University of Michigan - September 2026 Regents Meeting

密歇根大学2026年9月校董会会议 本次会议涉及高层领导变动，包括David Miller博士离职以及确认Geoffrey Hewlett担任常任首席财务官（CFO），并讨论了校园基建项目以及计划在Ypsilanti Township耗资12.5亿美元建设的高性能计算设施。教师代表就课程中合乎伦理地整合生成式AI提交了调研成果，学生会代表则重点提出了住房可负担性与组织门槛问题。会议在热烈的公众发言环节进入尾声，发言者就地热脱碳、青少年性别肯定照护政策、宿舍监控摄像头、国家安全计算合作以及博士后劳动待遇等问题向校董会提出了质询。 密歇根大学宣布计划与Los Alamos National Laboratory合作，在Ypsilanti Township投资12.5亿美元建设高性能计算设施，并将配备独立的DTE变电站以隔离并保护市政电网。 (3:48) 多项高层领导职务变动正式确立：David Miller博士离职前往Vanderbilt，Ganesh Palapattu博士接任主管医疗事务的临时执行副总裁，Bobby Hewlett被确认为常任CFO。 (0:00) 针对1,000名教职员工和1,600名学生的一项全面调查显示，密歇根大学在生成式AI的应用普及率上位居同类院校前四分之一，由此推动了20门跨院系教学试点课程的开展。 (8:04) 公众发言环节中，学生和社区成员提出了激烈诉求，重点针对暂停青少年性别肯定医疗服务、配备人脸识别功能的校园监控摄像头以及博士后工资待遇等问题表达诉求。 (47:57)

The September 2026 University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting paired significant leadership restructuring and capital expansion with intense public debate over computing infrastructure, artificial intelligence, housing affordability, and suspended medical services. Executive Leadership and Health Governance Reorganization (0:00) The regents announced several major appointments across executive leadership, including Patty Petrowski as vice president and general counsel, Dr. Patricia Hurn as interim vice president for research and innovation, and Bobby Hewlett as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Academic approvals included Dr. Julie Segre as director of the Life Sciences Institute and Professor Darrell Hudson as vice provost for access and opportunity. The health system experienced substantial administrative realignments as outgoing Michigan Medicine CEO Dr. David Miller prepared to depart for Vanderbilt University. Dr. Ganesh Palapattu was named interim executive vice president for medical affairs and CEO, and Julie Ishak was appointed president of the U-M Health Academic Medical Center. To accommodate evolving clinical operations, the regents approved amendments to Bylaw Section 10, formally separating the role of executive vice president for medical affairs from the deanship of the Medical School. High-Performance Computing and Campus Environmental Initiatives (3:48) University leadership addressed public concern surrounding a planned $1.25 billion high-performance computing center in Ypsilanti Township, developed in partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the State of Michigan. Sited on Textile Road, the project is intended to support complex scientific computations and national security deterrence modeling. The administration sought to dispel community rumors by confirming that the facility is not a military base, will not test or store nuclear weapons, will not draw or discharge water into the Huron River, and will rely on a dedicated DTE electrical substation. Simultaneously, the board highlighted recent capital completions, including the College of Pharmacy Building, the Center for Histotripsy, and the Hadley Family Recreation and Wellbeing Center. During public commentary, Voices for Carbon Neutrality commended the campus's 25-megawatt solar installations and Lorch Hall geothermal heating, but urged expedited capital funding to meet broader decarbonization targets before the regents consider upcoming geothermal work at Palmer Field. Generative AI Strategy and Academic Policy (7:58) Professor Mika LaVaque-Manty presented findings from the AI and Education Working Group, citing surveys of 1,000 faculty members and 1,600 students, as well as a benchmarking study across 72 North American institutions. Findings placed Michigan in the top quartile for AI adoption and adaptation, driven partly by secure institutional computing platforms. A strong faculty consensus supported teaching students to evaluate AI critically and ethically rather than barring tools altogether. Rejecting rigid, one-size-fits-all degree mandates, U-M is running 20 pilot courses and encouraging varied departmental applications—including AI health role-playing in Kinesiology, manual markup of machine drafts in Information, and weekly oral exams in Statistics. However, technological concerns also surfaced during public comment: student representatives from the ACLU raised objections to dormitory-facing surveillance cameras equipped with dormant facial recognition analytics, while another speaker criticized the federal Genesis Mission and the ArchEvolve computing initiative for diverting academic resources toward defense modeling. Student Life, Housing Demands, and Enrollment Dynamics (22:41) Fall semester move-in marked a milestone of over 12,000 residential students, the largest cohort in university history, expanded by the opening of the five-hall Wolverine Village—including Dr. E. Royster Harper Hall, the first campus building named for a Black woman. Despite this capacity growth, Central Student Government President Summit Louth and student petitioner Taylor Bentley warned that escalating off-campus rents and limited upperclassman housing heavily burden returning students, urging coordinated city planning and dedicated housing commitments. On the regional front, UM-Dearborn reported record affordability outcomes: 59% of full-time, in-state undergraduates now graduate debt-free, average student debt fell 37% over a decade, and four-year graduation rates reached a campus record of 39%. However, while undergraduate and transfer enrollments grew, total campus enrollment fell by 3%, driven by an 82% two-year decline in new international students attributed to federal visa processing bottlenecks. Labor Advocacy and Suspended Healthcare Services (47:59) During public commentary, faculty member Naomi Silver marked the one-year anniversary of Michigan Medicine suspending gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender patients under age 19. Silver asserted that the rationale for preemptively halting care had dissolved after the federal government stepped back from threats against hospital funding, calling on incoming interim leadership to restore care in accordance with medical best practices. Labor concerns were brought forward by Nick Geiser, representing the newly established Postdoctoral Researchers Organization (UMPRO), which represents approximately 1,500 postdocs. Announcing their inaugural collective bargaining campaign, organizers highlighted significant employment vulnerabilities, including single-year reappointment terms, base salaries starting at $45,000 compared to $70,000 to $80,000 at peer institutions, and out-of-pocket visa costs incurred by the international scholars who constitute over 60% of the postdoctoral population. While the regents celebrated physical expansions and record on-campus housing, the meeting underscored ongoing institutional friction, leaving key decisions ahead regarding off-campus student living costs, upcoming postdoctoral union contract negotiations, and community demands to resume minor gender-affirming medical services.

[3:48] President: with the goal of never having to use weapons of mass destruction or engage in a conflict in which such an option is available. [12:38] Prof. Mika LaVaque-Manty: be more thoughtful than Ohio State. Which is what we're doing. Thank you. Go Blue. [17:14] Regent Behm: the kind of doctor we all hope for when we need care [25:02] Interim Chancellor Gabriella Scarlatta: value, outcomes, and learning environment [27:41] Provost Laurie McCauley: vanguard of scientific discovery. [35:32] Summit Louth: heart of the student body [35:32] Summit Louth: epitome of student autonomy [37:16] Summit Louth: If there is one thing this board hears me say today, it is that the board should continue full speed ahead in creating housing that students can afford. [38:51] A Regent: back in the last century when I was a student, you could join a student group, they were lucky to have you [49:04] Margaret Weiss (quoted by Naomi Silver): you don't matter enough for us to fight for you. [49:04] Kim Dory (quoted by Naomi Silver): will this care help my kids survive to adulthood? [49:04] Kate McHuron (quoted by Naomi Silver): shameful capitulation to authoritarianism. [55:58] Mike Gleba: slop from chatbots and crooked kite men. [59:44] Nick Geiser: critical research employees [63:27] A Regent: We seem to help grow the greatest leaders in their industry and lose them to places we can't afford to compete with, like our last basketball coach.

