At its May 9 meeting, the 91ֿ Board of Trustees was unanimous in passing a resolution of appreciation that recognizes 91ֿ President Beverly J. Warren’s five years of extraordinary contributions, specifically implementing a “students first” priority and mindset, leading to a laser-focus on helping students find their purpose and reach the finish line of a college degree.
The Board also awarded her the title “President Emeritus,” effective July 1, 2019. President Warren, 91ֿ’s 12th president, will depart as president on June 30. As a symbol of the high esteem with which President Warren is held by all, the Board also names in her honor the Beverly J. Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
The Board’s resolution commends President Warren for a legacy that includes , which has spurred five years of transformation and positive momentum while further solidifying and leveraging the 91ֿ system as One University. Under her leadership, the university set new records in graduation and retention rates and the number of degrees earned while elevating the university’s academic and research strengths and standing.
The Board also noted President Warren’s key role in launching new programs in high-demand and emerging fields, increasing its international presence and global impact, along with establishing 91ֿ as one of the nation’s healthiest campuses.
Board Thanks FedEx for $6.5 Million Total Gift, Names New Aeronautics Academic Center in Honor of Company
In appreciation to the FedEx Corp. for its generosity, the Board named a new academic building in honor of the company. FedEx Corp. has pledged $5 million, in addition to $1.5 million already given, in support of an aeronautics academic center that will be located at the 91ֿ Airport. The new 17,800-square-foot building will be named the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center. Construction is currently underway in anticipation of a fall 2019 opening.
The new facility will increase the 91ֿ Aeronautics program’s capacity to enroll students to meet the growing demand for pilots, which the Boeing Co. predicts will require 617,000 new pilots worldwide by 2035. The FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center will provide 21st-century facilities and space to graduate aviation professionals able to fulfill flight requirements and to enter the workforce quickly and well prepared.
The FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center will house collaborative spaces, classrooms, briefing rooms, simulator rooms, and faculty and staff offices. It will provide rooms for current and additional courses and, most importantly, allow for growth in the program’s enrollment, which has grown 55% since 2010.
Board Approves Budget Resolution to Continue Operations Pending State Budget Approval
Board members approved a resolution to maintain the existing budget to continue operations into the 2019-20 academic year as the State of Ohio considers its biennial budget for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. The budget currently under development considers impacts to tuition caps, state share of instruction and funding through the Ohio College Opportunity Grant.
Once the state budget is finalized, the university can recommend a responsible budget for the Board’s consideration at its September meeting.
Board Sets Room and Board Rates
The Board passed a resolution setting room and board rates, effective the 2019 Fall Semester.
The rates are increasing by a combined 3.03% from the previous prices locked in for the 2018 class, whose tuition and room and board rates are frozen for four years. The new rates apply to all students except the 2018 cohort.
The cost of a residence hall, depending on the type of housing selected, will increase between $99 and $156 per semester. Rates for some meal plans will not change, while others may increase up to $79 per semester, depending on the meal plan selected. For a student in a double room, taking the most popular Blue meal plan, the rates would increase by $106 and $66, respectively, or $172 per semester for both.
This marks the eighth year in a row the university was able to keep its room and board rate increases to less than 4%.
The trustees also voted to continue to offer reduced fees to out-of-state students in certain circumstances.
Those non-Ohio resident students who get reduced fees are those attending Regional Campuses who reside in border counties in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, those taking online courses only, those enrolled in English as a second language programs, and students completing the dual enrollment program through the American Academy in Brazil.
Board Honors Donor by Naming WKSU Newsroom
The Board voted to name WKSU public radio’s newsroom, Room 137, as the Perantinides and Nolan Newsroom, in recognition of a $250,000 gift from Akron attorney Paul G. Perantinides, a longtime member of WKSU’s Community Advisory Council.
Attorney Perantinides has volunteered at WKSU for more than 21 years; his gift will enable WKSU to continue its work of producing high-quality, independent journalism.
