Trustees: Benefits, Enrollment, Fund Raising

TRUSTEES HEAR REPORTS ON BENEFITS, ENROLLMENT, FUND RAISING

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on 
Friday (3/6) heard reports on several campus activities, 
including the quality of the university's managed care program, 
enrollment management efforts and the impact of fund raising on 
academic initiatives. 

Ohio State keeps costs down, quality high for managed care

At a time when the nation's employers and employees have 
been struggling with managed health care, Ohio State has been 
keeping costs low and quality of care high.

Successful management of PrimeCare, the university's 
prevalent managed health care plan, has resulted in consistent 
cost savings and benefits improvements since the plan's 
inception, Larry Lewellen, acting vice president for human 
resources, told the board.  

"Ohio State's portion of the budget has decreased from $52.5 
million in fiscal 1994 to a projected $48 million in fiscal 
1999," he said.  "Remarkably, premium-sharing costs for the 
faculty and staff in PrimeCare also have decreased at the same 
time that benefits have significantly increased." 

The average monthly cost for an employee with family 
coverage of health, vision and dental insurance in 1994 was $121; 
now it is just $99.  Major improvements since the plan's 
inception include eliminating the pre-existing condition 
exclusion and increasing the maximum lifetime allowance from $1 
million to $1.5 million.  One of this year's improvements is the 
addition of hearing aid coverage.

"It's phenomenal to provide better and better benefits at 
the same time that we are cutting the cost to the university by 
nearly $5 million," Lewellen said.  "As a result, successful 
management of the health care plan has freed up funds for other 
university priorities, including compensation."

While 70 percent of employees participate in PrimeCare, 30 
percent elect alternative plans.  But as more and more cost 
savings are realized by PrimeCare, alternative plan holders have 
seen larger increases in premiums.  This is because of the base 
plan funding model that contributes the same dollar amount to all 
plans, Lewellen said.  

In other words, the university's $400 contribution to 
PrimeCare, which covers 85 percent of the cost of family 
coverage, does not go nearly as far in alternative plans, which 
means the employee cost is greater.

"Faculty have asked us to not make any changes to the 
alternative plans," Lewellen said.  "They want to buy them 
exactly as they are," which is why the university has not altered 
them.  But as the difference in premiums becomes larger, the 
Office of Human Resources will continue to talk with those 
faculty and staff to keep abreast of their preferences for 
coverage.

Enrollment management report

Ohio State officials are analyzing ways to improve freshman 
retention and six-year graduation rates as the university 
continues to examine strategies to become a top 10 public 
institution.

Ohio State's freshman retention rate stands at 79 percent, 
improving from 77.7 percent in 1996.  The six-year graduation 
rate is 57 percent.  Both rates have seen overall decreases since 
the early 1990s.  Officials attribute the decreases in part to 
financial difficulties, employment opportunities, and student 
dissatisfaction with support services and elements of the large, 
urban campus environment.

Officials outlined a goal to increase first-year retention 
to 86 percent and the six-year graduation rate to 60 percent in 
five years.  In 10 years, the university hopes to see a six-year 
graduation rate of 70 percent or better.

"The reputation of the undergraduate program rests in large 
measure on how well we retain our undergraduates and how well we 
graduate them," Kermit L. Hall, dean of the College of Humanities 
and executive dean of the Colleges of the Arts and Sciences, told 
the board.

Several groups and university units are advancing ideas to 
help retain more students and increase the likelihood they will 
graduate within six years.

Many suggestions seek to coordinate efforts to ease new 
students' transition to college during their first year.  
Recommendations include expanding Welcome Week, enhancing student 
recreation centers and student unions, developing social 
alternatives to alcohol, supporting diversity and fostering 
student leadership.  Other ideas include modeling Freshman 
Interest Groups after other universities' successful programs and 
improving the campus environment by developing monitored study 
areas and housing clusters, and improving safety, transportation 
and parking.

"We'd also like to see departments try to develop a sense of 
'home' for their majors," Hall said.

 Job opportunities for students also are key, and efforts 
will be made to develop more jobs on or near campus and more 
opportunities related to students' field of study.  A financial 
counseling service also is recommended.

On the academic side, tutoring across campus is targeted for 
enhancement and higher visibility.  Clustering courses into 
learning communities -- which would include study support in 
residence halls -- is recommended, as is increasing information 
about study skills.

Additional academic enhancements are suggested, including 
supporting development of innovative teaching strategies, 
enhancing undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities, 
supporting teaching prizes and encouraging student evaluation of 
teaching.

"It's important to note that many of these initiatives exist 
now, and we have seen improvements in student life since the 
implementation of several recommendations made by the Committee 
on the Undergraduate Experience," Vice President for Student 
Affairs David Williams said.  "There is always room to improve 
the student experience, and it is in the best interest of the 
institution to do what we can to ensure our students enjoy 
success during their collegiate years."

Deans help with fund-raising efforts

Vice President for Development Jerry May updated trustees on 
the $850 million Affirm Thy Friendship fund-raising campaign, and 
credited several deans with helping exceed the campaign's 
expectations.

As of last week, gifts and pledges totaled $593 million, or 
79 percent of the $750 million goal in that area.  The campaign 
has received $79 million in net new deferred gift commitments, or 
79 percent of the $100 million goal for that category.

"The success of this campaign is attributable to many 
factors and should be measured in ways which go beyond the 
dollars," May said.

Three deans reported to the board about the campaign's 
effects on academic programs in their colleges.  May noted that 
with the assistance of these deans, campaign goals for each 
college have been surpassed or are nearly surpassed.

Robert Gold, dean of the College of Mathematics and Physical 
Sciences, said current and future fund-raising efforts are 
directed at the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Laboratory.  
The lab is the focal point of efforts to redesign the content and 
delivery of the mathematical experience for undergraduates.  The 
college is seeking a director for the lab, which when fully 
implemented will provide a range of student services and learning 
facilities, a center for faculty development and teacher 
training, and resources for innovative teaching strategies.

F. Dominic Dottavio, dean and director of the Marion campus, 
said the campus reached its $3.5 million campaign goal through 
funds raised from people living and working in Marion County.  
The campus goal is being adjusted, and the campaign is extending 
into six surrounding counties.  Dottavio credited the campaign 
with several improvements:  additional distance-learning 
facilities, renovated computer labs, expanded upper-division 
course offerings, increases in scholarships and honors course 
offerings, and study abroad opportunities at no cost for 
students.

Glen Hoffsis, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, 
said the college recently received a gift from the Kenneth Scott 
Trust in Cleveland that has made several programs possible, 
including a spay-neuter program in conjunction with the Franklin 
County Animal Shelter.  The college provides supervised students 
to spay and neuter dogs for the shelter, making the animals more 
attractive for adoption.  Veterinary students gain valuable 
experience in surgical skills, he said.  Hoffsis also said the 
college is preparing a campaign for funding of the Sisson Hall 
replacement building.

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Contact:  Larry Lewellen, Human Resources, (614) 292-3456
Kermit L. Hall, Humanities, (614) 292-1882
Jerry May, Development, (614) 292-2970