President Ittenbach called the meeting to order at 3:42 p.m.

Alumni Council Report

Taylor reported briefly on the Alumni Council meeting of January 10, and noted that Mark Smith had asked to resign his position on this board and the Council, due to other personal commitments.

Highlights of the Alumni Council meeting include

• The 2004 BSUAA president is Wayne Estopinal, BAR79. Wayne is an architect and owns The Estopinal Group in Jeffersonville, IN.
• The 2004 BSUAA budget for $576,000 was approved.

Two new BSUAA initiatives include 1. Establishing a HOST (Help Our Students Travel) program, using alumni volunteers in regional areas to assist students traveling to their geographic areas for job interviews or other college-related opportunities.  Responsibilities of the HOST person could include providing or recommending lodging and transportation, serving as a reference or resource person, providing information ranging from the city's offerings to details about businesses or corporations with which the student might be interviewing. 2. The second initiative is inviting pre-BSU students to campus for a one-day enrichment program. The intent would be for the BSUAA to invite specific age ranges of children or grandchildren of alumni to campus to participate in one-day programs that might include attending classes, and engaging them in activities that would help them learn about BSU.

Dean's Report

The committee reviewing curriculum has one more meeting or presentation to view before moving on the recommendation stages.

The MBA program is " bursting at the seams."  The two classes in Indianapolis were not filled, but many more students have signed up for the distance learning classes.

New Business

This board, lacking a quorum today, will vote electronically on new members. Ittenbach and Taylor will put together the ballot and email it, and Taylor will receive the votes.

Arbuckle and Prickel have resigned the board due to new positions, which have taken them out of state. Dunn has resigned following his term expiration, and stated that" it is his desire to give a new alumnus an opportunity to serve."

Continuing Business

Dialogue Week: Ittenbach distributed results of an electronic survey of alumni participants and Estep passed out results of the faculty participants' survey. Constructive criticism was offered by alumni, including a desire to know what classes they would be making presentations in, and where they are located, at least a week prior to the event. Overall responses were positive from both groups. It was suggested that this Board work with the COB again next year to host Dialogue Days on a Wednesday and Thursday near the end of October 2004.

Awards Committee

Richardson spoke to Oz Nelson and John Gaylor to get their input on possible speakers for the COB Alumni Awards event. Richardson will contact Jim Collins, John Maxwell, Daniel Goldman and Hyler Bracey, who is a friend of Nelson, to determine their availability and costs. Richardson noted that there is money from the Emens Professorship that the COB will be able to use this year and that she's happy to use it for this speaker, if he will also make class presentations.

A few dates being considered are September 30, October 1 and October 7 or 8. Heeter suggested that the event be held on a Thursday to increase attendance potential.

Ittenbach mentioned that four aspects would need to be addressed: Logistics, Publicity/Publication, Award Selection and Program Development. Heeter will call a meeting in early February for the awards selection committee.

(Since this meeting, the University has learned that Homecoming week is set for October 3-9, 2004).

Letter Writing Campaign

Estep reported that the 1^st group of letters has been sent.  473 students have been admitted at this time to COB (last year's corresponding number was 276).  91 alumni have been asked to write letters and 58 have responded positively.

The next meeting will be held on April 29, 2004 at 3:30 p.m. at the Ritz Charles with a business alumni reception to follow.  We will be charging a nominal reservations fee, from $10 - $15 per person) We will ask for the remainder of the bill to be split between COB, Alumni and Development budgets as in the past.