11-04-94 Trustees Act on Fiscal Matters AUTUMN QUARTER ENROLLMENT AT OHIO STATE IS 55,787 Autumn quarter enrollment at all campuses of The Ohio State University is 55,787. That is down 1,030 students from a year ago; however, it is consistent with the university's goal to stabilize enrollment on the Columbus campus at about 50,000 students. Columbus campus enrollment is 49,542, down 1,081 from a year ago, while enrollment at other campuses is up 51 to 6,245. William Shkurti, vice president for finance, reported to the Board of Trustees that enrollment is 218 -- or four-tenths of 1 percent -- below university projections made last spring and will have no impact on the budget. The 1.8 percent drop in university enrollment is the smallest decrease in the past three years. Enrollment peaked at 60,589 in 1991. BOARD OF REGENTS FUNDING PROPOSAL DISCUSSED Shkurti discussed with trustees a proposal by the Ohio Board of Regents to change the method for funding instructional subsidies for higher education in the next biennium. Subsidy distributions are currently based only on enrollment. Under the Regents plan, a portion of the subsidy distribution would be determined by a college or university's performance and innovation. Shkurti noted that the Regents' plan is only a recommendation and must be reviewed by the governor and the Ohio General Assembly. The Legislature will take up budget legislation in early 1995 for the two-year fiscal period that begins on July 1. ARCHITECTS TO DESIGN ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL, OTHER FACILITIES Trustees authorized employment of architects and engineers to design a new School of Architecture building on the Columbus campus and a new Life and Physical Sciences building to be shared by The Ohio State University-Lima and Lima Technical College. The state capital budget included $1 million for planning the architecture building, which is estimated to cost $20 million in public and private funds. Alumnus Austin Knowlton has committed a $10 million donation to the construction, and the board voted to name both the building and the school in his honor. The budget also contains appropriations of $375,000 each to Ohio State-Lima and Lima Technical College to plan a facility to house the science departments of both schools. Total project costs have not been determined. In addition, the board authorized hiring architects and engineers and requesting construction bids for four university and three pass-through projects. The Legislature appropriated money for the projects in the 1994 capital budget. The university projects are: =FE Renovation of McPherson Laboratory to provide for teaching and research needs of the Department of Chemistry and space for other instructional priorities. The estimated project cost of $17,692,000 includes $14.5 million for construction. =FE Construction of a Maintenance/Receiving/Storage Facility for the Marion Campus. The estimated project cost is $1,553,000, and includes $1,242,000 for construction. =FE Construction of Pesticide Storage and Disposal Buildings at the Wooster campus and the Northwestern, Muck Crops, Southern, and Western branches of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Estimated project cost is $1,040,000, including $835,000 for construction. =FE Renovations in Hale Hall to support African-American students and programs, estimated to cost $1 million, including $800,000 for construction. The Legislature is using Ohio State as a funding-pass- through agency for the following organizations: =FE Edison Welding Institute. A new materials joining facility will be constructed in the University Research Park to house the institute, components of Ohio State's Welding Engineering program and other materials joining activities. Estimated project cost is $2 million, including $1.6 million for construction. =FE The Mill Creek Metropolitan Park District. An educational research building will be constructed, various farm improvements will be built and renovations made to houses and barns at the Mahoning County Farm. The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center conducts research at the farm, which is owned by Mahoning County and leased by Mill Creek Metropolitan Park District. Estimated project cost is $2.12 million and includes $1.7 million for construction. =FE The International Center for the Preservation of Wild Animals Inc. The project near Cumberland, Ohio, calls for designing and constructing animal, administrative, education and conference structures and areas for breeding, research and education. The $1.5 million estimated project cost includes $1.2 million for construction. BOARD REVISES SOUTH AFRICAN INVESTMENT POLICY Trustees voted to resume investing in companies that do business in South Africa. The university had adopted resolutions in 1978 and 1985 prohibiting such investments in response to racist policies in that country. In Friday's resolution, the board said that rescinding the restriction of investing in companies that do business with the Republic of South Africa is "an important symbol in the continuation of our American traditions of civil law and democratic governance." STUDENT QUESTIONS DECISION BY TRUSTEES Michael Scarce, president of the Bi, Gay and Lesbian Alliance at Ohio State and a graduate student, spoke to the trustees on a proposed provision in the student health insurance plan that would have permitted domestic partners of students to purchase the insurance. The trustees' Fiscal Committee deleted the proposal from the insurance plan when it was renewed last June. Scarce asked the trustees to explain why the proposal had been deleted. "We'll get back to you with a further response," John W. Kessler, chairperson of the board, told Scarce. MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS In other matters, trustees: =FE Accepted the 1993-94 audit report, recommendations, and responses for Ohio State. The audit was conducted by Coopers & Lybrand. =FE Heard committee reports on efforts to redevelop the university master plan and about University Ombudservices, and student government activities. =FE Received a report on the first quarter budgeted resources and expenditures by William Shkurti, vice president for finance. [Submitted by: GERSTNER (gerstner@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu) Sun, 06 Nov 1994 10:46:31 -0500 (EST)] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.