Audit and Risk Management Committee
The Audit and Risk Management Committee began the Board of Trustees’ June meeting with a discussion of annual audit plans and language amendments.
Chief Audit Executive Mary Anne Boyle informed the board the Office of Sustainability audit was still in the planning stage.
All audits from the prior plan carry over, and the fiscal year is in the fieldwork stage. The minors on campus audit is nearing the draft stage.
The board also passed three resolutions during the meeting.
The first two resolutions amended the language of the Internal Audit Charter and Audit Risk Management Committee Charter to conform to the Institute of Internal Auditors' Global Internal Audit Standards and model charter.
The third resolution changed the audit plan from 12 months to 18 months, which will run from July 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026. Boyle said the change is being made due to having carryover audits from the last couple of years.
Academics and Student Success Committee
Kenneth Johnson, executive dean and chief medical affairs officer of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, began the committee meeting with a presentation on Ohio University’s efforts to advance healthy aging research through its five health-focused institutes.
Johnson outlined plans to transform the Edison Biotechnology Institute into the newly named Institute for Molecular Medicine and Aging to strengthen the university’s focus on aging-related research.
He emphasized how IMMA, alongside the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, the Diabetes Institute, the Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute and the Institute to Advance Health Equity, aligns with the university’s Discover Pillar under the Dynamic Strategy.
Johnson also highlighted how OU is emerging as a regional and national leader in healthy aging research.
Candace Boeninger, vice president for enrollment management, and Executive Vice President and Provost Don Leo shared updates on summer and fall 2025 enrollment trends and the progress of the university’s Strategic Enrollment Plan.
According to Boeninger, University-wide enrollment for summer 2025 is currently trending nearly 6% higher than last year, with fall enrollment also up about 5% over the same period.
Leo noted that since January, a group supported by Huron Consulting Services has been working on a comprehensive, multi-phase SEP to guide enrollment through 2028-29.
“Despite uncertainties in policy, changing demographics, and shifts in public perception, OHIO can leverage our strength and momentum for success,” the report said.
Resources, Facilities and Affordability Committee
The committee began with a presentation from David Moore, the vice president of Finance and Administration and CFO, on the FY 2026 All Funds Operating Budget for the board to approve.
In FY 2024, 71% of the university’s spending was on its core missions of student instruction, research and public service, 11% on room and board, 10% on operations and management and 8% on administration.
Of the $968.4 million allocated for FY 2026, 45% comes from student tuitions and fees, 18% from state appropriations and 13% from room and board.
The board approved the FY 2026 Operating Budget.
The board also approved capital projects, such as the continuation of efforts to upgrade and consolidate the Chaddock and Morrow College of Fine Arts facilities, the maintenance of buildings on OU’s Southern campus and storm sewer improvements at the Chillicothe campus.
Governance and Compensation Committee
OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez began the Governance and Compensation Committee by discussing the state budget.
“The house gave us a 2% increase in SSI, or state share of instruction, and capped our tuition at 3%,” Gonzalez said. “But they also put in carve-outs of SSI, meaning money they were going to take away from performance funding and move it into what the state calls “butts in seats.”
Gonzalez then mentioned Senate amendments, which might pass following much lobbying and meetings with Senators.
The meeting then discussed the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, aka Senate Bill 1. Gonzalez said Leo will be in charge of ensuring the academic requirements found in SB1 are met, including course requirements, faculty evaluations, tenure review policies and ensuring “intellectual diversity.”
Main Board Meeting
The Main Board Meeting began with a series of recognitions for accomplishments Ohio University received within the past year.
Gonzalez mentioned the recent commencement of 4,300 students.
She went on to discuss the recognition OU received for its connection to the military and military-affiliated students. For the fourteenth consecutive year, the university has been designated as a military-friendly institution, thanks to the support it provides to military students at OU.
In addition, OU was awarded the Collegiate Purple Star designation through the state Department of Higher Education.
Gonzalez then spoke about the Ohio Student Expo, which took place in the Walter Fieldhouse. The event allowed students from any stage of schooling at OU to present their research, with 286 undergraduate presentations and 229 graduate presentations.
The university recently bought six new planes for use in the aviation program. Gonzalez said the high instrumentation planes, coupled with two new simulators, will provide aviation students with even more experience and offer higher-level certification.
Following these recognitions, the board began voting on 19 resolutions, approving them all with no dissent. The board passed the elections of the treasury, secretary, regional trustee and national trustee.
The meeting concluded with the Madam Secretary announcing the date of the next meeting to be Aug. 7.
