After a couple of months of campus bustle, the Ohio University Board of Trustees will hold its first meeting of the academic year Thursday and Friday.
During the meeting, the Board will hear presentations regarding enrollment and a scholarship matching program for undergraduate students. The Board will vote on resolutions regarding new academic programs and capital projects.
The resolutions regarding new academic programs will create programs in the College of Fine Arts, the Honors Tutorial College and the Patton College of Education.
Those programs include a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film, a Bachelor of Arts in global studies and a Master of Science in recreation and sport sciences.
Some resolutions are capital projects, which include installing new gas lines for the Lancaster campus, the construction of the Richland Avenue pedestrian crossing, a new gas line on East State Street, gas service for the Sook Center and fixing several gas lines on the Zanesville campus.
The Richland Avenue pedestrian crossing will allow vehicles to drive over it and pedestrians to walk under the bridge.
Other resolutions include continuation with design and structure of capital projects. Those projects include Herrold Hall infrastructure and interior improvements on the Lancaster campus, chilled water pump repairs on West Green and Ryors Hall lobby renovation.
During the Resources, Facilities and Affordability Committee meeting, members will aim to pass multiple resolutions, some regarding capital projects and give a presentation on the budget. The presentation will explain how money is being spent and budget planning assumptions for Fall Semester 2020.
The Academic and Student Success Committee will hear presentations on the College of Fine Arts and student enrollment.
There was a total of 3,980 incoming freshman students this Fall Semester, an increase of 1.6 percent over last year; however, total university enrollment is at 34,443, which is down 3.9 percent from last year.
Those numbers are based off the fall 15th day census. While enrollment has decreased, there has been an increase in out-of-state students, as well as international students, compared to last year.
Lastly, there is a resolution to appoint Regional Coordinating Council members. The Board of Trustees will appoint Patrick L. Nash and Shannon Nezbeth as members on the Coordinating Council for the Zanesville campus.
