OSU trustees meet, approve university matters - 09/21/07

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University Board of Trustees approved a variety of university-related personnel, fiscal and construction-related matters at its meeting Friday (9/21).

2008 current funds budget approved
Trustees gave final approval to details of the university's spending and income plan for the 2008 fiscal year, after initially approving the budget framework at its meeting in July. For the year, revenues are expected to be just under $4.1 billion across the university, and planned expenditures are about $4 billion. The single largest fund group is self-supporting auxiliary operations, which account for 61 percent of the total budget for all campuses. The Health System alone accounts for 36.5 percent of the total budget.

State support for the Columbus campus is expected to increase by 7.2 percent. This is the third year in a row that state support has increased. However, resident undergraduate tuition increases were frozen as last year's levels, limiting the university's general fund revenue growth. The Columbus campus general fund growth is expected to be 4.3 percent.

The 2008 budget commits $72 million to student financial aid. It is expected that rising acceptance and retention rates for qualified students will require additional resources in the future.

Capital Funding Plan items approved
The board heard a number of final recommendations from William J. Shkurti, senior vice president for business and finance, regarding prioritization and funding of capital projects for the period of FY 2009 to FY 2014. Trustees approved the university's request for $80 million in state capital funds for the Columbus campus and $12 million for the regional campuses for FY 2009-2010.

Trustees also approved revised allocations of approximately $367 million in bonds in calendar year 2007 and proposed allocations of approximately $497 million in bonds in calendar year 2009, as well as a cap of no more than $500 million in additional debt in calendar year 2011.

Hospital Board appointment approved
The board approved the appointment of Betty D. Montgomery to the University Hospital Board, effective Sept. 21, 2007, through Sept. 20, 2010.

Medical staff bylaws amended
The board approved an amendment to the Bylaws of the Medical Staff changing the name of "Division of Digestive Health" to "Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition."

Non-academic "center" status approved
The board approved the naming of the Ohio House of Science and Engineering following approval by the Council on Academic Affairs.

Personnel actions approved
•Robert W. Curley, has been named professor and holder of the Charles H. Kimberly Professorship in Pharmacy in the College of Pharmacy, effective Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2010.
•Roy J. Lewicki has been named professor and holder of The Irving Abramowitz Memorial Professorship in The Max M. Fisher College of Business, effective Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2012.
•Cynthia J. Roberts has been named professor and holder of the Martha G. and Milton Staub Chair for Research in Ophthalmology in the College of Medicine, effective July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2011.
•Alan D. Letson has been named clinical professor and holder of the William H. Havener, M.D., Chair in Ophthalmology, in the College of Medicine, effective July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2011.
•David Cohn has been named associate professor and holder of The Donald G. Jones, M.D., and Patsy P. Jones Designated Professorship in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the College of Medicine, effective Aug. 1, 2007, through June 30, 2011.
•E. Gordon Gee has been named professor with tenure in the Michael E. Moritz College of Law the School of Educational Policy and Leadership, effective Oct. 1, 2007.
•Michael M. Veres has been named interim chief information officer in the Office of Information Technology, effective Sept. 13, 2007.
•Katherine Wolford has been named assistant to the president and director of operations in the Office of the President, effective Aug. 13, 2007.
•Herbert B. Asher has been named counselor to the president in the Office of the President, effective July 23, 2007. He holds a concurrent title of professor emeritus in the Department of Political Science.
•Matthew S. Platz has been named interim dean in the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences for a term of Aug. 14, 2007, until such time a permanent dean is appointed. He holds the concurrent title of vice provost in the Office of Academic Affairs.
•Wiley W. Souba, Jr., has been named interim senior vice president for health sciences and chief executive office of The Ohio State University Medical Center, effective Aug. 1, 2007. He holds the concurrent title of dean of the College of Medicine.
•The board ratified the 2007 bonus of $250,000 for former President Karen A. Holbrook.

Resolutions in memoriam adopted
•Mary Evelyn Shoemaker Baker, assistant professor emeritus in the University Libraries, who died on June 24, 2007
•Austin B. Ezzell, professor emeritus in The Ohio State University Extension, who died on June 26, 2007
•Robert G. Hill, Jr., professor emeritus in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, who died on June 10, 2007
•Norris E. Lenahan, M.D., associate professor emeritus in the Department of Anesthesiology, who died July 1, 2007
•Rodney Marhoover, associate professor emeritus in The Ohio State University Extension, who died Aug. 3, 2007
•Alvin L. Moxon, professor emeritus in the Department of Animal Sciences, who died on May 21, 2007
•Alan R. Osborne, professor emeritus in the School of Teaching and Learning, who died on July 29, 2007
•Robert V. O'Toole, professor emeritus in the Department of Pathology, who died on June 17, 2007
•Carl F. Purtz, Jr., associate professor emeritus in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, who died on Nov. 26, 2006
•Hartzel C. Slider, professor emeritus in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, who died on July 5, 2007
•John G. Streeter, professor emeritus in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, who died on June 26, 2007
•E. Earl Whitlatch, Jr., associate professor (retired) in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science, who died Aug. 9, 2007

Development report accepted
The board accepted the University Development Report for June 2007, which included the establishment of three new endowed chairs: The M. S. Sofia Chair in Arabic Studies; the William E. Hunt, M.D., and Charlotte M. Curtis Chair in Neuroscience; and The David E. Schuller, M.D, and Carole Schuller Chair in Otolaryngology. The report also included 13 new named endowed funds for a total of $8.25 million in gifts to the university.

