OHIO Board of Trustees to learn about Faculty Development Certification, review the establishment of the Ohio Academic Health Science Center during January Board meetings

The Ohio University Board of Trustees will learn about the Teaching and Assessing Experiential Learning Certification – an innovative program that is fostering transformative, hands-on experiences for faculty to help students apply their academic knowledge to the real-world. The Board will also consider formally recognizing the OHIO Academic Health Sciences Center, which would provide a coordinated approach to improving health outcomes through education, research translation, and partnerships during meetings on Thursday, Jan. 15, and Friday, Jan. 16, on the Athens campus.

Additionally, the Board will receive a Community Standards update from Scott J. Bye, assistant dean of Students and director of Community Standards & Student Responsibility, and a financial update from Vice President of Finance & Administration, CFO, and Treasurer David Moore.

Committee meetings will begin at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, in Walter Hall 104 and conclude around 3 p.m. Committee meetings will resume on Friday, Jan. 16, at approximately 9:30 a.m., with the main Board meeting and President’s report beginning at approximately 11:45 a.m. The complete schedule and agenda for the January meetings, including links to meeting livestreams for both days, is available online at ohio.edu/trustees.  

Additional details regarding the currently listed agenda items from the Board of Trustees’ January meetings include:

Teaching@OHIO Faculty Development Certification – Teaching and Assessing Experiential Learning
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15, Walter Hall 104 

Executive Vice President and Provost Donald J. Leo and Melinda Rhodes-DiSalvo, executive director for the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, will share with the Board an update on the faculty development certification, specifically highlighting the Teaching and Assessing Experiential Learning certification. This program is designed to strengthen Ohio University’s longstanding commitment to experiential, hands-on education. Created in response to the University’s Dynamic Strategy priorities, the certification supports faculty in designing, implementing and assessing experiential learning across curricula through a structured, self-paced program focused on knowledge acquisition, implementation, assessment and reflection. They will be joined by a panel of faculty who have completed the certification and will explain how it has changed the way they teach.

Enrollment Update
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15, Walter Hall 104

Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger will share with the Board an update on in-progress spring 2026 enrollment, noting that the preliminary census date is set for January 26. According to Boeninger, the total enrollment is trending approximately 3% ahead of spring 2025 levels, continuing a pattern of year-over-year growth for the spring semester. Boeninger will discuss the key drivers of these enrollment changes, including both areas of success and ongoing challenges.

One Logo Project
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15, Walter Hall 104

Vice President for University Communications and Marketing Robin Oliver will share with the Board an overview of the 2026 One Logo Project, an initiative that will evolve Ohio University’s brand marks to a unified, one logo strategy across both academics and athletics. Oliver will explain how many large institutions have adopted a single-logo approach in recent years to strengthen brand awareness and affinity; she will also outline how OHIO plans to build on existing recognition by embracing the arched OHIO mark as the University’s primary logo, with minor design updates.

Academic Health Sciences Center
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15, Walter Hall 104

Vice President of Health Affairs Ken Johnson and College of Health Sciences and Professions Dean John McCarthy will present to the Board a resolution to establish the Ohio Academic Health Sciences Center (OHIO-AHSC), outlining how the initiative will address significant health challenges and health care workforce shortages across the state, particularly in rural and Appalachian communities. They will explain how formal recognition of OHIO-AHSC will provide a coordinated approach to improving health outcomes through education, research translation and strategic partnerships, building on Ohio University’s existing strengths. These strengths include the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Health Sciences and Professions with its comprehensive portfolio of health professions programs and longstanding collaborations with major health systems that align with national standards defined by the Alliance of Academic Health Centers International.

Facilities, Energy Management, Sustainability, and Safety Annual Update
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 9:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 16, Walter Hall 104

Steve Mack, executive director of Facilities Management and Jon Cozad, senior advisor for Design and Construction will share with the Board an update on Facilities Operations, providing an in-depth overview of performance and progress across key operational metrics. The materials will highlight customer service ratings and work order backlog as primary key performance indicators, along with a fiscal year 2024 peer comparison using the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA) Facility Performance Index. This comparison is augmented with internal data to demonstrate actual expenses for FY24 and FY25, as well as the FY25 budget.

The presentation will also address operational efficiency through a detailed analysis of utility consumption, examining the impact of commodity costs, weather trends, changes to the campus footprint and steam plant operations. In addition, Brent Mattox, director of Safety, will provide a safety overview underscoring Ohio University’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant environment across all campuses. The update will conclude with the Annual Sustainability Update provided by Sam Crowl, director of Sustainability, highlighting key accomplishments, updates on the Sustainability Hub, peer comparisons and recognition of Ohio University as the state’s top “Green School” by The Princeton Review and a recipient of the Green Achievement Award from Green Energy Ohio.

Capital Projects
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 9:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 16, Walter Hall 104 

The Board will consider several new capital projects, including:

• Central Food Facilities Roof Replacement – The Board will consider a resolution to approve a $3.4 million project to replace the existing roof with a new code-compliant roofing system, including roof deck repairs, added insulation to meet current energy code, new membrane and flashings and improved drainage to prevent ponding on the roof. The project is anticipated to be funded with departmental reserves.
• Fetter’s Run Erosion Control – The Board will consider a resolution to approve a $1 million project to repair eroded areas of the stream by restoring stable channel geometry and installing rock channel protection in critically damaged areas. The purpose of the project is to stabilize Fetters Run, reduce flood risk to Lancaster Campus facilities and public infrastructure and protect the City of Lancaster’s Heritage Trail from future flood-related damages. The project is anticipated to be funded with departmental reserves.