[0:00] - Good afternoon. [0:02] Welcome to our September meeting of the Board of Regents. [0:05] I'd like to call our meeting to order with a roll call. [0:08] Regent Acker. [0:11] Regent Behm. [0:12] - Here. [0:13] - Regent Bernstein. [0:15] Regent Brown. [0:16] - Here. [0:17] - Regent Hubbard. [0:18] - Here. [0:20] - Regent Ilitch. [0:21] - Present. [0:21] - Regent Meyers. [0:23] - Present. [0:24] - Regent White. [0:25] - Here. [0:27] - Today, we are welcoming two new executive officers [0:31] to the table. [0:32] Patty Petrowski is serving as vice president [0:35] and general counsel. [0:37] Patty has been with the Office of General Counsel [0:40] since 2014, including serving as Deputy General Counsel. [0:45] Among her stellar credentials [0:47] is a JD from the University of Michigan Law School. [0:51] And Patti Hurn. Let's give Patty a round of... [1:00] And Patti Hurn is leading our research enterprise [1:03] as vice president for research [1:04] and innovation in an interim capacity. [1:07] She recently concluded 10 years [1:10] as Dean of our School of Nursing before joining Michigan. [1:13] Before joining Michigan, she served as Vice Chancellor [1:17] for Research at the University of Texas System. [1:20] Please join me in welcoming Patti. [1:30] Today's meeting also means saying goodbye [1:33] to Dr. David Miller, [1:34] Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs [1:37] and CEO of Michigan Medicine. [1:39] David and I came into our current positions [1:42] at the same time, [1:44] and I could not have asked for a better colleague. [1:47] We are grateful for his leadership of Michigan Medicine [1:50] and the exceptional care our teams provide [1:52] throughout the state and beyond. [1:55] David, we all wish you the very best [1:58] at Vanderbilt University. [2:06] With David's departure, [2:07] I recommend appointing Dr. Ganesh Palapattu [2:11] as Interim Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs [2:14] and CEO of Michigan Medicine. [2:16] While seeking an interim leader, [2:18] I consulted many people about the critical demands [2:22] of leading our healthcare system. [2:24] I am confident in Ganesh's experience and leadership. [2:28] As a highly regarded urologist, [2:30] he has been with Michigan Medicine since 2012, [2:33] serving in numerous clinical [2:35] and institutional leadership roles. [2:37] Ganesh has indicated that he wants to serve in this role [2:40] only on an interim basis, [2:42] and I appreciate his willingness to do so. [2:45] As Ganesh assumes the reins, we will begin a national search [2:50] for our next EVP MA and CEO of Michigan Medicine. [2:54] I believe Ganesh is in the audience. [2:57] Please join me in congratulating him. [3:06] One final leadership announcement I am pleased to share. [3:10] With the board's approval today, [3:12] Bobby Hewlett will become executive vice president [3:15] and chief financial officer, [3:16] having served in the role in an interim capacity [3:19] since November 2025. [3:22] Before that, he served as vice president for finance [3:25] and he has held multiple financial leadership roles [3:28] at Michigan Medicine. [3:30] Bobby has demonstrated impeccable integrity [3:32] and brings strategic focus to the finances [3:35] and business operations of a university he loves. [3:39] Bobby, congratulations. [3:48] The start of a new academic year always brings energy [3:51] and excitement to campus. [3:53] Since late August, we have had ribbon cuttings [3:57] for three spectacular new facilities, [4:00] the College of Pharmacy Building, [4:02] the Center for Histotripsy, [4:04] and the Hadley Family Recreation and Wellbeing Center. [4:08] And tomorrow, we will celebrate the opening [4:10] of Wolverine Village. [4:12] These facilities provide our students, faculty and staff [4:16] with exceptional environments for teaching, [4:18] learning, living, and discovering. [4:22] Last week, we hosted a town hall in Ypsilanti Township [4:27] to discuss our plans [4:28] for a high performance computing center we are developing. [4:32] I want to thank the residents who attended the meeting [4:34] and those who joined online. [4:37] I also want to thank our staff who were there [4:40] to answer questions and explain the project. [4:43] There are many interests and emotions [4:45] surrounding this development as well as misconceptions. [4:49] This is a $1.25 billion computing facility [4:54] that will be built in partnership [4:56] with Los Alamos National Laboratories [4:59] and the state of Michigan, [5:02] will be located on Textile Road in a zoned industrial area [5:06] across the road from a Ford production plant. [5:10] We strongly believe in this project's value [5:13] and its potential to deliver real benefits to society. [5:17] Today's researchers need advanced computing systems [5:20] to drive a wide range of discoveries [5:24] from improving cancer treatments [5:25] to increasing energy efficiency. [5:28] They require extraordinary computing power [5:30] to analyze massive data sets, model complex systems, [5:34] and achieve breakthroughs [5:36] that would otherwise take months or even years. [5:40] Our partnership with Los Alamos National Labs [5:42] will enable their researchers [5:44] to continue working on national security projects [5:47] with the goal of never having to use [5:49] weapons of mass destruction or engage in a conflict [5:53] in which such an option is available. [5:57] This facility will provide those capabilities [6:01] while also attracting world-class scientists and students [6:04] to our region. [6:06] It continues a research legacy [6:08] that has defined our university. [6:11] Just as we strongly believe in this project, [6:15] we believe it is equally important [6:17] to correct misconceptions about it. [6:21] This is not a military installation. [6:24] It is a university research facility. [6:27] No nuclear weapons will be developed or stored on site. [6:32] The center will neither draw [6:34] nor return water from the Huron River or local groundwater. [6:40] It will not affect local utilities. [6:43] We are working with DTE [6:45] to build a dedicated power substation for the facility. [6:50] We know the public has questions and concerns [6:53] and we remain committed to addressing them. [6:55] We have another town hall scheduled [6:57] for October 1st in Ypsilanti Township. [7:00] This computing center advances our university's mission [7:03] to create and share knowledge for the public good. [7:07] I believe it is an investment in our future as a university [7:11] and as a state that has long believed [7:14] in the power of innovation. [7:18] Lastly, I want to voice our support [7:21] for the Protect College Sports Act [7:23] currently under consideration by Congress, [7:26] this critical legislation that protects the best interests [7:29] of our student athletes and our university. [7:32] We have worked closely with our Big 10 colleagues [7:35] and commissioner Tony Petitti. [7:37] We also appreciate the support of Senators Elissa Slotkin [7:41] and Gary Peters. [7:43] We all believe reform is needed in college athletics [7:46] and this bill provides the stability [7:48] and clarity needed to secure a strong, stable future [7:52] for the academic [7:53] and athletic success of our student athletes. [7:58] I'd now like to invite Provost Laurie McCauley [8:00] to tell us about this month's presentation. [8:04] - Thank you, President Grasso. [8:05] It's my pleasure to introduce Professor Mika LaVaque-Manty [8:11] an Arthur Thurnau, [8:12] professor and associate professor of political science [8:16] and associate professor of philosophy [8:18] in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. [8:22] Over more than two decades at U of M, [8:25] Professor LaVaque-Manty has helped shape initiatives, [8:28] including online learning, learning analytics, [8:32] academic innovation, and new approaches to teaching. [8:36] He served for eight years as the director [8:38] of the LSA Honors Program [8:40] and has served on the Academic Innovation Steering Committee [8:44] as well as the Provost Learning Analytics Task Force. [8:48] His contributions to undergraduate education [8:51] have been recognized [8:52] with the Provost Teaching Innovation Prize, [8:55] the American Political Science Association's [8:58] Teaching Innovation Prize, [9:00] and most recently LSA's Individual Award [9:03] for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education. [9:08] Professor LaVaque-Manty's current research focuses [9:11] on higher education [9:13] in the age of technological transformation. [9:17] He has served in leadership roles in many college [9:20] and university-wide initiatives. [9:22] Most recently, Professor LaVaque-Manty has chaired [9:26] the university's AI and education working group [9:30] and will speak today about its recommendations for teaching [9:34] and learning in the age of AI. [9:36] Please welcome Professor Mika LaVaque-Manty. [9:45] - Thank you, Provost McCauley. [9:47] My title slide is showing [9:49] a cutting edge University of Michigan computer classroom [9:53] a few years ago, in the early 1970s. [9:56] 1967, the Michigan terminal system became one [9:59] of the world's first university-wide computer systems, [10:03] and