Despite strained relations, Ohio University President Roderick McDavis met with classified employees yesterday to discuss employee morale and how the state budget has negatively affected OU workers.
Low employee morale is a problem, and both employees and McDavis said improved communications would help at a Classified Senate meeting Thursday. McDavis also blamed a lack of state funding for employee cuts, which has also contributed to some nervousness among classified employees.
Morale is as low as I have seen it
said Ruth Webb, an administrative assistant in the physics and astronomy department who has worked for the university for about 20 years.
McDavis said the state has not increased the amount of money it has given OU in five years, which has forced many administrators, including McDavis, to make real difficult decisions.
A lot of time and energy is put forth lobbying in Columbus to increase state funding, McDavis said. To stop the bleeding he said he frequents Columbus to talk with legislators. He also noted that 85 percent of the university's budget goes toward personnel. Annual payroll costs exceed $323 million, according to the Ohio University Fact Book.
Budget problems also encouraged him to hire Teri Geiger, director of government relations, to lobby and foster relations with Ohio lawmakers in September, he added.
The university could possibly see an additional $30 million added into its budget next year, the first increase in about five years, McDavis said.
Tuition increases would also generate more money for the university, but because the state of Ohio has some of the highest tuition rates in the nation, that option has been stretched thin, he said.
While McDavis lauded the efforts of Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, and Sen. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton, for fighting the good fight he also mentioned he thought there was a perception among Ohio legislators that OU didn't need any more money. McDavis said he didn't know why that perception exists, but thinks that efficiency can be improved to reduce university spending.
Both administrative and professional/technical staffs have increased in size since the 1998-1999 academic year, according to a report from the Office of Institutional Research. University-wide, administrative staff increased by almost 30 employees, and more than 100 employees have been added to the professional/technical staff across campus in the past seven years.
Employees asked McDavis to stress the economic importance of the university, as it is a major employer in the southeastern Ohio region.
The human resources department is also working to formulate a point system for wage increases, which will hopefully make the pay raise process more objective, said Wendy Kaaz, Classified Senate chairwoman.
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