Investment managers appointed
The board approved the appointment of investment managers to assist in the management of the university's endowment fund and the reallocation of funds as recommended by the Investments Committee. The committee periodically reviews the results obtained by the external managers and reallocates funds as conditions change.

Competitive bidding waivers accepted
The board accepted the quarterly report on waivers of competitive bidding requirements for the period of April to June 2007. During that time, the senior vice president for business and finance granted 99 waivers for annual purchases totaling approximately $55 million, and the vice president for health services granted 54 waivers for annual purchases totaling approximately $13.3 million. Waivers may be granted in the event of an emergency, when a sufficient economic reason exists or when the goods and services can be purchased from only a single source.

Report on interim capital authorization accepted
Trustees accepted the report of the Fiscal Affairs Committee regarding the authorization during the period between the July and September board meetings of two capital projects:
•Design and construction of the Carmack Road parking lot on West Campus and the parking lot serving the ElectroScience Building with a conceptual project budget of $646,000
•Design and construction of renovations to the Veterinary Medicine food service area with a conceptual project budget of $337,000

Interim authorization granted
Since the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees is on Nov. 2, 2007, trustees authorized the chair of the Fiscal Affairs Committee, in consultation with the committee, to authorize design, construction management and construction contracts in the interim period in order to ensure timely design and construction of university facilities and to make the most effective use of limited financial resources. The authorization will expire as of the November meeting.

Construction projects approved
The board authorized the university to enter into design contracts for the following projects:
•Renovation of the 9th Avenue Garage west elevator. Estimated project cost is $302,088 to be provided by Transportation and Parking auxiliary funds.
•Renovation of the Animal Science Building air handling unit. Estimated project cost is $709,216 to be provided by state funds.
•Repairs to the roof and masonry of Cockins Hall. Estimated project cost is $1.48 million to be provided by state funds.
•Upgrades to Rooms 242 and 242A in Doan Hall to support the installation of a 64-slice CT scanner. Estimated project cost is $305,095 to be provided by Ohio State Medical Center Health Systems general funds.
•Phase II of elevator upgrades to the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Estimated project cost is $1.4 million to be provided by Ohio State Medical Center Health Systems general funds.
•Upgrades to multiple University Hospital Pharmacies to be compliant with new state and federal laws. Estimated project cost is $5 million to be provided by Ohio State Medical Center Health Systems general funds.
•Replacement of the steam station in the Newman & Wolfrom Laboratory. Estimated project cost is $370,220 to be provided by state funds.
•Upgrades to the Chilled Water Plant at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Estimated project cost is $1.5 million to be provided by state funds.
•Renovation of the Science and Engineering Library. Estimated project cost is $600,000 to be provided by University Libraries general funds.
•Renovations to Smith Laboratory. Estimated project cost is $2 million to be provided by state funds.

The board authorized the university to enter into construction contracts for the following projects:
•Renovation of the 9th Avenue Garage west elevator. (see above)
•Access Control and Alarm Monitoring System (ACAMS) installation in Derby Hall, Caldwell Lab, Parker Food Science and Technology Building and Dreese Labs. Projected cost is $378,269 to be provided by university central funds.
•Resurfacing of the drive at 650 Ackerman Road and repaving of the existing parking lot at the Veterinary Clinic. Estimated project cost is $350,000 to be provided by Transportation and Parking auxiliary funds.
•Renovation of the Animal Science Building air-handling system. (see above)
•Expansion of the existing laundry facilities at Buckeye Village. Estimated project cost is $281,700 to be provided by Student Affairs auxiliary funds.
•Upgrades to Rooms 242 and 242A in Doan Hall. (see above)
•Replacement of the Newman & Wolfram steam station. (see above)
•Renovation of the Science and Engineering Library. (see above)
•Phase III of the additions to Wilce Student Health Center. Estimated project cost is $3.7 million to be provided by Student Affairs auxiliary funds, university bond proceeds and state funds.

The board authorized the university to increase the construction contract for the following project:
•Addition of a third transformer at the OSU Electric Substation Phase I to provide additional capacity for the increasing campus power needs. Estimated project cost is $9 million to be provided by bond proceeds.

The board authorized the university to enter into a joint use agreement for the following project:
•Renovation of two floors of the Wood County Center for Agriculture, a county-owned building for use by OSU Extension. Estimated project cost is $300,000 to be provided by state appropriations.

Easements granted
The board authorized the university to grant the city of Columbus two easements:

•A parcel at 2225 North High Street to construct a handicapped accessible bus stop, for a term of 25 years
•A parcel on the north side of West Case Road to widen West Case Road and create a turn land at Sawmill Road, for a term of 25 years.

Real estate sale authorized
The board authorized the university to sell the above two properties to the city of Columbus for $2,750 and $38,700 respectively. The city of Columbus has also agreed to pay $320 to replace landscaping at the North High Street site and $6,950 to replace a fence line at the West Case Road site.