it's just one of the many examples [10:05] of how U-M has adapted to and adopted new technologies [10:12] through its time. [10:14] It's important to emphasize that adapted to and adapted, [10:18] because they are related, especially in the context of AI, [10:22] which for teaching and learning in particular [10:24] is both a great potential and a real challenge. [10:28] So the working group [10:33] was convened last December, [10:35] and our first task was to figure out where we are [10:39] as an institution and in the context [10:41] of higher education in general. [10:43] We conducted a survey of faculty. [10:44] We had a thousand responses. [10:46] AI is controversial [10:48] and you will not be surprised to hear [10:50] that there's a range of views among faculty on this. [10:53] I'll say a few more things about this. [10:55] We also conducted a benchmarking study [10:57] comparing U-M to 72 peer or not peer institutions [11:03] in North America. [11:04] And one of the interesting things is [11:06] that we are in the top quartile, both in terms of adoption [11:10] and adaptation, and there are some areas [11:13] where we're absolutely leading. [11:14] One of them is the way in which Ravi Pence's ITS team [11:19] has provided commercial and non-commercial IT AI tools [11:24] for the university community [11:27] that are safe and adapted for our purposes, [11:30] protecting our students and our privacy. [11:33] So that's one of the examples in which we are definitely, [11:37] we're number one or number two, [11:39] depending on how you look at in this fast moving landscape. [11:42] And then we conducted a student survey with 1,600 responses, [11:50] and one of the surprising things is [11:53] that student views are also varied [11:56] and student use is not as uniform as you might think, [11:59] especially if you hear horror stories [12:01] about rampant cheating. [12:03] It's not the only thing. [12:04] Misuse happens, but it's not the only thing. [12:07] So the surprising thing is that we agree [12:12] on much among faculty [12:14] despite our varied positions on AI specifically. [12:17] In particular, we have a super majority of faculty views [12:22] that we owe it to our students to prepare them [12:25] for a world [12:26] in which they critically and ethically engage AI. [12:30] This is true of regardless of discipline, [12:32] we cut it out in lots of different ways, [12:34] and all faculty, the vast majority think it's very important [12:38] to prepare our students for critical ethical engagement. [12:43] We also think as a faculty that the preparation has to go [12:48] beyond teaching students how to prompt AIs [12:50] if they want to engage AIs. [12:52] We know that most employers, it's a basic demand [12:55] to be able to prompt AIs. [12:58] We want to go both beyond that [12:59] and have students understand what it means to work with [13:03] and even build AI systems, [13:06] whether they want to engage them with or not. [13:10] And then unsurprisingly, faculty think that this is urgent. [13:14] It is urgent that the institution think [13:16] and address these issues [13:18] and prepare our students, prepare our students, faculty [13:21] and staff for this. [13:23] So what did we find that is needed? [13:27] Well, first of all, this is University of Michigan. [13:30] We are decentralized and it is very important. [13:33] There has to be variation by discipline. [13:37] One size does not fit all. [13:39] How AI is used in computer science, [13:41] how it may be used in history [13:43] or in the school of music, theater and dance varies a lot. [13:47] So there's a variation by discipline [13:49] and we are not going to tell that one size fits all. [13:53] We need to prepare competencies for our students [13:56] for their future, both working life and life in general. [13:59] We need to give our faculty and staff competencies now [14:04] to address many of the challenges [14:06] and the opportunities that AI presents. [14:09] In the age of AI in particular, [14:12] the value added of higher education [14:14] is the cultivation of judgment. [14:16] It's more important than ever. [14:18] And for example, our colleague Peter Bodary [14:21] in School of Kinesiology [14:22] uses a large movement science class in which AI represents [14:28] five different health professional roles [14:30] that students can engage [14:31] and engage with the way different interprofessional [14:36] health professionals think about their ethical obligations [14:40] and their work. [14:42] And of course, assessing our students' learning is important [14:46] and can be a real challenge. [14:49] That is something that we need to address. [14:51] We have colleagues who are very innovative with this. [14:55] Professor Cliff Lampe in the School of Information [14:58] has students ask an LLM, any LLM they want [15:02] to produce a paper instead of having the students [15:05] write the paper, [15:06] and then the students take an old-fashioned pen [15:08] and mark it up and turn that in. [15:11] That is a well-documented writing pedagogy tool, [15:15] and it's a way of using old school approaches [15:19] to connect AI and develop critical judgment [15:22] about using AI and not. [15:25] In a large statistics class, [15:27] GSIs are using oral exams weekly [15:31] to test students' competencies [15:33] on whether they understand the homework. [15:36] So this is what's needed. [15:39] That's where our working group's work ended, [15:43] but what we think we should be doing [15:45] and what the university has begun doing, we have drafted, [15:49] the university has drafted guiding principles, [15:52] community feedback was due today, and we'll launch those. [15:57] We are this semester piloting 20 courses [16:00] that are not just using AI or not using AI, [16:03] but studying how these different strategies work. [16:07] And universities, schools, and colleges [16:11] are going to be asked to develop AI competencies [16:15] for their students. [16:16] And then given the fast moving nature of this phenomenon, [16:21] there's going to be an internal advisory board [16:23] to advise the university on, [16:25] again, on the technological issues [16:27] and the sociocultural issues as we move forward [16:30] as the technologies develop and so on. [16:33] So we, of course, always like to say [16:35] we should beat Ohio State. [16:37] You may know that Ohio State was the first major university [16:41] to create a university-wide graduation AI requirement. [16:46] We are not sure that that's a good idea. [16:48] They think they're beating us with that. [16:51] We actually think that the winning strategy on this [16:54] is to be more thoughtful than Ohio State, [16:57] which is what we're doing. [16:58] Thank you. Go Blue. [17:07] - Thank you for that presentation and for a terrific ending. [17:14] Regents committee reports will begin with finance, audit, [17:19] and investment committee Regent White. [17:25] - Thank you, President Grasso. [17:28] The committee, including me, Regents Bernstein, Hubbard, [17:30] and Meyers met with EVP CFO Bobby Hewlett [17:35] and Interim VP Smith for a financial update [17:38] and institutional forecast [17:40] and discussions on debt, [17:41] enterprise strategic risk and audit. [17:49] - Thank you. [17:50] Health Affairs Committee, Regent Behm. [17:53] - Thank you, President Grasso. [17:55] The committee, including all of our board members, [17:58] met with EVPMA Miller for discussion on strategic growth [18:02] and an update on the regional health system. [18:05] Michigan Medicine's CFO Eric Strucko [18:08] and other U of M health leaders [18:10] provided a financial update, [18:12] a clinical update, and other reports. [18:14] Thank you. [18:15] - Thank you, Regent Behm. [18:16] Regent Behm, I understand [18:17] that you also have a resolution to present. [18:23] - I do, Mr. President. [18:29] The regents of the University of Michigan [18:31] expressed their heartfelt congratulations [18:34] to Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs [18:36] and CEO of Michigan Medicine, Dr. David C. Miller, [18:41] as he departs for Vanderbilt University [18:44] to become President and CEO of Vanderbilt Health [18:47] and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. [18:51] A nationally recognized expert in urological oncology, [18:55] a skilled surgeon and leader in health services research, [18:58] Dr. Miller held leadership roles at U of M, [19:01] including executive vice dean of clinical affairs [19:04] for the medical school, the president of U of M Health. [19:07] He was appointed to his current role in July 2025. [19:13] He led the strategic growth [19:15] and integration of a statewide clinical network, [19:18] strengthening U of M's reputation as a healthcare leader [19:21] and advancing its mission [19:22] to improve health across Michigan and around the world. [19:26] Dr. Miller is an extraordinary leader, [19:29] a brilliant researcher, [19:30] a collaborative and empathetic colleague, [19:36] and the kind of doctor we all hope for when we need care. [19:40] The regents are deeply grateful to Dr. Miller [19:43] for his leadership [19:44] and his many contributions to the university [19:47] and wish him continued success [19:48] and