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Trustees Approve Renewal of Lease Agreement with GRCC

pictureThe Ferris State University Board of Trustees approved the renewal of a lease agreement with Grand Rapids Community College for space at the Applied Technology Center in Grand Rapids for up to four additional five-year terms during its meeting today (March 25). Ferris trustees also approved the award of an honorary Ferris doctorate in Business and Industry to Ken Mooyman and an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Kendall College of Art and Design for Peter Lawrence to be awarded in May 2011.

Ferris and GRCC have had a lease agreement in place since 1989 and an initial 20-year lease term commenced on July 17, 1991 with four additional five-year automatic renewal terms. That agreement expires July 16, 2011 for the space located at 143 Bostwick NE, Grand Rapids. The first renewal commences on July 17, 2011.

“The Applied Technology Center was the first example of a two-year college and a four-year state university joining together to develop an educational resource of such magnitude,” said Don Green, vice president for Extended and International Operations at Ferris. “The ATC has served as a model for similar facilities across the nation.

“We appreciate the powerful partnership we share with Grand Rapids Community College,” he added. “Our collaboration provides economic advantages to West Michigan students and the community.”

Ferris plans to continue to utilize space in the ATC for offices and instructional facilities for the College of Professional and Technological Studies during the next five-year term and beyond. Currently, the leased space houses approximately 98 full-and part-time employees and provides instructional space for approximately 1,000 Ferris students.

“Ferris has enjoyed a great partnership with Grand Rapids Community College for an extended period of time including leasing space in the Applied Technology Center for the last 20 years,” said Jerry Scoby, vice president for Administration and Finance. “This space is incredibly important to our off-campus programming.”

“This site is very important to us in our off-campus programming as well as our Grand Rapids presence with the proximity to our Kendall College of Art and Design, and the current renovation of the former Federal Building for Kendall College of Art and Design programming,” he added.

Trustees approved the honorary doctorate degree for Mooyman, who currently is president and CEO of Leica Geosystems Inc., which has its Americas Region Headquarters based in Norcross, Ga. As president and CEO, he is responsible for Leica Geosystems Surveying, Machine Control, Scanning, Construction and Geospatial businesses in North and Central America. University officials considered Mooyman’s service to his industry and passion for Ferris as truly reflective of his dedication and commitment to education and service.

KCAD selected Lawrence, of the Corporate Design Foundation of Boston, as a recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Arts degree. School officials base the selection of Lawrence on its criteria of choosing individuals who have significantly impacted the quality of art and design.

Trustees also approved sabbatical leave requests for the following faculty and projects:

College of Arts, Sciences and Education: Sandra Brigance, Fall, 2011; John Jablonski, Spring 2012

College of Business: Lianne Briggs, Fall 2011 through Spring 2012; Ann Gilley, Spring 2012.

College of Engineering Technology: Patrick English, Fall 2011, pending internship acceptance.

College of Education and Human Services: Nancy Lashaway-Bokina, Fall 2011; HikaruMurata, Fall 2011.

College of Pharmacy: Mary Frances Ross, Fall 2011 through Spring 2012 (and possibly Summer 2012) – pending program acceptance.

In other business, the board approved the following:

  • acceptance of a grant from the DTE Energy Foundation for the purpose of renovating a suitably-sized museum space for its Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. The University received a challenge grant from the DTE Energy Foundation in the total amount of $250,000; Trustees approved that funding for this project which will include the original University contribution for design of $100,000, the DTE grant, other gifts to date of $147,000, additional ongoing fundraising, and the University providing funding to complete the project for a total project cost not to exceed $1.1 million;
  • the recommendation of the president that the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing be closed, as of the end of Summer 2011 semester because of insufficient demand for the program;
  • granted conditional approval to resolutions which conditionally authorized the execution of Contracts with the following public charter school academies: Benton Harbor Charter School, in Benton Harbor; Bridge Academy, in Hamtramck; Clara B. Ford Academy, in Dearborn Heights; Creative Technologies Academy, in Cedar Springs; Francis Reh Academy, in Saginaw; George Crockett Academy, in Detroit; Hope Academy of West Michigan, in Grand Rapids; Hope of Detroit Academy, Huron Academy, of Sterling Heights; Joy Preparatory Academy, of Detroit; Lighthouse Academy, of Kentwood; Northridge Academy, of Flint; Pierre Toussaint Academy, of Detroit; and Voyageur Academy, of Detroit;
  • new appointments of Katherine Crossley to Clara B. Ford Academy, Richard Hill, JoshuaKeagle, and Jessie Stegger to George Crockett Academy, Minika Benning of Voyageur Academy and David Leach to Huron Academy and 22 reappointments for the Board of Directors of FSU-Authorized Charter Schools;
  • endorsed and approved recommended changes to the Academic Senate Charter, as presented. The overall recommendations include changes related to the Non-Tenure Track Instructional Faculty representation; Senate Election Committee Appointments; election of Senators, election to the Members-at-Large on the Executive Committee; and
  • to replace the current policy that would give the university president the authority to approve two types of international agreements: general memorandums of understanding and student and/or faculty exchange agreements

The next full meeting of the board is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 13.