YSU Board of Trustees summary, March 14 and 15, 2018

Youngstown State University Board of Trustees, March 14 and 15, 2018

The YSU Board of Trustees ratified a new three-year contract with classified employees, approved two honorary doctorate degrees, welcomed new trustee Michael A. Peterson and heard reports on remediation, the Higher Learning Commission and Title IX during meetings this week in Tod Hall on campus. The board held committee meetings on Wednesday and its regularly quarterly meeting this morning. The following is a summary of actions taken and reports presented. For more details, see the full texts of resolutions and policies.

Oath of Office
Peterson took the Oath of Office as the newest trustee. Peterson, of Massillon, Ohio, is the director of Global Investigations and Security Services for Goodyear. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from YSU and played on the Penguin football team,

President’s Report
President Jim Tressel welcomed Peterson to the board, thanked outgoing Board Chair Len Schiavone for his service as a trustee, introduced Mike Sherman, new special assistant to the president who is overseeing the new Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning. “We’re excited about what he can bring to our team,” Tressel said. He also acknowledged that this is a busy and reflective time of the semester, with several awards programs upcoming. “It’s been a good half of a semester, and we expect an ever better second half,” he added.

Student Presentations
Solita Wilson, a graduate student in Chemistry, presented to the board her ongoing research into carbon dioxide becoming a sustainable energy resource. Wilson is the recipient of the Cushwa Fellowship and placed second in the recent Three-Minute Thesis competition on campus.

Morgan Petronelli, a junior Journalism major with a minor in Political Science, talked with the board about an investigative project the Journalism program is working on involving missing persons. She also praised faculty in the program and lamented budget cuts to the campus student newspaper, The Jambar.

Fatimah Alnemer, a senior Respiratory Care student from Saudi Arabia, also spoke with the board. Alnemer will graduate in May.

Faculty Presentations
Daniel Ayana, professor of History and director of the graduate program in History, talked with the board about his research into ancient spice trades in Greece, Egypt and northeast Africa, including the recent discovery of a new alphabet.

Rebecca Badawy, assistant professor of Management and the leader of the Leadership Certificate program, talked with the board about activities of the Society for Human Resource Management, including HR Shadow Day. She also reported that the number of graduates from the Leadership Certification program has increased from four to 38.

Academic and Student Affairs

Actions
Approved resolutions to award honorary doctorate degrees to Bill Bodine and Brian Wolf at Spring commencement in May. Bodine is a Grammy Award-winning composer whose credits include numerous appearances on The Tonight Show and the New Gong Show and writing for top music artists including Glen Frey of the Eagles and Manhattan Transfer. Wolf is executive director of the Marion G. Resch Foundation, which has given more than $2 million to YSU.

Approved a resolution to approve the YSU remediation report, as required by state law. The report shows that, of the 13,730 students who were enrolled at YSU during Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017 and Summer 2017, 2,308 students were placed into developmental classes. The cost of those classes, according to the report, was nearly $1 million for YSU, nearly $2.4 million for students and nearly $260,000 for the state.

Reports
Gary Swegan, associate vice president for Enrollment Management, reported that FTE enrollment is up for the Spring 2018 semester, while headcount enrollment is down. He said it’s the third consecutive semester that FTE increased and headcount decreased. The trend is a result of YSU’s transition from open to selective admissions, resulting in more fulltime students taking more credit hours. As for Fall 2018, Swegan said all enrollment metrics are pointing up, including freshmen accepted, paid housing and ACT/GPA scores. He presented the board a series of charts showing positive progress in several areas since the university switched from open to selective admissions in 2014, including an increase in freshmen enrollment from 1,821 to a projected 2,400 in Fall 2018, and an increase in freshmen-to-sophomore retention from 67 percent to a projected 75.5 percent in Fall 2018.

Provost Martin Abraham reported that the academic calendar will be changed starting Fall 2019 to provide a fall break for students. The change is being made after a recommendation by Student Government. The Fall 2019 semester will begin on Monday, Aug. 19, and will include a fall break on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 14 and 15.

Sal Sanders, dean of the College of Graduate Studies, reported that minimum admission requirements for graduate students have been changed. Currently, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree at a regionally-accredited university or college. That, Sanders said, excludes upwards of 20 students annually from enrolling in YSU graduate programs. The standards are being revised to say that applicants with a bachelor’s degree from a non-regionally accredited school may still be admitted as determined by the Graduate Admissions Committee.

Kevin Ball, associate provost, updated the board on the Higher Learning Commission re-accreditation process now underway on campus. Ball said the YSU HLC Steering Committee submitted its Assurance Argument to the HLC. The report assures that YSU meets the five HLC criteria. An HLC review team will be on campus March 26 and 27 to meet with various groups to confirm the validity of the Assurance Argument. Ball said Steering Committee members have been meeting with groups throughout campus to provide information about the HLC process and prepare them for the review team’s visit. He recognized the three leaders of the Steering Committee – Hillary Fuhrman, director of Assessment; Joe Palardy, professor of Economics and coordinator of General Education; and Tysa Egleton, associate registrar – for their hard work on the project. Abraham, in turn, recognized and thanked Ball for his leadership and commitment to the HLC process over the past two-plus years.