fulfillment in this exciting new chapter. [19:52] - Thank you, Regent Behm. [19:56] Let's give Dr. Miller a round of applause. [20:06] Before we move on to the consent agenda, [20:09] I will call for a vote of conflict of interest items, [20:13] finance and property items three through 17, [20:17] each of which requires six votes for approval. [20:20] Does anyone need to recuse themselves [20:22] from a particular item? [20:24] - Yep. Number nine. [20:26] - Okay. [20:27] Regent Brown is recusing himself from item number nine. [20:32] Is there a motion to approve items three through eight [20:36] and 10 through 17? [20:38] A show of hands, please. [20:40] - Aye. [20:41] - Okay. - My hand is up. [20:43] - Thank you. [20:44] Motion carries. [20:46] Is there a motion to approve item nine [20:50] with the recusal of Regent Brown? [20:52] Show of hands, please. [20:55] - Aye. - Aye. [20:57] - Okay, motion carries. [20:59] (person speaks indistinctly) [21:01] We continue with a report [21:02] from Executive Vice President Miller. [21:06] - Thank you, President Grasso. [21:08] I am pleased to... Thank you. [21:10] I am pleased to recommend the appointment of Julie Ishak [21:13] as president of the University of Michigan [21:15] Health Academic Medical Center. [21:18] Julie brings more than two decades of nursing, clinical, [21:21] and operational leadership experience, [21:24] giving her a deep understanding of both patient care [21:27] and the complex systems that support it. [21:30] Julie's current service as chief nurse [21:32] and operations executive has prepared her well [21:34] for this expanded role, [21:36] as she already provides unified leadership [21:38] across clinical operations and professional nursing practice [21:41] throughout University of Michigan Health. [21:44] Julie has a strong record of advancing access to care, [21:47] nursing practice, and virtual care capabilities, [21:51] experience that will be especially valuable [21:53] as the academic medical center continues to grow and evolve. [21:57] Julie combines strategic vision [21:59] with frontline clinical knowledge [22:01] and extensive institutional experience. [22:04] Most importantly, Julie cares deeply [22:06] about every single patient at Michigan Medicine [22:09] and about all of our team members. [22:11] I'm absolutely confident [22:13] that Julie Ishak will provide strong, [22:15] collaborative leadership and keep quality, safety, [22:18] access and the experience of our patients [22:20] and our team members at the center [22:22] of the academic medical center's work. [22:24] Julie's here in the audience, [22:25] and I'd like to congratulate Julie [22:27] and ask for a round of applause. [22:37] - Thank you, Dr. Miller, and congratulations, Julie. [22:41] Vice President Harmon has a report from Student Life. [22:45] - Thank you, President Grasso. [22:47] On behalf of Student Life and the University of Michigan, [22:50] I would like to thank the hundreds of staff and faculty [22:53] who volunteered to help Student Life [22:55] and our colleagues in the Office of New Student Programs [22:58] welcome students into our residence halls [23:01] and at events across campus. [23:04] This year's move-in was particularly special [23:07] because we have the largest group of students [23:09] living on campus in university history, [23:12] over 12,000 students across undergraduate [23:15] and graduate residence halls, [23:17] which is a historic achievement made possible [23:20] by the opening of Wolverine Village. [23:23] Wolverine Village is the first UM housing [23:26] built specifically for first-year students [23:29] since Oxford houses in 1963. [23:33] These five residence halls [23:34] allow for more first-year students [23:37] the option to live on central campus, [23:40] and they create more opportunities for returning [23:42] and transfer students to live in university housing. [23:47] Wolverine Village is also historic [23:48] because of Dr. E. Royster Harper Hall. [23:52] A building named after my predecessor, [23:55] this residence hall is the first building on UM's campus [23:58] to be named after a Black woman. [24:01] We are forever grateful to Dr. Harper [24:03] for the transformative four decades she served [24:06] at the University of Michigan. [24:08] We're also pleased to welcome the campus community [24:11] into the new Hadley Family Recreation and Wellbeing Center, [24:15] which provides incredible opportunities for health, [24:18] wellbeing, and connection. [24:21] Both Wolverine Village [24:22] and Hadley were designed with student input [24:25] and include fantastic sustainability features [24:28] and community-focused features. [24:30] Thank you to the students, faculty, staff, leaders, [24:35] campus partners, donors, and other supporters [24:38] who help make it all possible. [24:41] Thank you, and Go Blue. [24:44] - Thank you, Vice President Harmon. [24:50] Next, reporting on the Dearborn campus, [24:52] Chancellor Scarlatta. [24:54] - Thank you, President Grasso. [24:56] First, I want to report out [24:59] on Dearborn's fall enrollment numbers. [25:02] We welcome nearly 2,000 new students. [25:05] Our undergraduate headcount is up 1%, [25:09] and we saw an 18% growth in new transfer students. [25:14] We're on track to have our fifth consecutive year of growth [25:18] in new transfers. [25:20] But our overall headcount is down 3%, [25:24] largely due to continued challenges [25:27] with international student visas. [25:29] Over the last two years, we have seen an 82% drop [25:34] in new international students. [25:37] The situation remains very concerning, [25:39] but we were prepared for this and have made cost reductions [25:45] and other adjustments, [25:46] and our numbers are in line [25:48] with our projections for the year. [25:50] We're working on several promising measures [25:54] to increase domestic students, [25:56] and I will be providing updates on those in future meetings. [26:00] A couple of other points. [26:02] Our four-year graduation rate [26:04] is the highest in university history at 39%, [26:09] and our six-year graduation rate is at 60% [26:12] for the second year in a row. [26:15] Also, we recently analyzed our data on student debt [26:19] and are very pleased with what we learned. [26:22] 59% of our full-time in-state [26:26] undergraduates graduate with no debt. [26:31] 20% fewer of our undergraduates are graduating with debt [26:36] as compared to 10 years ago, [26:39] and the average that our undergrads borrow has fallen [26:42] by 37% in that time. [26:46] About a quarter of our graduate students take out loans, [26:49] and for them, the average debt has declined 10%. [26:54] I'm also very happy to share [26:56] that according to the most recent college scorecard, [27:00] U of M Dearborn undergraduate student median earnings [27:05] are the third highest among public universities [27:08] in Michigan at $77,000. [27:12] Based on our value and return on investment, [27:15] U of M Dearborn was recently named [27:17] the number three public university in Michigan [27:21] in Time Magazine's inaugural America's Best Colleges, [27:25] that is just behind U of M and Michigan State. [27:28] We're very proud of this recognition [27:30] because it measures what matters most to our students, [27:33] which is value, outcomes, and learning environment. [27:38] Thank you. Go Blue and Go Dearborn. [27:41] - Thank you, Chancellor Scarlatta. [27:45] Under personnel actions, Provost McCauley would like [27:48] to make some comments. [27:50] - Thank you, President Grasso. [27:52] First, I'm pleased to recommend the appointment [27:54] of Professor Darrell Hudson as Vice Provost for Access [27:58] and Opportunity in the Office of the Provost [28:00] and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs [28:04] for a five-year renewable term effective November 1st, 2026. [28:09] Professor Hudson currently serves as the James S. Jackson [28:13] Collegiate Professor and Chair of Health Behavior [28:17] and Health Equity in the School of Public Health. [28:19] He joined the university [28:21] after 13 years at Washington University [28:24] and has established himself [28:26] as a collaborative community-focused leader [28:29] with a strong commitment to expanding opportunity [28:32] and supporting student success. [28:34] In his role as chair, [28:36] Professor Hudson has helped develop a bold vision [28:38] for health equity while strengthening the alignment [28:42] between the department's mission and culture. [28:44] He's launched a mentored research program [28:47] pairing MPH students with faculty [28:50] and introduced a new advising strategy that expanded access [28:54] to guidance and strengthened continuity for students. [28:58] Professor Hudson is an accomplished scholar [29:02] whose research examines the social [29:04] and economic factors that shape health and wellbeing. [29:07] He has served as a principal investigator [29:10] or co-director on research supported [29:13] by the National Institutes of Health, [29:15] the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, [29:18] the Russell Sage Foundation, [29:20] and the Kellogg Foundation. [29:22] He's also President Elect [29:24] of the Interdisciplinary Association [29:26] for