Board of Trustees to receive integrated strategy update at January meetings

The Ohio University Board of Trustees will receive an integrated strategy update to include discussion of budget planning, enrollment and progress on the University’s Fearlessly First Strategic Framework during its meetings Jan. 16 and 17. In addition, University leadership will provide an update on alignment plans for Ohio University’s Regional Higher Education in support of the One OHIO Strategy.

The Board will also consider a name for the new Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine building and new capital projects during the meetings.

Budget Planning, Enrollment and Strategic Framework Update
When: Interrelated Strategic Agenda Update, 9:30 a.m. Jan. 16, Walter Hall 104

The Board of Trustees will hear an integrated strategy update from University leadership that includes a review of current and forecasted enrollment projections and the budget position generated by these projections, immediate and near term actions to close the current year deficit with a controlled use of reserves, and longer term plans to reduce costs.

The presentation will also feature progress updates for several Strategic Framework initiatives aimed at repositioning the University as a nimble 21^st century public university of choice. In addition, leadership will share new data that will inform our marketing strategy, and an update on additional strategies for marketing and student recruitment in the near term.

Regional Higher Education program alignment
When: Academics and Student Success Committee, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Walter Hall 104

The administration will announce the Regional Higher Education alignment plans in support of the One OHIO Strategy and the OHIO Strategic Framework.

The plan aligns Regional Higher Education programs to appropriate academic colleges beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year. Implementation of the plan will begin during Spring Semester 2020. Program alignments are based on discipline or area of expertise.

The realignment plan was put forward as one of the options for recommendation in the Regional Higher Education Task Force report from November 2018.

Heritage College building name
When: Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 2:45 p.m. Jan. 16, Walter Hall 104

The Board will consider naming the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s new medical education facility in honor of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation (OHF), which provided a $105 million grant to the Heritage College in 2011, $21 million of which supports the construction of the building.

Located on the university’s new Union Street Green, the new building will house all medical education curricular activities on the Athens campus, as well as faculty offices and several of the college’s administrative units. The facility will enable the Heritage College to achieve parity in state-of-the-art learning environments across its Athens, Dublin and Cleveland academic campuses, including the technology integration necessary for medical education and research collaborations across the campuses, and will bolster recruitment of outstanding, diverse faculty and students.

Capital projects
When: Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 2:45 p.m. Jan. 16, Walter Hall 104

The Board will consider six new capital projects, including four on regional campuses. The projects are:

• Dublin Medical Education Building 2 renovation: This project, estimated at $6.8 million, would address deferred maintenance needs of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, building envelope and existing elevator, as well as improvements to align the space to meet the needs of incoming tenants. Construction would begin in FY21 and be complete by mid-2022.
• Lancaster Campus HVAC and energy efficiency improvements, Phase I: This project, estimated at $1.73 million, would be the first phase of HVAC and energy efficiency improvements at the Lancaster campus. Brasee Hall improvements include replacement of a boiler and related hot water piping and controls, while Herrold Hall would have its air handler and controls replaced. Construction would begin in FY21 and be complete by mid-2022.
• Innovation Center infrastructure upgrades: This project, estimated at $1.4 million, will update the existing redundant heating systems that are no longer functional, along with air filtration, security key swipe installation, and the conversion of office spaces into lab space to be used by tenants. Construction is scheduled to be complete by late 2020.
• Chillicothe Campus Stevenson Center roof replacement: This project, estimated at $832,000, would replace the existing roof. Construction would begin in FY21 and be completed in early 2022.
• Scripps Hall ground floor eSports renovation: This project, estimated at $650,000, is part of a presidential initiative to bring multi-dimensional scholarship through video gaming to OHIO and will create an eSports facility in Scripps Hall. The space will include a competition room, club practice room, social gaming area, office space and a broadcasting booth. Construction would be completed by mid-2020.
• Eastern Campus Health and Physical Education Center roof replacement: This project, estimated at $642,000, would replace the existing roof and other associated repairs. Construction would begin and be completed in late 2020.

Financial, sustainability updates
When: Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 2:45 p.m. Jan. 16, Walter Hall 104

The Board will receive a preview of the updated Sustainability and Climate Action Plan in advance of public forums scheduled for the spring semester. This will include a new proposed carbon neutrality date, a proposed five-year target for emissions reductions, and 32 additional proposed goals across 16 areas.

The Board will consider a new Investment Policy Statement. The Board reviewed and recommended the adoption of the statement at its October meeting, and the Ohio University Foundation Board approved the statement at its November meeting.

College Credit Plus presentation
When: Main Board Meeting, 9:45 a.m. Jan. 17, Walter Hall 104

Administrators will provide an overview of the College Credit Plus program and its impact on Ohio University. The presentation will include an overview of the history of the program, how it works, and how it is different from earlier dual-enrollment programs such as Advanced Placement. The discussion will also include opportunities for OHIO to incorporate College Credit Plus into meaningful programming.

The full agenda for the January Board of Trustees meeting can be found on the Trustees’ website. The main board meeting will be streamed live at this link.