Ohio University Board of Trustees Authorizes Issuing Bonds to Support Improvement Projects

Contact: Jack Jeffery at (740) 597-1793 (office) or (740) 290-4479 (pager) or George Mauzy, (740) 597-1794

ATHENS, Ohio (February 2, 2001) -- The Ohio University Board of Trustees authorized the issuing of $50 million in bonds to fund several construction and improvement projects on campus and the purchase of an airplane. The bonds will allow the university to:

• Upgrade and renovate nine university buildings to enhance energy savings

• Renovate Peden Stadium, adding 2,000 seats on both sides and an area for the marching band and lowering the field seven feet

• Purchase a King Air C90SE six-seat airplane for use by Airport Operations and in research by the Avionics Engineering Center

• Construct a new 6,500-square-foot facility and extend existing aircraft parking apron at Ohio University Airport

• Upgrade existing substation and extend power to West State Street development and proposed lecture hall facility to be built south of Grover Center

• Rehabilitate Bentley Hall including construction of a 55,000-square-foot departmental office building and renovation of existing building

• Construct a 40,000-square-foot lecture hall and classroom facility

• Construct a 24,000-square-foot building on West Union Street at the site of the former Athens Lumber Co. to house human resources offices, training and conference spaces

• Construct a 32,500-square-foot Innovation Center at West State Street Research Park to include space for laboratories, light manufacturing and offices

• Construct 8,000-square-foot Carin Strength and Conditioning Center as extension of Peden Stadium Tower

• Purchase and renovate Athena Theater, with renovations making facility handicapped-accessible, upgrade existing space and renovate facade

• Renovate buildings 13 and 14 at The Ridges to provide 55 art studios for Graduate Art Studio

• Construct, renovate and acquire housing

• Acquire property for motor pool facilities.

In other matters at the meeting:

• The trustees approved a resolution to establish an MBA program in India through the development of the Ohio­Manipal School of Business, Bangalore. Ohio University will provide delivery of the program, and all faculty will be full-time employees of the university. The Manipal Education Network in Bangalore will provide facilities and assist in the recruitment of students.

• The board passed two resolutions related to the naming of Athletics facilities. The artificial playing surface will be named in honor of Peggy Pruitt, who is retiring June 30 after 25 years with the university. Pruitt has served as coach of the field hockey and tennis teams and in several administrative positions. The new all-weather running track will be named the Blaine R. Goldsberry Track, as was the former running track at Peden Stadium. Goldsberry, a 1941 graduate and member of the Ohio Athletics Hall of Fame, was a football player and team physician for the Bobcats.

• Ohio University President Robert Glidden reported that Gov. Bob Taft told him to expect a 2 percent increase in state funding instead of the 4 percent the university had projected. Glidden said the university is investigating ways to cut expenditures to offset the potential loss. The board voted to create a resolution that supports Ohio State University receiving a tuition cap exemption and the state deregulating tuition caps for all state-supported universities. The board will draft a plan explaining how Ohio University would benefit from tuition cap deregulation.

• Glidden reported the results of the National Survey of Student Engagement. The survey collected information from undergraduates nationwide and compared responses from freshmen and seniors on their college experiences. The responses of Ohio University seniors are especially positive.

• Dean of Students Terry Hogan and Director of the Center for Community Service Merle Graybill provided an overview of the center's programs and activities, including current levels of student interest and involvement in service projects and benefits to the university and community. About 4,000 Ohio University students are involved in community service and volunteer efforts annually.

• Assistant Director of Student Activities for Leadership Programs Becky Bushey-Miller and Program Associate Debbie London, a doctoral student, reported on the Leadership Development Program, which targets both students who are interested in assuming leadership positions and those currently in formal leadership positions on campus. About 160 students are involved in the program annually.

• Vice President for Finance Richard Siemer said the university soon will request bid proposals for the university's banking and financial services. Bank One currently handles the university's financial services and is among the institutions that will be asked to submit a proposal.

• Provost Sharon Brehm discussed the Governor's Performance Report on Higher Education, which provides statistical academic data regarding state-supported universities. The report ranks Ohio University near the top among Ohio schools with full-time faculty teaching first-year student credit hours and is tied with Wright State University for the highest percentage of associate professors teaching first-year student credit hours. The university also ranks high in retention of full-time degree-seeking students and student graduation rates.