The document provides an orientation schedule and information for new members of Merrimack College's Board of Trustees. It summarizes Merrimack's renewed mission to enlighten minds, engage hearts, and empower lives. It also gives an overview of Merrimack College, including its history, academics, athletics, Augustinian values, president, and board of trustees' roles and responsibilities in providing oversight and ensuring the college's integrity.

1. Welcome to Merrimack
College’s
Board of Trustees’ Orientation
Keriann Clinton, Andy Hampton,
Mike Ahern

2. Orientation Schedule
Time Session
8:30AM-9:30AM Welcome
9:30AM-10:30AM Merrimack 101
10:30AM-11:30AM Board of Trustees 101
11:30-12:30PM The Future of Merrimack College
12:30PM-1:30PM Closing

3. A Renewed Mission
Merrimack College has renewed its mission and vision for the
21st century. In December 2008, the Board of Trustees approved a
more clear and compelling mission statement that guides us in our
strategic planning.
Chaired by Rev. Ray Dlugos, O.S.A., vice president of mission
and ministry, a 20-member committee comprised of faculty, students,
staff and administration worked to elicit involvement and input from our
entire college community. They were charged with refining the mission
of Merrimack College to better express the true spirit of the College.
Our entire community has had the opportunity to provide their
thoughts and to help shape the future of Merrimack College. This will
continue to be very important as we embark on our strategic planning
process. This mission and vision statement is our guiding beacon for
the future.

4. A Renewed Mission
Our Mission is to enlighten minds,
engage hearts, and empower lives.

5. Vision
Inspired by the Catholic faith and Augustinian tradition of
seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue, our vision is to:
• Prepare students to adapt creatively to tomorrow’s realities through
excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and the professionals;
• Build a community of scholars welcoming and respecting a diversity of
backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and perspectives;
• Cultivate the intellectual, moral, spiritual, physical, and personal awareness
needed to make wise choices for life, career, and service;
• Encourage and support scholarly work that contributes to the wisdom on
which society bases it’s decisions;
• Engage other educational institutions, industry, and agencies of social
change in collaborative efforts fostering a just, peaceful, and sustainable
world.

6. About Merrimack
Merrimack College is a selective, four-
year, independent college in the Catholic,
Augustinian tradition located in North Andover,
Massachusetts.
It offers undergraduate degrees in liberal
arts, business, science and engineering, and
education; it also offers master’s programs in
education and a range of certificate, licensure
and degree completion programs.
Merrimack has been ranked one of the
top 10 best colleges in the Northeast in the last
3 years by U.S. News and World Report.

7. About Merrimack
Stats and Facts
• Founded in 1947 by the Order of St. Augustine O.S.A. as
a direct response to the needs and aspirations of local
G.I.’s returning home from WWII
• Over 2200 students representing 22 states and 20
countries
• 220-acre campus with 40 buildings
• Over 90 academic programs including 39 major areas of
study
• 13-to-1 student-teacher ratio
• 156 Full-Time Faculty Members
• Over 60 student clubs and activities
• 74% of students live on campus
• NCAA Division I men’s hockey
• 21 Men’s and women’s NCAA Division II sports

8. About Merrimack
Augustinian Tradition
Merrimack’s community is committed to
scholarship and service to others, and provides
students myriad opportunities to develop
intellectually, spiritually, socially and ethically. At
Merrimack, our dedication to the Augustinian
values of hospitality, community, and the pursuit of
truth will make you feel right at home as you
explore the world and gain the experiences you
need to chart your future.

9. President
Christopher E. Hopey, Ph. D.
• Name the 8th President of
Merrimack College on July
1, 2010
• Originator of the
collaborative community
efforts resulting in the
Strategic Plan
• Increase opportunities to
study abroad, new degree
programs and building
renovations
• Has over 20 years of
higher education
leadership experience
• Ph. D. from UPENN
• Authored numerous
journal articles

10. Merrimack College
Board of Trustees 101

11. • Board Composition
– 27 Members
– Predominantly Male
– White
– Business Background
– Member Bio’s
Background Info
• National Association
of Independent
Colleges and
Universities
• Association of
Independent
Colleges and
Universities in
Massachusetts

12. Responsibilities
• “…the Board of
Trustees provides
general oversight of the
College's property and
business affairs. The
Board delegates
operational vision and
leadership of the
College to the
President.”
• “…primary
responsibility is to
ensure the financial
and academic integrity
through delegation to
it’s administrative
agent, the President…”

13. Nuts and Bolts
• Between 20 – 35
Members
• Augustinian Friars IN
GOOD STANDING
consist of 1 for every 5
“lay” trustees
• Meet four times a year
• Yearly retreat in sunny
Florida!
• 11 Standing Committees*
• 1.Executive
• 2.Audit
• 3.Academic and Faculty
Affairs
• 4.Advancement
• 5.Finance
• 6.Enrollment Management
• 7.Mission Effectiveness
• 8.Planning
• 9.Compensation
• 10.Governance
• 11.Investment
• *Limited interaction with non-voters (Faculty
Administration and students)

14. Advancement Goals

16. Development of 10 year plan
• 2010 is when it all began
• 9 months of discussion
• Multiple campus-wide meetings
• Board retreat
• Key leaders of stakeholder groups
– Such as faculty and staff

17. Core Values
Merrimack College seeks to nourish and sustain its
five core values:
Leadership
Community
Awareness
Scholarship
Service

18. Expected Outcomes
• Re-invigorate our identity as a Catholic College in
contemporary culture.
• Involve all members of the community in the careful and
humble self-reflection essential to wisdom.
• Develop a seamlessly integrated academic culture of
excellence in which vibrant intellectual activity intersects with
the physical, social, and spiritual development of our students.
• Lay the foundation for the College to grow in size, diversity,
and stature as well as to take our rightful place as a leading
institution of higher education.
• Become a laboratory for leadership and teamwork producing
graduates ready to compete and collaborate in the process of
shaping the culture of tomorrow.
• Challenge our community to enlighten minds with truth,
engage hearts with love, and empower lives for the work of
justice.

19. Main Goals
• “Create a modern academic enterprise
grounded in innovative teaching, learning, and
scholarship”
• “Develop a contemporary Catholic mission”
• “Create an intellectually vibrant, socially”
engaged, entrepreneurial student experience
• “Inspire and engage our people, culture, and
community“
• “Strengthen our value proposition and
competitive position”

20. Resources
Merrimack. 2010. Advancing Merrimack in the 21st century: The
agenda for distinction. Retrieved
from: http://www.merrimack.edu/strategicplan/brochure.htm
Merrimack College. About Us. Retrieved from:
http://www.merrimack.edu/about/