The Ohio University Board of Trustees will meet on campus Thursday and Friday in Walter Hall, and OU’s 21st President Duane Nellis will be in attendance.
Some topics the board will discuss at the meetings include construction, tuition and Park Place.
Construction
OU is asking the board to approve more than $15 million to begin design on campus construction projects.
The university is seeking the board’s approval for about $1.9 million for the first phase of Clippinger Hall renovations. That would allow the university to hire a construction manager to work as a design partner. Previously, the board approved $4.3 million for Clippinger's renovations.
OU officials also hope to approve nearly $9 million for the first phase of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine project, which includes approval for design and academic replacement space. The college will move from Grosvenor and Irvine halls to Union Street in the coming years.
Officials are also asking the board to approve more than $10.7 million for renovation projects across campus.
OU is seeking about $2 million for bathroom upgrades in Tiffin Hall. All of the original restrooms in the residence hall on East Green will be renovated for new plumbing infrastructure, fixtures and finishes. The board previously approved $245,000 for Tiffin's renovations.
Another residence hall on East Green, Gamertsfelder Hall, will also be receiving renovations. The university is seeking about $725,000 to upgrade the lobby, staff office and restroom. New furniture would also be included in the renovations. The board already approved about $100,000 toward the project.
OU is also seeking $1 million for plumbing repairs to Shively Dining Hall.
Tuition
The university is asking trustees to approve tuition and fees for regional campus students if the tuition cap is 2 percent. The trustees will vote to increase tuition 3.5 percent for students in HCOM.
OU will also be providing updates of current finances, fiscal year 2018 budget planning and Gov. John Kasich's budget proposal.
Park Place and small housing planning strategies
OU will be presenting updates to the board on the Park Place Planning Strategy and the Small House Planning Strategy.
Former OU President Roderick McDavis approved the Park Place Planning Strategy in 2016. The project is a collaboration between the university and the City of Athens. A work group made up of city and university officials has met five times and received feedback from OU and Athens residents.
University officials will also present on the Small House Planning Strategy. The university owns 15 small houses, which include locations such as Konneker Alumni Center, Walter International Education Center and 29 Park Place. Most of the small houses are more than 100 years old and have significant deferred maintenance as well as accessibility problems.
The strategy's work group has met four times and completed a comprehensive analysis on each house. The group is doing research on how other universities use small houses and discussing financial strategies.
