6/25/99
ATHENS, Ohio The Ohio University Board of Trustees on Friday approved a $407.7 million budget for the 1999-2000 fiscal year, a 5.1 percent increase over the $387.9 million budget for the fiscal year ending June 30.
The budget includes tuition and fee increases of 6 percent for undergraduates on the Athens campus with no increases for undergraduates at the five regional campuses. Annual tuition for an in-state undergraduate on the Athens campus increases to $4,800, up from $4,530 last academic year.
"This allows us to take care of our obligations to our employees, such as health care, and go forward with technology initiatives," said President Robert Glidden. "At the same time, we remain one of the best values in the state."
The tuition increase covers 3 percent university-wide salary increases for faculty, administrators and classified staff, as well as new scholarships, increased health insurance costs and additional funding for the Center for Innovation in Technology for Learning and Central Computing.
The trustees also approved an 8 percent increase in room and board. Starting fall quarter, a standard double room will increase from $832 a quarter to $899. A 14-meal plan will increase from $806 last academic year to $870.
The room-and-board increase covers renovations and electrical upgrades to residence halls as well as a new computer initiative to place computers in freshmen residence hall rooms by the beginning of fall quarter. University officials plan to install computers in all 4,200 rooms in 40 residence halls by fall quarter 2000.
In other action, the trustees:
Approved designating the new Gordy Hall language lab as the Charles P. Richardson Language Resource Center. Richardson directed the Ellis Hall Language Lab for more than 30 years.
Approved the creation of associate degrees in industrial maintenance and materials management and a one-year certificate in agricultural commerce on the Lancaster campus.
Approved a new master's degree program in computer science to be offered by the Russ College of Engineering'sSchool of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
Extended the contract for the Center for Student Advocacy for five years.
Elected Victor Goodman chairman of the board for 1999-2000 fiscal year and Patricia Ackerman as vice chair.