Board of Trustees Meeting Nov. 17 | Photo by Caitlin Shatsby | The Wright State Guardian
Wright State University’s Board of Trustees met to discuss various topics, such as university finances and union relations, while approving resolutions, including the creation of a new college.
New college
The Board of Trustees canceled the original Dec. 8 committee day meeting. The committees presented information and reports, along with the regularly scheduled public session agenda, at the Dec. 9 public session.
One of the largest resolutions the board passed at the Dec. 9 meeting was the reorganization and merger of WSU’s graduate school and the undergraduate honors program.
University Provost Dr. Amy Thompson championed the new school, and the merger combines graduate programs and undergraduate honors programs along with the departments staff, faculty and students.
Thompson, who originally presented the idea in September 2022 to the Faculty Senate and Student Government Association, explained how lack of staffing in the individual departments coupled with decreased enrollment numbers are factors that went into the decision to combine the departments.
“We’ve had some challenges in our graduate and honors programs. We have seen a decline in our graduate enrollment, particularly in our domestic students and also in our honors program,” Thompson said during the meeting.
According to the Provost, there are currently 2,762 graduate students and 797 undergraduate honors students. Total university enrollment for the fall is 10,798 students, according to the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.
The administrator went on to explain how both the graduate and honors programs are understaffed with vacant positions.
“So, in essence, now we have one person doing honors, and she will be retiring in May,” Thompson elaborated.
The administrator is hopeful that the merger will strengthen both programs and provide new opportunities for students. The merger will go into effect in January 2023.
Financial standing of WSU
The Finance, Audit, Governance and Compliance Committee also presented an update on the university’s financial standing.
According to monthly financial performance reports, sales and service revenue increased by $854,000 this semester due to increased activity on campus post-COVID. However, WSU’s finance team is projecting for FY 2023 revenue to be $11.8 million lower than FY 2022 due to the continuance in decreasing enrollment numbers.
Additionally, the reports show a $9.4 million savings for the university in compensation, as the university did not fill all vacant positions on campus for the fall. Overall, the university is expecting to use $7.2 million in reserve funds for fiscal year 2023 and has a projection of 182 days cash on hand.
Union relations
During public comment, Robert Rubin, president of the American Association of University Professors – Wright State Chapter union, reminded the board that the current collective bargaining agreement between the union and the university expires in 2023 and that negotiations for a new agreement will begin soon.
The president also expressed a desire to continue the collaborative relationship with university administration.
“While it is true that the nature of [the union’s] relationship is, by definition, at times adversarial, I don’t believe we need to be adversaries,” Rubin said.
Board chair Tom Gunlock responded by modifying a quote from former U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
“Ask not what your university can do for you, but ask what you can do for your university,” Gunlock said. “So, I hope what you say you’re ready to do, that it will put the university and students ahead of the faculty and union.”
Remembering WSU community members
Among the professional business atmosphere, the board took a moment to honor and recognize Don Borowy Jr., who passed in November and was the Directory of Treasury Service for the university.
Browny was one of several WSU staff and alumni members to pass this fall. Computing and Telecommunications Services staff member Jeff Zentner passed in October, and former faculty member Julia Reichert, who the Faculty Senate honored at the Dec. 5 meeting, passed in late November.
