COLUMBUS - The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Friday (7/7) authorized a fiscal year 2001 spending plan for the university designed to continue to improve the quality of academic programs and student experiences, expand outreach activity and reinforce Ohio State's commitment to diversity.

General fund revenues and expenditures are expected to be $753.8 million this fiscal year, an increase of 5.3 percent over 1999-2000. The total university budget, including income and expenses at University Hospitals and other auxiliary units, exceeds $1.9 billion.

Income projections are based in part on an estimated enrollment of 47,942 on the Columbus campus, and reflect a projected 2.4 percent increase, to $320.3 million, in state instructional subsidy, as well as a 55.7 percent increase, to an estimated $19 million, in state performance challenge funding. Expenditures for current services are expected to increase $25 million, or 3.5 percent, and include budgeted increases of 4.3 percent for salaries and benefits for faculty, staff and student employees and 4.6 percent in student financial aid.

An additional $13 million in general fund spending is earmarked for strategic investment in such areas as academic enrichment, recruitment, library acquisitions, student services and instructional computing.

As part of the budget, trustees approved an additional 2 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduates attending the Columbus campus, bringing the total tuition and fee increase for 2000-01 to 6 percent.

Trustees also approved a 5 percent decrease in tuition at regional campuses as part of a statewide plan to encourage more Ohio residents to attend college. Tuition increases for juniors and seniors at regional campuses are limited to 3 percent. William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, said more than 12,000 freshmen and sophomores at the Lima, Marion, Mansfield and Newark campuses will benefit from the reduced tuition. The reduction is funded by Access Challenge, a program approved by the Ohio General Assembly last year to help make college more affordable for more Ohio residents.

Some budget details, including the final budget book detailing finances for the year, will not be submitted to the board until late August. Though the final revenue and spending plan won't be available until then, the board authorized expenditures within projected income levels.

Learning technology fees approved in two colleges

Trustees authorized the College of Nursing and the College of the Arts to assess undergraduate majors and graduate students a learning technology fee, effective autumn quarter, of $43 per quarter for full-time students. The fee will be prorated at $3 per credit hour for undergraduate majors enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours and $5 per credit hour for graduate students enrolled for fewer than 8 credit hours.

The assessment of these fees will give students access to enhanced technology essential to preparing undergraduate and graduate students fully for the work force or advanced study, and allows Ohio State to maintain competitiveness with other top public research institutions. The fee recommendation follows consultation with affected students.

These colleges join other academic areas already assessing computer fees to students - the Fisher College of Business, the College of Engineering, and the School of Public Policy and Management.

The board also stipulated that the use of Nursing and Arts learning technology fees will be reviewed by the Provost's Advisory Committee and the Office of Academic Affairs, subject to annual approval by the board, until the fee is eliminated or replaced by a university-wide computing fee.

The revenues will be used for technology enhancements targeted to those majors, including:

· Arts: Additional staff to help in software animation computer labs, Web-media workshops, lab upgrades and workstations for digitalization of visual resources.

· Nursing: Extended lab hours, additional interactive instructional simulations and videotapes, and development of on-line instruction.

Annual compensation for president approved

The board approved President Kirwan's compensation package for the new fiscal year, noting that they were pleased with his outstanding leadership and performance in office. At the insistence of Kirwan, the board stayed within the four percent guideline for raises campuswide. Kirwan will receive $302,640 in salary and deferred compensation for 2000-01.

###

(LO)