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The Ģ����Ƶ University Board of Trustees learned about the growing impact of five institutes across OHIO that are leading and advancing healthy aging research; they also received an update regarding Ģ����Ƶ University Opportunity College and Professions-Focused designations within the latest Carnegie Classifications—recognitions that affirm the University’s national leadership in delivering a high-value education that leads to lifelong success.

Additionally, Vice President for Finance & Administration, CFO and Treasurer David B. Moore presented an overview of the FY25 financial forecast. The presentation also highlighted how OHIO has balanced revenues and expenses in the proposed FY26 budget by methodically using reserves, continuing to focus on developing and implementing strategies and achieving a sustainable multi-year budget approach.

Ģ����Ƶ University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez also shared several of OHIO’s recent accomplishments and recognitions, along with legislative challenges currently facing higher education on the state and national level, during her President’s Report.

She highlighted recognizing nearly 3,400 graduates, and praised the University’s continued commitment to military-connected students, noting that this year marks the institution, and it was once again named a Collegiate Purple Star campus. President Gonzalez also spotlighted the success of the , which featured 286 undergraduate and 229 graduate presentations. She also shared how continued investment in the aviation program, and new simulators, are equipping students with cutting-edge, hands-on training.

President Gonzalez concluded by emphasizing the University’s Dynamic Strategy, recent progress in development efforts and the broad range of impactful initiatives underway across campus.

Additional highlights from the June 2025 Board of Trustees meetings include:

Discover Pillar: Five Institutes of Advancing Healthy Aging Research
Researchers and leadership from the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine shared updates on Ģ����Ƶ University’s increasing emergence as a regional and national leader in healthy aging research through strategic institute development. Presenters included Chief Medical Affairs Officer and Executive Dean of the  Kenneth Johnson, D.O.;  Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and Interim Director for the Institute of Molecular Medicine and Aging (IMMA) Darlene Berryman, Ph.D.; and Goll-Ģ����Ƶ Eminent Scholar, Principal Investigator for IMMA and Distinguished Professor John Kopchick, Ph.D. Heritage College presenters were joined by Vice President of Research and Creative Activity Eric Muth, Ph.D., and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Terri Donlin Huesman.

The presentation demonstrated how the five health-focused institutes at Ģ����Ƶ University—the  the , the  the  and the  — contribute to advancing the Discover Pillar of the University’s ongoing  implementation efforts. Johnson, Berryman and Kopchick highlighted the distinct contributions of the institutes and their collaborative efforts in advancing research related to healthy aging.

Additionally, the Board learned more about the University’s strategic rationale for evolving the Edison Biotechnology Institute (EBI) into the , and how philanthropic support, such as the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation’s , continues to play a pivotal role in advancing many of OHIO’s high-impact research initiatives.

2025 Carnegie Classifications
Vice President of University Communications and Marketing Robin Oliver shared details on OHIO’s , and the newly redesigned system for classifying universities from the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education.

Oliver shared that OHIO was named one of just 21 R1 research institutions in the country — and the only R1 university in the state of Ģ����Ƶ — to be designated as an Opportunity College and University in the latest Carnegie Classifications.

Oliver also noted that a deeper look into the newest Carnegie Classifications reveals that OHIO is also one of only 40 institutions in the country to be designated as “professions-focused” among large universities that offer undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Additionally, of those 40 universities, only eight — including OHIO — are also classified by Carnegie as an Opportunity College and University, placing OHIO among a small group of universities in the nation, and once again the only university in Ģ����Ƶ, with a broad portfolio of degrees that offer career-ready, professions-focused academic opportunities and deliver the highest return on a student’s educational investment.

Multiple designations across OHIO’s Regional Higher Education landscape underscore the University’s commitment to academic success and outcomes, with (OUC) classified as professions-focused and an opportunity college, (OUS) earning opportunity status and a special focus on nursing, and (OUZ) similarly designated for nursing and opportunity.

Dynamic Strategy One-Year Progress Updates
The Board received a  on OHIO’s since it was formally approved in June 2024. The update included an overview of activities, accomplishments and  in the first year for each of the plan’s four pillars: , ,  and .

Executive Vice President and Provost Donald Leo presented on the , highlighting how this pillar aims to position Ģ����Ƶ University as not only an R1 research institution but also a leader in teaching excellence. He explained how the University is partnering with the Gardner Institute to define what constitutes teaching quality and develop classifications beyond research. He also outlined how the University has already expanded experiential learning awards by increasing individual grants to $1,500 and doubling total funds to support 225 students in FY25 and launched an experiential learning teaching certificate program in which 95 faculty and staff have already enrolled.

Muth presented on the , sharing how this pillar is focused on strategic faculty hiring aligned with research priorities. He explained how the University has made eight new hires supporting healthy aging, three focused on energy and environmental research and four positions created across colleges to advance AI research. He discussed how the healthy aging cluster is underway, alongside efforts to build infrastructure for grant acquisition and partnership development.

Oliver presented on the , focusing on how this pillar is aimed at strengthening community partnerships and impact. She highlighted how the effort includes better documentation of community partnerships, developing a clear structure for maturing relationships, the development of pathways for community access to the University resources and plans to create a Center for Community Impact. Additionally, Oliver outlined their work on an alumni mentorship and coaching framework that has been implemented and how they are analyzing the results of the initial initiative and to help inform the ways in which the program will be improved in future iterations.

Vice President for Human Resources Mary Elizabeth Miles presented on the , explaining how the University has prioritized improvements in employee compensation and benefits, including a three-year cost freeze on benefits, updates to the performance management system, retirement planning resources, offerings such as pet insurance and parent leave and a vacation leave donation program. She also highlighted how the recently established Center for OHIO Employee Excellence has hired a director focused on employee experience, expanded professional development, launched a training workshop catalog and redesigned employee onboarding.

