4/12/97

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio University Board of Trustees voted Saturday (April 12) to approve a 5 percent increase in residence and dining hall rates for the 1997-98 academic year.

The key elements driving the increase are a bargaining unit employee wage increase, a 5 percent utility increase and the university's unusually high health insurance rate increase, said Vice President for Administration Gary North.

The residence and dining hall auxiliary budget is self-supporting, receiving no tuition or state subsidies. Part of the increase also will support a $4 million capital improvement program to address some housing issues identified in a 1994 consultant's report.

"Our housing facilities are well maintained and comply with residential safety codes," North said. He added that the university intends to address "major system issues" such as aging roofs, exterior brick work, electrical service, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, as well as aesthetic needs.

Among the scheduled renovations next fiscal year are repairs to the Tiffin Hall roof; work on the New South Green patio and walkways; painting; rewiring in select East Green buildings; and bedroom furniture replacement in several residence halls.

The 1994 report, prepared by the Georgia-based ISES Corp., identified immediate and long-range university housing renovation needs totaling an estimated $108 million. University officials said they plan to seek a consultant's services for guidance on long-term housing configurations, funding of renovations and delivery of services. North said the goal is to complete final recommendations by the summer of 1998.

"Finding funding for housing renovations is a common problem at institutions across the country," North said.

North noted that with the room and board rate increase, Ohio University's rates remain competitive with the local private housing sector and with other Ohio public school residential programs. Under the rate increase, the cost for a standard double room will increase from $733 to $770 per quarter, and the 14-meal flexible plan will increase from $710 to $746 per quarter.

Trustees also approved plans and specifications for the first phase of development of an Athletic Mall on the Athens campus, and approved construction documents for the $5.8 million Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium rehabilitation project.

The Richland Avenue baseball facility will be relocated to South Shafer Street, in part to make room for the upcoming renovation and expansion of Grover Center to house the College of Health and Human Services. As part of the Athletic Mall project, the location of the softball facility also will be adjusted. In conjunction with the relocations, university officials plan to build a new baseball stadium west of the Convocation Center. A total of $2.1 million in state, university and private funding will be available for the relocation and stadium construction.

State appropriations totaling $5.2 million support the bulk of the Alumni Memorial Auditorium project, which will address the need for more stage space, improve and expand dressing facilities, upgrade the orchestra pit, replace exterior stairs on the east side of the building, reorganize circulation to and inside the building, upgrade the house seating and bring the building into compliance with requirements for people with physical disabilities. The rehabilitation is scheduled to begin in June.

On Ohio University's Lancaster campus, a $600,000 first phase rehabilitation is planned to Brasee Hall. Trustees authorized preparation of construction plans and specifications and approved Spencer and Spencer Inc. as associate architect for the project.

In other business, trustees:

* Ratified the labor agreement between the university and Local 1699 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

* Named the upcoming baseball facility Bob Wren Stadium in honor of Wren, who was a student-athlete, coach and administrator at Ohio University. As head baseball coach for 23 years, Wren had a career record of 464-160-4. He later worked in the Office of Admissions for 17 years. Trautwein Field will retain its name and will be moved to the Athletic Mall as an element of Bob Wren Stadium. The field is named for William "Dutch" Trautwein, a former coach and associate athletics director at the university.

* Authorized officials to hire a consultant for the phase one of the Ping Student Recreation Center Tennis Court Complex. The proposed tennis courts are intended to replace tennis courts that will be lost on West Green when the first phase of the Athletic Mall is developed.

*Received a report that the education administration and higher education doctoral programs were restructured and received high marks from the Ohio Board of Regents, which resulted in the restoration of state support for the programs.

* Approved a recommendation that U.S. Sen. John Glen, artist Frederick Harris and Ohio businessman Robert D. Walter receive honorary degrees from Ohio University in the future.