Population Health Science and an active member [29:30] of the American Public Health Association. [29:33] Professor Hudson earned his bachelor's degree in psychology [29:36] from Morehouse College [29:38] before coming to the University of Michigan [29:41] where he earned both his master's of public health [29:44] and his PhD in health behavior and health education. [29:49] Professor Hudson brings a deep appreciation [29:51] for the role public higher education [29:54] can play in expanding opportunity, fostering belonging, [29:58] and helping individuals and Communities Flourish. [30:01] I'm delighted to recommend his appointment as Vice Provost [30:05] for Access and Opportunity. [30:08] I'm also pleased to bring forward a supplemental action item [30:12] recommending the appointment of Dr. Julie Segre [30:16] as the Mary Sue Coleman Director [30:19] of the Life Sciences Institute [30:21] for a five-year renewable term effective November 1st, 2026. [30:27] She will also hold an appointment [30:29] as professor of microbiology and immunology [30:32] in the medical school with tenure. [30:35] Dr. Segre comes to us [30:36] from the National Institutes of Health, where she has served [30:40] as a distinguished investigator [30:42] in the microbial genomics section since 2000. [30:46] Since 2013, she's also served as chief of the Translational [30:51] and Functional Genomics Branch [30:53] in the National Human Genome Research Institute. [30:58] For more than 25 years at the NIH, [31:01] Dr. Segre has established herself [31:03] as a prominent leader in microbial genomics, [31:06] human microbiome research, and antimicrobial resistance. [31:11] Her career has connected large scale data-driven biology [31:16] with translational medicine and national science policy, [31:20] and her work has brought together computational expertise, [31:25] scientific research, and clinical practice. [31:28] Her contributions have earned exceptional recognition. [31:33] She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2019, [31:38] the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020, [31:42] the National Academy of Sciences in 2022, [31:46] and the American Association [31:48] for the Advancement of Science in 2024. [31:52] She was also a co-recipient of the Service [31:54] to America Medal in 2013. [31:58] Dr. Segre has also contributed [32:00] to national science policy from 2021 to 2022. [32:05] While on detail from the NIH to the White House, [32:09] she served as an assistant director for health [32:11] and life sciences in the Office of Science [32:14] and Technology Policy. [32:17] She earned her bachelor's degree, [32:19] summa laude in mathematics from Amherst College [32:23] and her PhD in biology [32:25] from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [32:28] followed by fellowship training [32:30] at the University of Chicago. [32:33] She's a world-class scientist [32:35] and a seasoned team leader at the vanguard [32:38] of scientific discovery. [32:40] Her breadth of experience promises an exciting new chapter [32:45] for the Life Sciences Institute [32:47] and the University of Michigan. [32:49] I enthusiastically recommend her appointment. [32:53] Thank you. [32:55] - Thank you, Provost McCauley. [32:57] That concludes the consent agenda. [32:59] Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda, [33:02] including the supplemental personnel items? [33:07] Second? Okay. [33:08] All in favor? [33:09] - Aye. [33:11] - Motion carries. [33:12] Moving on to finance and property. [33:16] The Walter E. Ley Automotive Engineering Laboratory, [33:19] Electric Vehicle Center Education [33:21] and Research Renovation. [33:24] EVP Hewlett. [33:25] - Nothing to add, Mr. President. [33:27] - Is there a motion to approve? [33:29] (person speaks indistinctly) [33:30] Second? All in favor? [33:33] - Aye. [33:34] - Motion carries. [33:36] The sale of vacant land, [33:38] 2184 and 2200 Metro Lane [33:41] Southwest Wyoming, Michigan, EVP Hewlett. [33:44] - Nothing to add, Mr. President. [33:45] - Is there a motion to approve? [33:48] Second? [33:50] - Second. [33:51] - Thank you. All in favor? [33:54] - Aye. [33:55] - Motion carries. [33:58] Conflicts of interest were approved earlier in the meeting. [34:01] We have additional items for approval [34:05] under other Section 10, [34:08] amendments to the bylaws [34:10] of the University of Michigan, VP Kinsey. [34:13] - Thank you, Mr. President. [34:14] These bylaw amendments address the division of authority [34:17] resulting from the separation of the EBPMA [34:20] and the University of Michigan Medical School Dean [34:23] and other organizational changes within U of M Health. [34:26] There are also changes to the makeup [34:27] of two executive committees. [34:29] These administrative recommendations have been endorsed [34:31] by the executive committees and deans of the schools [34:33] and colleges of their appropriate leadership [34:36] posted for public comment and are recommended for approval. [34:39] - Thank you, VP Kinsey. [34:41] Is there a motion to approve? [34:43] Second? Okay. [34:44] All in favor? [34:46] - Aye. [34:47] - Motion carries. [34:48] - Aye. [34:49] - Non-tenure track clinical appointment sequence [34:52] in the College of Business, [34:54] University of Michigan Dearborn, Chancellor Scarlatta. [34:58] - Nothing to add, Mr. President. [35:00] - Thank you, Chancellor Scarlatta. [35:02] Is there a motion to approve? [35:05] Second? [35:06] All in favor? [35:08] - Aye. [35:09] - Okay. Motion carries. [35:11] New non-RACM graduate degree program [35:13] in the School Environment and Sustainability, [35:15] Master of Energy Leadership [35:18] and Business Innovation, Provost McCauley. [35:21] - Nothing to add, Mr. President. [35:23] - Is there a motion to approve? [35:25] Second? [35:27] All in favor? [35:28] - Aye. [35:29] - Motion carries. [35:32] Next we will hear [35:33] from Central Student Government President Summit Louth. [35:41] - President Grasso, Regents, administrators, faculty, [35:44] students, and members of the public, [35:46] to reintroduce myself, my name is Summit Louth. [35:49] I'm from Boulder, Colorado. [35:50] I'm a junior at the University of Ann Arbor [35:52] majoring in Middle East Studies [35:54] and Political Science, [35:55] and I have the distinct honor serving [35:57] as the elected student body president [35:59] of the University of Michigan's Central Student Government. [36:02] The past three weeks have marked an exceptional [36:06] and energizing beginning of the year [36:08] for the U of M student body. [36:10] Our campus has been sprawling with incoming [36:12] and returning students who are not only excited to be a part [36:16] of the Michigan family, but who are actively looking for [36:19] and creating ways to be engaged on our campus [36:23] through the heart of the student body, [36:25] student organizations. [36:28] Student organizations are the epitome of student autonomy, [36:32] and they are an irreplaceable avenue [36:34] through which students can express themselves [36:36] and their interests in the most diverse [36:39] and niche ways possible. [36:41] The sheer importance of student organizations [36:43] is why over the summer we allocated [36:46] over $67,000 to student organizations, [36:49] and it is why the budget of the Central Student Government [36:52] that passed last week has allocated more than $329,000 [36:57] towards student organizations, the largest percentage [37:00] of our budget allocated towards student organizations [37:03] since before the pandemic. [37:06] The beginning of the school year also brings with it [37:09] the innumerable welcome festivities [37:11] that students have the opportunity to interact with. [37:15] The central student government has hosted [37:16] or is soon to host many of these welcome events, [37:19] such as a movie night in the Union, a picnic on the Diag, [37:22] and a pickleball tournament that over 200 students [37:25] have already RSVP'd for. [37:28] The school year has also served as a period [37:30] for setting the groundwork for the many policy initiatives [37:33] that the central student government plans to execute [37:35] throughout the school year. [37:36] As a part of this process, we have communicated extensively [37:40] with student governments from other universities, [37:42] especially the associated students [37:44] at Michigan State University [37:46] and their student body president, Maddie Haynes, [37:48] to gain insight as to how we can implement [37:51] the many initiatives that other schools are already doing, [37:54] the most significant of which is the proposal [37:57] for the creation of a Center for Survivors [38:00] of Domestic Violence. [38:02] I've spoken to at least hundreds of students [38:05] over the past three weeks, [38:07] and I make an effort to ask each one [38:09] what issue is most affecting them on campus [38:13] and what they would most like to be addressed. [38:17] The most prevalent issue, overwhelmingly, has been related [38:21] to the cost of living, primarily housing. [38:25] This university has already done so much [38:28] through the construction of the Wolverine Village, [38:30] and if there is one thing this board hears me say today, [38:33] it