Trustees Act on Fiscal Matters

AUTUMN QUARTER ENROLLMENT AT OHIO STATE IS 55,787
     Autumn quarter enrollment at all campuses of The Ohio State
University is 55,787.  That is down 1,030 students from a year
ago; however, it is consistent with the university's goal to
stabilize enrollment on the Columbus campus at about 50,000
students.
     Columbus campus enrollment is 49,542, down 1,081 from a year
ago, while enrollment at other campuses is up 51 to 6,245.
     William Shkurti, vice president for finance, reported to the
Board of Trustees that enrollment is 218 -- or four-tenths of 1
percent -- below university projections made last spring and will
have no impact on the budget.
     The 1.8 percent drop in university enrollment is the
smallest decrease in the past three years.  Enrollment peaked at
60,589 in 1991.

BOARD OF REGENTS FUNDING PROPOSAL DISCUSSED

     Shkurti discussed with trustees a proposal by the Ohio Board
of Regents to change the method for funding instructional
subsidies for higher education in the next biennium.

     Subsidy distributions are currently based only on
enrollment.  Under the Regents plan, a portion of the subsidy
distribution would be determined by a college or university's
performance and innovation.  Shkurti noted that the Regents' plan
is only a recommendation and must be reviewed by the governor and
the Ohio General Assembly.  The Legislature will take up budget
legislation in early 1995 for the two-year fiscal period that
begins on July 1.

ARCHITECTS TO DESIGN ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL, OTHER FACILITIES

     Trustees authorized employment of architects and engineers
to design a new School of Architecture building on the Columbus
campus and a new Life and Physical Sciences building to be shared
by The Ohio State University-Lima and Lima Technical College.

     The state capital budget included $1 million for planning
the architecture building, which is estimated to cost $20 million
in public and private funds.  Alumnus Austin Knowlton has
committed a $10 million donation to the construction, and the
board voted to name both the building and the school in his
honor.

     The budget also contains appropriations of $375,000 each to
Ohio State-Lima and Lima Technical College to plan a facility to
house the science departments of both schools.  Total project
costs have not been determined.

     In addition, the board authorized hiring architects and
engineers and requesting construction bids for four university
and three pass-through projects.  The Legislature appropriated
money for the projects in the 1994 capital budget.

     The university projects are:

     =FE Renovation of McPherson Laboratory to provide for teaching
and research needs of the Department of Chemistry and space for
other instructional priorities.  The estimated project cost of
$17,692,000 includes $14.5 million for construction.

     =FE Construction of a Maintenance/Receiving/Storage Facility
for the Marion Campus.  The estimated project cost is $1,553,000,
and includes $1,242,000 for construction.

     =FE Construction of Pesticide Storage and Disposal Buildings
at the Wooster campus and the Northwestern, Muck Crops, Southern,
and Western branches of the Ohio Agricultural Research and
Development Center.  Estimated project cost is $1,040,000,
including $835,000 for construction.

     =FE Renovations in Hale Hall to support African-American
students and programs, estimated to cost $1 million, including
$800,000 for construction.

     The Legislature is using Ohio State as a funding-pass-
through agency for the following organizations:

     =FE Edison Welding Institute.  A new materials joining
facility will be constructed in the University Research Park  to
house the institute, components of Ohio State's Welding
Engineering program and other materials joining activities.
Estimated project cost is $2 million, including $1.6 million for
construction.

     =FE The Mill Creek Metropolitan Park District.  An educational
research building will be constructed, various farm improvements
will be built and renovations made to houses and barns at the
Mahoning County Farm.  The Ohio Agricultural Research and
Development Center conducts research at the farm, which is owned
by Mahoning County and leased by Mill Creek Metropolitan Park
District.  Estimated project cost is $2.12 million and includes
$1.7 million for construction.

     =FE The International Center for the Preservation of Wild
Animals Inc.  The project near Cumberland, Ohio, calls for
designing and constructing animal, administrative, education and
conference structures and areas for breeding, research and
education.  The $1.5 million estimated project cost includes $1.2
million for construction.

BOARD REVISES SOUTH AFRICAN INVESTMENT POLICY

     Trustees voted to resume investing in companies that do
business in South Africa.  The university had adopted resolutions
in 1978 and 1985 prohibiting such investments in response to
racist policies in that country.  In Friday's resolution, the
board said that rescinding the restriction of investing in
companies that do business with the Republic of South Africa is
"an important symbol in the continuation of our American
traditions of civil law and democratic governance."

STUDENT QUESTIONS DECISION BY TRUSTEES

     Michael Scarce, president of the Bi, Gay and Lesbian
Alliance at Ohio State and a graduate student, spoke to the
trustees on a proposed provision in the student health insurance
plan that would have permitted domestic partners of students to
purchase the insurance.  The trustees' Fiscal Committee deleted
the proposal from the insurance plan when it was renewed last
June.

     Scarce asked the trustees to explain why the proposal had
been deleted.

     "We'll get back to you with a further response," John W.
Kessler, chairperson of the board, told Scarce.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

     In other matters, trustees:

     =FE Accepted the 1993-94 audit report, recommendations, and
responses for Ohio State.  The audit was conducted by Coopers &
Lybrand.

     =FE Heard committee reports on efforts to redevelop the
university master plan and about University Ombudservices, and
student government activities.

     =FE Received a report on the first quarter budgeted resources
and expenditures by William Shkurti, vice president for finance.


[Submitted by: GERSTNER  (gerstner@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Sun, 06 Nov 1994 10:46:31 -0500 (EST)]
All documents are the responsibility of their originator.