Chet Cooper, chair of the YSU Academic Senate, reported to the board that recent campus climate surveys only emphasized the plight of the 500 part-time faculty on campus. While part-timers provide excellent teaching and are engaged with students and the campus, they have not had a raise in pay in nearly 30 years.

University Affairs

Actions
Approved a resolution to ratify personnel actions for Intercollegiate Athletics.

Approved a resolution to modify the policy on the President’s Leadership Merit Award. The policy has been updated to include criteria for the award, including service, innovation, teamwork/collaboration, leadership and student success. The policy has been changed to allow the president to recommend the number and amount of awards presented up to a total of $3,000. The policy applies to executive and administrative officers of the university.

Approved a resolution to revise the manner that employee share of health care premiums is calculated. The revision is being made to provide the same premium arrangement as with the new faculty and classified staff contracts.

Approved a new three-year contract for classified staff employees. The classified staff union ratified the contract earlier in the month. Trustee Ted Roberts complimented the union and administrative negotiating teams for a “constructive and forward-looking agreement.”

Approved a resolution to extend provisions in the classified staff employee contract, including pay, leaves, vacation, retirement, insurance and miscellaneous benefits, to classified employees who are excluded from collective bargaining.

Approved a resolution to adopt a classification plan that is in line with revised provisions in Ohio civil service laws.

Approved a resolution to modify the conflicts of interest policy. Modifications include addressing the use of self-authored materials by instructors, prohibiting the use of university resources for non-university purposes and outlining potential policy violations and consequences from these violations.

Approved a resolution to modify the persona non grata policy to clarify the application of the policy and delineate the processes to determine and appeal persona non grata status.

Approved a resolution to select Mike Sherman as special assistant to the president. The position will provide leadership and direction in areas related to institutional research, strategic planning and assessment, and institutional effectiveness. The resolution also appoints Sherman as a full tenured professor of Kinesiology and Sport Science at YSU.

Approved a resolution to ratify personnel actions, including 17 appointments, 17 separations, eight reclassifications, four promotions and six salary adjustments/position audits.

Reports
Ron Strollo, executive director of Athletics, presented an overview of YSU athletics: YSU has 400 student-athletes, including 42 international students and 124 minority students; the university competes on the NCAA Division 1 level, except football, which is in the Football Championship Subdivision; is a member of two conferences, Horizon League and the Missouri Valley Football Conference; runs 19 athletic programs – 11 women’s teams and eight men’s teams; has a gender equity plan in place; and operates several facilities, including Stambaugh Stadium and Beeghly Center.

Cindy Kravitz, director of Equal Opportunity and Policy Development, updated the board on Title IX, the federal law that requires educational institutions to recognize and correct discrimination based on sex in any program or activity. The report says YSU is in compliance with Title IX, but the report also notes that, compared to other Ohio universities, YSU has less staff dedicated to Title IX prevention, education and investigatory efforts. The report says that a new position, deputy Title IX coordinator for students, is currently being planned, which Kravitz called “a necessary step.” The report also says that a deputy Title IX coordinator within or for Athletics would greatly enhance outreach and prevention.

Institutional engagement

Actions
Approved a resolution to modify the policy on alcoholic beverages on campus, clarifying rules on student organizations wanting to serve alcohol at events and addressing the need for a police officer on duty at events when alcohol is served.

Approved a resolution to accept 992 memberships from WYSU totaling $130,233 through the second quarter of fiscal year 2018.

Approved a resolution to name the Sam and Caryn Covelli Sports Complex along Fifth Avenue on campus in recognition of a $1 million gift. The complex houses Farmers Bank Field, an Olympic track and the softball field. Proceeds from the gift will be used to create an operating fund to provide upkeep of the facilities.

Approved a resolution to name the Dennis and Janet Haines Home Team Radio Booth in the Constantini Multimedia Center at Stambaugh Stadium, in recognition of a $100,000 gift. The Haines’ are long-time supporters of the university and, in 2012, were honored as Penguins of the Year by the YSU Penguin Club. They have made previous major gifts to create an endowed athletics scholarship.

Approved a resolution to name the Hively Family Visiting Team Radio Booth in the Constantini Multimedia Center at Stambaugh Stadium in recognition of a $100,000 gift from Lee Hively, a 1974 YSU graduate. The Hivelys have made previous major gifts to YSU for the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center and the Watson and Tressel Training Site.

Approved a resolution to name the Masternick Family Respiratory Care Laboratory in recognition of a $250,000 gift from John and Melissa Masternick. The lab is in Cushwa Hall.

Approved a resolution to name the Payiavlas Family Classroom in the Constantini Multimedia Center at Stambaugh Stadium, in recognition of a $500,000 gift from John and Marissa Payiavlas. The Payiavlas’ have made previous major gifts to YSU toward the construction of the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center and the AVI Leadership Scholarship Fund.

