Two Ohio University administrators paid a visit to Faculty Senate Monday to discuss Responsibility Centered Management planning, the $100 million plan and enrollment.
The discussion was fueled by a presentation from Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost, with an introduction by OU President Roderick McDavis.
Benoit said that she has heard good, positive feedback about the semester thus far and thanked the faculty for a smooth transition from quarters to semesters.
“Other universities who have made the switch to semesters have seen enrollment go down,” Benoit said. “But that is not the case with us. We weathered that storm.”
The total campus headcount at OU is 16,981, according to Benoit.
“I think that it is important that enrollment continues to go up,” said Joseph Slade, professor of media arts and studies. “It is important to appeal to students and I think that the university has done a good job at recruiting.”
OU has 3,893 freshmen enrolled, 10 more than last year, Benoit said.
The average ACT score for freshmen was 24 with a 3.40 grade point average, according to Benoit.
“You know how difficult it is to nudge these,” Benoit said. “And we did, the ACT scores went up 0.4.”
Elizabeth Sayrs, chair of Faculty Senate, said that it is important that OU continues to appeal to new students.
“Ohio University has such a unique identity of an education,” Sayrs said. “The faculty works with the students and is engaged with them, we need to keep it this way to attract future students.”
Benoit also talked about the importance of international students.
“Many of these international students are domestic-international that are here in the U.S.,” Benoit said. “The international enrollment went up from 86 to 150 in the freshman class.”
Given the globalized nature of the world, international students are vital for Ohio’s student success, said Benjamin Bates, associate professor of communication studies.
bc822010@ohiou.edu
