Provost says enrollment growth at OU won't be willy-nilly
Written by Chelsea E. Toy
Thursday, 19 November 2009 11:46
Any enrollment growth must take into account the university's instructional capacity, Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost of Ohio University, told Faculty Senate Monday night.
As OU saw a decrease in its state share of instruction (SSI) in part due to its static enrollment over the last few years, the university's Board of Trustees has asked university leadership to look at ways to strategically increase enrollment. Benoit has commissioned a committee to examine how the university can increase enrollment, and that committee is preparing a report that will be completed mid-December and presented to the board in January.
The report will analyze five areas — instruction, student experience, regional campuses, commuter and adult student populations, and facilities and housing, Benoit said.
"The report recognizes that there have been reductions in instructional capacity and student support," Benoit said. "These reductions have made it more difficult to meet the needs of students and have limited the institution's ability to respond to emerging enrollment opportunities."
Enrollment across the university grew by almost 2,000 students this year after years of nearly static growth.
Students may get to run (almost) naked for charity
Written by David DeWitt
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:32
Ohio University students may have the opportunity this winter to literally give the clothes off their backs, and then run down Court Street.
Representatives from OU’s Student Alumni Board approached Athens City Council Monday with an idea that would shut down Court Street for a “Nearly Naked Mile” race to provide free clothing for the needy.
OU professors speak out again on university's cost-cutting plan
Written by Chelsea E. Toy
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:27
As Ohio University looks to slash its structural deficit by placing freezes on some of academic departments’ carry-forward balances and by shifting $2.6 million from housing and dining funds to compensate for the deficit, faculty members are speaking out again about the university's financial decisions.
The university currently has a $21 million structural deficit, caused mainly by $12 million in investment losses at the beginning of the decade and $7.5 million in Intercollegiate Athletics' (ICA) deficit spending.
Ohio University's Faculty Senate unanimously voted Monday night to approve a sense of the Senate resolution that outlines the body's current priorities.
The body’s Executive Committee hopes this resolution will help guide Senate's decision-making throughout the upcoming budget cuts, another issue Faculty Senate dealt with Monday in a separate resolution calling for zero cuts to academic programs. That resolution is still pending, however.
At least 2,546 Ohio University students finally received their Ohio College Opportunity Grant disbursements on Monday that they had expected to receive at the beginning of fall quarter.
So far, OU has disbursed $947,520 in OCOG funds, and the university’s Financial Aid office estimates a total of $2.7 million will be paid out for the academic year, said Sondra Williams, director of financial aid.
As break approaches, scramble for holiday jobs begins
Written by Natalie Knoth
Thursday, 19 November 2009 10:18
With the bustling holiday season on the horizon, some Ohio University students will be returning home to seasonal jobs, while others will be frantically filling out job applications – all in the hopes of earning some extra dough over the long break.
Natalie McGrew, a senior from Steubenville, has been employed at Macy’s as a seasonal worker for two years and plans to work about 20-25 hours a week over break. McGrew said the job always seems to be waiting for her when she gets back from school.
Ohio University’s dean of students has met with officers and members of the OU chapter of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, as part of a university investigation into an allegedly violent, alcohol-fueled hazing incident that put two students into the hospital.
“The allegations are very serious,” acknowledged Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi. “If they are true, it’s extremely concerning to me, absolutely.”
The national office of the fraternity announced Tuesday that it is suspending the OU chapter’s operations until the local investigation is complete.
Grant to fund OU advocate for sex assault survivors
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:25
Survivors of sexual assault at Ohio University will soon have a professional advocate as well as additional sexual-assault education and support services at their disposal thanks to a three-year, $300,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant recently issued to the university.
The grant will fund the salaries of a new full-time sexual-assault advocate and graduate assistant, according to a news release. The advocate will be ready to serve the special needs of survivors by fall quarter 2010 and will work under the supervision of Susanne Dietzel, director of the OU Women's Center.
Roshan Noorzai, Afghanistan native and Ph.D. candidate in the School of Media Arts and Studies at Ohio University, spoke at Alden Library last Thursday about the possibility of peace in his country. In a lecture sponsored by People for Peace and Justice, he shared his vision for the country’s future, and the role of the U.S. in bringing about peace.
Student leader group discusses trustee voting rights
Written by Alissa Paolella
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:18
Student leaders from across Ohio gathered at Ohio University’s Baker Center on Saturday for a discussion on student trustee voting rights, an issue that has been discussed by OU’s Student Senate over the course of fall quarter.
After a complex and lengthy discussion, OU Student Senate President Robert Leary said he was pleased to have pinpointed several options for the future as student leaders move forward with their goal of making sure the student voice is heard on university boards of trustees in Ohio.
Ohio University Faculty Senate's Executive Committee is introducing a resolution tonight to challenge the university administration's plans to cut academic unit budgets by 10 percent for the next fiscal year.
With at least $10 million in cuts needed to balance the university's budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the Senate's Executive Committee resolves in its resolution that expenditures from academic units should not be reduced to help the university deal with the projected shortfalls in revenue expected for this upcoming year.
Ohio University President Roderick McDavis urged student leaders from across Ohio to avoid an “us-versus-them syndrome” while they put their visions into action at their respective universities. McDavis spoke at the 2009 Ohio Student Government Association conference at Baker Center on Saturday.
OU senior hopes to pass new clothing biz along to juniors
Written by Megan Helgeson
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:08
The creator of the new clothing store, Reddflock, on West Union behind Campus Sundry, explained to The Athens NEWS last week how his idea became a reality and how he can sell everything so cheap.
Gabe Nabors, an Ohio University senior studying finance, said the reason he can sell his merchandise below market price is because there is no brand-name shopping within substantial radius of Athens.
OU housing to subsidize investment losses, athletics
Written by Chelsea E. Toy
Monday, 16 November 2009 10:02
Ohio University plans to shift $2.6 million raised from increased room-and-board fees to the university's fund balance to help make up for $21 million lost mainly through under-performing investments and athletics spending over the last decade, according to one of the university's top financial officials.
The university's fund balance is the account where carry-over money from grants is placed, and officials say the fund balance should be at about $65 million university-wide.
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