Reports
Heather Belgin of the Office of Alumni Engagement reported about the resurgent alumni chapter program at YSU, creating opportunities for alumni engagement across the nation. There are now 14 alumni chapters, from Las Vegas and Arizona to Florida and North Carolina, that conduct several events throughout the year.

Gary Sexton, director of WYSU, reported on the station’s community outreach efforts, including the station’s role in the Emergency Alert System, involvement in the City Club of the Mahoning Valley discussion panels and “Views and Brews” programs in downtown Youngstown, leadership in providing an overseas travel program, and the sponsorship of various concerts and lectures. “We try to get out into the community in many ways other than through the airwaves,” he said.

Heather Chunn of the YSU Foundation reported that the Foundation received 2,315 new gifts and pledges totaling $5.05 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2018. The Foundation also received pledge payments totaling $4.46 million and seven new planned gift commitments amounting to $1.52 million. Foundation President Paul McFadden also reported on his recent trip to Florida to secure $2.7 million in pledge commitments in four days. “The pipeline is rich right now,” he said. “I think we’ll see even greater production in the years ahead.”

Finance and facilities

Actions
Approved modifications to the contract compliance/administration policy, clarifying the types of contracts that are addressed by other university policies. There also is a new section on personal liability for non-compliance.

Approved a resolution to approve four interfund transfers, including two transfers for $512,500 for repairs to university parking decks.

Approved a resolution to revise and expand the university’s Jump Start program, which offers incoming freshmen the opportunity to take up to six credit hours of classes during the summer before they start classes in the fall. The classes can be taken for a reduced rate of $500 per three-credit course. The intention of the program is to help increase the chances of students graduating on time and with less debt. Beginning Fall 2018, the maximum number of credits will be increased to nine. The change accommodates STEM students whose classes are four and five hours each.

The Investment Subcommittee approved a resolution for the strategic sell-off of investments. Recent market conditions have resulted in favorable investment gains in YSU’s long-term pooled investment profile. The resolution authorizes Neal McNally, vice president for Finance and Administration, with investment advisor Hartland, to sell-off about $8 million and move it to the university’s short-term investment pool. The funds will be used to support capital improvements and other strategic needs of the university, the resolution states.

Reports
McNally presented to the board a general fund budget-to-actual report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 that he said shows, overall, that revenues and expenses are tracking on target. The biggest exception, he said, is scholarship expenses, which were budgeted for $8 million but actual expenses are at $11 million. He said that, as the university began recruiting better prepared students, more students became eligible for merit-based scholarships, increasing expenses in that category. He said the university needs to determine if the increased number of scholarships is a temporary trend or an indication of a structural and lasting change. Tressel said that as YSU continues to reshape the quality of its student body and improve the university’s brand, it may get to the point where it no longer has to provide so much merit-based aid to attract students. The difficult part, he said, is exactly when you make that decision. “That’s what we’re in the midst of analyzing,” the president said. He said a new scholarship strategy will need to be in place by Fall 2019.

Rich White, director of Planning and Construction, reported on a variety of current and future improvement projects on campus, including renovations to Ward Beecher Hall, upgrades to the campus utility distribution systems, work on renovating Jones Hall, the Mahoning Valley Innovation and Commercialization Center, parking deck repairs and construction of the Constantini Multimedia Center at Stambaugh Stadium.

Jim Yukech, associate vice president and chief information officer, reported on the university upgrading its core IT system to Banner 9. The platform, which will take up to 2,000 hours of work to implement, will result in an easier to use, more mobile friendly and more flexible system, he said. “This platform will prepare us for the future,” he added.

Miscellaneous

Governance
Schiavone reported that the Governance Committee has nominated a slate of officers for 2018-19: Chair, Delores Crawford; Vice Chair, Dave Deibel; Secretary, Franklin Bennett. The officers will be formally voted on at the board’s June meeting.

Appreciation
Trustees approved resolutions of appreciation for Schiavone and Student Trustee Allan Metz. Schiavone was appointed to the board in 2010, and his nine-year term is expiring. He served three years as vice chair and the past year as chair. Schiavone said it has been a privilege to serve. “This board is and has been and will continue to be very active and very involved in the success of YSU,” he said. He added, “YSU has been a stalwart of the community for a long time, but it is now even more viable, more active and is cementing its position” in the region. Metz, a member of the University Scholars program on campus, was appointed a student trustee in 2016. His two-year term is expiring.

Memorials
President Tressel announced the following students, employees, retirees or others with connections to YSU have passed away:

Gilbert “Gib” James, university supporter.
Anthony Stocks, former chair, Economics.
G. L. Mears, former executive vice president.
Michael Bushey, community member.
Joseph Monroe, brother of Trustee Molly Seals.
Rocco Mediate, retired director of Facilities.
Emily Lucas DeMaiolo, former student assistant in the President’s office, married to former student trustee, Daniel DeMaiolo.

Meetings
The board set the following meeting dates and times:

• Noon, Thursday, June 7, 2018.
• 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018.
• 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018.