.

Members of the Operations & Management Group and I presented the first draft of a plan to gradually expand enrollment over five years in high-demand majors in all three colleges. Increases to faculty, staff and facilities would be made to ensure adequate support for additional students, which would be expected to number 1,120 in each incoming class by the fifth year of the plan. Revenue as a result of this growth would be allocated to strategic priorities, including funding increases to compensation. The Board expressed support for this proposal and directed the senior leadership team to engage with shared governance groups for feedback and develop plans for further campus communication and operationalization.

In the business meeting, the trustees approved a motion to increase the comprehensive fee by 4.25% for academic year 2026-27, which was the amount recommended by the Planning & Budget Committee. By moving Board approval of the next academic year's comprehensive fee from the winter meeting to the fall meeting, we can more accurately prepare financial aid packages for our admitted early decision students as well as our student-athletes, providing their families with the best possible information. The Board also approved two motions to establish two quasi-endowment accounts in accordance with estate requests to support Bucknell's intercollegiate wrestling program and financial aid for students in need.

As always, I am grateful for the wisdom and leadership of the trustees, who have guided our community well. I am confident that together, Bucknellians will meet the urgency and import of this moment as stewards of our generation.

Sincerely,

John C. Bravman
President