Friday’s Baker University Board of Trustees meeting will be anything but ordinary.

An occasion that usually calls for catered meals and loads of paperwork will be transformed into a paperless, more budget-friendly gathering.

One thing that will stay the same, however is discussion about tuition along with faculty pay.

University President Pat Long said a lot of work and thought goes into setting the tuition price, and the university tries to stay within a range that isn’t too extreme on either end.

While the meeting will cover the usual business such as approval of faculty promotions and sabbaticals, Provost Randy Pembrook said Friday’s meeting will place more focus on the budget and how the university’s current economic position is affecting students’ classroom experience.

Long said the board members will have a chance to sit down and meet with students and faculty in the cafeteria, where they will purchase their own meals.

“I hope students will take advantage of stopping by the tables,” Long said.

Long said eating lunch with the students and faculty gives the trustees a chance to hear first hand what students are thinking, which is important to the university’s progress.

“I’m sure I’ll learn and hear things that I don’t know now, too,” Long said. “That’s the way to keep moving forward.”

Pembrook said the goal is to give the board a good feeling of what Baker is like on a daily basis.

He said Friday morning’s focus will be on the budget. They will discuss areas in which they have made reductions, what has changed because of the budget cuts and how this affects the campus. It includes time for a question and answer session with deans and faculty from all campuses.

Pembrook said the BOT will discuss revisions to the general education curriculum and accreditation of online classes for the School of Professional and Graduate Studies.

Assistant Professor of Sociology Jake Bucher and Adjunct Professor of Education Amy Wintermantel will also give presentations about teaching innovations.

Usually, board meetings conclude with an extravagant dinner at Collins House. Pembrook said this year it will be replaced with a reception in the Holt-Russell Gallery.

Long said she expects about 25 of the 30 board members to turn out. She said it’s always good to have the support of the board and any information members can receive is helpful.

Long said depending on how the meeting goes, she can see having similar board meetings in the future.

“The trustees were so excited about it that I’ll be surprised if we don’t continue,” Long said.