Strategic Enrollment Plan Update
The Board also received an enrollment update from Vice President for Enrollment Management Candace J. Boeninger, who shared an interim progress report on the University’s multi-year strategic enrollment planning efforts. Additionally, she provided information about continued strong student interest in OHIO and anticipated trends for fall 2025.

Boeninger noted that OHIO is currently forecasting continued positive enrollment trends heading into the 2025-26 academic year, with current summer enrollment trending about 8% higher than this time last year, driven by strong performance in online programs and continued interest in both the Athens and Regional Higher Education (RHE) campuses.

Boeninger also discussed how OHIO is revisiting its strategic enrollment planning, aiming to develop a future-focused enrollment strategy that aligns with institutional mission, capacity and market conditions. The updated plan will be developed through a multiphase process, beginning with a deep understanding of current data, baseline assumptions and institutional objectives and is structured around four key enrollment priorities, including Academic Reputation and Distinction, Targeted Enrollment Growth, Student Success and Institutional Impact.

Capital Projects

The Board approved several new capital projects, including:

• College of Fine Arts Facilities Renewal - The Board approved a resolution for the continuation of efforts to upgrade and consolidate the facilities. This project supports the “Bringing the Arts Together” initiative and includes the design and along with essential safety and programmatic upgrades for each school in the college. It also addresses floodplain mitigation, renovates Seigfred Hall, expands and renovates the Sculpture Studio, and provides minor improvements in Glidden and Putnam Halls. This $112 million project will be funded with a combination of State Capital Appropriations, Century Bond residual funding, external gift funding and fundraising.
• Ģ����Ƶ University Southern Exterior Improvements - The Board approved a resolution to address critical deferred maintenance of multiple buildings on the campus including the Collins Center, Academic Center, Dingus Center and Riffe Center. Repairs involve replacing or restoring roofing materials, membranes, insulation, gutters, skylights and snow guards. This $650,000 project will be funded with a combination of Regional Higher Education Departmental Reserves and State Capital Appropriations.
• Ģ����Ƶ University Chillicothe Bennett Hall Storm Sewer Improvements - The Board approved a resolution to address urgent deferred maintenance by repairing and replacing a storm drain runoff system and rooftop runoff infrastructure at the campus. This $625,000 project will be funded with State Capital Appropriations.

In other business, the Board also approved:

• A resolution to amend OHIO’s Internal Audit Charter.
• A resolution to amend the University’s Audit and Risk Management Committee Charter.
• A resolution to approve the University’s 2025-2026 Audit Plan.
• A statement of commitment as required by Ģ����Ƶ Revised Code 3345.0216 (A).
• A resolution for five interim policies necessary for compliance with the Advance Ģ����Ƶ Higher Education Act; an interim revision of Ģ����Ƶ University Policy 18.009, titled Faculty Workload.
• A resolution regarding the reconciliation of the Faculty Handbook and Faculty Senate to align with state legal mandates.
• A resolution for Faculty Fellowship Awards.
• A resolution to designate 12 individuals with emeriti status.
• A resolution for the appointment of seven new members for FY 2026 for the Regional Coordinating Council.
• A resolution approving a list of peer institutions to be utilized for industry benchmarking
• A resolution to review the following programs: Interdisciplinary Arts in the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts and Visual Communication in the Scripps College of Communication.
• A resolution to expand the Automation Technician and Mechatronics Technician certificate programs currently offered on OHIO’s Lancaster campus to OHIO’s Chillicothe campus, pending completion of required external approval processes.
• A resolution to revise language within OHIO’s Student Code of Conduct.
• The FY 2026 All Funds Operating Budget.
• A resolution for presidential authority to set Undergraduate tuition and fees (Athens and Regionals) and Room and Board rates in consultation with Board leadership once the General Assembly passes the state budget.
• A resolution to adopt the graduate and medical tuition and fee schedule for Academic Year 2025-26.
• A resolution to adopt the tuition and fee schedule for graduate course fees for two Health Sciences courses; specialized services and materials fees for new tracks within the BSN-to-DNP Nursing programs and the emergency nurse practitioner certificate program; room and board rates for non-Guarantee students; off-campus and commuter board rates.
• A resolution for tuition waiver changes for FY26 for the instructional fee and non-resident fee; maintaining the general fee for undergraduate OHIO Online courses; maintaining the current reduced undergraduate non-resident fee rates for certain dual degree programs, graduate non-resident fee rates for students who have received a bachelor's degree from an Ģ����Ƶ institution of higher education and maintaining the non-resident fee of $1 for undergraduate and graduate students who have been displaced from their home countries due to war, conflict or disaster in accordance with Directive 2023-019 from the Chancellor.
• A resolution approving the Ģ����Ƶ University FY27-FY32 Six-Year Capital Improvement Plan, the FY26 Annual Capital Improvement Plan, and the FY27-FY28 State Capital Budget Projects Request for future state submission.
• A resolution approving the use of annual Century Bond allocations to fund OHIO’s operating investment in deferred and preventive maintenance projects.
• A resolution to recognize the President’s strong accomplishments during her second year in office and reward her success with a salary increase of 2% of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 base compensation, consistent with this year’s raise pool and a bonus in the amount of 15% of the President’s base compensation for Fiscal Year 2025, pursuant to the terms of her Employment Agreement.
• A resolution to elect David B. Moore as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees for the year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026.
• A resolution to elect Shelly M. Bean as Secretary to the Board of Trustees for a term beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026.
• A resolution to appoint Bill Clark Kent as National Trustee for a term beginning on July 1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2028.
• A resolution to beginning on July 1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2028.