is that the board should continue full speed ahead [38:37] in creating housing that students can afford. [38:41] I thank the board for yet another opportunity [38:43] to speak to you all about the condition of the student body [38:46] and of our student government, [38:48] and that concludes [38:49] the student government's region's report. [38:50] Thank you very much. [38:51] - Thank you very much, Summit. [38:55] - Summit, so first of all, I hope you're feeling better. [38:57] You were missed at the Hadley dedication yesterday, [39:00] but you were represented very well by your colleague. [39:05] A question for you [39:06] about the student organizations on campus. [39:08] My understanding is we have [39:09] 1,700 student organizations or more. [39:13] One thing that I hear a lot about amongst from students [39:18] is how it's increasingly competitive [39:23] to get into some of these groups, [39:26] and that may be restricting the experience [39:29] that many of our students have [39:31] because back in the last century [39:34] when I was a student, you could join a student group, [39:37] they were lucky to have you, but now it involves hoops [39:42] and interviews and elaborate processes, et cetera. [39:46] I'm just wondering if that's something that you hear [39:49] and if it is something that is occurring, [39:51] if there's anything that you or we together [39:54] can do to address that. [39:56] - Yeah, that's a great question, [39:58] and I would also say it's spot on. [40:00] This university, as all of you know, [40:02] is extremely prestigious, and the students that we accept [40:06] and who come here are extremely ambitious [40:09] and extremely dedicated. [40:10] And with that comes the student organizations [40:13] that they create also being extremely prestigious [40:15] and extremely dedicated [40:17] and wanting to find students of that same mindset. [40:20] So there is a sense of competition [40:24] among many of the student organizations [40:26] that we have on campus. [40:27] The beauty of the University of Michigan though, [40:30] and the freedom [40:32] with which students can create organizations though, [40:34] is that if you don't have a sense of belonging [40:38] in a student organization or aren't accepted into one, [40:41] you can create one, which is really incredible [40:44] because it's a lot harder to do at many other universities. [40:48] But what I would say, a great way to address that issue is [40:52] by fostering a more communal mindset among students. [40:56] This university is known as having the catchphrase [40:59] of leaders and best, and we are the leaders and best. [41:02] However, I think oftentimes providing [41:05] and promoting an environment of cooperation [41:10] rather than competition is a really great way forward. [41:14] I know that Ross made some changes to their policy [41:17] as it relates to the Ross curve, [41:18] and students support that so immensely [41:21] because of the fact that it fosters cooperation [41:24] rather than competition. [41:27] - Thank you very much, Summit. [41:29] Now, Vice President Kinsey will take us [41:32] through public comment. [41:34] - Thank you, President Grasso. [41:36] We're now moving [41:37] into the public speaker section of the meeting. [41:39] As part of their regular meeting agenda, [41:40] Regent set aside time for individuals [41:43] to present comments to the board. [41:45] All public meetings are formal events [41:47] convened under Article 8 Section 4 [41:48] of the Michigan Constitution, [41:50] and in keeping with reasonable [41:51] and appropriate norms of decorum, all attendees, [41:54] including speakers, should treat others [41:56] with respect and civility. [41:58] Individuals who are approved to speak [41:59] will be expected to speak to the topic [42:01] that was submitted during the registration submission, [42:04] truthfully disclose any relevant organizational ties [42:07] during the registration submission, [42:08] and promptly cease speaking during the allotted time. [42:11] Each speaker will receive two minutes to speak [42:13] unless otherwise noted. [42:15] Speakers who do not adhere to these rules [42:18] will be precluded from addressing the board [42:19] in future public comment sessions. [42:22] Thank you. And with that, I'd like to welcome [42:24] our first speaker, Donald Levitt. [42:28] Welcome, Donald. [42:29] When you're ready, you have two minutes to speak. [42:35] - Hello, I'm Donald Levitt. [42:38] I'm the chair of Maize and Blue Courage [42:41] We are a volunteer nonpartisan organization of U of M alumni [42:45] and allies advocating for academic freedom [42:49] and institutional independence [42:50] at the University of Michigan. [42:53] Many alumni are concerned about the impact [42:55] of federal initiatives on the university. [42:59] I'd like to share with you how we are providing education [43:01] for alumni and opportunities for action. [43:06] In February, we hosted a webinar [43:07] with Attorney General Dana Nessel. [43:10] At that time, we also submitted to you an open letter [43:13] signed by U of M alumni and later submitted a second letter. [43:19] Two Saturdays ago, [43:20] we published an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press [43:23] describing three federal initiatives [43:26] targeting higher education. [43:29] Regarding one of the issues, accreditation, [43:32] we have submitted to you the comments [43:34] which we submitted to DOE. [43:37] With President Emeritus Lee Bollinger's upcoming visit [43:40] to discuss academic freedom, [43:43] we are proud to co-sponsor this event [43:46] along with the Life-Changing Education Initiative [43:49] and the Alumni Association. [43:52] We are also co-sponsoring the protests [43:55] currently occurring outside. [43:58] Gender-affirming care must be reinstated [44:01] if we want to continue to regard ourselves [44:04] as the leaders and best. [44:07] Finally, we are part of a group [44:08] of alumni advocacy organizations [44:11] associated with Big 10 universities. [44:14] We call our group Bigger Than Ten. [44:18] Some of these groups meet with each of their regents [44:20] on a regular basis, so I will be reaching out to each of you [44:27] to schedule an appointment. [44:29] Thank you for your efforts [44:30] during this very challenging time in higher education. [44:37] - Yeah. [44:48] - Mr. Levitt, I just wanted to thank you [44:50] for forming this organization. [44:51] We met maybe six months ago and I got to meet your group. [44:54] I think it's horribly important in this time [44:56] where the federal government, I think, [44:58] is fundamentally changing the relationship [45:00] between the federal government and higher education [45:04] without a public debate. [45:05] So I encourage all the alumni [45:07] to get to know this organization and consider joining [45:10] and participating in it, [45:11] and thanks for your support of the transgender protest. [45:14] - Thank you, Regent Brown, for your support. [45:19] - Thank you, Donald. [45:20] Our next speaker is Jane Vogel. [45:24] Welcome, Jane. [45:25] - Thank you. [45:26] - When you're ready, you have two minutes to speak. [45:31] - So my name is Jane Vogel, [45:32] and I speak on behalf of Voices for Carbon Neutrality. [45:37] The regents made a commitment to carbon neutrality [45:39] and the PCCN recommendations back in '21. [45:43] This is becoming how we do things at Michigan. [45:47] Installation is underway on 25 megawatts of solar [45:50] across the three campuses. [45:52] Wolverine Village is teed up to be a powerful set [45:56] of living learning labs. [45:58] Geothermal, installed at the new dorms over at Lorch Hall, [46:02] is already a catalyst to cross-disciplinary research [46:06] with significant funding. [46:08] Congratulations. [46:09] That is real momentum, and it's been your decisions. [46:14] Despite this momentum and initial progress, [46:17] Michigan has fallen behind [46:19] in implementing the PCCN recommendations. [46:22] This work is strategically critical for this university [46:27] and is essential investment in the future. [46:31] National surveys and Michigan's own script survey indicate [46:35] that students care deeply about this. [46:38] It is driving the growing enrollment [46:40] in environmental and sustainability classes. [46:44] It is a key element in faculty attraction and retention. [46:49] It is mission-centric [46:51] in tackling one of society's most pressing issues, [46:55] and it is financially sound [46:59] by future-proofing our campuses with investments now [47:04] versus paying three or four times later, more later. [47:09] This is why energy, climate action, sustainability, [47:13] environmental equity all make up a pillar [47:17] of the Look to Michigan campaign. [47:20] It's about future infrastructure, [47:21] and Michigan is poised to lead in this space. [47:25] The university must act with greater urgency [47:28] to implement the PCCN recommendations [47:31] in the targeted timeframe. [47:34] Geothermal is up next, and we encourage a positive vote. [47:38] Thank you. [47:45] - Jane, you're right. Geothermal is up next. [47:48] I think you'll be happy with our vote. [47:52] Palmer Field's next. [47:53] Thank you. [47:57] - Thank