Board Member Margot Copeland Honored for Leadership
The Board approved a resolution of appreciation to Margot Copeland, who is completing her nine-year term as a trustee. Trustee Copeland has served on multiple board committees, including as Chair of the Academic Excellence and Student Success Committee, and has provided leadership as the current Secretary of the Board, a position she has held since 2014.
Trustee Copeland has provided inspired leadership and tireless advocacy for helping all students reach their full potential in earning a college degree, a life’s mission consistent with the KeyBank Foundation’s grant of $1 million to support programs to increase graduation rates of underrepresented students.
Because of her deep commitment and contributions to the advancement of 91ֿ, the Board designated Trustee Copeland as Trustee Emeritus.
Student Trustee Jessica Peck also received a resolution from the Board for her contributions during her two-year term as the graduate student trustee. She will graduate May 10 with her doctoral degree in business administration.
Among other Board actions:
- The Board awarded the President’s Medal to Professor Emerita Laura L. Davis, Ph.D., for elevating the understanding of May 4, 1970, as a seminal event in the history of the university, community and nation, and for contributing immeasurably to the preservation, remembrance, education and furtherance of its legacy and lessons for future generations. As a 91ֿ freshman in 1970, her life course was forever changed on that fateful day when she witnessed the shooting of 13 fellow students by the Ohio National Guard, leading her to dedicate much of her life and career to the pursuit of truth and transparency, and to the documentation and preservation of the history, memory and lessons of May 4, 1970. Dr. Davis joined 91ֿ’s faculty in 1977 as a part-time lecturer, advancing through the ranks to professor of English and associate provost before her retirement in 2013. She also served as founding director of the May 4 Visitors Center. The President’s Medal is the highest honor conferred by 91ֿ. It recognizes faculty and administrative staff who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of 91ֿ through extraordinary and unique service.
- The Board passed a resolution of appreciation to Herb Page, director of golf and head coach for men’s golf, expressing deep gratitude for Coach Page’s extraordinary contributions to 91ֿ. He came to 91ֿ in 1970 as a three-sport student-athlete (golf, football and ice hockey), earning the first of 45 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship rings as the kicker on the university’s famed 1972 football team and also was the 1974 MAC Scholar of the Year. Over the past four decades, Coach Page has become one of the nation’s most respected golf coaches who has built a dynasty in the MAC and whose legacy has grown with each passing year.
- The Board passed a resolution of appreciation to the members of the Presidential Search Committee for their exemplary service and dedication to 91ֿ. The 16-member committee was formed on Dec. 10, 2018, and was charged with conducting an extensive national search for the university’s next president. Thanks to the committee’s outstanding service, the presidential search reached a successful conclusion with the Board’s appointment of Todd Diacon, Ph.D., as 91ֿ’s 13th president on April 29, 2019.
- The Board approved the envelope restoration of the Mathematical Sciences Building. Constructed in 1992, the Mathematical Sciences Building has received only minor interior renovations since that time. The building is exhibiting signs of water infiltration through its roof and walls. The envelope restoration project will be completed in three phases covering a two-year period. The first phase, in the amount of $700,000, will be funded from local deferred maintenance funds with construction being completed during summer 2020.
- The Board approved additional funding for the Main Hall entry and elevator project at 91ֿ at Stark. 91ֿ Stark plans to add $731,000 to fully fund the project. With additional funding of $731,000, the Board approved a revised budget for the renovations not to exceed $2.31 million. The project is on schedule to be completed in spring 2020.
- The Board approved entering into a five-year contract with Gardiner for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance at 91ֿ’s seven Regional Campuses (Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas campuses), not to exceed $5 million.
- The Board approved entering into a contract with Dell for the provision of replacing aging server and storage equipment for the university, not to exceed $2.5 million. 91ֿ requires periodic refresh and expansion of server and storage equipment to provide reliable core information technology infrastructure.
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Media Contacts:
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