Michigan Technological University President Rick Koubek makes opening remarks to the Board of Trustees during its meeting Thursday. Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette

HOUGHTON — The fall semester’s enrollment at Michigan Technological University will be the largest since the mid-1980s, President Rick Koubek said at Thursday’s meeting of the Tech board of Trustees.

Women will also make up more than 30% of the student population for the first time in the university’s history, Koubek said. More than 2,200 will go to Tech this fall.

Full numbers will be released near the start of the school year on Aug. 26.

At Thursday’s meeting, the board also approved $55,000 in deferred compensation for Koubek, the full amount for which he was contractually eligible, for accomplished during the 2023-24 academic year.

In other action:

• The board approved the creation of a Ph.D. in manufacturing engineering. The degree will emphasize research of the most viable and efficient processes used during fabrication, shaping, machining, and assembly, according to the proposal submitted to the board.

• The board approved emeritus status for Guy Meadows, professor emeritus of geological and mining engineering and sciences & director emeritus of the Great Lakes Research Center; Chris Miller, teaching professor emeritus of forest resources and environmental science; Robert Shuchman, professor emeritus of geological and mining engineering and sciences and director emeritus of Michigan Tech Research Institute; and Nikola Subotic, professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering & director emeritus of the Michigan Tech Research Institute.

• The board approved appointments with tenure for Andrew Barnard (mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics); Michelle Scherer (civil, environmental and geospatial engineering) and Lillian LaReesa Wolfenbarger (biological sciences).

All three are taking on administrative roles with the university. Barnard, once the director of the Great Lakes Research Center, is the university’s new vice president for research. Scherer and Wolfenberger are the new deans of the colleges of engineering and sciences and arts, respectively.

• Recognized employees for more than 35 years of distinguished service: Ibrahim Miskioglu, associate professor of mechanical engineering – engineering mechanics (39 years); David Reed, vice president for research (42 years); Debra Strieter-Baril, senior administrative aide in admissions (36 years).

• Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Suzanne Sanregret gave a presentation on the teams’ athletic and academic successes over the past year.

• Vice President for Student Affairs Laura Bulleit gave a report to the board. The university is expecting a retention rate of 88% for the fall, above last year’s rate of 87.6% and well above the national average of 78%.

• Graduate Student Government President Lauren Sprague and University Senate President Robert Hutchinson reported on their bodies’ activities and plans for the coming year.