you, Jane. [47:59] Our next speaker is Naomi Silver. [48:02] Hi, Naomi. Welcome. [48:03] And you have five minutes to speak when you're ready. [48:09] - Thank you. [48:10] My name's Naomi Silver. [48:11] I'm faculty here at U of M [48:13] and a parent of a transgender young adult. [48:16] It's now been one year since August 25th, 2025, [48:20] when Michigan Medicine complied in advance [48:22] with the Trump administration's bullying [48:24] and ended gender-affirming care [48:26] for transgender youth under 19. [48:29] Since that time, beginning in September 2025, [48:32] you've heard from members of the community almost monthly [48:35] at every single Regents meeting [48:37] reminding you of the shamefulness of this decision [48:40] and asking you to reinstate this care. [48:43] I sit here today to ask again [48:45] and to remind you of the powerful words [48:47] you've heard this past year. [48:49] Last September, Amy Milligan sat here [48:52] and said, "17 years ago, I sat in the NICU [48:55] with my twin newborns who were five weeks premature, [48:58] my wife down the hall with the emergency," [49:00] try not to tear up, "C-section that saved their lives. [49:04] That night, our lives were in our doctor's hands. [49:06] Today, they're in yours." [49:08] 13 years later, the first of our twins told us [49:11] she was trans. [49:12] She said that without HRT, [49:14] she probably wouldn't be alive today. [49:17] On October 16th, David Rosenfeld sat here [49:20] and said, "You claim an illegal subpoena forced your hand, [49:24] but Boston Children's Hospital received the same subpoena [49:27] and they did not cave. [49:28] They were the victors in court. The subpoena was squashed. [49:31] The Trump administration was ruled [49:33] to have acted in bad faith, [49:34] and BCH still proudly provides gender-affirming care [49:37] to all who need it." [49:39] On November 20th, Margaret Weiss sat here and said, [49:42] "When Michigan Medicine ended gender-affirming care [49:45] for patients under 19, [49:46] you didn't make an administrative decision, [49:48] you made a moral one. [49:50] You sent a message to every trans kid in Michigan, [49:53] 'you don't matter enough for us to fight for you.'" [49:57] On February 19th, Kim Dory sat here [49:59] and said, "Every parent in here knows [50:02] that when their child is hurting, you only ask one question, [50:06] will this care help my kids survive to adulthood?" [50:09] For me, it did. [50:10] Now we're asking you to be just as brave as the children [50:14] who received your care [50:15] and continue to fight this legal battle for them. [50:18] On March 19th, Kate McHuron sat here and said, [50:21] "Your action is not merely a policy change. [50:24] It's a betrayal of trust [50:26] and commitment to medical best practice, a direct erasure [50:29] of the rights and wellbeing of LGBTQ youth, [50:32] and a shameful compitulation [50:34] to authoritarianism in our country." [50:37] On May 21st, Rebecca Najerian sat here and said, [50:40] "By catering to their demands without a fight, [50:42] you're allowing them to further use our children [50:45] as a political tool, and you're complicit [50:47] in the further harm of transgender children." [50:51] On June 25th, Julia Blau sat here and said, [50:54] "Medical consensus has not changed. [50:56] There's no new evidence against gender-affirming care. [51:00] Gender-affirming care is still the standard of care, [51:03] best practice, and legal in Michigan." [51:06] On July 16th, Kate Madigan sat here and said, [51:09] "This is not the first time in history [51:11] that the powerful have targeted minority populations [51:14] with cruelty for political gain, [51:16] and we know how history looks back on how people [51:19] and institutions respond." [51:21] With the news this week that the Trump administration [51:23] is backing off their push to block Medicaid [51:25] and Medicare funding to hospitals, [51:27] there's no reason not to reinstate care. [51:29] This news also shows [51:30] that institutions standing together [51:32] can effectively push back. [51:34] If institutions like the world-renowned [51:36] University of Michigan are not willing to stand up [51:38] for science-based medical care, [51:40] then where will you draw the line? [51:43] Today, like Amy Milligan one year ago, [51:46] I too remember sitting in the NICU with my baby. [51:49] Now they're a beautiful, thriving 19-year-old. [51:53] My child told me that from early on, [51:55] they felt like a stranger in their own body. [51:57] It felt like hell. [51:59] Working with Michigan Medicine, [52:00] they began hormone blocking medications and then HRT. [52:04] Now, three years later, [52:05] my child tells me this treatment has helped them [52:08] to overcome their gender dysphoria, [52:10] to finally feel content living in their body. [52:16] I don't know if you fully understand the miracle [52:19] and power of those words. [52:21] To summarize our community's words, [52:23] gender-affirming care [52:24] is effective evidence-based medical care. [52:27] Our children's lives have been saved by access to this care. [52:31] Michigan Medicine's decision [52:33] to end this care has caused untold stress for our families [52:36] and severed our trust in an institution [52:38] we were proud to be part of. [52:40] The University of Michigan, the leaders in best, [52:43] has the power and the moral duty [52:45] to fight back against this campaign of political bullying. [52:49] Dr. Palapattu, congratulations on your new role [52:52] at Michigan Medicine. [52:54] Dr. Palapattu and President Grasso, you have the opportunity [52:57] to change the course Michigan Medicine took a year ago, [53:01] reverse this decision [53:02] and reinstate gender-affirming care now [53:05] for our young patients, not someday, [53:07] not when it's politically convenient, but now. [53:10] Thank you very much. [53:28] - Ms. Silver, thank you [53:29] and for everyone else in the room [53:30] who are advocating for our children. [53:33] It matters. [53:37] - Thank you, Naomi. [53:41] - I'd like to now welcome our next speaker, Claire Hakimian. [53:45] Welcome, Claire. [53:48] Claire, welcome. [53:53] - You have up to two minutes to speak when you're ready. [53:58] - My name is Claire Hakimian, [53:59] and I'm here speaking on behalf of the ACLU undergraduates. [54:03] Just about one year ago, I spoke to this region's board [54:06] about our concerns surrounding the lack of safeguards [54:09] and rapid increase of cameras on campus. [54:12] Since that day, very little has changed. [54:15] We remain concerned that despite DPSS's promise [54:18] that these cameras would not be installed in places [54:21] where individuals, quote, [54:22] "Have a reasonable expectation to privacy," end quote, [54:25] that their location in places like the Law Quad [54:28] grant them visibility [54:29] into the private residences of students. [54:32] Furthermore, the installation of cameras [54:34] with AI analytics technology is disturbing. [54:38] Although DPSS claims that this technology exists [54:41] but is not in use, [54:42] the fact that it exists at all is concerning, [54:45] especially given that the student oversight board [54:47] we were once promised was walked back [54:49] on with little to no explanation. [54:52] We deserve to know whether DPSS will have the ability [54:55] to use our data from these surveillance cameras [54:57] and share them with outside organizations [54:59] and federal agencies [55:01] that may not be [55:02] in the Wolverine student body's best interest. [55:04] We deserve to feel fully comfortable on campus, [55:07] both as we live our daily lives [55:09] and as we exercise our First Amendment rights. [55:12] So today I ask you, how much did these cameras cost? [55:16] How much are we as students paying for them? [55:19] Does this facial recognition technology exist, [55:22] and is it being overseen by students [55:24] as we were once promised? [55:26] Who is our data being shared with [55:28] and how long is it being kept for? [55:31] Although not much may have changed since we last spoke, [55:34] today our student body is more aware than ever [55:36] that these cameras are in use, [55:38] and together we are demanding transparent, [55:41] honest answers from the regents that are meant to serve us, [55:44] and we will continue doing so [55:46] until we receive the answers that we are deserved. [55:48] Thank you. [55:54] - Thank you, Claire. [55:58] I'd like to welcome our next speaker, Mike Gleba. [56:04] Hi, Mike. [56:05] You have five minutes to speak when you're ready. [56:08] - Thank you. [56:09] All right. [56:10] For everyone in this room, by a quick sign of applause, [56:13] who here has heard of the Genesis Mission? [56:17] Okay. [56:18] The Genesis Mission was established via executive order [56:20] in November 2025 as a new frontier [56:23] of AI-fueled scientific collaboration. [56:26] It's also holding scientific funding hostage, [56:28] mandating all science be funneled into an AI-driven approach [56:31] to delivering products, requiring mandated collaboration [56:34] with pre-approved industry partners, [56:36] most of whom contributed [56:37] to our lunatic president's ballroom. [56:39] The people who brought