Board of Trustees to hear annual sustainability update, vote on campus free speech resolution

The Ohio University Board of Trustees will receive the annual sustainability update, vote to amend University policy to include a new campus free speech policy, and be informed about the FY21-22 program accreditation during its meeting on Aug. 18 at Ohio University’s Dublin campus.

Additionally, the Board will receive updates on the College of Health Sciences and Professions programs on the Dublin Campus, as well as hear about the accomplishments of the Voinovich Academy over the last five years. Marion Candrea, chief audit executive, and Laura Myers, director of compliance, will also present on the rebranded Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance and new compliance program for OHIO.

The Board will meet from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Dublin Integrated Education Center on Ohio University’s Dublin campus. On Friday, Aug. 19, the Board will spend its day in a retreat.

Items on the Board agenda include:

Annual facility operations and sustainability update
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 246

Steve Wood, senior associate vice president and chief facilities officer, will present the annual sustainability report, highlighting accomplishments throughout the year, and provide Sustainability Hub Coordinator updates.

The presentation will include Facilities Management and Safety’s key performance indicators, such as customer service ratings and work order backlog, as well as a peer comparison based on outcomes from the Association of Physical Plant Administration Facility Performance Index. It will also include an analysis of the University’s utilities consumption.

Over the last year, Ohio University has been recognized by several organizations for its dedication to sustainability initiatives. New recognitions include being named a bicycle-friendly university, Bee Campus USA, and participation in Race to Zero Waste. OHIO was once again honored as a Tree Campus and EPA Green Power Partner, among many others.

CHSP on the Dublin Campus
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 246

Dr. John McCarthy, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professions (CHSP), will present to the Board about the innovative and experiential approach to addressing health and how OHIO’s Dublin Extension Campus plays a pivotal role in serving our communities.

During the presentation, the Board will learn about the opportunities for students, such as the multiple health-focused programs offered in various modalities on OHIO’s Dublin Campus. Some of the programs include in-person Physician Assistance Practice, online/hybrid Nursing programs, and partnerships like Athletic Training Residency and Combined Master of Science and Dietetic Internship. The Board also will hear about how being on the Dublin Campus expands CHSP’s ability to increase its programming, community outreach, visibility, and impact across Central Ohio.

Soccer fields lease
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 246

The Board will be asked to approve a long-term lease of University land to the city of Athens for the purpose of installing soccer fields to community members, including University employees, alumni and students. Under terms of the lease, the city will pay for and install netting, to be approved by the University, and maintain the soccer fields. The lease will have an initial term of 20 years, with an option to extend it with an additional five-year term.

Capital budget
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 246

The Board will consider several capital expenses to make repairs and address deferred maintenance concerns.

The projects include:

• Bromley Hall building-based heating system ($950,000): This project would transition Bromley Hall to a building-based heating system. To do so, the University must install new heating hot water boilers, controls, and necessary modifications to piping and building systems.  This project will also remove steam and condensate piping between Parking Lot 20 and Bromley Hall. Due to the cost of inflation of market material pricing that has occurred, the University is asking for a budget amendment to add $350,000 to the original budget of $600,000.
• Ohio University Zanesville HVAC and energy efficiency improvements Phase 1 ($3.4 million): This project would be the first of multiple phases to make improvement to multiple facilities at the Zanesville Campus. This project will replace major equipment systems which have reached or exceeded their useful life, modernize building automation systems, refurbish equipment to extend useful life and improve comfort control and energy efficiency including ceilings and lighting replacement in certain areas.
• Peden Tower fire system replacement ($695,000): This project would replace the existing fire alarm system which is obsolete and beyond its useful life. Fire system components that will be replaced during this project include the fire panel and devices with the purpose of the fire alarm system meeting current building code.
• Konnecker Research fire system replacement ($565,000): This project would replace the existing fire alarm system which is obsolete and beyond its useful life. Fire system components that will be replaced during this project include the fire panel and devices with the purpose of the fire alarm system meeting current building code.

Launching a compliance program at OHIO
Audit and Risk Management Committee, 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 246

Candrea will explain the new reorganization and rebranding of the Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance (OARC) and focus on the immediate project needs and long-term program planning.

Myers, OHIO’s first director of University Compliance, will present to the Board the plan to launch the function, which includes balancing immediate compliance needs and developing a comprehensive compliance network. She will detail the initial approach to developing the OHIO compliance network that will include cataloging the decentralized compliance functions across the University, coordinating and supplementing training and outreach efforts, implementing processes for ad hoc or emergent compliance issues, and compiling a prioritized compliance review schedule.

Enrollment Planning Update
Academics and Student Success Committee, 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 246

The Board will receive an update on Fall 2022 Athens Campus freshman enrollment, which is projected to be among the largest classes in the institution’s history. Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger also will discuss strategies that have been deployed to accommodate and manage ongoing demand and interest. She will also detail some of the environmental trends happening in the industry and inform the Board about how those trends can impact our ability to secure and protect a stable share of college-bound high school graduates, particularly in the state of Ohio.

A brief update on OHIO’s new partnership with Guild Education, one of the many strategies in place to increase access to OHIO’s in-demand online undergraduate degree programs for working adults, will also be shared.

Campus Freedom of Expression Policy
Governance and Compensation Committee, 9 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 249

The Board will vote on the new campus free speech policy, which would amend University policy to create a process for any student, student group, or faculty member to submit a complaint about an alleged violation of freedom of speech on campus.

The Ohio Revised Code, Section 3345.0215, titled “Campus free speech policy,” codifies the public policy of the State of Ohio concerning campus free speech, and requires the Board of Trustees to adopt a policy affirming certain principles of campus free speech.

Housing Master Plan update
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, Room 246

University officials will provide an update on the Housing Master Plan, including draft recommendations on rationale for changes and goals, residential programming principles, bed capacity assumptions, and recommended renovation and new build strategies. They will seek Board feedback to inform final recommendations to be presented at a future Board meeting.

The full Board of Trustees agenda is available at https://www.ohio.edu/trustees. The Aug. 18 committee meetings will be streamed at this link.