OHIO Board of Trustees to receive updates on Dynamic Strategy implementation and fall 2026 enrollment during October meeting

The Ohio University Board of Trustees will receive an update on initiatives underway as part of implementation of OHIO’s Dynamic Strategy, now in its third year, at its upcoming meetings on Thursday, Oct. 15, and Friday, Oct. 16, on the Athens campus. 

Additionally, the Board will receive an update from Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger regarding preliminary fall 2026 census headcount. She will also highlight enrollment trends across undergraduate, regional campus, online, graduate and medical programs and provide an early overview of the University's recruitment, enrollment marketing and pipeline development efforts in advance of fall 2027.

Committee meetings will begin on the Athens Campus at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, in Walter Hall 104 and conclude around 3 p.m. Committee meetings will resume on Friday, Oct. 16, starting at 10 a.m., with the main board meeting beginning at approximately 12:25 p.m. The complete schedule and agenda for the October meetings, including links to meeting livestreams for both days, is available online at ohio.edu/trustees. 

Additional agenda items from the Board of Trustees’ October meetings are anticipated to include:

Dynamic Strategy Year Three Implementation and Planning Framework for Years 4 to 6
Academics and Student Success Committee, 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16, Walter Hall 104

Interim Executive Vice President and Provost John McCarthy will share an update on initiatives underway from the LEARN and WORK pillars as part of the third year of Implementation of OHIO’s Dynamic Strategy.  Additionally, Vice President for University Communications and Marketing Robin Oliver will share information about the launch of the planning process for the next three years of the Dynamic Strategy. University leadership will engage stakeholders across the institution throughout the 2026-27 academic year to extend OHIO’s strategic plan to the year 2030.

Course and Program Vitality Update
Academics and Student Success Committee, 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16, Walter Hall 104

McCarthy will discuss the course and program vitality analyses that the Athens campus deans have been conducting. He will explain the variable underpinning the analyses, an overview of progress in phases one and two and results from the phase one analyses of undergraduate and graduate programs.

General Education Proposal
Academics and Student Success Committee, 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16, Walter Hall 104

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Sarah Poggione will update the Board about their ongoing House Bill 96 general education compliance obligations. She will summarize the Board’s review of BRICKS general education and the recommended changes to ensure compliance with the law, including the integration of civics, culture and society; AI, stem and computational thinking; entrepreneurship and the principles of innovation and workforce readiness.

OHIO Student Investment Programs
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, Walter Hall 104

The Board will receive an update on the performance and progress of the OHIO Student Investment Programs, which are two OHIO student organizations that are gaining hands-on experiential learning opportunities through the management of approximately $16 million of the University’s long-term working capital pool.

Both groups, Student Equity Management Group (SEMG) and the Fixed Income Management Group (FIMG), operate under the direct supervision of Associate Professor of Finance David Stowe and receive administrative oversight by Chief Investment Officer David Gaume.

Students will present to the board on the investment programs and share how the groups continue to maintain strong financial performance relative to their benchmarks while continuing a professional operation that allows for ownership, responsibility and real-world experiences.

Community Standards Update
Academics and Student Success Committee, 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 16, Walter Hall 104

Interim Dean of Students Scott Bye and T. Dane Bennett, interim assistant dean of students and director of Community Standards and Student Responsibility, will present a community standards update to the Board. The update will include four-year comparison data on student conduct trends, sanctions and case resolution methods, updated student experience survey data and testimonials and an overview of the department’s review process and assessment efforts.

Capital Projects
Resources, Facilities, and Affordability Committee, 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, Walter Hall 104

The Board will consider several new capital projects, including:

• Bush Airport New Hangar Construction - The Board will consider a resolution to amend the budget of the Bush Airport new hangar construction to allow for the construction of a 16-unit T-hangar and associated paving to access the airport apron, providing additional leasable hangar space to support airport operations and economic development in Athens County. This $77,000 budget amendment would be funded by department reserves, federal grants and state grants. 
• College Green Revitalization – The Board will consider a resolution to approve the revitalization of College Green and adjacent areas while honoring its history and improving safety, accessibility and gathering spaces. The project includes enhancements to the Memorial Auditorium portico, Scripps Amphitheater, Wolf Garden and Park Place Corridor, along with improved campus entrances and walkway connections across the green. This $3 million project would be funded by gifts.
• OHIO Lancaster Brasee Hall Wagner Theater Renovation – The Board will consider a resolution to renovate the aging theater and support student and community performances at the Lancaster campus. The project includes replacement of auditorium and stage lighting controls, electrical and HVAC improvements, technical booth renovation, theater screen relocation, updated finishes and stage extensions, green room improvements and new audio and technical equipment. This $1,095,900 project would be funded by regional reserves, gifts and state capital appropriations.
• Konneker to Irvine Move and Renovation – The Board will consider a resolution to renovate existing laboratory space in Irvine Hall to accommodate relocation from the Konneker Research Center due to its closure. The project includes architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, laboratory utility and infrastructure modifications in Irvine Hall to support Voinovich researchers, along with relocation of researchers, equipment and offices from Konneker to Irvine Hall. This $517,250 project would be funded by FY23 Century Bond.