us move past and break things [56:41] are now targeting American scientific research. [56:44] They are stealing half the grant money [56:46] that keeps grad students and labs going [56:48] and giving it to tech oligarchs. [56:49] This is not a science policy, [56:51] it's the destruction of science. [56:53] The Genesis Mission is replacing [56:55] peer-reviewed scientific research [56:56] with slop from chatbots and crooked kite men, [56:59] and the proposed Los Alamos U, Michigan data center [57:01] is a big part of it. [57:03] The Genesis Mission is funding ArchEvolve, [57:05] an evolutionary agentic AI system. [57:07] Its goal is to develop an AI-driven multi-agent framework [57:11] that enables specialized AI agents [57:13] to collaboratively generate, evaluate, [57:15] and refine complete [57:17] application-specific accelerator platforms. [57:20] It's being developed by U of M and Los Alamos [57:22] and will undoubtedly be integrated [57:23] with the proposed data center. [57:25] What will it be collaboratively generating? [57:28] Per the White House's own July 22nd press release, [57:31] one of the goals of the Genesis Mission [57:33] is accelerating the design of weapons, components, [57:37] and systems to compress the design, testing, [57:39] and certification of conventional [57:41] and nuclear weapon components. [57:43] Due to the collaborative nature of this, [57:46] all of the data in American science is now in one big pot [57:49] that a bunch of companies just have access to. [57:52] What a juicy national security vulnerability [57:54] for foreign actors. [57:56] Why would you trust anything science related [57:58] coming from this administration? [57:59] They have already cut funding to NASA, [58:01] the National Science Foundation, [58:03] the National Institute of Health, [58:04] and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [58:07] They fired the entire NSF board [58:09] and replaced the Surgeon General with a conga line [58:11] of cable news sycophants. [58:13] Problems the Genesis Mission claims it will solve, [58:16] such as AI weather modeling, renewable energy, [58:18] and nuclear engineering were already being worked on [58:21] by big labs of federally funded scientists, [58:24] and they all got fired by DOGE for being woke or whatever. [58:27] Best case scenario, it's just a mob shakedown, [58:30] the of science, maybe a kickback to big tech [58:33] for their work influencing elections. [58:35] Worst case, it's used by the religious radicals [58:37] running this country [58:38] to speed up Armageddon and the extinction of humanity [58:41] by either nuclear annihilation [58:42] or just pollution and poverty. [58:44] The malicious optimism around this project will kill us all. [58:47] Thank you. [58:54] - Thank you, Mike. [58:58] Our next speaker is Nick Geiser. [59:02] Hi, Nick. Welcome. [59:03] You have two minutes to speak when you're ready. [59:07] - Hello, my name is Nick Geiser. [59:08] I'm a postdoc in the Line Weber Institute [59:10] for Theoretical Physics and a member of the bargaining team [59:13] for the University of Michigan [59:14] Postdoctoral Researchers Organization, [59:16] our newest union representing 1,500 postdocs [59:19] at the University of Michigan, [59:20] and I'm joined here by a few colleagues. [59:23] I wanted to introduce our union [59:24] and our current bargaining campaign to the board. [59:27] So postdoctoral research fellows, or postdocs [59:29] are full-time employees with PhDs [59:31] who perform much of the research [59:32] that makes this university so great. [59:34] Postdocs in Michigan Medicine [59:35] perform life-saving cancer research, [59:37] postdocs in the College of Engineering [59:39] develop new vehicle technologies, [59:41] and postdocs in my own department study the origins [59:44] of the universe by studying black holes and quantum gravity. [59:47] Postdocs are not students. [59:48] We are critical research employees. [59:51] We are, however, at the most precarious point [59:53] of our whole careers. [59:55] Last year, the lowest paid postdoc made only $45,000, [59:58] while our appearance to institutions [60:00] started postdoc salaries at around $70,000 [60:03] at the University of Washington [60:05] and $80,000 at the University of California. [60:08] The typical postdoc works between two and four years [60:10] at U of M before securing their next, [60:12] hopefully more permanent job. [60:14] These are often tenure track professorships [60:16] or highly skilled positions in industry. [60:19] But under current policy, [60:21] postdocs at the University of Michigan [60:22] can only receive one year appointments at a time [60:25] and have to be reappointed at the end of every year. [60:28] Extensions like these are common [60:29] but can be revoked at the last minute [60:31] due to interpersonal conflicts, [60:33] funding cuts, or even discrimination. [60:35] We currently have a case where an expected mother [60:37] has received a non-renewal notice [60:39] and we're working towards fixing that as soon as we can. [60:42] Additionally, over 60% of the postdocs are international, [60:46] meaning that they are the best and brightest in the world [60:49] recruited to come do research here [60:51] at the University of Michigan. [60:52] Unfortunately, under current policy, [60:54] these international postdocs often pay for their own visas [60:56] to come to work here and are forced to use vacation days [60:59] to renew their work authorizations often every year. [61:03] Last year, 1,100 of us, a super majority, [61:06] signed union authorization cards to form UM Pro, [61:08] and we thank the board for that decision. [61:10] And I ask here today for the board support [61:12] in our current contract fight. [61:14] Thank you. [61:21] - Thank you. Thank you, Nick. [61:24] Our final speaker today is Taylor Bentley. [61:29] Hi Taylor, welcome. [61:30] And you have two minutes to speak when you're ready. [61:38] - All right. Good afternoon, Regents. [61:40] My name is Taylor Bentley [61:41] and I'm an undergraduate student [61:42] here at the University of Michigan [61:44] studying environmental science. [61:45] When I did not receive on-campus housing [61:47] for my sophomore year, finding somewhere to live [61:49] became a constant source of stress. [61:51] Like many students, [61:52] I was pushed into making a major financial decision [61:55] months in advance simply because I was afraid [61:57] that if I waited, [61:58] I would not have anywhere affordable to live. [62:01] That experience led me to start [62:02] the Returning Student Housing Initiative [62:03] and a petition calling for expanded housing options [62:06] for returning students. [62:07] Today, that position has more than 540 signatures [62:11] from students and community members. [62:13] Through conversations with the university housing, [62:15] central student government, [62:16] and the Ann Arbor tenant student, [62:18] I have also learned that this issue [62:20] extends beyond campus. [62:23] When students cannot access university housing, [62:25] thousands of us enter Ann Arbor's private rental market [62:28] where we compete not only with each other, [62:30] but also with residents for a limited supply of housing. [62:34] I recognize and appreciate [62:34] that the university is already investing [62:36] in new residential development. [62:38] My request today is for a greater transparency [62:41] around those existing and future plans. [62:43] I ask the university to publicly and regularly report [62:47] how many beds new developments will add, [62:49] when those beds become available [62:51] and how many will be accessible to returning students. [62:55] I also ask the university to strengthen communication [62:57] with the city of Ann Arbor [62:58] about planned residential development [63:00] so the university students [63:02] and the city can better understand [63:03] how campus growth affects the broader housing market. [63:06] More than 540 people have already said [63:09] this issue matters to them. [63:10] I hope the university will make it easier for them [63:12] to see what comes next. [63:14] Thank you. [63:27] - Mr. President, this concludes our public speaking. [63:31] - Yep. [63:31] One quick thing since I didn't get a chance [63:33] after you read the resolution, [63:34] I just want to thank David Miller again [63:36] as an incredible leader. [63:37] He's a true Michigan man, loves the University of Michigan [63:41] from kind of up north in Midland [63:44] and spent a couple summers up in my neck of the woods. [63:48] You've been an incredible leader, the best in the country. [63:50] We seem to help grow the greatest leaders in their industry [63:55] and lose them to places we can't afford [63:58] to compete with like our last basketball coach. [64:01] But obviously you'll always be here [64:04] and you've given us two of your daughters [64:07] on our tennis team as standout competitors [64:09] and we'll let you leave so long as you allow your son [64:13] to come here and play tennis for us. [64:15] So that's the bargain if you'll agree. [64:17] So thank you for everything you've done [64:19] and obviously a great leader and a great friend. [64:22] Thank you. [64:28] - This meeting is adjourned.